"Really nice photos and vids James. Thanks for sharing. How’s MT treating you these days."
wish there was better wheeling in MT! Seems I keep driving to UT, CO and Idaho to wheel! At least for the CJ and more hardcore wheeling, there isn't nearly as much here. But there are lots of backroad, easy dirt, logging and mining roads to explore. I have been really hoping to use the 58 willys for such exploration with camping etc, but seems I can never get all the kinks worked out of it. May be pulling the engine again - the idiot who built it may have messed up a c-rod bearing clearance. Maybe this summer i can really get out and explore more trails...the wheeling clubs aren't as easy to interact with as FR4x4 (all that formal monthly meetings, dues, vehicle requirements etc). Especially here in Bozeman, the local club seems more mud racing and fairgrounds events focused than rocky trail trips. But there is definitely wheeling....even with my CJ pretty solid, I still don't love going solo in a 54 year old rig (especially in the heart of grizzly country).
I'll be back down in Colo in Aug for the ecj5 run - plan is CB area and the classic passes like Pearl, Taylor, Schofield etc...You and Jim (and I'll probably hit Louis up) would be welcome as well. There is some talk of getting some of the gang together next summer for a MT wheeling trip....think Jim might be interested in that, and Jim seems to have spurred Rich to buy a bigger (CJ7) and more built jeep that can carry all the stuff Jim carries, and to leave out west for harder trails. The white flatty will go back east this fall and will probably stay there.
On the non-jeep side of things, it was a tough year for snow around here...the resort was down business pretty significantly, and thus my work took a hit as well...but considering I probably worked too much the last couple years, I might have actually found the right amount of hours this year to not burn-out. Got some good plans for river trips this summer...with the below average snowpack, we'll see how fire season evolves.