Depends on the mood. I've had a lot of bored and snowy days lately. I doubt you'll hear much from me when camping season resumes (looking at how the last 2 years of CK5 posting has gone).
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Adventures with Big Blue
- Thread starter campfire
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Depends on the mood. I've had a lot of bored and snowy days lately. I doubt you'll hear much from me when camping season resumes (looking at how the last 2 years of CK5 posting has gone).
Neat. I hadn't heard of this. It looks like they stuck a Saturn grill on a Solstice. Definitely don't see those up here in da woods.
A person or rig that is focused on mileage. Little cars make great hypermilers, K5s don't.
I'm responding to Martin's statement a few months ago:
beags86
Eastbound and Down
Pretty much. I think the LS7 car was a solstice.Neat. I hadn't heard of this. It looks like they stuck a Saturn grill on a Solstice. Definitely don't see those up here in da woods.
That seams odd. If the yoopers drove there them plastic cars they wouldn't have rusty chevrolets...
Last edited:
beags86
Eastbound and Down
My reply was sarcastic. I have been driving a tbi 454 daily for 10+ years. I know nothing about this mileage you fellows speak of....
Good point. And plastic S-series Saturns are fairly popular up here (probably for that reason). But sports cars (of any type) are few and far between.
Enough derailment, it's time for more pictures!
At the beginning of 2013 we moved from SW Wisconsin to the Rhinelander area. Rhinelander is a small town buried in the woods. So it was a significant scenery change from cornfields and the Mississippi River valley.
Loading up da truck:
All strapped down and ready to roll.
Heading through the Driftless region.
I love the way the waterfalls freeze. The water flows slowly enough that in the summertime it's not even visible. But when the right freeze/thaw conditions exist, the water will run down and freeze like the ice dam on top of your house. It's beautiful.
They also look neat with snow on them.
At the beginning of 2013 we moved from SW Wisconsin to the Rhinelander area. Rhinelander is a small town buried in the woods. So it was a significant scenery change from cornfields and the Mississippi River valley.
Loading up da truck:
All strapped down and ready to roll.
Heading through the Driftless region.
I love the way the waterfalls freeze. The water flows slowly enough that in the summertime it's not even visible. But when the right freeze/thaw conditions exist, the water will run down and freeze like the ice dam on top of your house. It's beautiful.
They also look neat with snow on them.
Trees and snow and snow and trees.
This is probably the closest I have ever been to a non-flying eagle (15ish feet).
It is a beautiful place...
This is probably the closest I have ever been to a non-flying eagle (15ish feet).
It is a beautiful place...
Few more snow pics.
Rhinelander is a land of lakes. Many lakes. Hundreds of lakes, as well as the Wisconsin River (which cuts town in half). It's also a cold place, so when the ice freezes over folks drive on the ice. The part that surprised me is that the folks driving on the ice weren't just ice fishermen. Driving across the frozen millpond was significantly faster that driving around the lake to the bridges upstream and downstream. So the ice road became a commuter highway during rush hour (well, as much "rush hour" as a town of 7000 people can have 
). There were always fishermen and fishing shacks out on the ice (they may be out there for 5 months at a time before the ice thins out in the spring). Driving on the ice road was a new experience for me.
Personally, I think parking all the vehicles close together is a really bad idea, but only occasionally do they fall in.
Snowmobiles are used for pleasure, work, and commuting in this area.
Some folks bring elaborate shacks...
Some folks just bring a bucket.
Paper mill in the background (their hydroelectric dam is why the river backs up to form Boom Lake).
Dam with gates for the mill.
). There were always fishermen and fishing shacks out on the ice (they may be out there for 5 months at a time before the ice thins out in the spring). Driving on the ice road was a new experience for me. Personally, I think parking all the vehicles close together is a really bad idea, but only occasionally do they fall in.
Snowmobiles are used for pleasure, work, and commuting in this area.
Some folks bring elaborate shacks...
Some folks just bring a bucket.
Paper mill in the background (their hydroelectric dam is why the river backs up to form Boom Lake).
Dam with gates for the mill.
Shortly after moving up there I became friends with the owner of the Northwoods Overland offroad park. He had closed down the park in 2012 because he couldn't find an insurance company willing to underwrite his business. So after spending a huge amount of time and money carving trails and building a campground from scratch, it all ended a few months before we arrived. He had sold off a nicely-built CJ and switched to a TJ on 33s with selectables front and back. Probably a mild lift, but it still blended in with street traffic. He invited me to come along for a winter trail ride. I had no idea what I was doing, my street truck had never seen anything more technical than a dry cornfield. But I'm always up for an adventure. So I threw a set of snow chains in the back of Big Blue and we set off toward Elton, WI.
Arriving in Elton we met up with the rest of our group (the first two rigs were my buddies).
Red TJ Rubicon on 33s (lockers front & rear)
Green TJ on 31s (stock)
JK with lockers & 33s
JK with no lockers & 33s
2 similar Xterras on 35s
1 modified XJ
And, of course, me. Bone-stock K10 on 29" wheels with nothing resembling offroad equipment. I told them to expect that I would require a lot of towing, given my utter lack of skill.
Hanging out and chit-chatting while airing down.
Following the group to the trail head. I was placed in the second-last spot so I wouldn't hold up the group when I got stuck.
The XJ brought up the rear, he seemed to be very capable.
Here you can see all 6 of the rigs in front of us.
And here we are at the point of no return.
Arriving in Elton we met up with the rest of our group (the first two rigs were my buddies).
Red TJ Rubicon on 33s (lockers front & rear)
Green TJ on 31s (stock)
JK with lockers & 33s
JK with no lockers & 33s
2 similar Xterras on 35s
1 modified XJ
And, of course, me. Bone-stock K10 on 29" wheels with nothing resembling offroad equipment. I told them to expect that I would require a lot of towing, given my utter lack of skill.
Hanging out and chit-chatting while airing down.
Following the group to the trail head. I was placed in the second-last spot so I wouldn't hold up the group when I got stuck.
The XJ brought up the rear, he seemed to be very capable.
Here you can see all 6 of the rigs in front of us.
And here we are at the point of no return.
We turned off the road and into a snowy, forested wonderland.
I immediately felt the limitations of my tiny summer street tires, and the first time the group stopped moving I got stuck. The Xterra ahead of me pulled out a tow strap and pulled me to the next stopping point. But at that point the stock JK was stuck, and it looked like it was going to take some time to dig him out. So I took the opportunity to chain up so I wouldn't be on the tow strap all day.
After that point (just a few minutes in), the day was much more laid back. The truck never had a problem getting through snow that I never would have dreamed of attempting without friendly tow straps on either side. And yet, they weren't needed. It was a pretty fun ride overall.
Coming up this largeish hill a couple of the rigs required multiple attempts, so I expected to get promptly stuck, but that's not what happened.
Made it to the top and caught up with the friendly tow strap.
The forest is so beautiful...
At this clearing our fearless leader decided to try breaking a trail up a much steeper section of trail. After a dozen or so attempts (involving several pauses to let the truck cool off between passes) he decided to call it quits and we instead stopped for lunch.
Kingsford Charcoal. On sale everywhere. Originally produced by the Ford Motor Company in Kingsford, (upper) Michigan, a few miles down the road. It's not produced there anymore, but I've run into several folks who claim it as a local brand.
The fire continued to burn lower and lower into the snowbank. I don't think it reached ground by the time we left (it was sitting on the platform of sticks). Of course, extinguishing it was easy.
Beautiful trail...
After lunch I was promoted to the #5 spot instead of being at the back. The black JK in the #2 spot is the one that got repeatedly stuck. Aside from my first episode (before I grabbed my chains), that rig accounted for all of the other extractions except the next one.
The trail lead through this large obstacle. It was taller than the jeeps, and even the trail that they broke through the drift left the snow up to the tops of the doors. This guy got stuck.
After he was tugged out the bank looked like this.
The hole was still a good bit narrower than my un-capable truck, and I had no desire to repeat the high-centering dance, so I gathered a little bit of speed and tore a much larger hole through it. This picture is where I got my avatar. It is a picture taken half-way through the maneuver.
