Evan's Creek---> 9July06

[IXNAYXJ]

Well, I made my first trip to Evan's Creek this year, at the suggestion of GI-John, who wanted to show visiting relatives what "wheeling" was...and why he had so much money into a Jeep. :D We also brought two E.C. Virgins out there to check it out: Slacker87XJ (Ian) and GreenbeltXJ (Cody) both took their rigs out.

The day started well, all meeting at the Bonney Lake Safeway as usual. We set out about 9:00 am and were on the trails around 9:30. Since this was a few of the group's first time to E.C. we had to stop and admire the view from the bridge. Everyone was warned not to sneeze while stopped, though, as it might be more than the rickity old bridge could take:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00003.jpg

Airing down, and disco'ing:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00004.jpg

We hit 311a first. A (blurry) shot of GreenbeltXJ's two-door. The only rig in the group with open diffs, he did quite well, only needing a tug twice.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00007.jpg

Me, same place.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00010.jpg

And true to form, I had a meeting with the hatch-killer-stump, which I will now refer to "Matt's Tree Stump of DOOM." Those of you who were on the last Evans run will know what I'm talking about!

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00013.jpg

CRUNCH!!! Only a (already broken) tail light this time, luckily.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/af9c18dd.jpg

Aghhh! Pull that arm in, Cody! Demonstarting the "Out-Rigger Roll Mitigation System" on Jeep Cherokees....

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/3992d561.jpg

Ian, showing how over-rated flex is:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/50a48ab3.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/c81fa17f.jpg

On to the stair steps (or whatever you want to call the last obstacle on 311a). Going up the middle:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/65c5a861.jpg

More to come!

-----Matt-----

[90exjay]

damn that looks like fun i can't wait to get out there.

[IXNAYXJ]

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00025.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00026.jpg

Squeezing around the sharp bend at the top of the right line. Stalled it once, but didn't hit either side. Phew! Thanks for the spot, John!

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00026.jpg

Ian giving it a shot:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00035.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00036.jpg

Yes, that tire is off the ground...showing how flex isn't over rated sometimes!

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00037.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00038.jpg

This is FrankenXJ...the Body Damage Special. Owner is a guy named Dan (non-NAXJA member) with his wife Rita and son Dan Jr. I'd wheeled with him once before and we just happened to be airing down as he pulled up in the parking lot...we offered to let him join us, and he accepted. And then there were five....

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00039.jpg

Minimal lift, 32x10.50 bias-ply swampers, lockers front and back, lots of armor, and a total disregard for body damage. There wasn't a single square inch of un-molested metal...which made fitting between trees a non-issue.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00040.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00041.jpg

-----Matt-----

[XJLaredo]

Looks like a good time.

You must have strapped that spare down good this time.:D

[IXNAYXJ]

Cody making a valiant, though ultimately unsuccessful, attempt at the left line:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00029.jpg

Airing down, just a little more. Didn't help there, though it probably did later on down the trail. With Ian's OBA, airing down lots is a luxury we could all afford. I was running about 6\7 PSI, and and the Swampers never complained.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00028.jpg

Getting winched up by Dan in the B.D.S.:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00043.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00042.jpg

John goin up the middle:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00044.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00045.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00046.jpg

Ian watching on as John barely misses dragging his fender flare along the roots...forgeting to mention the his front bumper cap was about to be eaten by the stump out in front. Ironically, this was the same place Ian lost his! :D

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00049.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00048.jpg

Pushing on:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00052.jpg

-----Matt-----

[IXNAYXJ]

The money shot:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00056.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00058.jpg

There was almost no mud up there, just in the regular deep spots.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00065.jpg

On to the next trail! We skipped 311b and went straight to 520. We ended up taking the same (very challenging) route as the last Evans run...168, I think? The "Switchback" as some call it.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00069.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00070.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00071.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00072.jpg

Cody had a little trouble here, but made it through on his own after a few tries:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00074.jpg

New dent. Or as Cody says, he was just evening out the other side. :D

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00078.jpg

I can hear the Dana 35 letting go....

