The Cliffs - October 13-15

[xj4life]

Sorry for the last minute notice but our event got canceled so we're scrambling to get something new planned. Tenative plans are to hit The Cliffs (http://www.thecliffsinsaneterrain.com/). Possiblity there may be prizes given away :clap:

Here's a link to more details
http://www.greatlakes4x4.com/showthread.php?t=22992

[IntrepidXJ]

got a right seat open? if so, i can come ride along and take pics. i'm not working that weekend

[xj4life]

got a right seat open? if so, i can come ride along and take pics. i'm not working that weekend

yup i'll have an open seat. you're more than welcome to join, always could use a good spotter/camera man :)

[IntrepidXJ]

pm'd ya

[Rocketman]

Depending on damage incurred this weekend, I'll make an attempt to be there.

[XJawgi]

a little to far for me...but would be sweet!

[Roxtar]

Oh yea, the Cliffs oughta be loads of fun right about now.
Good chance to try out ARB's new rack mounted lifeboat.

[IntrepidXJ]

BTW- where you guys planning on staying/camping?

[Roxtar]

BTW- where you guys planning on staying/camping?Noah's fawkin ark?

Are you guys seriously going there after this past month's weather?
That place could drive Rev to wish for nice hard rocks.

[xj4life]

Noah's fawkin ark?

Are you guys seriously going there after this past month's weather?
That place could drive Rev to wish for nice hard rocks.

I have not brought that up with the organizer. I guess I'm just hoping for the best.

If we do go to the Cliffs there is a possibility of camping on site or one of the local campgrounds listed on their site.

[IntrepidXJ]

Noah's fawkin ark?

Are you guys seriously going there after this past month's weather?
That place could drive Rev to wish for nice hard rocks.

i'll just be a passenger....my rig is in pieces.

as long as it doesn;t rain the day before, it won't be too bad

[xj4life]

as long as it doesn;t rain the day before, it won't be too bad

you sure? that's all i've heard about that place, is that it doesnt even have to rain and its muddy.

[IntrepidXJ]

you sure? that's all i've heard about that place, is that it doesnt even have to rain and its muddy.

i didn't say there wouldn't be mud.....but it will be wheelable.

contrary to popular believe, i have been to the cliffs many times when it was dry. i have also been there after a lot of rain. the only time i had any problems wheeling there, was the day after a big rain.

[Rev Den]

If it gets almost no rain for the next week of so, it should be real muddy....but livable. If the weather does not break however....plan to winch....allot.

Rev

[Roxtar]

i'll just be a passenger....my rig is in pieces.

as long as it doesn;t rain the day before, it won't be too badYou do know the right seat belongs to the hookup bitch.
I'd wear waders.



And a snorkel.

[xj4life]

Well I let everyone know about the mud and they are still in :thumbup:

Looks like we'll be staying at the state campground in town
http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/parks/i&m/east/illini/park.htm

[XJMK]

I'll have to see when I work...I have it written down in this mess somewhere...

I'm only an hour away so I'll swing by when I get a chance.




I was there 3 weeks ago and it was fairly dry. I want a chance to really try out my new BFG MTs!

[xj4life]

I'll have to see when I work...I have it written down in this mess somewhere...

I'm only an hour away so I'll swing by when I get a chance.




I was there 3 weeks ago and it was fairly dry. I want a chance to really try out my new BFG MTs!

:thumbup:

[Rocketman]

Hey Brad,

Wild guess here... you don't like The Cliffs? :lickout:

Actually it was pretty dry last weekend. The Badlands was dry as well. Even the well known mud holes on orange were easily runnable. Somehow, both places seem to have escaped the deluge.

[Roxtar]

Hey Brad,

Wild guess here... you don't like The Cliffs? :lickout:

Love the Cliffs, got my scuba certification there.


For wheeling during a wet season?


Not so much.

[xj4life]

Yeah someone pre-rant the park last weekend and he said it was dry

[Rocketman]

Love the Cliffs, got my scuba certification there.


