rickashay
Explorer
Not much work on the truck lately. I've been using it more than turning wrenches, so I guess that's not a bad problem to have!
I was able to head out to the Crowsnest again this weekend with some good friends. One of our local CT4WD members is moving to Ontario and asked is I (and a few others) would take him to the Crowsnest Pass before he makes the move out East. He had never been down here before surprisingly and I felt I would oblige. A fairly large group, much larger than I typically like to wheel with, but the company was exceptional and we made progress on the trail like there was only 3 trucks. A testament to good drivers with well built vehicles.
Photos gallore:
Friday at 4:00pm we were destined to meet at Safeway on the south end of Calgary. A few of us rolled in late, as work is not always easy to shake on time. ARB fridges packed with delicious ingrediants and a full supply of "hydrational beverages" and we were set for a good time. A short blast to the hills had us roll into Crowsnest Fas Gas @ 7:00pm. We made good time and rushed into one of my favorite campsites near the old mining town of Lille. After setting up camp for the night and filling our stomachs, we decided to do a short night run up the Powerline Trail.
Not too many turned out but you get the idea:
20130717-IMG_2993.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
20130717-IMG_3001.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
Some large and loose rock provided some entertainment as we scaled the mountain to it's peak. Unfortunately due to the forest fires, the haze prohibited us from any really good views that night of the surrounding towns. You will see this as a continuing theme throughout the rest of the phtotos.
20130717-IMG_3002.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
We rolled back into camp at 1:00 am and despite the fire ban in place, socialized around an empty fire pit with our headlamps in toe. After catching up and a few pops later, I was ready to curl up into the back of the Cruiser.
After hastily making up camp due to hitting the snooze a few too many times, we rushed back to town to meet up with the rest of our group who could not join the night before. We set a plan in place and headed for the trail head.
Nate playing in the rocks in his 81' while we were airing down our tires:
20130718-IMG_3021.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
I was positioned to break trail for the day. Tires ballooned to 10 psi and off up the trail. Around one of the first bends in this magical trail, we were greeted with the first insights of the days epic scenery:
20130718-IMG_3028.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
This gem of a trail zig-zags back and forth over a crystal clear creek fed by ice fields. At every crossing I was reminded why I built a truck like this - to get out and explore and see things out of reach of the average persons grasp.
20130718-IMG_3033.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
Marc's 5th Gen looking way too good:
20130718-IMG_3038.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
Tyler scoping his line:
20130718-IMG_3045.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
After climbing through the valley's bottom, the trail climbs up and out of the treeline. This is our first of many vistas along the way, looking back down the valley:
20130718-IMG_3064.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
I just couldnt help myself:
20130718-IMG_3081.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
Looking UP:
20130718-IMG_3085.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
Chris making the next rocky climb with his new Maxxis Tires - this thing is a monster!
20130718-IMG_3091.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
The 81':
20130718-IMG_3106.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
We made it to the top of the dead-end trail in good time, stopping for lunch along the way. Once at the top we explored a few off chute trails to no avail. I had my inclinometer at 35+ degrees and things were getting worse so I made the call to turn around. We did however find a good log to pose on:
20130718-IMG_3111.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
20130718-IMG_3113.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
And so began our decent back down and one of my favorite shots of the weekend:
20130718-IMG_3118.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
We reached the bottom and broke for camp for the second night. We climbed an old mine to the top of a mountain, giving us a decent backdrop for our shenanigans later that night:
20130718-IMG_3130.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
I must admit, this was pretty cool. I was preparing some food on the tailgate of my Cruiser and while reflecting on the days adventure. I look up and everyone has disappeared. I short walk around the corner and this is what I find:
20130718-IMG_3140.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
I am truly blessed to have such awesome friends to share adventures like this with. It appears they all got side tracked by the scenery and decided to line up for some laughs.
I was able to head out to the Crowsnest again this weekend with some good friends. One of our local CT4WD members is moving to Ontario and asked is I (and a few others) would take him to the Crowsnest Pass before he makes the move out East. He had never been down here before surprisingly and I felt I would oblige. A fairly large group, much larger than I typically like to wheel with, but the company was exceptional and we made progress on the trail like there was only 3 trucks. A testament to good drivers with well built vehicles.
Photos gallore:
Friday at 4:00pm we were destined to meet at Safeway on the south end of Calgary. A few of us rolled in late, as work is not always easy to shake on time. ARB fridges packed with delicious ingrediants and a full supply of "hydrational beverages" and we were set for a good time. A short blast to the hills had us roll into Crowsnest Fas Gas @ 7:00pm. We made good time and rushed into one of my favorite campsites near the old mining town of Lille. After setting up camp for the night and filling our stomachs, we decided to do a short night run up the Powerline Trail.
Not too many turned out but you get the idea:
20130717-IMG_2993.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
20130717-IMG_3001.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
Some large and loose rock provided some entertainment as we scaled the mountain to it's peak. Unfortunately due to the forest fires, the haze prohibited us from any really good views that night of the surrounding towns. You will see this as a continuing theme throughout the rest of the phtotos.
20130717-IMG_3002.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
We rolled back into camp at 1:00 am and despite the fire ban in place, socialized around an empty fire pit with our headlamps in toe. After catching up and a few pops later, I was ready to curl up into the back of the Cruiser.
After hastily making up camp due to hitting the snooze a few too many times, we rushed back to town to meet up with the rest of our group who could not join the night before. We set a plan in place and headed for the trail head.
Nate playing in the rocks in his 81' while we were airing down our tires:
20130718-IMG_3021.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
I was positioned to break trail for the day. Tires ballooned to 10 psi and off up the trail. Around one of the first bends in this magical trail, we were greeted with the first insights of the days epic scenery:
20130718-IMG_3028.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
This gem of a trail zig-zags back and forth over a crystal clear creek fed by ice fields. At every crossing I was reminded why I built a truck like this - to get out and explore and see things out of reach of the average persons grasp.
20130718-IMG_3033.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
Marc's 5th Gen looking way too good:
20130718-IMG_3038.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
Tyler scoping his line:
20130718-IMG_3045.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
After climbing through the valley's bottom, the trail climbs up and out of the treeline. This is our first of many vistas along the way, looking back down the valley:
20130718-IMG_3064.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
I just couldnt help myself:
20130718-IMG_3081.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
Looking UP:
20130718-IMG_3085.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
Chris making the next rocky climb with his new Maxxis Tires - this thing is a monster!
20130718-IMG_3091.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
The 81':
20130718-IMG_3106.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
We made it to the top of the dead-end trail in good time, stopping for lunch along the way. Once at the top we explored a few off chute trails to no avail. I had my inclinometer at 35+ degrees and things were getting worse so I made the call to turn around. We did however find a good log to pose on:
20130718-IMG_3111.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
20130718-IMG_3113.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
And so began our decent back down and one of my favorite shots of the weekend:
20130718-IMG_3118.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
We reached the bottom and broke for camp for the second night. We climbed an old mine to the top of a mountain, giving us a decent backdrop for our shenanigans later that night:
20130718-IMG_3130.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
I must admit, this was pretty cool. I was preparing some food on the tailgate of my Cruiser and while reflecting on the days adventure. I look up and everyone has disappeared. I short walk around the corner and this is what I find:
20130718-IMG_3140.jpg by RickaShay24, on Flickr
I am truly blessed to have such awesome friends to share adventures like this with. It appears they all got side tracked by the scenery and decided to line up for some laughs.