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00079.jpg

It didn't but, he's got a D44 waiting for gears at home.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00081.jpg

Dan just aimed down the trail letting the XJ bounce like a pin-ball between the roots/trees.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/1327b13c.jpg

Well, that's all I could get before the batteries went dead on the down load.

Will GI-John flop his truck again? Or will he conquer the trail, leaving the roll-over to another Jeeper?

Tune in tomorrow for the harrowing tale's exciting conclusion as our intrepid wheelers finish the Switchback!

So yeah, I'll post the rest (and the best) of the pics tomorrrow. :D

-----Matt-----

[PDeeXJ]

Awesome! And, that huge mountain in the background almost looks fake. What mountain is that?

[Slacker87XJ]

Awesome! And, that huge mountain in the background almost looks fake. What mountain is that?

It is fake - it's a mural on the side of a Wal-Mart at the Supermall of America in Illinois and Matt just photoshopped it in there. :D




...



Actually it's Mount Rainier up close ;)

[mojojojo]

nice windsheild and roof rack...:cheers:

[workaholic]

looks like a blast, cant wait to get a real suspension and tires on my MJ so I can head out to the trails with you guys.

Tom

[Dvipercop]

nice windshield

Beat me to it! :D

[GI-John]

looks like a blast, cant wait to get a real suspension and tires on my MJ so I can head out to the trails with you guys.

Tom

You would be AMAZED at what a small lift and 31's will go through.

If you want, tag along on the next run if you feel your rig isn't up for the trail.

P.S.

Thanks for the Impromptu ride Matt, Ian, and Cody. This is a trip that my family will likely never forget.

[2xtreme]

Doesn't Ian know how to disconnect the front swaybar :)
That front tire would be on the ground if they were disco'ed :)

I can't wait to get back on the trail with you guys!!

Michael

[XJourney]

Hey looks like you guys had a great time. I love the pics. I can't wait to go to Evans again. Maybe Sept 9th/10th with an unnamed group.

Nice catch Michael, Maybe Ian has a In Cab Electronic Disco.

[norcal420]

That's it... I wanna go to Evan's Creek.

Nice pics.

DR

[Slacker87XJ]

Doesn't Ian know how to disconnect the front swaybar :)
That front tire would be on the ground if they were disco'ed :)

I can't wait to get back on the trail with you guys!!

Michael

Actually, I tested that with a floor jack when I first bought the rig, and with the swaybar disco'd I only get about 1/2" more droop cause the LCAs hit the top of the axle mount brackets and limit the travel :(

Besides, this way I can call the heep 'tripod' :D

-i

[IXNAYXJ]

Okay...here're the rest.

John; the last one through the trees:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00090.jpg

Threading our way down the hill, dodging giant logs:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00092.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00104.jpg

My new favorite pic:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00095.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00097.jpg

Note custom left/front bumper cap:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00098.jpg

I'm sure glad I didn't buy an FJ60! The XJ barely fits!
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00099.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00101.jpg

Dan; taking an unusual amount of care:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00102.jpg

Let's try this corner again:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00108.jpg

Backing up for a better angle. Starting to get tippy!

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00107.jpg

Starting to get really tippy. Pucker factor!

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00109.jpg

Whew! Made it through all the nasty stuff. BTW, that was where GI-John went over last time...so my fear wasn't totally irrational. :)

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00110.jpg

-----Matt-----

[IXNAYXJ]

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00111.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00112.jpg

Ian; getting lined up:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00113.jpg

Ian got a great line and had no problems:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00114.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00118.jpg

We had a really close call right after this pic was taken. I was standing the drivers side of Dan's rig, watching Ian move down the trail, with John right next to me. All of a sudden, Dan's rig lurched and starting tipping..and tipping...and not stoping! I heard Dan sorta yell/shout with surprise as the XJ hit the point of no return. I lept back initially (you know, to avoid getting crushed!), but John didn't hesitate to run right in and push the truck back. I came to my senses and we both pushed, managing to put it back on her wheels.

