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Thread: 2021-10-22 - Kelly Flats with James & Michael

  1. #1
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    Default 2021-10-22 - Kelly Flats with James & Michael



    Friday was a great day to enjoy the day outside.

    I pulled into Ted's Place a couple minutes before nine and James and Michael were there chatting. In short order we were on the road to Kelly Flats - eastern trailhead. Michael set a nice, consistent pace trekking up the valley. Aired down and unloaded in a few minutes we were heading up the trail. Bottom line for traffic - only one motorcycle was on the trail while we were there. We were at the Chutes and it took the bypass - a very low traffic day.

    We headed up HAH and at the top turned around. We chatted for perhaps 20 minutes then headed down HAH with the desire to then trek up the bypass. This'd give James (first visit) a fairly complete view of the trail. Up the bypass, where Michael said James had a front tire several feet in the air, we stopped at The Chutes.

    Michael went first - up the typical route, turned around and down the typical route, then up the difficult route. I went up and ended up on a bad line. I tried to go open/open but I ended up spitting out several of the stacked rocks. I flipped the easy buttons for locked/locked and ham-fisted the jump up the first step. Flipping the lockers off I was able to zig-zag through the next tight spot fairly easy - though I did rub the frame or slider on the right side rock.

    James gave it several tries - but the jeep just kept leaning into the rock on the driver side (see video). One busted mirror (it was tucked in and still hit) and a small tear in the top - it was good to toss in the towel. Backing down, the CJ-5 got wedged with its rear diff on a rock. Michael drove down with a winch line. With James free, Michael attempted to run the Chutes in reverse. The first step was no problem but turning through the zig-zag was the problem. Rear-Steer upgrade???

    We chatted for a bit and then Michael headed east and James and I west. Shortly west of the Chutes is a chunky down-slope section. We each ran it down, then up, and again down. We checked out the steep up-slope side trail. From there it was quick work to the west trailhead.

    The end route was full asphalt to home via the Stove Prairie / Masonville route where James headed south to Loveland and I east to FoCo.

    I removed the 'teaser' video. The full length vid's are in a following post.


    <video id="1" controls="" width="720" height="400"></video>

  2. The Following 5 Members Say Thanks to Jim For This Post:

    FINOCJ (October 23rd, 2021),Java (October 24th, 2021),newracer (October 23rd, 2021),open_circuit (October 23rd, 2021),Tom (October 23rd, 2021)

  3. #2
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    Default Re: 2021-10-22 - Kelly Flats with James & Michael



    Wow what a spectacular day yesterday was. Although the second half of the trail is easy two-track - the soft smooth dirt made it super enjoyable to just cruise along and the scenery was great. The 2 lane black top back through Masonville and then down south to hwy 34 at Loveland was also very scenic enjoyable driving. I then headed down 287 to stop by Ty's to see what was up with his J10 project - that section of jointed concrete with lots of red lights and traffic wasn't the most fun.

    I'd like to think without the top on, the roll bar is tucked 3 inches inside the top support bars, that it might have made it - or at least I would have been open to dragging the roll bar along the side of the rock. Yup, broke mirror on one of the earlier attempts I think, and the top got some abrasion as well as the front support bar had a small inward bow that I pulled out by hand when airing up tires. Surprisingly, traction was not an issue - it really felt like it would walk right up - just have to be able to drag the roof a bit.... My only decent pictures of the day....after this Jim started spinning and making it interesting and I didn't get any pics. Interesting how much less tilt to the driver side Jim has - maybe its the much for flexible front suspension, or the wider axles ease the angle a bit. For better or worse, the short front springs on the old cjs are not the best - the rear springs are quite a bit longer and flex so much better. the good about that is that is where my locker is, so it really gets good rear traction and pushes up stuff, but I can lift a front tire on a parking lot curb.

    ___________
    James Orofino
    1970 CJ5
    1958 Willys Wagon

  4. The Following 4 Members Say Thanks to FINOCJ For This Post:

    newracer (October 23rd, 2021),speedkills (October 24th, 2021),Tom (October 23rd, 2021),TyTheJeepGuy (October 24th, 2021)

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    Default Re: 2021-10-22 - Kelly Flats with James & Michael



    Video files are listed here. The "James at the Chutes" is the full version. The video posted prior was a short / the last segment of the full video.

    A full set of photos is at my web site (along with the video files). Here's the link:
    www.JimWilliamson.net/automobile/2021-10-22--trail--kelly-flats/



    NOTE: These video files are possibly "temporary". They take up a bit of space on my web server and I might pull them in a few weeks.

    James & Michael at the entrance to Kelly Flats




    Michael & James at Heart Attack Hill




    Michael at the Chutes




    James at the Chutes




    James at the rocky/chunky section west of the Chutes


  6. The Following 4 Members Say Thanks to Jim For This Post:

    FINOCJ (October 23rd, 2021),newracer (October 23rd, 2021),Schmitty (November 9th, 2021),Tom (October 23rd, 2021)

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    Default Re: 2021-10-22 - Kelly Flats with James & Michael



    Side tidbit for the trail run...

    James mentioned that a group of people met at Ted's Place and he chatted with them. It seems they were heading up the river for a fish count. A news story showed up about the event:

    https://www.newsbreak.com/news/24116...-shocking-news

  8. The Following 2 Members Say Thanks to Jim For This Post:

    FINOCJ (October 24th, 2021),Tom (October 23rd, 2021)

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    Default Re: 2021-10-22 - Kelly Flats with James & Michael



    Really fun day to be out wheeling, way better than work. Nice to finally meet James. Great weather and conversation.

    I only got a few photos.

    All can be found here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/KVnfGkUqqQT2QefN6

    A select few.










  10. The Following Member Says Thanks to newracer For This Post:

    Jim (October 24th, 2021)

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    Default Re: 2021-10-22 - Kelly Flats with James & Michael



    BTW, Jim and James, I left the Chutes about 2:45 and was on the trailer at 3:05, not even driving hard.

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    Default Re: 2021-10-22 - Kelly Flats with James & Michael



    newracer previously posted:
    "Really fun day to be out wheeling, way better than work. Nice to finally meet James. Great weather and conversation."

    Great meeting you as well...thanks for all the work the club does with trailwork in the area....
    ___________
    James Orofino
    1970 CJ5
    1958 Willys Wagon

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    Default Re: 2021-10-22 - Kelly Flats with James & Michael



    Hey Jim...I can see your videos just fine...I even downloaded to my computer and they play and view just fine...but when I import them into my video editing software I run into a problem...looks like they are a .OGV file? Anyway, that is not supported in my editor...Any tips for OGV files? I think I have found an online free OGV to MP4 or similar converter - so I'll try that. My 7 year old underpowered notebook will get a workout today....
    ___________
    James Orofino
    1970 CJ5
    1958 Willys Wagon

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  15. The Following Member Says Thanks to Jim For This Post:

    FINOCJ (October 24th, 2021)

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    Default Re: 2021-10-22 - Kelly Flats with James & Michael



    The ability to attempt the chutes in a 1970 vehicle and then go help someone with their rig is underrated but luckily we have this site for people who can appreciate that

  17. The Following 2 Members Say Thanks to TyTheJeepGuy For This Post:

    FINOCJ (October 24th, 2021),Jim (October 24th, 2021)

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