Posted: 9/5/2009 3:32:37 PM EDT
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Taken from the Carolinas Hometown forum:
What a day. Met up with fenderfreek and we rolled out to Uwharrie. Met the guys at Camp Arfcom and set out wheelin'. The whole day is a blur. An adrenaline filled, exciting, challenging, and fun day. I think a few people learned about preparedness the hard way. What supplies I had were extremely basic and meager, yet saved the day a few times along the way. I had a great time driving my blazer through some tough obstacles. I needed a spotter for a few of them, but I made it through just fine. I put a dent in a skidplate, but hey thats what they are there for! My rig performed flawlessly. I like to run in 4lo 2nd gear most of the time, occasionally shifting down to first if the terrain is steep enough. It did quite well, we only had to go around a few places. Every now and then we had to play catch up or the gang would have to stop and wait as we carefully selected lines, drove slower or for whatever reason fell behind. I wasn't in any hurry and saw no need to risk breakage. I was also enjoying the trip quite a bit and slow and easy is the key to keeping it that way IMHO. I never got stuck, and didn't break anything, so I met all of my goals this trip. Its not that getting stuck is such a bad thing, its just that I like to try to see what kind of things I can do without assistance. Once again, the blazer surprised me with its abilities. Its a capable rig and I think it surprised a few people. I've always liked how it drives off road. This was my second trip to Uwharrie for trail riding. I tried some harder things this time and it never let me down. 
First casualty: Uh Salt Rifle's jeep. Water in the distributor cap. Note the tricked out dipstick with the bolt face logo on it. 
FenderFreek's ride. Regardless of what anyone was thinking or what was said about waiting for blazers to "catch up", his rig can certainly get shit done. He never wimped out, and his rig is just as capable as I said it was. It is not to be written off, scoffed at or ridiculed. He put that truck through its paces, and its got the scars to prove it. It was impressive to me to see that he was able to do everything that was being done by others, even though it seemed on the surface incapable as such. Good job, good driving, and I hope we can get you back out there again! 
Random photo of me. Blame Lex. I have no idea what was going on at that time. 
More smack down being laid upon the trail. 
I told Lex I wanted action shots of my truck! He did what he could to earn his keep. 
FenderFreek absolutely dominating this obstacle. Incredible work! Now that your confidence is up, we can do this some more! 
I think we unleashed an animal! That little blazer can go! 
I smell a new avatar.... 
A little WD40 and some papertowels let this jeep enjoy the rest of the day on the trail instead of beside it. 
Our one "stuck" of the day. Not enough speed, he wasn't in Low Range, and it couldn't get off this high center. We agreed that technique could have prevented this but he still did very well out there today. He geared down after this incident and never needed help again. 
10,000lb rated ProComp strap to the rescue! 
Along with proper hardware for the task. 
One slight tug got it going again. 
At this point I see that my pictures might be out of order... but I'm not going back to change any of it. Otherwise I can't figure out why the hell we are staring at Uh Salt Rifle's engine again. 
Trailside assistance! 
Water Displacement formula 40 FTW!!! 
Everyone standing around and making random "general discussion" type comments while they breathe life back in to the engine. 
But that wasn't the only vehicle with a wet distributor! 
I can't help posting another picture like this. Its just so damn sexy! 
One of these jeeps does not have enough tread to meet the minimum required specifications set forth by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. 
I'm not sure what was going on at the moment, but this was the third rig on the casualty list. Missing shock bushing and a case of overheating plauged this Cherokee. 
I think it might be the ignition module, but once it was cooled down he was able to make it through the rest of the trails. 
We were all very concerned for the dog's safety since there was a JBT patrolling the area. I was prepared to jump on him and cover him up "secret service" style to save his life. 
What the hell is with all these jeeps? This thread needs MOAR BLAZER!!!! 
This picture is an improvement, since there is a blazer in the backround. 
We brought a sandwich maker in case anyone got hungry. 
Look at that articulation! 
I'm running out of smart ass captions. 
Run Fender, Run! 
This looks like it might be difficult. I'll take the hard line through and make it look easy. 
Just like this. 
Then I'll slide off sideways and dent the skidplate, yet still make it over unassisted. 
Your turn. 
Lex, you are taking too many pictures of the wrong blazer. 
Sometime before this picture was taken that rocker didn't have a dent in it. Now it has a cool scar to show the chicks and tell stories about. Be PROUD of that dent, it didn't happen in the mall parking lot! |
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Quoted:
Great photos! So, How is your steering after all that? 
I know some of the boys over at ZR2USA go there quite often. Looks like a fun place! Fine. I didn't hurt anything. I don't abuse my rig. I just have that small dent in the skidplate under the transfer case. 
One of the guys posted this pic of me pulling a tire. I don't recall what I was doing at the time to cause that. 
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I distinctly remember wolf's den and sawmill. I'm not sure about any others. I was too busy driving, or fixing people's rigs to notice.
I did most of them last year, and although the terrain changed a little I recognized some of the places. The thing is, last year I did them in the opposite direction, so it made it a bit more challenging this time. |
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Quoted: Quoted: You missed out on one hell of an adventure! That was the most fun I've had in a long time. What trails did you hit? No pics on Kodak Rock? I hit all of them but Daniel. I flattened a tire up on the rock climb of Dutch John. I think someone will be posting the pics of the chick in the real nice Jeep climbing that rock. |
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Quoted: Lets not forget how everytime there was a break down "Pissing in the radiator will fix it, I saw it in a movie once" was the only solution offered by the peanut gallery.  It was a good time, just need to get Fender used to picking lines. One of the other stock Jeeps had to be pulled off of stuff too. My bald front tires did pretty good.
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Well, you can either have finesse or a lot of speed. Whatever works best for you.
Fender did run a powerline with me on New Year's day. He did say it was his first time doing anything other than big 'ol mud puddles. So he is still a newb. I'm a little green myself, but I've done enough to sorta figure my way through stuff. |
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Quoted:
Let me know next time you go. I live in Spartanburg and would love to do that in my '95 YJ. Its been posted since July http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=8&f=34&t=370205 |
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Quoted: Let me know next time you go. I live in Spartanburg and would love to do that in my '95 YJ. Halloween maybe. I live just up the ways on I85, you could link up with me if you need.  That was the only pic I have on my camera. I need to bring a photographer next time. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Let me know next time you go. I live in Spartanburg and would love to do that in my '95 YJ. Halloween maybe. I live just up the ways on I85, you could link up with me if you need. That was the only pic I have on my camera. I need to bring a photographer next time. Please let me know. I would really like to do this. |
I don't have any of me splashing through mud like that. 