It was about three inches away from where John went over last time...at least now we know John wasn't the only one dumb enough to flop there! ;)

-----Matt-----

[IXNAYXJ]

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00121.jpg

A little wide there, John:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00122.jpg

Managed to keep the clean side up, this time:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00125.jpg

Coming out by the pond:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00129.jpg

Managing not to swamp it this time:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00130.jpg

Ian showing off his OBA:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00132.jpg

What Jeeping trip would be complete without at least one mechanical issue?

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00134.jpg

Note the socket and wrench instead of a bolt: :D

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00140.jpg

Ass-hat alert! I guess he didn't like his fender flares!

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Evans%209July06/DSC00139.jpg

Well, there you go. Thanks to everyone who went for the great time. I really want to go back soon and run the switchback the other direction. I have a feeling it would be more fun and less precarious in certain places. Michael? Hans? ;)

-----Matt-----

[JBweld]

Wow, that place looks great. Haven't been there yet. If you guys set up another trip this summer I'd like to go. Great pictures too.

[2xtreme]

Actually, I tested that with a floor jack when I first bought the rig, and with the swaybar disco'd I only get about 1/2" more droop cause the LCAs hit the top of the axle mount brackets and limit the travel :(

Besides, this way I can call the heep 'tripod' :D

-i

I suspect when you tested it, you did not jack up the other side? I have had (till very recently) stock control arms and with 4.5" of lift with the swaybar discoed they do hit the control arm buckets but it still flexed much better than that. Try it out, I think you will find it will flex more. Plus when it does hit, it will still continue to flex, it just bends the buckets and control arms:)

Matt,
Are you SURE that is where John flopped? There we NO ruts and it was a strait away when John flopped. Side note, he went over due to the front wheel going over not the rear.

Michael

[IXNAYXJ]

Matt,
Are you SURE that is where John flopped? There we NO ruts and it was a strait away when John flopped. Side note, he went over due to the front wheel going over not the rear.

MichaelYup...just a few feet further than the pic (past the cruve where the pic was shot). We even saw the rock that put his right front tire up enough to go over. Oh, and I found the rock where I broke my foot, too. ;)

-----Matt-----

[Slacker87XJ]

I suspect when you tested it, you did not jack up the other side? I have had (till very recently) stock control arms and with 4.5" of lift with the swaybar discoed they do hit the control arm buckets but it still flexed much better than that. Try it out, I think you will find it will flex more. Plus when it does hit, it will still continue to flex, it just bends the buckets and control arms:)

Michael

I'll have to give it a shot next time, I didn't think it would flex much more - of course I wasn't thinking about bendy control arms and brackets when I tested it :)

[CanMan]

Looks like fun! How much are passes for a season? I think day ones are like $5 or something?

[IXNAYXJ]

Looks like fun! How much are passes for a season? I think day ones are like $5 or something?Passes? ;)

-----M-----

[CanMan]

Passes? ;)

-----M-----

Last time I was up there with a buddy and his brothers Toy, There were a few Rangers, but yea, thats the only time I've seen any up there in the handful of times I've been. :thumbup:

[IXNAYXJ]

Last time I was up there with a buddy and his brothers Toy, There were a few Rangers, but yea, thats the only time I've seen any up there in the handful of times I've been. :thumbup:There were two Sherriff's dept. trucks up there Sunday, and they didn't seem to care. Probably not a bad idea to have one, though.

As a matter of fact, I found one on the trail about halfway through and jumped out and picked it up. So I was legal for half the day. :D

-----Matt-----

[Blkxjkrawler]

that looks like a lot of fun. Let me know next time you go, I'd love to come down and give Evans a try.

[mud1059]

Not sure if you remember, but when Cody was fixin his track bar, up rolled the TJ and Toy in your post. We talked a bit about my '96 trail rig. I asked you about NAXJA and you clamly said ya...never identifying yourself as IXNAYXJ. So anyways, I have no idea where else to post these badboys (I just figured out how today)

Here's that damn yota again....he'll park that thing anywhere
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m111/mud1059/P1010017.jpg

After 25 straight hours of work, I was able to take it out a few sundays ago to Evans....only took one unmarked trail and that was enough for me... problems with bumpsteer....
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m111/mud1059/P2040004.jpg

This rig was cherry before I cut the fenders to take it out that day. This is what I get for following the yota.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m111/mud1059/P2040001.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m111/mud1059/P2040002.jpg

In the rush and exhaustion the pinion seal was forgotten....seized up on the way home....those were 6 hr old 4.88s. Here it is after it's complete rebuild. Had 250K on the odo. Don't be too jealous (it's ugly but it should work)
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m111/mud1059/P2040003.jpg

Anyways for those of you not too familiar with Evans, it's not as bad as it once was. Now all sorts of jeep clubs come in and make it easy for the stock jeeps or mildly modified that don't want any body damage. Also, the deep mudholes are irrigated out down the hillside. blah blah blah. This is true on the marked trails. Notice all the rocks in some of the previously posted pictures. Kind of disappointing. Some of the unmarked trails, if you make it halfway up, it'll end up like mine whether you want it to or not.

Last but not least who wants to go wheeling the weekend of the 23. The yota will be there, my rig will be done, and I need somebody with the same capability so he's not just waiting on me. We could make it a group thing. I'm the only one of my wheeling friends (about 12 of them) without toyota running gear and the LEAST capable by a lot. It'd be great to see you guys out there again...or at Elbe, but that's quite a bit harder. Great pics IXNAY

[2xtreme]

WOW, all that damage and all the blame on the driver of the Toy!?!?!?

And all the trails at Evans have been destroyed by Jeep clubs??

You must be quite the know it all:)

You are correct. Elbe used to be much more difficult for smaller tired vehicles than it is now. There is plenty of good stuff there still and no reason that any vehicle needs to look like your heep if they go up any unmarked trails!

Just setting the record strait and creating friends:)


Ian, You will be much better off with the sways disco'ed but then again, you always seem to be able to work around any shorcomings!! :)
Michael

[2xtreme]

Yup...just a few feet further than the pic (past the cruve where the pic was shot). We even saw the rock that put his right front tire up enough to go over. Oh, and I found the rock where I broke my foot, too. ;)

-----Matt-----

That makes sense!!
Did you bring the rock back to frame:)

Michael

[IXNAYXJ]

Not sure if you remember, but when Cody was fixin his track bar, up rolled the TJ and Toy in your post. We talked a bit about my '96 trail rig. I asked you about NAXJA and you clamly said ya...never identifying yourself as IXNAYXJ. Sorry, I didn't realize you would have known who IXNAYXJ was either way. Besides, you never said you were mud1059! :D

Anyways for those of you not too familiar with Evans, it's not as bad as it once was. Now all sorts of jeep clubs come in and make it easy for the stock jeeps or mildly modified that don't want any body damage. Also, the deep mudholes are irrigated out down the hillside. blah blah blah. This is true on the marked trails. Notice all the rocks in some of the previously posted pictures. Kind of disappointing. Some of the unmarked trails, if you make it halfway up, it'll end up like mine whether you want it to or not. I've heard the "You should have seen Evans before!" comment a lot, but I'm not sure how much of that to believe. You are right about it being reletively do-able in a mildly modified vehicle, but a little mud/rain makes a big difference. It's fun in winter, too.

Last but not least who wants to go wheeling the weekend of the 23. The yota will be there, my rig will be done, and I need somebody with the same capability so he's not just waiting on me. We could make it a group thing. I'm the only one of my wheeling friends (about 12 of them) without toyota running gear and the LEAST capable by a lot. It'd be great to see you guys out there again...or at Elbe, but that's quite a bit harder. Great pics IXNAYI don't think I can make it that weekend, and I'd prefer not to make my rig look like a monster-truck victim, either. I really want to run Elbe soon, though. We've been talking about it for while...hopefully we can make it out there soon.

Anyway, it was nice meeting you the other day, and I'm glad you took the time to introduce yourself on the board. Always nice to put a face with a username. You just need to get in red now.... :D

-----Matt-----

[buckwing0]

directions to where you were wheeling?