Gulches New Years day.

[JandDGreens]

Went down to the Gulches area New Years Day. We ran what I think was Predator. Brandon lead the way. Had a great time. Anyways this trail is very tight and I would not advise doing it on a busy summer weekend. No room to pass and is more suited for ATVs, but it really is one of the coolest trails I have been on. Very fun! A lot of off camber areas (pucker time!) We did have a couple mishaps with a couple of the rigs and David (Eagle6) slipped and fell pretty hard on the ice during one of our recoveries (hope your doing well David!). Luckily no real damage to our vehicles except for the new custom pin stripping.

We really wanted to run Hackett also but decided to call it a day. On the way out ran across a red XJ that figured he was the only one on the trail and parked in a not so great spot to check out the trail before he got in over his head. He couldn't get it started. We had to go over a fire ring in a camp spot o get around it. All in all it was a great way to start off the new year.

[JandDGreens]

Here are a few more pics.

[Eagle6]

Trail Report: Predator
Date: 01/01/18
Trail Head: N39° 04.465' W105° 18.497'
Trail Length: 3.5 miles
Trail Rating: 3 to 4 out of 10 (mainly because of tight spots)
Trail Lead: dieseldoc (Brandon) 2017 JKUR Recon
Rigs: Eagle6 (Dave) 2007 JK Rubicon
goSlo (Aaron) 2012 JK Rubicon
JandDGreens (David) 1991 Cherokee

It was one of those interesting days. Great trail. We met at the trail head at 11:15 and started the run at 11:20. Brandon took lead. He is a wild man on the trail. We ran about 3.5 miles down the hill until we got to the creek (about ½ mile short of the South Platte).

So the first excitement was coming around a corner finding a large down tree. Eagle6 (Dave) got a little to far left and slid off the trail and high centered on a log. Out came the winch on David’s Cherokee and we were back on the trail again.

Continued down hill and found a couple of really tight spots. Some good pin striping and a couple challenging side slope 90 degree turns.
As we got down to the first creek we had about 50 yards of partially frozen creek bed then back up onto the trail. Here is where it got really interesting. Narrow trail, ice covered and sloping into a gully/creek on the left. Brandon went first and came close to side slipping in, Dave stayed hard right and made it across. Aaron, didn’t see it and came straight across and then slipped sideways right into the creek. Again, out came the winch cable on the Cherokee. That and a bunch of rock in the creek and we had Aaron out without to much effort. But it sure made for an interesting ride I’m sure.
David had the camera so I’m sure he will post some pictures soon.

Oh and for me, I slipped on the ice and yup sprained the left wrist which made for an interesting drive back up hill with only one hand.

[goSlo]

Sweet pics, thank you David!

I had my 72 yro mom in from OK with me on Monday.
We had just finished with a large dose of 'puckery' climbs and descents with tight 'burmy' turns top and bottom. I was literally in mid sentence "Whew glad that part is over, this part is easy Mom...", then it happened.

On a very slightly driver-side inclined frozen creek bed I was chatting away, feeling relieved, before coming to terms that this ice sheet I just drove onto has very different plans for me than I did.

See that hole over there? No, I know you didn't so it's time for you to go meet him. Off we went, like a slow fall in a dream. Sliding......(we should stop now) sliding (I know this creek was only so wide)...sliding...BAM KACHUNK!
Now just where in the **** did that hole come from?

Driver side was now deep in a hole with a giant tree root ball directly in front of me, this meant forward wasn't an option. Passenger side was on very slick wet ice.
Also slid into a very large tree trunk, now jammed into the spokes of the front driver wheel and yet another smaller tree trunk under driver side rail rocker.
Driver rear tire was in the air because of the depth of this creek hole. And then there's mom way up over on the high side, white knucklin' that grip handle.

It was so unnatural feeling too. I just knew this thing was going to flop over if we moved it an inch even.
Definitely need to thank Brandon for keeping me Jekyll during my realization of the situation. Once David and Brandon got that winch strap on me I felt A TON better about moving it, period.

We filled the hole with river rock, put tension on the line and I reversed out. We used the trunk that was wedged under the rock rail as a guide for my front left tire.
I kept expecting it to break and drop me back into the hole because it was dead and roughly 4 inches in diameter.

All in all, I got everything I came for that day, and I'm very grateful for the group of folks who were there to help.

Thanks for a memorable run you guys! Looking forward to the next one already!

[RockyMtRebel]

Awesome story!

[TJS86TOY]

Sorry about the wrist David, otherwise great trail report! Thanks to all for sharing!

[dieseldoc]

Nice pics thank you all for posting them

This was a good day.
Seems I missed the end of trail sign for the Jeep's.
Yet I know many folks that have run this down to the river then back up and out on Hackett.
I truely don't understand the Fact.S. and how the decide to close things.....

Any how this trail gets tight in spots.
Lots of dead along the trail from the fire.

Seems I am a bit faster than some like.
Yet for the folks who wheel with me they know I like to go and enjoy the day.
Less talk more wheelies!

As for the ice sheet incident....this was a good one to watch happen.
Right as I start to say look out for that hole.....oops.
This was a drive out stuck with pucker for sure.
Once the rocks we're in place backing it out was possible.
Yet comfort levels are different for us all so out comes the HOOK!
Some wheel spin and tugging and up and out she come.....we made our way out from there.....

Dam it.....what's this in the road......red Cherokee no drivers locked and in the worst spot possible.....
We did find the owner about half mile from the top.
Dead battery......ok folks if you had to jump the truck that morning.....get a new one before trail time!
These guys had a big hike out and back for a battery......

The trip out was good.....again I am faster than most.
As I know this area very well I tend to bomb down F.S. 360

Was a good day with a little work but in all was a good time.


Nice to met MOM.
Glade she will come do it again!
Bet you both needed a change of shorts!

[JandDGreens]

Brandon, I did not see a sign like that either, but I saw signs blocking off spurs that were closed off. But it makes sense that there probably is one, it is to tight, a busy day it would be best to just to avoid that trail all together even to that point. I would love to do the whole trail some day. Maybe it's time to get a dirt bike?? Man I love going down to the gulches.

Honestly I have been guilty of going at a pace (at times both slow and fast) some don't like to go. Most of the time I really like to take it easy the first half of the trail but I'm also often guilty of hurrying when it is time to head home. I ran the Empire Loop last summer and once we got to BillMoore Lake I have ran BillMoore so many times that I was leaving my group behind. I think that when we have enough rigs it might be good to split-up into a tortoise group and a hair group, right? The other problem is we are all at different skill and rig levels and that makes things go slower for sure.

Any way I always like hanging with you guys (Brandon and Theresa) and others on the trail thanks for such a great day. I am so envious of your rigs!!!!

[Getaklu]

JandDGreens previously posted:

[JandDGreens]

I wish I was really being facetious, My riding a dirt bike days are behind me. My wife would really consider me getting a bike some kind of 3/4 life crisis for sure!!

[Brian]

JandDGreens previously posted:

[JandDGreens]

If you only knew me when I was 16-22 yrs old. I am afraid I would break some bones 'cause I really loved riding those crouch rockets!!!!

[Getaklu]

Oh, so my V-Rod would be a better fit for you.

i knew you were being facetious, just thought I would rib you a bit.