Sunday April 21st - Bunce School Road / Ironclads

[a1gemmel]

Thanks to everyone that came out and made this such a fun day! I don't think we ever lined all the vehicles up to take a photo, here's the closest we got:



Bunce offered a surprising amount of challenge today for the seven rigs that came out to play. The snow was deep and slick in places, conditions changing throughout the day as the warm weather created melt and thaw. There was winching, kinetic recoveries, damaged rigs, and a whole lot of fun. We made it all the way to the closed gate at the south end before doubling back to the entrance. Great work by everyone that worked together to get all the rigs through to the end!

Once we got to ironclads and were determining the next course of action, a report came in on the radio of a Jeep we had passed previously that had a broken brake line. Vlad, Gwyn and I broke off to go find them and lend a hand, so someone else will have to fill in how the Ironclads portion went! We found the Wrangler nearly back at the gate - he was running tire chains and one of the chains had ripped off the hard line going to the passenger rear corner. The other two rigs that we saw with him earlier were fair weather friends - they completely abandoned him on the trail. We tried plugging it up with a sheet metal screw and some jb-weld, but ultimately decided to just put a rig behind him with a rope and be his brakes for driving out. I hooked up behind him in the pickup and we started heading down. At the bottom of the steepest hill Vlad called out a warning on the radio. Seems my luck ran out and I popped a tire off the bead. I've gotten away with running ~5psi without beadlocks for a long time without an issue, but alas all good things must come to an end.

We jacked it up and blew the tire back onto the bead with a can of brake clean and a lighter, but discovered that the inner lip of the rim had suffered a bad dent and the wheel wouldn't hold air. We quickly swapped my spare on and were soon making good time back to the trailhead. The jeep owner was able to get cell service and call for a tow, so all ends well for them.

I think I tie with Jefferson for the "most damaged" award today

Vlad started a google photos album that we can share pics/vids in:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/EM9gqyBCGKiAW1VSA

[Jim]

a1gemmel previously posted:

[xaza]

Thanks for the report and way to go helping out a fellow enthusiast. Hopefully they leave those friends behind and join a community that does not leave someone behind.

[Jeffcon]

Wow, what great trip, and I appreciate all the assistance everyone gave as I got hung up a few times. Y'all are a great group to wheel with and I only take in the experiences learned to get better at this!

I definitely have a new trail badge, front fender dented a little and headlight completely smashed, BUT that headlight needed to replaced anyways , you'll be happy to know I have my replacement on its way due in 2 days. I'll take a wrecked headlight any day over anything else.

And lastly.. winch and front steel bumper install have been moved up the priority list 1000%

Looking forward to the next one we can do

[Jim]

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[Ol Blue]

Definitely a fun trip and glad to be a part of it! I was also surprised at how difficult it was out there. Just adds to the fun though!

[TjMike]

What a fun trip y'all had! Thanks for the pictures and videos.
I was yelling at my screen for Andrew to move as it looked like Jim was coming right for you out of that bog.

[Tom]

Thanks for the report. Really happy you all had a good time.

[Jim]

TjMike previously posted:

[Jim]

Elevation profile - Bunce School north trailhead, down to the gate, Ironclads clockwise loop, exit via Cave Creek / east trailhead.

[a1gemmel]

Hey, I figured if Jim hit me he'd probably let off the throttle at that point. There was a nice big snowbank behind me so it wouldn't be too bad. I wasn't going to give up that shot!

[Max]

Fun day. The trail was colder and packed down in the morning, but turned to more slush in the afternoon changing it on the way back.

There was a really deep puddle at the beginning! Some video of it at the end of that Google album.