Lesson Learned

As many of you  know and for those that don't, I use Pelican cases
on a roof rack to store survival gear and tools. These awesome cases are weather proof. They have been up there for over 2 years and my gear stays nice and dry no matter the weather condition. That is until recently. 

Well water did not get in to the case, but water sure couldn't get out. I decided to upgrade my spark plugs today, as they have been sitting on my desk for four or five months. Guess what I found when I opened my case? Oh did I mention I had tossed a half case of water in the same Pelican case as my hand tools?  I bet you have an idea where this is going now. :-) 

Yep you guessed it, several of those water bottles broke open and turned my case in to an indoor swimming pool for my tools. All that water was sealed tight in my case along with my tools. I know have pretty red-ish brown tools. 

 The wrenches fared much better than the sockets did.



























Moral of this story is don't 
store water in a weather proof case with your tools.




We will clean them up best we can and use them until they break I guess LOL Good thing we have several sets of tools between Dad and I. 











Play Safe and Tread Lightly!
A 4 Wheeling Mom 

My Pride My Joy

The best accomplishments in  my life L & J 

The  best adventure of my life was raising my two boys.  I loved every stage they went through, from toddlers really starting to discover the world around them, to pre-schoolers learning social skills, and on to school age gaining knowledge by leaps and bounds.  But my favorite age by far was the adolescents! This is when I got to watch my two boys turn in to young men, and watch them learn about life, love and relationships.  We had the best conversations about life, and the world.  Those are the times I miss most with my boys.  Although I have to say watching the young men they are and finding their way in the world is pretty nice too. 




I'm so very proud of the young men they are and what they have already accomplished in their short lives.

J practicing his Olympic style Small Bore shooting. 

The Day L kept me safe and helped me though a panic attack.
Long story short Mom is afraid of heights and panicked half way up this bluff LOL 

J repelling  Demonstration 

L repelling Demonstration 

A Melancholy 4 Wheeling Mom. 

Play Safe and Tread Lightly! 

Off Roading Ethically

We all started out as a newbie at some point in our wheeling careers and had to learn things as we went. Even those who have been around a while learn new things from time to time. Not to mention a lot of things have changed over the years. What was “O.K.” for our fathers, may not be considered ethical today. Another thing that has an impact on what is considered appropriate or not is the area you live in. Wheeling in the South is way different than wheeling in the Dessert regions and that again is different than wheeling in The Pacific Northwest. Culture can have a lot to do with the ethics of wheeling in your area. With that being said I’m going to focus on the Pacific Northwest as this is my stomping grounds. So what I say may or may not be true for you area, but no matter what, always wheel safely and ethically.


If you don’t know what Tread Lightly! is I encourage you to follow the link and educate yourself. There are other site out there as well like, The Blue Ribbon Coalition, and Leave No Trace. By following the guidelines set forth by places like these we will help to insure the recreational area’s we play in will remain open. People that don’t respected our environment or laws only make it harder for those of use that do. Off road parks and forest service roads get closed down all the time because people have chosen to ignore road closure signs, go around gates, go around road blocks, or  “trail blaze” a.k.a make their own trail.

This is not even close to a full list of things that should be considered, but these are some of the things I see the most often when it comes to some wheelers giving a bad name to the rest of us.

* means this action could lead to fines and/or jail time.

1) Off Road Ethically and Legally

a) Stay on Marked trails, NO Trail Blazing *

b) If  you are unsure if a trail is OK, go to the office of whoever manages the land and get a current Vehicle use maps. You should have one anyway. Never rely 100% on GPS or Internet based maps.
           A few web sites to help you find maps
           The Bureau of Land Management                 Oregon State Forest 
           Us Forest Service ( National Forest)             Washington State DNR
         


c) If it is not a clearly marked trail don’t go, if there is a road block has been placed in the way i.e. boulders, gates or it is obvious that a tree did not fall there, but was placed there don’t go.*

d) If you become stuck, assess the situation then determine what would be the easiest way to get out with the least amount of damage to your rig and the environment.

e) When doing a recovery, be sure to use tree savers and fill in any holes you may have to dig. Don’t spin tires so long you dig big holes.

f) No water crossing if there is a bridge available to use. If you have to cross a stream, river, or creek do it with care and as slow as possible to protect what is living in the body of water and to prevent as much erosion on the banks as possible.

g) Be sure to have any or all passes for the area you are in.*

h) Be sure to know what you need to carry for what area you are in i.e. Fire extinguisher, water, shovel ( all things you should have anyway) *

i) Don’t drive through meadows, wetlands and the like just for the hell of it stay on the road/trails. *

j) Before crossing private land you should always get permission. If you have to open any gates close them behind you! Again they are there for a reason. Being respectful of private land keeps the land owner happy and willing to say yes the next time someone asks for permission.

k) Pack out what you pack in. DO NOT LITTER! *



2) Stop and think before posting photos and video on line. How do they make you look as an off roader?

a) Could someone mistake what you are doing as unethical or illegal?

b) Does it look like you are tearing up the environment? Driving up hills that are not part of the road or trail? Disturbing the plant life by driving over it? Yes this includes grass.

c) Are you in a body of water that you didn’t need to go in to or through to get down the trail? I’m not talking mud puddles here, I’m talking lakes, streams, ponds, rivers ect.

If you answered yes to any of these questions you may want to think about your approach to wheeling.


I know this all sounds redundant and probably over the top, but keep in mind because of people doing just these things many places have been closed to off road use. As well as making it extremely difficult to get new places opened up. When in doubt DON’T do it!

Please post up Ethics you may think of I have missed. :-)

Click Here

Play Safe and Tread Lightly

A 4 Wheeling Mom

Mom Installs Her I-Rack System

I have had this thing sitting in my living room for oh 6 + months.  It just never seemed more important than other things that needed being done. You know like playing in the Jeep LOL Until the night we got stuck on the Mountain.  Our friend  popped a tire right off his rim.

Well, he and I are both on the less than tall side, and getting the Hi Lift off the top of my Jeep was not an easy thing for us to do by ourselves.  Especially on uneven ground with that passenger side pointing up word LOL

We were able to get it down and get the tire changed! WOOHOO US!  but I didn't bother to put it back up 

Today was a beautiful day and Dad and some free time and was able to give me a second set of hands when needed so we got it installed. Oh and I only ended up with a hand full of left over parts! LOL 

No Pj's today but I did wrench in my slippers!

Now I need to decide what to do with the mounting brackets on the passenger side of my rack.

Play Safe and Tread Lightly

4 Wheeling Mom

Getting the Juices Flowing

The Ugly Duckling has been giving us issues. If you remember from The Trails Bite Back  Dad broke down and some awesome friends helped get us off the mountain. The fuse for the fuel pump blew so Dad replaced the fuse, and all was good for about a week. She started having issues starting after being shut off. Dad thought maybe it was the fuel filter because the issue was intermittent.Dad changed the fuel filter out and there was no change. He still had issues getting her to start after shut off, then one day she just wouldn't start again. The next logical thought was the fuel pump.

Dad had bought a fuel pump when we bought the Ugly Duckling, but never got around putting it in. Dad spent a  long wet windy day a few weeks ago replacing the fuel pump. If you have never dropped a gas tank it is not an easy task for one person. Dad didn't ask for help so he struggled. Note, Boys and Girls if you need help ask someone.  He got it all done and back together and nothing! He was a bit frustrated to say the least. Unfortunately do to weather and school the Ugly Duckling has had to wait to be fixed.

Today was the perfect day! No school, no rain, no wind, and the sun was in the sky! WOOHOOO!

Dad crawled under the Jeep before we started the process of dropping the tank, and found this wire. It was pulled part way out of the connection and fraying. Dad called me out to
take a look and snap a few pictures. This wire is located  between gas tank and the frame of the Jeep. Not a an easy place to work. So even though we could see the issue we still had to drop the tank to fix it.
















I was not there for the tank dropping last time. This was a whole new experiences for me. Lots of jack work and wiggling the tank to get it out with out dropping in on one of us. We used 2 bottle style jacks and a floor jack to lower it down. The tank is an over sized tank and can't drop straight down it has to be loosened then pulled over and down at an angle.





                                                         



And it is out!

When we got the tank all the way out Dad unplugged the fuel pump and this is what he found. The plug on the new pump had come apart as well. Luckily we still had the old pump and where able to scavenge the plug from it and splice it in. I don't play with electricity or electrical wirering. So while Dad did that part I organized my recovery and survival gear.

After dad got the wires all done and hooked back up we started her up before re-installing the gas tank so that we were sure it was working before going through all that work to get it back in place.

