On Saturday Morning the 19th of July we left my house at 8AM to head out for a week of great fun. We got to Mike Hewitt’s Cabin, (3 bedroom 2 bath), at Shaver Lake in the afternoon. We stacked our spots and had a good time setting around and talking about the coming week deciding what runs to do first. We decided to do Coyote and Red lake first.

We left at 9AM the next morning and headed to Coyote Lake. We thought we were going to do Strawberry and Mirror also that day but the trails have toughened up since I was there last and we just did Red and Coyote.

The next morning we did Strawberry and Mirror Lakes. The trail down to Mirror really got Georges attention, as it is a really tough section. It was a pleasure to wheel with George as he started out never having done anything tougher than Big Bear and seeing him learn and get much better as the week progressed.

On Tuesday we decided to run Swamp Lake backwards. The trail has toughened up and even the easy way is hard now.

On Wednesday we ran Swamp the “hard” way. All was going good till it started to rain as we got to the blast area. I drove up first, then Billy tried but the front tires slipped and lurched sideways with Billy getting it locked down just before sliding off the side for a sure roll. We used 3 winches to secure him while we backed him back down. He made a couple of more tries before I winched him on up. Efrin made a couple of attempts and winched up. Mark and Cal drove up next and we were off again. It rained most of the rest of the way out but just a light drizzle, just enough to wet the rocks. By the time we got off the trail it had quit raining and we were dried out.

When we got to town we found out the only station in town was out of regular and almost out of premium. We told everybody to get there and fill up before they ran out. We all got gassed up but they ran out later.

The next morning we headed out on the Dusy passing the gas station and the wheelers waiting for the gas truck, we got lucky. It is a long drive to the staging area where we aired down and while we were there Damien showed up to go. He had an ice chest full of meat that Mike Hewitt had bought for the cabin but was bringing it on the trail. We had already lost Steve Bass and Mike Hewitt to trail damage on the other trails and I wondered what this day would bring. The trail wasn’t bad till we got to Thompson Hill. The combination of ground moister and loose rocks with steep climbs proved a real challenge. Since I had my wife and 2 granddaughters along I was pulling my tent trailer. I got to one point and could go no further. I let the air down from 12 to 9 pounds and got traction and was off again carrying the front tires off the ground for most of several hundred feet. Why I didn’t break any thing I don’t know. Everyone made it up with most having to struggle along, it was great. There is a big camp area near the top and no one was there so we set up camp.

The next day we made the drive to Ershim Lake. It was an easy day and when we got to camp I was surprised to find only one couple camped there.

The run out was another hard, read good, day. Mel, Efrin, and Damian were running low on gas and worried about getting out. Mel got some from Mark in camp before we started out and Damian ran out later and got some from Mark also. It is a long trail and the extra 5-gallon can I brought because of the trailer was just enough to get me to town.

Mike Hewitt broke his steering the first day and was out. Steve Bass broke his left rear spring hanger and went into town to have it fixed. He then broke his steering bracket mount and he was out. Cal lost a tire on the way home from Swamp when a spring leaf turned and rubbed a hole in the tire. Billy took out a sidewall on Thompson Hill. I broke a center pin on the right rear spring and bent my trailer axle. George has more clearance under his rig now since everything is rock hammered up now. His rear bumper makes a nice smiley face now. And Damian, what can I say? He broke every part known to Ford and his Eddy Bower Exploder has body damage clear up to the window bottoms. But he made it through and I have to give him credit for not giving up. I’m sure there was other sundry damage no one fessed up to or I didn’t hear about. The weather was great and I think everyone had a good time. I know I left out of little things but you can’t get it all with 9 rigs on the trail.

Pictures available here, here and here !!

Frank Hayes KE6RDG
President Orange County 4-Play
Hayes Ent. custom Jeep work
http://hayesentjeep.com