Upper Ajax

[goodtimes]

Yea, not really the style of 'wheeling most people here are used to...but a fun day none the less.

There is a new guy in the neighborhood, so Kyle (rockcrawler) and I figured it was about time he was introduced to Florence Junction.

After a late start, we managed to get on the trail around 11am...thankfully in front of a large group from AZVJC. This was the 4th or 5th time I have been on this trail, and the second time when it was wet. When it is dry, we usually spend 2 or 3 hours on the trail, including time to BS. Yesterday, we spent close to 6 hours. We picked up a stray (LJ rubicon) along the way, and there was little damage. The LJ tore a valve stem and bent a rear axle flange (not really sure where he bent that). A few bumps and scrapes along the way, but we all drove home.

Not much of a report, but on these kinds of trails all you want to see are the pics anyway....sorry, no pics of my jeep (hard to take pics of the vehicle you are driving....)...

 

[goodtimes]

few more....

 

[Scott Brady]

Great pics Brian. I will have to run that trail with Jared's Jeep when we get the project finished.

 

[goodtimes]

When it is dry, he'll be fine. When the trail is wet...man, all the good lines go away. I was the only one to crawl every obstacle....everyone else took a strap or a winch.

 

[kcowyo]

Kyle's Scrambler is sick! :bowdown:

That is one Jeep I hope I can see on the trail someday. From the safety of your Jeep's passenger seat, of course. :rally_guys:

 

[Rockcrawler]

Kyle's Scrambler is sick! :bowdown:

That is one Jeep I hope I can see on the trail someday. From the safety of your Jeep's passenger seat, of course. :rally_guys:

Thank you... We had a good time. I haven't had to work that hard to get through a trail in a long time. We did decide that it is time for new tires and a new clutch before I run any more hard trails. While I'm at it maybe I'll convince myself to put in a new transmission to.. and while I'm at it... um yeah.

 

[Ursidae69]

Kyle, is that the fire hole?

 

[BogusBlake]

Kyle, is that the fire hole?

No, the Firehole is on Upper Woodpecker. See picture attached:

 

[Ursidae69]

No, the Firehole is on Upper Woodpecker. See picture attached:

Okay, thanks, been a while since I was on that trail. I have some photos of Kyle's Scrambler after he fell in firehole in 2002 and I wondered if that last picture was the same spot.

 

[articulate]

Cool. What's going on in this photo? It's a sweet "actiony" shot.

 

[Tucson T4R]

Cool. What's going on in this photo? It's a sweet "actiony" shot.

Looks like they are passing him the snatch strap to tie to his roll cage (next pic). Then they can help keep him from tipping as he crawls over the step.

 

[BajaTaco]

Fun pics! Very cool to see Kyle's scrambler back in action :beer:

So did the new neighbor thank you guys afterwards? Or did you end up with your house TP'd ?

 

[Rockcrawler]

Kyle, is that the fire hole?

NO!!!! No more firehole for me... "crunch... AAAAWWWWHHHH"

Looks like they are passing him the snatch strap to tie to his roll cage (next pic). Then they can help keep him from tipping as he crawls over the step.

That is correct... I was getting a weee bit tippy there. I hate it when you start putting some power down as you let out the clutch and your driver's side front tire starts reaching for the sky. I ended up winching the rest of the way out to more level ground.

Fun pics! Very cool to see Kyle's scrambler back in action :beer:

So did the new neighbor thank you guys afterwards? Or did you end up with your house TP'd ?

We all had a good time... I just had an email from him though and his SES light came on yesterday. Hopefully it isn't anything major.

 

[crawldit]

I've heard about that trail....definitely looks like a fun time. There's so many good trails out in Florence but for some reason my rig always seems to gravitate towards the Martinez Canyon Loop once I'm out there. Maybe I could run with you guys sometime and you could introduce me to the other trails out there.

 

[goodtimes]

Martinez loop is one of my favorite trails in AZ. Not particularly difficult (there are a couple of crazy optional obstacles), but incredibly scenic, with just enough rocks on the trail to keep your attention...without making you work to hard for it.

Upper Ajax on the other hand, is not very scenic and pretty challenging for stockish rigs like mine...but when you add water to the wash like we had Saturday, that trail will make you work for it.

Crawldit, you are welcome to join us anytime...unfortunately we are fast approaching the end of the season...and Saturday will likely prove to be the last [crawling] trail of the season for me. All my weekends are booked through July...and school starts up in August....