It was a blast.
I immediately felt the limitations of my tiny summer street tires, and the first time the group stopped moving I got stuck. The Xterra ahead of me pulled out a tow strap and pulled me to the next stopping point. But at that point the stock JK was stuck, and it looked like it was going to take some time to dig him out. So I took the opportunity to chain up so I wouldn't be on the tow strap all day.
After that point (just a few minutes in), the day was much more laid back. The truck never had a problem getting through snow that I never would have dreamed of attempting without friendly tow straps on either side. And yet, they weren't needed. It was a pretty fun ride overall.
Coming up this largeish hill a couple of the rigs required multiple attempts, so I expected to get promptly stuck, but that's not what happened.
Made it to the top and caught up with the friendly tow strap.
The forest is so beautiful...
At this clearing our fearless leader decided to try breaking a trail up a much steeper section of trail. After a dozen or so attempts (involving several pauses to let the truck cool off between passes) he decided to call it quits and we instead stopped for lunch.
Kingsford Charcoal. On sale everywhere. Originally produced by the Ford Motor Company in Kingsford, (upper) Michigan, a few miles down the road. It's not produced there anymore, but I've run into several folks who claim it as a local brand.
The fire continued to burn lower and lower into the snowbank. I don't think it reached ground by the time we left (it was sitting on the platform of sticks). Of course, extinguishing it was easy.
Beautiful trail...
After lunch I was promoted to the #5 spot instead of being at the back. The black JK in the #2 spot is the one that got repeatedly stuck. Aside from my first episode (before I grabbed my chains), that rig accounted for all of the other extractions except the next one.
The trail lead through this large obstacle. It was taller than the jeeps, and even the trail that they broke through the drift left the snow up to the tops of the doors. This guy got stuck.
After he was tugged out the bank looked like this.
The hole was still a good bit narrower than my un-capable truck, and I had no desire to repeat the high-centering dance, so I gathered a little bit of speed and tore a much larger hole through it. This picture is where I got my avatar. It is a picture taken half-way through the maneuver.
It was a blast.
Cool shot of my buddy moving up a hill (not as steep as the camera indicates, but still neat).
Then the JK got stuck again and we all stopped (again). I decided to take some shots of the truck half-buried in snow. I was still toward the back of the pack, so the snow was somewhat beaten down by the time I got to it. But somehow the K10 never fit into the skinny jeep tracks.
Dragging the air dam continuously. Snow flowing over the top of the axle tubes and springs.
The guys told me I needed to ditch the running boards if I wanted to make it. They have a point...they did drag constantly.
Breaking more trail.
Taking another pass.
I love seeing the snow fly.
Then the JK got stuck again and we all stopped (again). I decided to take some shots of the truck half-buried in snow. I was still toward the back of the pack, so the snow was somewhat beaten down by the time I got to it. But somehow the K10 never fit into the skinny jeep tracks.
Dragging the air dam continuously. Snow flowing over the top of the axle tubes and springs.
The guys told me I needed to ditch the running boards if I wanted to make it. They have a point...they did drag constantly.
Breaking more trail.
Taking another pass.
I love seeing the snow fly.
My attempt at a snow-slinging shot.
Stopped again (guess why). Took a chance to look at the ruts I'm leaving behind.
Can you identify each rut?
And then, for the final extractions, the first two jeeps came up this hill and swung left while the troubled JK got stuck. I was right behind him and had to stop while still climbing the slope.
He eventually was extracted and tried scouting the trail to the right. Where he got stuck again.
The YJs came back and declared that the trail to the left ended in a cliff overlooking the road (so close, but so far away).
Some others tried scouting the right trail segment by foot and decided that we would not be able to do that leg either, so the caravan turned around and headed back the way we came. I was offered a tow out of my terrible parking spot, but the truck crawled out of there without difficulty.
One last shot of the pretty trees.
Stopped again (guess why). Took a chance to look at the ruts I'm leaving behind.
Can you identify each rut?
And then, for the final extractions, the first two jeeps came up this hill and swung left while the troubled JK got stuck. I was right behind him and had to stop while still climbing the slope.
