Spring Creek 8/26

[CRXING]

Couple of buddies and I are going to run Spring Creek Saturday, near Idaho Springs
http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=36

It can be done with a stock vehicle if ya don't mind some scraping underneath. Slightly lifted and locker makes it easier.There's bypasses for most of the obsticals.

Were meeting at the Burger King in Downieville at 8:30a if anyone wants to go.

Terry 720-581-9096

[stu]

I really want to do that trail, but it will have to be at a later date for me. Have fun.

[smithz]

Terry, not sure how long it's been since you were up there last. But I would advise against anyone in a stock vehicle taking that trail all the way. From what guys I ran into on the trail told me, the turn up hill prior to the rock garden is much much worse than it used to be.

The stock 4runner that was ahead of me ended up with body panel damage on 3 sides, and still needed to be winched up that spot. Just a warning...

Also the bypasses for the rock garden are getting pretty bad too. There is one easy bypass but its pretty narrow between some trees.

[CRXING]

Terry, not sure how long it's been since you were up there last. But I would advise against anyone in a stock vehicle taking that trail all the way. From what guys I ran into on the trail told me, the turn up hill prior to the rock garden is much much worse than it used to be.

The stock 4runner that was ahead of me ended up with body panel damage on 3 sides, and still needed to be winched up that spot. Just a warning...

Also the bypasses for the rock garden are getting pretty bad too. There is one easy bypass but its pretty narrow between some trees.

I think a stock vehicle could do this line on that obstical
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/87xjco/spring%20crk%2005-20-06/P7020061.jpg

Kidding,

when we last went July 1st, we got a stock Grand Cherokee through on the far left line (left being drivers side) without much trouble. But the trail changes from erosion and drivers digging trenches. And if a 4 runner got banged up, trail must be worse now. I think it would be fun for Jose's Ridgeline to try.

[smithz]

Hmmm... no if you were there July 1st you've been there since I have. The pic you posted is the exact spot I was referring to though.

I went up just left of that jeeps line, basically my passenger wheel a few inches from the rock he is posed on, and I was at about the same angle. But I slipped a little off too drivers side and ended up poised to slide sideways into the tree that is just to the right of the pic. Fortunately someone with a winch came up behind me and we snatch blocked me straight again so I could finish my climb. That big rock he's on worried me a little because I still have perfect rocker panels and no sliders yet. My tires were also at full pressure since I don't have any OBA.

I didn't see the 4 runner get beat up, just going by what the guys in that group told me. But he couldn't get up that left (drivers side) line you got the grand cherokee up. A newer land cruiser mashed his way up and over (obviously he had money to waste) and turned around to winch him up the "easy" line.

I wouldn't mind going with you, especially to see your Toyotakee, but we already were planning on running Redcone pass this Saturday. Maybe next trip.

[CRXING]

Hmmm... no if you were there July 1st you've been there since I have. The pic you posted is the exact spot I was referring to though.

I went up just left of that jeeps line, basically my passenger wheel a few inches from the rock he is posed on, and I was at about the same angle. But I slipped a little off too drivers side and ended up poised to slide sideways into the tree that is just to the right of the pic. Fortunately someone with a winch came up behind me and we snatch blocked me straight again so I could finish my climb. That big rock he's on worried me a little because I still have perfect rocker panels and no sliders yet. My tires were also at full pressure since I don't have any OBA.

I didn't see the 4 runner get beat up, just going by what the guys in that group told me. But he couldn't get up that left (drivers side) line you got the grand cherokee up. A newer land cruiser mashed his way up and over (obviously he had money to waste) and turned around to winch him up the "easy" line.

I wouldn't mind going with you, especially to see your Toyotakee, but we already were planning on running Redcone pass this Saturday. Maybe next trip.

We had to go a little further left than I think you did and at more of an angle from the side. Kind of keeps you from sliding into the tree, as you corner around it from that angle.

Have fun on Redcone, I haven't done that one.

