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Just a few thoughts on BB'10...

I spoke to Stephen today. He made two interesting suggestions:

1. Add more days to Blazer Bash - before Saturday... that way there may be a little bit of an accommodation period for those that are new to the Moab trails. People who travel a long ways would get more out of the Bash. People do this on a private basis anyways, on Mondays after the Bash...

2. Add an 'overlanding' run (actually Stephen used the term 'expedition', but that means something else, like 3 weeks thru the subarctic saharan desert forest or somesuch. We can't possibly do that. And, in order to qualify for 'expedition' all of us would have to have an ARB or Engel fridge in the truck, wear multiple layers of NorthFace™ clothing, run skinny 'tyres' no larger than 285s, and have winches that are rated at least at 15k, lest we jeopardize the next busload of nuns. Clearly, that's out, but I digress...). I've done a few runs of that kind in southern UT, they were typically in the 70 miles/day range, high on scenery, but not much rockcrawling, if any. North Cottonwood Canyon-Beef Basin-Bobby's Hole-Elephant Hill comes to mind, or Lockhart Basin. I wouldn't mind running one of these if there's interest; could be done as an overnight run as well... funny how we shift from running shorter trails to this...

Anyways, just a few ideas to bounce around...
 
jms said:
I spoke to Stephen today. He made two interesting suggestions:

1. Add more days to Blazer Bash - before Saturday... that way there may be a little bit of an accommodation period for those that are new to the Moab trails. People who travel a long ways would get more out of the Bash. People do this on a private basis anyways, on Mondays after the Bash...

2. Add an 'overlanding' run (actually Stephen used the term 'expedition', but that means something else, like 3 weeks thru the subarctic saharan desert forest or somesuch. We can't possibly do that. And, in order to qualify for 'expedition' all of us would have to have an ARB or Engel fridge in the truck, wear multiple layers of NorthFace™ clothing, run skinny 'tyres' no larger than 285s, and have winches that are rated at least at 15k, lest we jeopardize the next busload of nuns. Clearly, that's out, but I digress...). I've done a few runs of that kind in southern UT, they were typically in the 70 miles/day range, high on scenery, but not much rockcrawling, if any. North Cottonwood Canyon-Beef Basin-Bobby's Hole-Elephant Hill comes to mind, or Lockhart Basin. I wouldn't mind running one of these if there's interest; could be done as an overnight run as well... funny how we shift from running shorter trails to this...

Anyways, just a few ideas to bounce around...
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I think I now need to clean my keyboard!:haha::haha::haha:
So much for that drink.
 
tRustyK5 said:
.... Adversity, and difficulty make the event IMO. If it was easy, smooth, and 'timely' I think a lot of the fun and stuff would be missing....
Rene
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I couldn't disagree more.
 
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jms said:
I spoke to Stephen today. He made two interesting suggestions:

1. Add more days to Blazer Bash - before Saturday... that way there may be a little bit of an accommodation period for those that are new to the Moab trails. People who travel a long ways would get more out of the Bash. People do this on a private basis anyways, on Mondays after the Bash...
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That could be done anyway, most people wouldn't show up any longer IMO because of work etc.

And if they did wouldn't Friday become the new Saturday? Unless the plan was to try and do easier stuff at the beginning, working up to a more difficult run towards the end. IME people don't want to drive a long way to drive a trail they're way overequipped for (though I know that you, Michael, do that all the time because you love the scenery :pimp: ).

Just my .02, IMO adding a day just means one more day of people wheeling what they want to do. Not a day of break in stuff.

jms said:
2. Add an 'overlanding' run (actually Stephen used the term 'expedition', but that means something else, like 3 weeks thru the subarctic saharan desert forest or somesuch. We can't possibly do that. And, in order to qualify for 'expedition' all of us would have to have an ARB or Engel fridge in the truck, wear multiple layers of NorthFace™ clothing, run skinny 'tyres' no larger than 285s, and have winches that are rated at least at 15k, lest we jeopardize the next busload of nuns. Clearly, that's out, but I digress...). I've done a few runs of that kind in southern UT, they were typically in the 70 miles/day range, high on scenery, but not much rockcrawling, if any. North Cottonwood Canyon-Beef Basin-Bobby's Hole-Elephant Hill comes to mind, or Lockhart Basin. I wouldn't mind running one of these if there's interest; could be done as an overnight run as well... funny how we shift from running shorter trails to this...
Click to expand...

It's a thought, and as mentioned sounds long, but you could see how interest in that kind of idea goes.




Really, a lot of it is luck. Most of the time things that break are random and unexpected. Guy shows up at the trailhead with 44's on a 7000 lb truck with 10 bolts, easy to turn away. Guy shows up with a driver's drop D60 without bump stops? Good to go, nobody knew the driveshaft would hit the filter. I've made much bigger oversights :deal:

I've run Pritchett in the '07, '08 and '10 Blazer Bashes and all went smoothly. Apparently '09 was bad. Like I said luck of the draw.


As for Dave's thread that was related to this, I don't feel you really need to call anyone out for things. At least if it's a one time thing. I feel like during the '07-08 BB Travis (I think, wasn't on the trail I was running) ran the Trifecta with a bunch of new spring mounts etc. but had forgot to finish weld them and everything was tacked together. Broke all that stuff, the ORD guys welded it back together on the trail. Then lost the front end some other way so he tried to make the obstacles in 2WD and twisted the springs and spun an axle tube. Something like that anyway. Long day, lots of broken stuff.