Would that be PADI or NAUI?? :wave1:

[Roxtar]

Would that be PADI or NAUI?? :wave1:MUDI

[Rev Den]

Even the well known mud holes on orange were easily runnable. Somehow, both places seem to have escaped the deluge.

You must have ran a different part of Orange than me...or skipped the mud holes. I found one that sunk the quad to the floor boards. It took me 20 Min. and 3 different trees to winch out.

Rev

[Rocketman]

There was mud.... to the floorboards on a quad is what... 8"s or so? The yuck was bad tho back in the "swamp areas" North of the creek and the back area on Orange below the road. Avoided the "manufactured mud pits." on orange. Just went around them. Good advice when you are by yourself!!

Actually think I made a few new trails on green on the ridge by the fence. Only tracks were narrow quads so I was breaking new (or very old) ground. I like the parts of green where you have no idea what's over the hump. Could be a drop, could be a flat area. It's fun when no one is with you either going first or spotting. Increases pucker factor just a bit.

Is RED the rocky part on the South side of the lake and has that little stretch that runs along a deep creek/ravine?? That was fun.

[Rev Den]

There was mud.... to the floorboards on a quad is what... 8"s or so? The yuck was bad tho back in the "swamp areas" North of the creek and the back area on Orange below the road.

Yup...that is where I was. When I jumped off the quad I sunk to my knees....yuk. The jeep would have made it....longer wheelbase...but the quad just sunk.

Still was fun. :D


Rev

[Rocketman]

What really sucks is pulling a leg out of the muck and leaving your boot in the crap and it backfills with mud!!

:wow:

[Rev Den]

What really sucks is pulling a leg out of the muck and leaving your boot in the crap and it backfills with mud!!

:wow:

I really was glad I had my Red Wings on....feet never got wet.

Rev

[IntrepidXJ]

looking like i will be there saturday. zach should be there too.....i'll double check with him tomorrow.

[xj4life]

looking like i will be there saturday. zach should be there too.....i'll double check with him tomorrow.

:thumbup:

we might have a night run setup saturday night if you guys are interested.

[Rocketman]

I'm gonna try to be there Saturday AM. Momma has to work Sat night so a night run is out for me.

[IntrepidXJ]

ok.....just got off the phone with zach. he and I will be there Saturday morning.

[Rocketman]

Cool... looking forward to tearing up #10 with you guys. That was the "fun" trail a couple weeks ago. They've done a nice job re-marking/numbering the trails.

[Rocketman]

Anyone else??

Planning on leaving around 7:30 or so from out here in da burbs. Takes me 45 minutes or so depending on traffic.

If anyone else has the CB fired up I'll be on channel 6.

Bringing my little guy along to provide commentary. At least we will have our Jedi protector should we need it. (He's 4)

ON A SIDE NOTE: If anyone is interested in a set of stock rear leafs with only 17K on em or a set of front D30 axles WITH hubs in decent shape (260's NON-disco, Non-ABS) , let me know and I'll toss em in the back.

[Rocketman]

Interesting day.

Did a run on trail 23? The trail Sean went sideways on last years Fall Colors run? Everyone pretty much made it down the hill until we all had to winch around a narrow turn, go up and around a fallen tree in the trail. 3 other guys broke beads or got flats and had to replace tires on the downhill in the muck.

I headed off after lunch with my little guy and we were way back on 13 or 14 on the North side and ended up stuck in the mud. No winch, no trail buddies. 2 guys on quads try to help by hooking together and trying give a tug, No joy.

THEN...

I'm sure I'll never live this one down (REV DEN) but a guy on an 800CC Polaris quad came and was able to pull me out. $10,000 rig. Powerful as hell obviously. He said he pulled a Wangler that was high centered on both axles in a mud pit out once. I was in no position to argue.

I'll never speak of quads in vain again!! On the last picture, I'm doing the "What color is my Jeep" contest.

http://www.robpettey.com/jeep/quad.gif

http://www.robpettey.com/jeep/tug.gif

http://www.robpettey.com/jeep/mud.gif

[Rev Den]

:D


Rev

[IntrepidXJ]

was nice meeting you chris. here's some pics from today

http://myxj.net/trail/The_Cliffs_10-14-06/photos/DSC00042.JPG

http://myxj.net/trail/The_Cliffs_10-14-06/photos/DSC00054.JPG

http://myxj.net/trail/The_Cliffs_10-14-06/photos/DSC00065.JPG

http://myxj.net/trail/The_Cliffs_10-14-06/photos/DSC00092.JPG

http://myxj.net/trail/The_Cliffs_10-14-06/photos/DSC00111.JPG

more here:

http://myxj.net/gallery/The_Cliffs_10-14-06.php

BTW- I was suprised how dry the trails were.

[Roxtar]

Cool, thanks God it wasn't muddy. :laugh2:

[xj4life]

thanks for the pics Randy. it was really nice meeting you and Zach. btw i already started greasing the wheels with my wife for the new years day run :D

i didnt get many good pics so i'll but i'll post them up here in a little while.

[IntrepidXJ]

so....how many more beads were lost after i left?

;)

[xj4life]

so....how many more beads were lost after i left?

;)

actually none. the trail we ran in the afternoon just took paint, sheetmetal, fender flairs, hoods,.....

[Rocketman]

actually none. the trail we ran in the afternoon just took paint, sheetmetal, fender flairs, hoods,.....

Hood?? Did a tree fall on someone? Where did you guys go in the afternoon? I left at 2:30 and you guys were just heading back out.

Looks like I need to plan on my "Rainbow Trout" paint scheme. Although Rev, He didn't use a winch, just a yank from the clevis on his rear reciever.

I was looking at the prices of those bigger Polaris quads (800cc+) $10K. NOT cheap. What could you do to your Jeep with $10K?? Damn...

[xj4life]

That black YJ got a huge dent in his hood. but just pulled out a hammer and straightened it out. i'm not sure exactly what trail it was. maybe 11? i think it was called something like "muddy turtles".

[xj4life]

here are a few of my pics. i got a few of Rocketman

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v356/xj4life/Cliffs%2006/

[jaymo]

Man it looks like you guy's had a great time. I cant wait to go out. Im allmost there. Ive been working on my rig every day after work and weekends.
Hey rocket how did your boy do? Mine kinda freaked out when we did 9. But the rest of the time he liked it.He's 5 now but he was 3 the last time we went out. I put together a remote controlled crawler so he could play at the quarry, at the badlands.

[Roxtar]

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v356/xj4life/Cliffs%2006/

Too funny.
I love it when people say, "It's not that muddy out there."
:laugh2:

[xj4life]

Too funny.
I love it when people say, "It's not that muddy out there."
:laugh2:

it really wasnt that bad. yeah there was mud and it made it challenging but it wasnt to the point where you couldnt make it through a spot. though i'd hate to see it on a muddy day.

[Roxtar]

it really wasnt that bad. yeah there was mud and it made it challenging but it wasnt to the point where you couldnt make it through a spot. though i'd hate to see it on a muddy day.Dude, I saw the pictures!
There's no such thing as a non-muddy day out there.

[IntrepidXJ]

There's no such thing as a non-muddy day out there.

contrary to popular belief....i have been out there when no mud could be found and it was dry!

[xj4life]

Dude, I saw the pictures!
There's no such thing as a non-muddy day out there.

no it wasnt like out west crawlin on rocks. if someone doesnt like an ounce of mud on their jeep then i wouldnt go to the Cliffs. but i'd say it isnt much muddier than than the badlands

[Roxtar]

contrary to popular belief....i have been out there when no mud could be found and it was dry!Though some have claimed to have experienced them, dry trails at The Cliffs ORP are an urban legend

[Rocketman]

The Snopes post was great Brad...:)