Dad did let Me put the filler hose back in place and re-install the licences plate frame! :-)


I am happy to report that the Jeep started up several times with no issues and Dad took her for a test drive and made it home! WOOHOOOO!













Play Safe and Tread Lightly
4 Wheeling Mom

WOW How Time Flies!

I started this blog and my Facebook page on a whim on this  day 2 months ago. I had no inkling I would have over 1600 blog views in that time or over 170 followers on Facebook.  Everyone I have approached about interviews has been more than willing to participate. I have met some really awesome people along the way too! The off road community has been so welcoming and supporting of me. Thanks everyone.
Special Thanks to Starlie at Poison Spyder for being my first victim err I mean Interview! Thanks to Lucas from Land Pirates Off Road for taking the time to let this crazy lady he knows nothing about interview him.

I'm having a total blast keeping the blog and Facebook page up. I hope to be able to share my adventures and interview some more cool people along the way. I have a ton of ideas bouncing around in my head. Yes that is the hollow sound you hear when standing next to me.  I just hope I get the chance to do them and share them with you guys! I want to take some road trips and interview people in their natural habitat :-) But we will have to figure out funding for that :-)  I have a couple interviews in the works, but it is the busy season for people in the off road race circuit and in off road product manufacturing. So as soon as I get them back I will get them up.

Again thanks to everyone that has made this blog and my Facebook page such a successes.

The Slide show at the top of the page is from the Wrangler Groups very first event. We drove over to Long Beach Washington, drove up the length of the beach had lunch and drove back down. It was an awesome first event.

We even got a little winching class in! :-) this poor youth group drove a little to far down the beach and got stuck.  So what do you do when you drive a 4x4 with a winch LOL you un-stick it LOL

Play Safe, Tread Lightly

4 Wheeling Mom

Be Prepared

Even when Dad and I go out to play just for the day, with a group of people, we still take all our survival gear. It is better to be overly prepared than lost in the woods and no equipment. Maybe it's because Dad did Search and Rescue in his younger years, and both our boys gave 4 years to our local Search and Rescue team that I'm anal about being prepared.

   



We always carry with us:

1. Fire starting material:  flint and steel, wind proof matches, hatchet, and lint from our dryer ( works great as tender if you can't find anything near by. Some people I know use cotton balls dipped in wax)
2. First Aid Kit
3. Tarps for making shelter
4. Ropes 
5. 6 gallons of water. Water is good for drinking, cleansing, and putting out unwanted fires.
6. Water filtration system.
7. Food for several days per person. ( yes even if we are planning just a few hour trip I load the cooler up and toss it in) 
8. Hand and foot warmers
9. Several different weight jackets. I live in the Pacific Northwest. Weather can change quickly. 
10. Dry socks. 
11. Hat
12. If  Dad and I are going out alone we toss the chain saw in. We use this for clearing trails and for fire wood for the camp fire. 
13.  I NEVER leave home with out my Spot Locator device. I have the basic device with basic plan. Makes my family feel much better about Dad and I playing in the woods. 
14. Survival Knife
15. Shovel
16. and stuff I'm sure I'm forgetting several things that are always in the rigs

This list does not include tools and other such gear we carry all the time.

4 days of gear for 4 people

Another big thing is making sure someone knows where you are going to be. So if you are not home by X time or day they can send out the Calvary to find you.  Again Spot serves me well. I check in when I start my journey and it post on facebook we are OK and our location. I check in several times during the day and again one last time when we get home or back to camp for the night. That way there is always record of our last know GPS location.  Spot also has a 911 button so if we do have an emergency like being lost or injured so badly we can't make it out of the woods we can get help to us. I never want to have to look the SAR people in the face and say I'm sorry I wasn't prepared! I also don't want to be "that" story on the news. 

OH and NEVER rely 100% on your GPS. Get maps of the area. Look them over and get somewhat familiar with where you are and where you are going! 

Because we carry all that and more we can go to places like this and not worry so much about the what if's while we are there! We took care of the worrying while packing our bags! 

Play Safe and Tread Lightly
Mom

Shout Out To The Guys at The Shop

Dad injured his back on the job about 15 + years ago. He was a mechanic when I met him, and then moved on to metal fabrication. Oh the things we could do if only... We are lucky we found a shop in our neighborhood that we are very comfortable with, and the employees all live in our neighborhood.  I love supporting the local economy when possible! I'm sure we have made a couple vacation possible over the last year! :-) I love my shop so much the guys have become friends. They wheel with us from time to time. Not as often as I would like, but when you are an empty nester you can do things a little more often than those with kids at home still. Such is the nature of the beast of life.

I just wanted to say thanks to the guys for helping us get the stuff done we can't do ourselves these days. If you are ever in the Beaverton area and need work done to your off road vehicle or want to add some accessories to your car look up Patrick and Brian at Accessory OutFitters   Or look them up on Facebook 

What is that funky noise?

This happen a while ago, but I love sharing our eventful lives LOL If it is not one thing it is another.

I kept hearing this weird noise every time I took my foot off the brakes. I took Dad for a drive and he heard it too. So Dad spent the day trying to tracking down a sound we were sure was coming from the rear driver side brakes. This in-tales taking my tires off and putting them back on. Did I mention they are not light? Dad spent a good deal of time checking all the brake components.He found nothing wrong with the brakes. For good measure he then lubed all the lube points. I have somewhere round 19 of those and not all of them are easy to access. I then took it for a test drive and got to the end of my street ( 2 whole houses) and the noise was there as soon as I let my foot off the brake. OY! 

At my wits end ( Dad was long past his) I decided to take everything out of the back of the jeep. What could it hurt? Maybe it was something rolling around in the back since the brakes were fine. When doing so I found a spray can under the back seat that was preventing it from latching fully in to place. I took the can out, and latched the seat down. I then drove around a few blocks and WOOHOOO noise all gone! Yep every time I took my foot off the brakes the seat would move causing the noise. Wouldn't you logically think when the brake is disengaged, and then a noise is heard it must be a brake issue?

I'm was so happy I was able to fix my jeep LOL poor Dad was not so happy after spending the day taking things apart and putting them back together. :-) He cooled off quick enough lol On the bright side I know my brakes are in good shape and everything is where it should be LOL and all my lube points are nice a greased LOL




Play safe, be prepared, and tread lightly.

Mom

Day Dreaming

I'm stuck inside working on homework today.  As I read the book I was assigned my mind drifts off to the fun that I had over the summer. I'm reading the book's "Encounters With the Archdruid"  and "Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why" both for the same class.  Both books spend a lot of time discussing the outdoors. Currently the "Encounters With the Archdruid" is taking place in the Cascade Mountains, only a bit farther North of where I live.  Dad and I did spend some time exploring the Cascades around Mt. Hood this last summer.
As they describe the beauty of the land I think of my trips with Dad. These photo's are of the weekend we Explored Bennett Pass Road.

Our Camp site off Barlow road

Quick Detour to look at the Mt. Hood at one of the Ski parks.

I always make Dad lead. That way if he falls off the mountain I know to stop :-) 

Time for a break and to take in the View of Mt. Hood from the east side. 

Somewhere along the trail :-) 

Lets hope that when I do the questions section of my homework I'm thinking of the book and not my travels! 

Sir err I mean Ma'am!

One of the things that happens frequently to a girl playing in a mans world is you get called Sir a lot.  Men who don't know you just assume a toy like I drive must belong to a man. Only way a women would drive such a thing is if it belonged to her man. Only time my man gets to drive my toy is when it is blocking his in and we are to lazy to move rigs around! :-)

Every time I pull in to a gas station that I don't frequent, or a new attendant is working I get "what can I get your sir? Oh I'm sorry ma'am"?  In parts stores men are always surprised that I actually know what I'm talking about. OY! I don't know it all, but I  know a bit more than the average woman or man for that matter. I know plenty of men that don't know a thing one about cars, and really don't want to know. So don't assume women are to dumb to know or just don't want to know about cars. There are plenty of us out there that do.

Last parts guy I ran in to had the gull to ask me " you know what the part looks like?" with shock on his face. I told him " Yes I do. I do get my nails dirty" He was not sure how to respond to that LOL

So my friend at PSC had some pink Spyder logo's made up for her and her girlfriends.  I then had a friend with a vinyl cutter make me a couple stickers that say Her Toy!  in green ( the accent color I'm going with). I'm curious to see if this will change the fact I get called Sir all too frequently.

Yes the only clean spot is where I cleaned it to put the sticker on haha

With my luck it will not change a thing, but it will give me something to point at and say "can you read?"