TX4WD FALL RUN 2003
Held Oct 17-19
My son and I arrived at Barnwell Mounatin Recreation Area around 8:00 pm Friday night and checked in. My plan was to find the gang from Houston and pitch our tent with them. Instead we went with a group from the DFW area to locate the DFW campground. They have done a great job fixing the campsites up there. As it was already dark, we decided to pitch our tent on the outskirts of their camp. I found a nice level spot and set our tent. We then broke open the sandwich supplies and ate before heading up and checking the camp fire out. We met some fine folks that evening before we went to bed..
Saturday morning we ate some breakfast and headed around to the pavilion for the work meeting and then driver's meeting, for those not participating in the TMTC Work Weekend.. Our first trail was Twister. This trail is one that's different every time I've been out there. Sometimes it's very difficult in spots, other times there's not much to it depending on the line you take. From there we headed around to Linda Gail Trail. This is a 2 diamond scenic trail with an obstacle at the end that is sometimes very difficult. As luck would have it, one of the work crews had shut down the latter part of the trail for maintenance. We detoured off and came up the pipeline back to the pavilion. It was here that we ran into Ingrid ( TX4WD President) and then headed over to run Chaos Canyon. This is a fun 3-4 diamond trail described as steep, rocky and winding. There is a fun mini rock garden on it if you don't take the bypass.(we didn't) When we got to the top, it was decided that lunch was needed. Ingrid was still wanting to run the trails and left before we could go with her. Justin and I headed back to our camp for sandwiches and chips.
We headed back up Greenlane an our way to the Houston Camp. Greenlane is a 2 diamond trail that winds it's way back to the top of the mountain. Some of the Houston folk had gone into town for lunch and weren't back yet when we got there. Justin was ready for some traills so we headed up near the office and lucked into seeing the Texas Frog and his group playing on Nose Dive, Wiley Coyote and AirStrip. We decided to run Desi' Way Trail back around on our way to the Houston camp. This is a fun, scenic 2 diamond trail that gets a little tight in spots. I guess we took too long on the trail and missed the group. That was some good luck though as we ran into Chris and Michelle in their TJ and Jim and Eric in Jim's Super Rock Ranger. We decided to run Fun Country. This is a 3 diamond trail that has some steep winding trails with a very tight offcamber spot before you come to a ledge at the end. There are several bypasses along the trail if you feel you can't make the whole trail. The Super Rock Ranger suffered some body damage in the tight spot when a root got caught between his rear tire and fender. He also slid to the left and got some of his rocker panel. He did manage to keep his roof off of the tree at this spot though. From there we headed around the corner for The Politician. This is a 3 diamond trail winding through the woods and side of the mountain. There is a ledge at the end with a bypass next to it. When we got to the top of this trail we turned and went down Sunday Cruise. Another 3 diamond, this trail falls off the top down a trail with loose rock only to cross a creek and the follow a crack back up part of the mountain. I was able to pose for pics near the top of the crack only to get hung up on my rear bumper trying to finish it. I was about to give up when Jim told me he would get his "Jeep Rocovery Gear" out of the SRR. I found the momentum needed to pull myself free. Chris headed on up the trail and took a look at the ledge at the end. He decided he wasn't going to attempt it and since he was the only rig with a locker and winch, we decided to all take the bypass to the top. Once there, it was time to say our goodbye's. Jim had a long drive back to Bryan/College Station, and Chris and the crew had to get back to Longview. Justin and I went back to our camp and got the trailer and bbq grill. Then headed back to the pavilion where we set it up next to the pit TMTC has. As it got dark we had several people come up and start cooking. Carrie and my girls came from the Yamboree festival in Gilmer to eat and then we all retired to the Houston camp to sit around the fire and tell stories. It was late when Carrie and the girls left for home. Jusin and I went back to our tent and settled in for some sleep.
Sunday morning we gathered back up with the Houston group and headed back out. Our first trail was Binder Blvd. This is a 3 diamond with very steep hills and some loose rock thrown in. As we made our decent we were stopped by the group in front of us. They had a Toyota truck that was having trouble with traction climbing the hill ahead. We waited as they winched him out and I could feel everyone in my group looking at me because I am running open diffs like the Toy was. When it came my turn to attemp the hill I eased down the one side and drove cautiously up the other, stopping before I got to the small ledge. I backed back down and looked over at the bypass. The Toy had had trouble there too so I was unsure about myself even making it. I decided that I had made it to the leadge with no trouble and I bet I could make it all the way. Sure enough, no trouble at all the Jeepster walked right up. At the top, we were right at the entrance to Politician so the group headed down it. I had confidence on my side now so when I came to the ledge I stopped and asked Justin which way he wanted to go. He told me we had already done the other side so take the ledge. I drove slowly up to it and checked it out. With a little spotting I was able to come on through. I did need quite a bit of throttle to make it and then through the loose rocks on the other side but we made it. It wasn't until we got to the top that I found we had left part of the tranny mount back at the ledge. I crawled under and looked. Sure enough, and the rear diff was sitting at an odd angle too. Not wanting to have anything come completely apart, I said our goodbye's to the group and we headed back to take down our camp.
It was a great weekend for some father and son bonding and wheeling with some great people. My son learned how to use the camera and the rest of his pictures are here.
Stacy Newman and Eric Lambeth also have some pictures up.
