There were 8 rigs total, let's see if I
remember everyone. Taz, Jessyka (Sami - the only non-jeep), Dustin (blue YJ), Al
and Stacy (Green YJ), Cory (Red TJ), Rescue (Erik, the little blue TJ), Chaz
(Dark blue TJ), and DMan (Silver Rubicon). We headed up Jonesville Rd and I
turned left at the first road where it turns to dirt, and we found a trail
headed into the woods. The trail wasn't to long, but because of the narrowness
of the packed snow there were plenty of opportunities to slide off the trail and
get stuck ( the winches got a good work out). Although I slipped into the deep
snow a few times, flipped the switch, air lockers engaged and out I went. We
came across someone on a snow machine and he told us at the end of the trail he
had plowed some snow and built a snow berm and to the right of the snow berm was
his private driveway. When we reached we reached the berm the choice was, turn
around to return the way we came or go over the berm and hit the highway. This
is where the fun really was. I was the first over (after a couple of tries).
Next was Jess in the sami. I missed watching her as I was pulling the jeep up to
give everyone room. As I was getting out of the jeep I heard a bang, I looked up
and Jess was over the berm and everyone was yelling with glee. I found out that
someone had told her to "gun it" (you don't tell Jess to "gun
it" as she is my daughter and inherited the same right foot traits) and
apparently flew up and over the berm and the bang was the front bumper hitting
the ice on the other side. Everyone else then followed putting on the show. Some
made it on their own power and others had to be winched.
At this point we reached headed back to the start of the wishbone trail. There
were several stucks on the way to the big parking area. We reached the creek and
part of it was frozen over with thin layers of ice. Right next to the useless
bridge there was an ice ledge about 2 1/2 to 3' above the creek and another
ledge on the other side. We decided to eat lunch and decide the best way and if
we were going to attempt crossing. The part which was frozen all the way across
was just several layers of thin ice, so that path was decided against. We
decided that if someone (me) pulled out onto the ice ledge it would break and
make a ramp into the creek and the same would happen on the other side. I pulled
out onto the ledge very slowly anticipating when the ledge would break. It
didn't break until my front wheels where about ready to drop off. Then it didn't
break evenly as the left half broke first and then the right sending me sliding
left side down towards the creek. A few of the spectators thought I was going
over. We had walked the winch rope across the thin ice first to the other side
and attached a pull rope to the back just in case I had to be pulled back. After
reaching the other side I was finally able to get my front wheels up on the
ledge, it didn't break. Its fun looking at the sky while you can't see if
someone is actually hooking up the winch rope or whether everyone is standing
around laughing. After what seemed like five minutes (it wasn't that long) I was
told to start winding in the winch (this is all on video) and up and over the
ledge to the other side. Taking the same precautions Scumby damn it was the next
to cross with the same results. Everyone else decided not to attempt the
crossing after seeing that the creek was about 1" from pouring into the
back of Scumby's jeep when he was sitting on the ledge. Al and I went back
across, once again having to use the very handy winches to pull up and out of
the creek.
We all decided to head back to the road. Since Al and I were the only ones
facing the right direction everyone else had to back up the turn around. At this
point we ended up with 4 vehicles stuck at the same time. Everyone is finally
facing the right direction and we head out with a few more stucks on the way
out. The packed snow was very narrow and if you slid off to the edge chances are
you were going to be stuck.
At this point we decided we had had enough fun for the day and it would be
futile to attempt the creek crossing further up the road. So we headed home.