This was a stocker trip. I had planned this trip for Colorado TTORA member Steven Ellen (white Tacoma) who was out this way for a month or two and wanted to check out east coast terrian. Tagging along was Jay from NJ in a stock 2001 Tacoma. Both were TRD models. Rounding out the group at the gas station were Greg in his 1994 Toyota Pick Up on 35s with some great flex and Evans in his stock 95 Wrangler with whopping 29 inch tires. Got to give him credit with his driving skills though. We picked up Frank in his Nissian in the parking lot of Paragon. He took ALOT of ribbing through the day and was a great sport about it.
We started by going down to the old staging area and moving around down in the mine pits. I had Evans follow me so I could say, "This guy in the Wrangler just did that!!!"
So the first event was the hill climb out of the pit near Whompum. Evans got caught up by the ruts, so Steve tried and couldn't give it enough gas and went down and tried another time. Jay with his automagic made it up so we egged Steve on again and he went right up. The rest followed me around the easier way for the rest of High Road.
Next we took an uneventful trip down Turtle. I stopped two or three times just to get the trucks over some rocks. I figured to keep them safe in the begining since it was somebodys first trip and two other's second trip. I always like it when people come back with me.
After coming down the hill we made our way to Outer Spare Tire and had an uneventful time through there. We headed to Rocky Meadow as me and Greg went through the rock garden, we had to spot the stock trucks through some of the spots. This is where Evans broke his exhaust (good reason to upgrade) and lost a bump stop. Steve got the most damage of the pick ups as he lost a front mudflap.
We then made our way over to the Spring area and had lunch. After lunch some of us made our way up the little hill climb up to one of the Logging roads. That Nissian (couldn't resist Frank) had some problems and had to go around. We proceeded to Rock Swamp and had the stock Tacos go around a close by loop and come out again.
We continued down Logging to Lucky (I think) to the pipeline and I showed everyone the great view from the top and went down Doe Run Rocks to Haul Road to Valley where we picked up some LOST 4wheelers who followed us out to the Coal Road.
I hopped in with Jay and drove around Chicken with Steve and Greg following. Jay made it RIGHT up the hill climb on the first shot. We then got him through the off camber stuff and out. Steve came flying up as I was working with Jay and luckily he stopped at the top of the hill. I got Steve real off camber and his seat was stuck to his bottom for a little while. Greg came up and proceed through on two wheels for a moment, then three wheels for about four or five feet.
Frank was on his way out of the park with no damage when a little pebble bit his tire and gave him a flat. Other then that it was a fun day. We aired up at the gas station and left the moment the heavy rain started.