He eventually was extracted and tried scouting the trail to the right. Where he got stuck again.
The YJs came back and declared that the trail to the left ended in a cliff overlooking the road (so close, but so far away).
Some others tried scouting the right trail segment by foot and decided that we would not be able to do that leg either, so the caravan turned around and headed back the way we came. I was offered a tow out of my terrible parking spot, but the truck crawled out of there without difficulty.
One last shot of the pretty trees.
I learned a lot of things that day. First of all, getting off the road is a lot of fun, and getting a group together makes more daring things possible. Neither I nor that stock JK would have dared to head out there without some hand-holding (or else we wouldn't have gotten back home!).
Second, drift punching is a whole lot of fun (but I already knew that
)
Thirdly, my terrible street truck was able to do everything the jeeps were doing (though I didn't try breaking trail) because I had chains. Chains (rear wheel only, even) took my stock street truck and let me run with locked trucks on 33s and 35s. Nobody in our group (especially myself) imagined that a total noob with a street truck would have been able to do that. I had expected to spend the day on the tow strap, but it was a lot more fun the way it turned out. Someone in the group called my chains "the great equalizer."
Fourthly, my block heater failed to operate, so I discovered that this rig would start without the heater at 16*F. At the time this was a record for me (since beaten).
Most importantly, this friend and this trip (3 years ago, now) is what got me hooked on leaving the road and getting into more technical driving. Which is what lead me to read up on such. Which is what lead me to Mosesburb and his expedition thread here on CK5. I'm still in the noob/learning phase when it comes to technical wheeling, but being around here has significantly changed my goals for future truck projects. Next time I should have a more capable rig.
Second, drift punching is a whole lot of fun (but I already knew that
)Thirdly, my terrible street truck was able to do everything the jeeps were doing (though I didn't try breaking trail) because I had chains. Chains (rear wheel only, even) took my stock street truck and let me run with locked trucks on 33s and 35s. Nobody in our group (especially myself) imagined that a total noob with a street truck would have been able to do that. I had expected to spend the day on the tow strap, but it was a lot more fun the way it turned out.
Someone in the group called my chains "the great equalizer."Fourthly, my block heater failed to operate, so I discovered that this rig would start without the heater at 16*F. At the time this was a record for me (since beaten).
Most importantly, this friend and this trip (3 years ago, now) is what got me hooked on leaving the road and getting into more technical driving. Which is what lead me to read up on such. Which is what lead me to Mosesburb and his expedition thread here on CK5. I'm still in the noob/learning phase when it comes to technical wheeling, but being around here has significantly changed my goals for future truck projects. Next time I should have a more capable rig.
Did you ditch the running boards yet?
Martin
Martin
beags86
Eastbound and Down
Chains in snow are amazing.
Great write up and trip pictures !...
I'm not surprised your truck did so well,after adding the rear chains..
Chains actually work better on summer treaded tires than knobby winter snow treads for some reason too...
I've had chains on all 4 tires here a few times when roads were really bad (and driving had actually been "banned" by the govenor,till they were able to clear the streets some)..with chains,you feel like the truck can crawl over anything...
It goes to show that sometimes,all the hype over big tires,lift kits,and other things is often over-rated...I've often seen stock trucks outpull and outperform some pretty highly modified rigs..makes one wonder,do we really need all that stuff ?...
I'm not surprised your truck did so well,after adding the rear chains..
Chains actually work better on summer treaded tires than knobby winter snow treads for some reason too...
I've had chains on all 4 tires here a few times when roads were really bad (and driving had actually been "banned" by the govenor,till they were able to clear the streets some)..with chains,you feel like the truck can crawl over anything...
It goes to show that sometimes,all the hype over big tires,lift kits,and other things is often over-rated...I've often seen stock trucks outpull and outperform some pretty highly modified rigs..makes one wonder,do we really need all that stuff ?...
Nope. This is a street truck, they haven't caused any problems since then.
Though you could say that I did wind up ditching them indirectly (by buying a K5 that doesn't have running boards).
Pulled Big Blue out for a spin today. It's a really neat feeling to have the rig on the road again. 
