Calico

Okay, Here is the report as best as I can remember. If I make any mistakes just chime in.

Rich and I (with Nova) arrived a little after 2, Friday afternoon. A very restful afternoon with a few beers and nibbles. The Volk?s (Jr and Sr) arrived around the same time. We managed to reserve three spaces for TP, Jerome and James.
Later that evening TP, Steve, James and Jerome arrived.
Along with them were several friends - Mark, Manny, Teresa and James? son, Travis. Travis was pretty cool Sunday, considering all the time he was sitting in the jeep waiting for us.
The wind was blowing pretty good Friday night (Temp - 28) and we expected the worse Saturday morning. But the best came - almost no wind for all of Saturday and Sunday. Even up at the mine it was T-shirt weather.
We left Sat morning around 8:30 and headed up to Duran Gatekeeper.
There we met Damian, Pej and Natasha. Spencer and friend, JD, arrived around 10.
So, for the day we had the following vehicles: Mine,TP, Steve, Rich, Damian, James, Mark, Joe Jr. with Carolyn?s new Rubi, Joe Sr., and Pej. Did I miss anyone?
All of us except Damian, Joe Jr. and Pej went through the Gatekeeper. Spencer took the mine through a second time. A few had to be winched, but everyone made it though with minimal body damage. Rich walked through it like a paved hiway. Joe Sr. is hexed by the Gatekeeper. Last year he broke down just at the beginning. This year he made it a little farther through before he bent a front spring and had to retire. Maybe next year!

I took videos of everyone going through and will post to my webpage in a few days.

James tried it and didn?t succeed the first time, then backed up and walked right through. It was truly a matter of inches on walking though or winching. From there we drove the trail to the mine with no difficulties and met Damian, Joe Jr, Carolyn, Pej and Natasha. The weather was great. At the top we had lunch, enjoyed the weather and then headed down Odessa.
Several of the falls have been broken down and are a lot easier. This was Pej?s first trip of this nature and he was a little concerned about what the trail was like. I told him his vehicle is capable of making the trail. There will be a few spots where he will need to be spotted, but paying attention to how we drove the trail would help him. He was a little nervous in some of the spots, but learned real quickly to watch the spotter. I think he only had to clean his pants once.
The part of the trail that has washed out previously is getting narrower and we had to rearrange a few rocks to make sure no one rolled down the hill. The section with the washout and asphalt was actually pretty easy. Someone had filled in the washout with rocks. The first few jeeps out of the trail were driving through the tunnels that TF tore his top on last year. We had been doing this for some time when we realized there were some jeeps missing. Evidently, Joe Jr high centered Carolyn?s new Rubi and it took some time to get it off.
We returned to camp around 4 and said goodbye to Damian, Pej and Natasha. The rest of the afternoon was spent with a few beers and talking about the rigs. We met at Peggy Sue?s around 6 for dinner. Volk?s stayed back at camp and had spaghetti. From there Steve and Manny left for home..
A few stayed around the campfire when we returned and some went to bed.
We planned on getting up around 7, so we could leave with the motorhomes for Stoddard for a short trip up Pumpkin Eater. At least that was the plan. We left around 8 and arrived a short time later. Our goal was to be done by 12-1 and home by 4. and the weather was great. Corky almost got stuck in the soft sand with her Beemer. Rich was able to get it out, but hit a rock on the way. Corky made the comment it didn?t have skid plate for protection.
So for Sunday morning there was Me, Spencer, Nova, TP, Rich, Corky, Mark, James and Travis. We arrived at Pumpkin Eater (east) around 9 and Rich led the group. We were having a great time. Mark and James were learning about crawling over big rocks. Rich and I had made the turn at the top and were coming down when Mark came to a dead stop. His engine quit and he was leaking tranny fluid. We were not sure what was causing the leak as it was hard to see in that area. so plastic bag (catch fluid,) tools, and towels came out.. After some discussion it was decided to remove the tranny pan at that appeared to be causing the leak. It was thought the front drive shaft had hit the edge and creased the pan causing the leak. What we couldn?t understand is why the engine wouldn?t start. (one of those safety features.)
Spencer, Mark and James did most of the wrenching. Only so many can fit under a jeep. After removing the pan it was determined a switch had been crushed and the fluid was leaking out the switch. While draining the pan we were trying to figure out how much tranny fluid we had between us for refill. We were able to save most of the fluid in a trash bag, which we then put in water bottles. Plus, we had two quarts of fluid between all of us.
After realizing what was causing the leak, the pan was put back on and we tried to find a bolt which would seal the switch hole. TP and Rich figured that out. The main problem now, was the engine wouldn?t start. We thought it had something to do with the switch. In the meantime, Spencer and James were trying to undo the front drive shaft. Finally, when they got it out, the CV joint was toast. It appears the C clip was put in incorrectly and the u-joint cap popped out. The drive shaft was then off center hitting the switch and shutting down the jeep. We all commented that there was no drive shaft noise at any time from the jeep, even when we were spotting Mark through some of the obstacles.
After plugging the whole, we filled the tranny. TP had a beat up old small funnel which made the job easy. So know we had the leak fixed, but, here we are with a Jeep that won?t start, is locked in park and is near the top of PE. Plus it is approaching 2. James solved the problem of getting the engine started. Using a gum wrapper (foil) and the gum (to hold the foil in place) he completed the circuit for the switch and to our amazement the Jeep started. Still not going anywhere at this point, can?t get the tranny out of park. We solved that problem by putting the Tcase in neutral. Can?t drive a car in neutral.
So we put two jeeps in front two in the rear and hooked the jeep to Rich?s FToy and strapped it, and starting going down backwards. Rich pulling and me spotting. Before we did that, Rich and Spencer spent a few moments winching a few very large rocks out of the way, other wise Mark wasn?t going anywhere.
Every now and then we had to hook Mark to TP?s jeep and pull it back up to reposition before we could go down. I think you are all getting the point now this was going to be a long trip down PE. We finally got Mark down about halfway, where we could turn the jeep around and face it downhill. That helped greatly on the strapping. Imagine going down PE backwards, if you have power. Now imagine no power and every inch you have to be strapped..
We were close to the bottom when James?s jeep stopped running. Now, two jeeps down, three running and it is getting dark.. So TP pulled out a strap and pulled James?s jeep out.
We arrived at the motorhomes around 5:30. The problem now, was a lack of trailers. In the end, TP pulled Mark?s jeep behind the coach, but while hooking it up, lost one of the pins and spent an hour looking for it in the sand. I think Tony got home around 10. Mark had to drive TP?s jeep home - no doors or top and very cold at this time. Mark - Do you have any ears or fingers left?
I arrive home around 9 and very tired.
Truly a long day.
Everyone?s attitude was absolutely incredible. Everyone pitched in and helped all the way down. Mark you were a real trooper. I know we were all tired. And Travis was a real trooper and behaved very well.
I can?t say enough for everyone who dug into their equipment and supplies and pulled out what was needed. It is very important to be prepared on the trail for anything that can happen.
Even what we went through - It was a great trip.
Well, That?s enough.
Guys, if I missed anything, Please Chime in.