Slant Ranch

This is a short report.
Pictures have been posted on my website.
Those who went were:
John and Nova
Big Joe
Russ and Megan
Scott and Sarah
Jim Henry and son
Damian and friends
Keith and Alex
David and his brother
Keith and I stayed at Ricardo campground. It was a very windy trip up with the motorhome. It's amazing how much the motorhome can move without moving the steering wheel.
Saturday was cool and beautiful. Not a cloud in the sky and a slight breeze. We meet at Jawbone and headed for the trailhead.
Spent the first two hours playing on the trail to the left. Tried to go up further and decided against it. I plan on hiking the trail in April and see where it goes.
We left and headed for SR trail. There we met two unprepared guys and their jeeps, who followed us up. I talked to them about no having adequate equipment and if they broke down, they were pretty much on their own.
Followed the trail up. Scott went over the rock on the side after the first waterfall without as much breaking a sweat and then proceeded to high center in the middle of the trail. David didn't get stuck in the trail this time.
At the next to the last waterfall, I tried a different route with moderate success - I didn't make it. There were a series of steps which put the jeep in a 3 wheel position. Had fun trying. On the last waterfall we all made it. We winched to two followers up. The last one by hooking the tow rope to the front axle. After getting out of the trail I showed the two gus how to get out of the area and we went on to other trails. The one trail we wanted to do was not doable and we decided to head back. Not before we lost one of Damian's riders and had to locate him. On the way back to the Opal mine and 14 we came upon the two guys again. This time with a broken spring bolt. Got them up and running. Then Keith determined he had two broken axle perches on his rear axle. Evidently, the welds were not that good. We then headed out and made it back to the Dove entrance off the 14 and headed back to camp. Keith and Alex had dinner at Ricardo and headed back later that night. Everyone else left from the trailhead. We stayed that night and I did some trail riding Sunday to find the actual Nightmare Gulch Overlook trail and found it. Waypoints are posted.
Sunday was windier than Friday, so it was an interesting drive home.
Great trip. Going again in late March, early April