Not sure where to even begin on this event.
Rod, Dave, and I met up just outside of Vancouver Friday morning to head up for the weekend. I think we rolled out about 11:15, and we were rolling into the campground by about 2:30. Not a bad drive up at all.
Much to our surprise the campground was empty, not a person or rig to be found. We scoped out some area and decided to make camp under the covered area with the fire pit underneath (good choice!).
Later in the day Joe and Angela rolled in as well as Kalin and Carlos. Once nightfall set in we decided to suck it up and venture away from the fire for a quick night run up 311. The night run really went off without any problems luckily, and we made good time up the lower section. The trails were a bit wet, but traction really wasn't and issue. I think a few of us crawled the left rock face on Brakeline Hill without even spinning a tire. After running the lower and upper 311 back to the fire we went.
Saturday morning rolled around and we were wondering just how many people would be showing up, if any at all. While we kind of wanted to wheel, we also were quite content around the fire (did I mention it was like 38 degrees outside?). That's when we heard the distinct sound of the 4.0L engine. Except it wasn't just one, there were eight!
We had a group of 13 I believe, and Tim had a great route planned for us. We rolled out shortly after 10:00 and the first stop was the 196 Rockface.
Tim headed up first. The pictures a bit blurry but it shows him fully getting it. Traction was not on our side.
Joe being Joe, chose a high left line and kind of crab walked along the face. I like Tim's WTF look.
Kevin had a tough time with an open front. Most made it up after a try or two, a few had to be pulled up.
After everyone got up the rock face we continued on up the 196. Jeremy (?) was having some front end issues, so he ditched his rig at the bottom and grabbed a seat with his buddy Scott. We regrouped at the top and sent a few of the open front rigs around while the rest of us started the 197.
We had a pretty good pace going. I heard several "man I was so close to busting out that window," or "well that's a new dent." It was tight, technical, and a whole lotta fun.
Then "that guy" decided to show up for the party.
Joe's UCA mount ripped itself off his axle truss. With it only being a Y-link he was pretty much SOL. Luckily Scott had a portable Ready Welder, and Tim was able to get it semi back together.
Big thanks goes out to Scott and his dad for volunteering there batteries and welder.
With our fingers crossed we buttoned everything back up, and contnued on up the trail. No more than two minutes later I hear "well... the mount broke again." We weren't liking "that guy" very much at this point.
The group was pretty strung out over the trail at this point so a few of us stuck around to help with repairs. Agian, big thanks goes out to Scott and Jeremy for helping to get Joe mobile again.
We got everything buttoned up, and once again crossed out fingers it would hold. This time Joe got a little further than last time, but once again "that guy" wasn't done. While trying to bump around a tree root, the front drive line tossed out the u-joint caps at the axle end. At this point I think I suggested we just start parting it out.
Joe had a spare 1310 so he tossed two new caps on, and continued on. We joined up with the rest of the group who meanwhile were waiting up top (thanks for waiting guys!). Thankfully there were no more issues otherwise the NWC may be without a Treasurer right now.
Joe and Kalin split off to head back to camp down the 520, while the rest of us ran the 198. By this time it just felt good to be moving, and more importantly having the heater blasting. We had a good pace going for the large group we had, and we cruised all the way to the main road in no time.