Trip ReportI think that we were the first to make the full run up Crowbar!
Thanks to everyone who helped to break this trail, especially those who worked so hard to break the upper section: Steve Bennett, Vince Martin, Steve Prohn, Steve and Lisa Smith, Steve Youngs, and Ron and Robbie Nissley. Forgive me if I have forgotten anyone and please let me know. We have made so many attempts on the upper canyon I have lost track. I know that a couple of times we set out to do it and never even got there!
We had a large group: Vince (with Alan as passenger), Steve Bennett, Brian (with Fred as passenger), Eric, Kevin and Keith, Steve and Lisa Smith, Rod and his son Cole (with Steve Youngs as passenger), Cory and a friend from Orange County Toys (OCT), and special guests: Jeff Knoll (Jeffe, Mr. King of the Hammers himself, Dave Cole's partner in crime, riding with me), Gerald (who is helping Jeff plan main camp at KOH 2010), and Dave Schnider (DSI) and Wayne Israelson (zukizzy) in their KOH Buggies! Just behind us were the Big Dawgs group including Chris (thebeeter) and 7 or 8 others.
We arrived at Ballerina Rock just before 9AM and I winched up. DSI did an awesome job and drove Ballerina Rock. I am glad Lisa caught it on video because I missed it, stuck on the rocks above Ballerina rock.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-7i6uksvSI The Big Dawgs had been thrashing themselves against the rock the night before and it was REALLY dug out at the bottom.
I don't remember the exact order of things, but I winched several rigs up, and then zukIzzy gave Ballerina Rock a valiant try in his KOH Buggy. Unfortunately he broke a rear ring and pinion! Wayne, as usual, was not (outwardly) upset and instead announced that he was going back to Means Dry Lake and would return with his Samurai!
Rod also gave Ballerina Rock several full throttle assaults in his Toyota Pickup. It was very exciting, he didn't make it, but he gave it a great try! Thankfully he did not break anything or end up on his lid. Well done Rod (I could have told you that you would not make it
).
A lot of people need to find out how hard Ballerina Rock is for themselves... I have yet to see anyone but a rock buggy make it.
I winched everyone else up and we headed up the canyon to the squeeze and z-turn area. It was really washed out and the entrance to the squeeze required stacked rocks for most of us to even get into it. It took us a long time to get everyone through this section. Steve Smith and Vince even took the bypass to the right. Something about not wanting to scratch up cages and dent doors!
Before we even got half of our rigs up this section Wayne in his Sammy and the Big Dawgs had caught us!
It was already after 11AM and we had barely started the trail!
Since I was now last, I sent Vince up in the front. He made good time up the canyon and right past the left turn where Crowbar heads north out of the main canyon. Both Vince and Steve Bennett missed it. I almost missed it myself because no one had been up it with anything other than a motorcycle in a long time. I should make a sign to post at the point where Crowbar canyon leaves the main canyon...
By the time we got everyone turned around and were ready to head up the correct canyon Steve Bennett had a broken front axle and Kevin had a broken throttle cable. Both were not having a good day... Eric (the Wizard) had a spare cable and installed it in Kevin's rig! Steve offered to lead Kevin down canyon and back to camp. Brian and Eric went with them.
They made it out fine and ended up each winching themselves down Ballerina Rock, BACKWARDS!
Wow! Great job guys!
With the Big Dawgs on our tail we headed up the correct canyon and made very good time. After a couple of turns we lost sight of the Big Dawgs. Perhaps they had some breakage, or were playing on alternate lines, or just took some time to squeeze through the tighter sections.
The section up to the first bailout was not washed out like the lower canyon. In fact, I think that some of the obstacles were made a little easier because of being filled in. DSI drove the wall that we always bypass on the left with a zig-zag route over boulders. He is the first to drive this obstacle as far as I know.
We also made good time up past the upper bailout to the base of the waterfall where we did so much work. Just as we approached this section I put a 4" slash in my passenger front tire's sidewall. Wayne and Jeff did an amazing job of plugging this gash and it held air as long as I did not park with the wound down.
I had to re-stack the waterfall a little, but then popped right up it. I am not sure, but I think everyone else except DSI and Gerald had to winch there. It is a tough corner for a long wheelbase rig. Wayne did his best in his Sammy but his clutch was not happy and you could smell it for 200 yards up canyon.
As others were working up the waterfall I managed to rip my sidewall even more and not even Wayne could plug it. We put on the spare. Thanks Wayne and Jeff for all your help!
This section of trail had only seen 3 trucks up it before (Vince, Steve Bennett, and I on 1/2/09) and was barely broken.
We sent DSI up ahead to give the final winch hill a go and he made it! Wayne was next and needed a winch, as did I.
Steve Smith broke a rear driveshaft on the final winch hill and after some tough winching with front wheel drive only made it up.
Gerald drove the hill, becoming only the 2nd person to do so. Later Rod would also drive the hill. Well done guys!
We had about an hour until dark and Jeff, DSI, Wayne, and Gerald needed to get back to Means so I took them up the final climb and showed them the way off the north side of the Fry Mountains. It should be noted that Wayne did this last climb, a steep, loose, horror with basket ball size rocks that move around, in a Sammy with a bad clutch! An amazing display of driving skill!
I parked at the top and walked down just as Vince, Cory, and Rod were finishing the final climb. It was decided to leave Steve Smith at the bottom of the final hill and have Cory get to the top and then take off his rear driveshaft (the only one that fit Steve's truck) and carry it down to Steve so he could get out.
The sun was almost down and there was an awesome sunset...
What happened next was complicated. The bottom line is that Vince, Rod and I headed back to camp leaving Cory and his friend to help Steve Smith get out. I now realize that this was the wrong decision. Vince and I have sincerely apologized to Steve. Everything worked out and they made it back to camp only an hour and a half behind us (at about 9PM), but if they needed help we would not have been there for them. I am ashamed of my actions, and pray that I will never make such a mistake again...
On the brighter side, the Big Dawgs were just behind Steve Smith as he climbed out and Chris also drove the winch hill!
So, in summary, Crowbar has seen 12 to 14 rigs run it's full length! DSI is the first person to drive the entire trail without winching. The trail is now well worn in and will hopefully see more traffic in the future.
Thanks to everyone who came out to make this historic run (at least I think it was historic)!
For me it was the realization of a dream that started February 20, 2005 when I first walked the canyon. Thanks again everyone!
An amazing display of driver skill! Also, the bottom was VERY dug out from the Big Dawgs launching against the wall the night before!