[smithz]

I know the left line you are talking about, that's where they winched the 4runner up. It's basically straight uphill. The line I took was at an angle, which is why when I slipped off my side was headed right towards that tree. If I wasn't worried about my rockers I would have just put my passenger tire up on that big rock and gone over. But after watching that land cruiser come off that thing, I didn't want to chance it. Rockers are not something that's easy/cheap to fix, especially it they take the door out too in the process.

Anyways, have fun on SC. Definitely post the next one you go on. I'm on naxja too, but I don't keep as close an eye over there.

[celica man]

id go......if i still had the xterra. :) btw, nice to see you back on HAI terry

[CRXING]

id go......if i still had the xterra. :)

I've seen that ad where the Ridgeline goes from mountain peak to peak. Should be able to do a little trail easily"chicken:





(Joking, you don't want to do that trail)


:) btw, nice to see you back on HAI terry
Thanks, forgot how cool HAI can be.

[CRXING]

My buddy Jim and I ran Spring Creek 8/26/06. We met in downieville and after driving thru alot of rain, we found that in Downieville the rain had stopped and it looked like it might clear up (didn't stay that way though)

We aired down and headed up, the trail was pretty slick from the recent rain. Didn't look good for Jim with no lockers.

We used my camera tripod and took alot more video than photo's and a few of these pic's are captured from video. I think Jim has some photo's he can add.

The trail was slick enough that JIm had trouble on the first corner before reaching the wall and I was denied at the wall,
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/87xjco/spring%20creek%208-26-06/1.jpg

I couldn't get either the right or left line
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/87xjco/spring%20creek%208-26-06/2.jpg

I ended up winching up the right side after I got my rt. rear tire wedged up against the tree. Jim took the bypass.

Some nice mountain views coming up
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/87xjco/spring%20creek%208-26-06/3.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/87xjco/spring%20creek%208-26-06/4.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/87xjco/spring%20creek%208-26-06/5.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/87xjco/spring%20creek%208-26-06/6.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/87xjco/spring%20creek%208-26-06/7.jpg

Later at the switchback before the Rock garden, Jim saves my door by hanging on to the strap for all he's worth, I got a good video of that one.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/87xjco/spring%20creek%208-26-06/Flopsave.jpg
http://syntheticnet.com/rockfrogs/image/spring_creek_-_2006-08-26/xota_tipsy.jpg

http://www.rockfrogs.org/video/Flop%20save2.wmv

[CRXING]

Jim tried mightily to get thru
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/87xjco/spring%20creek%208-26-06/8.jpg
But he couldn't do it without a tug from me.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/87xjco/spring%20creek%208-26-06/9.jpg

About now it started raining again and we had a pretty hard downpour

The rain slacked off a little and I made it thru the rockgarden pretty easily, but it was pretty wet so I avoided a few of the hardest lines.

Later in the rock garden, where Jim had to cross from the bypasses, he got stuck and needed some winching, I made sure to get a good video of his "Xota/Jeep recovery vehicle" (as he once referred to it as) getting winched.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/87xjco/spring%20creek%208-26-06/10.jpg

He got stuck above the rock garden AGAIN, and needed another winch
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/87xjco/spring%20creek%208-26-06/11.jpg

We got to the meadow and Jim grilled up some excellent brats with the light rain still coming down.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/87xjco/spring%20creek%208-26-06/12.jpg

A couple of deer spotted on the way out
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/87xjco/spring%20creek%208-26-06/13.jpg

We had a great time and made it back to Idaho Springs about 3:00p. Jim's trooper (he calls it Ruby, gay) did really good and Jim drove real good considering, a rainy slick day and him with no lockers.

[celica man]

NICE

[smithz]

Sounds like you guys had a good time. We did also on Redcone, amazing views from up there.

[Redteg]

http://www.rockfrogs.org/video/Flop%20save2.wmv[/QUOTE]

Awesome save!:cheers: