Newbie run to TSF

What an awesome trip! total 180 degrees  from the last trip you can read about it here "Epic Adventure: The Trails Bit Back"  We ended up with about 24 Wranglers.  We split into four groups. This group went off to play on the what I like to call the Big Boy trails. They headed out first. From all reports they had a really good day except for the run in with a group of less then desirable wheelers. But they didn't let it ruin their day.


The other three groups where made up of beginners, novices and experiences drivers.  We picked 3 moderate trails to use to break the newbies in. I was put outside my comfort zone. Dad and I have never been split up on a trail before. If I lead, which i don't do often, Dad is tail gunner if Dad leads someone is tail gunner, but frequently it is me. LOL Group one was headed up by yours truly, group two was headed up by Dad, and Group 3 was headed up by Jeff.

I led a small rag tag group in to the forest. Hoping against hope that I would not loose anyone. Oh wait to late! I left one at the meet up point! Crud there goes my perfect record. BUT you can't blame me. I was leading like 24 jeeps at 55mph. How could I keep track of them all?? At least I didn't leave her in the woods :-)  She had a small family emergency and had to cut out. But I didn't find this out until later. I worried about her but I did console myself with the fact I lost her in town and not on the trail. Next time Shannon.

Dad led group number two. Poor Dad his Jeep decided it didn't need to start right away when we left the gathering place. She then stalled a few times during the trip. BUT he got home under his own power this trip! We are thinking fuel filter. OY! I'm not sure what we did to make the Ugly Duckling so mad at us, but we did it good! Dad also found a few roads with tree's fallen across them as it had been storming up there the last few days. So his group also got to take a nice little tour of the area.

Now Group 3 had the most adventurous day of all. First Jeff lost his tail gunner ( not his fault tail gunner left with the wrong group but had a wonderful day anyway). They then got chased down by Ranger. (OK not Jeff's fault one of his guys forgot to put his OHV permit on oops!) Then Jeff got directions from the Ranger to a trial. Either Jeff didn't catch all the directions or the Ranger didn't give him the correct directions because they never found the trail.

On their travels around Browns camp to find the trail they came upon a truck in distress. Jeff held a recovery class on the spot. None of the other newbie groups got that privileged. They get back on the road looking for trails and a group of unsavory type wheelers, crowd the road and push Jeff off in to the ditch. They now get to hold recovery class number two :-) Poor Jeff. In the end they got to play on snow covered roads, and did make it to a couple trails. Everyone had a good time.


All in all it was a great day with lots of lessons learned for all. I lowered my tire pressure lower than last trips and it made a world of difference in the snow!  Only time I really had any issues was because of my own miss handling of the situation LOL no slamming on brakes in the snow LOL  Well unless you want to LOL
Every one says  they had an awesome day and all left with a smile on their face.

I'm working on a slide show of all the photo's I have stolen errr I mean asked permission to use from all the participants. As soon as I get it done I will toss it up.  I had to make this post short and sweet as I have a tone of home work to catch up on since I spent the day playing :-)

Play Safe and Tread Lightly! Mom