That's not a rip on Travis but the point being that could have been avoided with a quick look over the truck. It's a mistake I easily could have made, I've done things like that too. For instance I went to pull the truck out of the garage a few weeks before BB and the front driveshaft fell off. I had it in and out a few times and apparently forgot to bolt it back down. It happens, nobody is perfect. I always try to double check everything before I go but that doesn't mean I catch everything.

Hell, it doesn't even need to be the trail leader that does the inspections. To me, this shouldn't so much be the big bad trail leader depicting who gets to come and who doesn't but more so the group of us taking the time to look over each others rigs to make sure that we didn't miss anything. And maybe see some new ideas :pimp:
 
I wasn't trying to rip on anyone. I love wheelin with Travis & JMS.
Yes he did hit it hard but so did I. Ask him about us racing up a rock hill.
Everyone makes mistakes and I'm all good with that.
I just don't think we should eliminate a run over it being a long or late run.
Suff happens and if you want to be back to town by 4:00, find an easy run.
 
jms said:
2. (actually Stephen used the term 'expedition', but that means something else, like 3 weeks thru the subarctic saharan desert forest or somesuch. We can't possibly do that. And, in order to qualify for 'expedition' all of us would have to have an ARB or Engel fridge in the truck, wear multiple layers of NorthFace™ clothing, run skinny 'tyres' no larger than 285s, and have winches that are rated at least at 15k, lest we jeopardize the next busload of nuns. Clearly, that's out, but I digress...)
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Freaking HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!!! :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha:
Seriously, if the wife & kids finally tag along next year we would LOVE to do a 70+ mile "overland" run, something we could do in our mostly stock '01 burb :woot:
 
Storm Trooper said:
I've been here since the begining and I know someone will bring a truck out that can't do a trail or someone like Mtn. Man will kick it until it breaks. What do you do? Tell them to never come back? No, you work it out and make the best of it.


:thumb: You never got a chance to witness my "elegant driving" last year :whistle:
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38377k5 said:
I feel like during the '07-08 BB Travis (I think, wasn't on the trail I was running) ran the Trifecta with a bunch of new spring mounts etc. but had forgot to finish weld them and everything was tacked together. Broke all that stuff, the ORD guys welded it back together on the trail. Then lost the front end some other way so he tried to make the obstacles in 2WD and twisted the springs and spun an axle tube. Something like that anyway. Long day, lots of broken stuff.

That's not a rip on Travis but the point being that could have been avoided with a quick look over the truck. :
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Not taking it as a "rip" but I gotta defend myself here

Plug welds popped out on the right rear axle tube EARLY on the run :dunno: Front diff died later, going up a step coming out of the canyon. Busted/unwelded spring perches were on a Zebra stripe painted K5, don't remember names and haven't seen it since :confused:
And yes I hammered the HELL out of it getting out from there! In hindsite I should have turned around and gotten the heck outta there at that point!!
 
All this being said, I agree with the tech. inspections. Like said above, people miss stuff on there trucks and it might help everyone to get checked out.
We could set it up like a nascar pit stop. 4-5 guys each with certain things to look for.
It could be done on Thurs. (no planned runs), Fri. morning (only easy shake down runs) and if you can't get to town until Sat. or Sun. we can have a few guys that want to take easy runs that day handle it because they can leave later in the morning.
I would be happy to help out. Most people that join us will be there for the BBQ so I doubt we would need Sat. or Sun.
It's not fair to the group if anyone brings their truck out and it's got problems of hasn't been greased etc. :sign27:
With a quick inspection, none of the trucks that had problems would have made the trail.
I also agree that if you don't make the start time, you catch up or run a different trail. I really don't think a 6 am start time is required but if the 1st group wants to do it, it would free up group 2 to leave at 8, not 9.
I'm not sure how we would deal with those that want hammer & break axles etc. several times on a trail. Ideas? :thinking:
 
mtnman said:
Storm Trooper said:
I've been here since the begining and I know someone will bring a truck out that can't do a trail or someone like Mtn. Man will kick it until it breaks. What do you do? Tell them to never come back? No, you work it out and make the best of it.


:thumb: You never got a chance to witness my "elegant driving" last year :whistle:
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Oh yes I did and you were awesome. I don't think you broke a thing.
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Dave, I've never seen the end of the "trifecta" in daylight! That's the logic for the early start...
 
mtnman said:
Not taking it as a "rip" but I gotta defend myself here

Plug welds popped out on the right rear axle tube EARLY on the run :dunno: Front diff died later, going up a step coming out of the canyon. Busted/unwelded spring perches were on a Zebra stripe painted K5, don't remember names and haven't seen it since :confused:
And yes I hammered the HELL out of it getting out from there! In hindsite I should have turned around and gotten the heck outta there at that point!!
Click to expand...

My bad, and like I said I could've left out the name because the point was if people had looked at that zebra painted truck someone would've noticed that the welding wasn't finished and it could've been fixed at camp.
 
Agreed! The dude who was driving it had bought it from someone and HE didn't even notice the perches about to fall off!
 
Just to clarify:

Dave and I disagreed on that day. We both made our decisions. That's pretty much it. And yes, Dave, I'm getting older. I have an AARP card, after all...:deal: .

If you read the thread, you'll notice that I'm not arguing to eliminate a Golden Spike run. It's my favorite trail in Moab. My point is that the circumstances for running that trail should be different.

I'm also not arguing to deny newbies the chance to run a trail like that. I was suggesting there be a way to identify vehicle issues before taking on a run like Golden Spike. I did suggest doing this in a timeframe that allows for repairs to be made (if possible), or for choosing a different run.

In any case, since I won't be at the next Blazer Bash, I look forward to the pics from BB'11 - don't mess 'em up; you guys have fun :D.
 
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