Goatfest in Johnson Valley Nov 13-14

[Letterman]

I am still hung over from Saturday night . . .

Broke a stub on Thursday and a hub on Friday, some how I made it home but the last 60 miles was pucker!

Stoped by Calico on the way down:

Cops:

 

[GSequoia]

Was it awesome as expected? So bummed.

You need to steal more shop rigs.

 

[Mike1331]

thats all the pics you have?

 

[Letterman]

That is a LONG DRIVE in the Jeep . . . some where on the way:

Behind me looks the same:

Long shadows as the day went on:

Sun Setting in the East, behind me:

 

[Letterman]

Had some time to kill on the way down so I went to check out Calico:

Sun was setting and the moon was up over the dry lake:

Poser shots of my jeep in one of the caves:

Some very cool looking hill sides in the canyons:

 

[Letterman]

First day out and we thought we would start on one of the less vertical trails, so we thought we would run Lower big Johnson and then over the sand hill to Claw Hammer.

Over 15 months and hundreds of hours later, here it is on the first rocks this rebuilt rig:

Looking good:

Lower Big Johnson has no big obstacles or any good spots to stop and hang out, so we we were at the end with out any good rock photos:

 

[Letterman]

One look at Upper Big Johnson and we wanted to run it, much more vertical then the lower section, but not that long of a trail:

Lots of loose rocks with larger rocks to get over or around:

Just keeps going up:

Loose sand and large rocks:

Past the Turn on Upper it turns into a bunch of large steps to climb up:

Looking Down from the top:

Last bit of rocks:

Top of the hill:

 

[Bryan C.]

First day out and we thought we would start on one of the less vertical trails, so we thought we would run Lower big Johnson and then over the sand hill to Claw Hammer.

Over 15 months and hundreds of hours later, here it is on the first rocks this rebuilt rig:

I couldn't be more happy with the way the rig turned out. Thanks to the many hours of help from Letterman, Jes, and Porch Puppy I now have a safe and highly capable rig to wheel for years to come. Still some more work to do, but this trip was a big payoff to the many hours of hard work put into the rig.

I took only a few shots along the way. My camera bit the dust right after I took the pics of my jacked up radiator so I can't get the pics up just yet.

If anyone is on the fence about going next year, start planning now. You won't regret heading down there. There is plenty to do for everyone, including stock rigs.

 

[GSequoia]

f anyone is on the fence about going next year, start planning now. You won't regret heading down there. There is plenty to do for everyone, including stock rigs.

Don't let all the talk of carnage scare you, JV can be quite tame!

So you buy new motor mounts yet?

 

[Letterman]

After running LBJ and UBJ we went back around to Claw Hammer, only shot a few photos. We went up it way to fast, I only got out of the jeep once, and I was passed when I did:

We drove off the top of claw because of all the wind and stopped for some lunch, goofed off on a few rock:

 

[Starboard M]

How do you like the new MTRs BC?

 

[Letterman]

How do you like the new MTRs BC?

I will not speak for Bryan, but just watching them work I want a set for my next tread.

After Lunch we ran Aftershock, not a great shot but here you can see the tires fold around the rock:

Once on top the tire stands up for better diff clearance:

You can see he was too far right by only 4 to 6 inches with the back end, I am sure he would have broke that right side axle if he had not felt it bind up:

Tires were on good lines all day:

The tires don't work very well when all 4 tires are not touching anything:

I have no photos of the falls or after because I broke my Stub shaft and was working on it when Bryan ran up it, after that we just wanted to get back to camp and have some food and beers.

Great first day, we ran four trails and still had two more days of wheeling ahead of us!

 

[Rob D]

Great shots. Us couch wheelers need our fun too. So, thanks for posting Dave. :worship:

 

[Letterman]

On Friday we started out on Jack Hammer, the bee's were everywhere, we ran up to the top then down the back side to the mail box then out upper Sledge Hammer, and over Fisher Mountian trail. Then we hooked up with some of the group that had just made it back from AZ and ran up Bolderdash.

Going up Jack Hammer:

 

[Letterman]

If you put anything down, in less the one minute the Bee's were all over it!

David up top as Bryan is just starting the top of Jack, this climb can mess with your head:

Means Dry Lake Bed, my tent is donw there somewhere:

 

[Letterman]

Upper Sledge:

 

[Letterman]

Driving over the Fissher Mountian trail:

My firsrt time driving over the big hill, I have been around it a few times, the trail was not very hard core and not simple, but well worth the drive:

Just some great views:

My Jeep in the reflection:

I found the never seen before Corn Dog catus:

I have no shots from Bolderdash, then later that night we went for a night run up Sledge Hammer but found some busted down trail plugs at the plack, so we went over to run chocolate thunder and I broke a warn hub. After everyone laughing at me as I was swaping it out we ran over to Back Door and I watched others put on a show. One of the best days/nights I have had weeling in a long time!

Photos from Saturday still to come . . .

 

[Letterman]

Cops all over camp:

Someone Killed a HUB!

 

[Letterman]

On Saturday we thought we were going to lead a Sledge Hammer run with Cracker, but he never made it to the lake bed.
Then Josh was going to lead a run up Claw, thought we would tail gun it for him. After most had issues or were broken down before the trail started it ended up just four rigs.

Nice 2 door with only a rear locker and open front:

 

[Letterman]

The falls is so flat, it is just another part of the trail now:

Door:

Even the open front crawled it: