TonyM
09-07-2009, 01:25 AM
A group of us met up to make a run to Hicks Creek. We left on Friday evening, and made it to the "Hill" at around 9PM. We made it a to a draw about 3 miles up the valley, and called it a night. The jeep guys left early that morning, around 11 or so I believe.
Rich and I went to go look for some others in our group that had gone hunting earlier in the morning, so we went back up the "Hill" with the jeepers who had just left us. Jeff (Red Jeep on boggers), blew up some spiders gears apparently, but from what I've heard, had no issue getting out the rest of the way (I'm sure he'll chime in on that..lol).
The hill was not too bad. I got strung out a little wide in one section and had to be winched back to the good ground, and with a little spotting, made it up with no issue (Along with the rest of the Jeep crew).
They went on out, Rich and I stayed waiting to hear from the other guys regarding their whereabouts... and finally hit them on the radio. Turns out, they had continued down the valley (Opposite direction that Rich and I went), and were stuck, and had been since 8am that morning (Because of the radio Nate/Bill were using, a handheld, we couldn't hear them until we were up high).
Rich and I dropped back down the "Hill", to go rescue Nate, and along the way picked Bill up who was hunting back towards us. We diceded to head back towards Caribou Creek, and get camp setup. We ran into a few hunters along the way who had filled their tags :yesnod:.
Saturday, we spent the last half of the day getting camp setup, planning on a good hunt in the morning. On the way in, Nate had semi-seperated his t-case from his tranny (Bolts came loose). Turns out, the threads in the tcase were stripped (Thats what he gets for using my old stuff... :rofl:). We JB welded the bolts in, and ran a ratchet strap to keep the two connected tightly, and had no other issue wih it.
The weather was great... atleast, until the sent went down. It got cold. Well below freezing cold. Sunday morning... everything was covered in frost. Nice clear skys, but made for a semi late start due to the temps...lol
Sunday was spent hunting the surrounding areas, exploring areas, and following creek beds. Nate nad Rich were on foot up high, and aside from seeing an immaculate Bull Bou, had no luck with the moose bull.
Mid afternoon, we decided to pack up and get a good start out, as there appeared to be weather heading our way, and we didn't want to get stuck on the wrong side of a wet "Hill". We mae it virutally problem free, until about 1/4 mile passed the "Hill". Thats when, Nate realized he'd lost his steering... :banghead:
Broken sector shaft, on some bypass trail that we didn't come in on. Sucky. We had a friend (A good friend apparently :rofl:), drive out a steering box to the trail head. I drove Nate to the trail head, and Bill was on the wheeler, and Rich stayed at the truck getting his hunt on (Hopefully he got something, since all of us loud asses weren't around:rolleyes5:).
I left my tools and some gear with Nate and Bill at the trail head waiting on Buddy.... made it about 50 ft out of the parking lot.... I noticed a shimmy...lol By the time I realized what it was, it was too late. I had a rear drive shaft flailing around underneath my truck. Fixed that on the side of the road right quick and was on my way.
As of now they are still up there doing the steering box replacement. I hope it goes as planned because I don't want to drive all the way out there till ATLEAST next year :icon_bs:.
Edit: Nate got a fork at about treeline 2PM on Monday.... :toetap05:, truck is under its own power now...lol
This is a great trail, we had a blast with all that went, even if the first night was a little roudy...lol The scenery is amazing, and it the weather cooperates, makes for a great trip any time of year.
FYI, the "Hill" when wet would be a mistake... especially in a full size rig. :seeya:. The second time going up the damn thing, I think I even peed a little...lol
I am leaving out a good deal of went on, hopefully others will fill in some blanks ? Tow rig burning down, etc?
Pictures on the way..
Rich and I went to go look for some others in our group that had gone hunting earlier in the morning, so we went back up the "Hill" with the jeepers who had just left us. Jeff (Red Jeep on boggers), blew up some spiders gears apparently, but from what I've heard, had no issue getting out the rest of the way (I'm sure he'll chime in on that..lol).
The hill was not too bad. I got strung out a little wide in one section and had to be winched back to the good ground, and with a little spotting, made it up with no issue (Along with the rest of the Jeep crew).
They went on out, Rich and I stayed waiting to hear from the other guys regarding their whereabouts... and finally hit them on the radio. Turns out, they had continued down the valley (Opposite direction that Rich and I went), and were stuck, and had been since 8am that morning (Because of the radio Nate/Bill were using, a handheld, we couldn't hear them until we were up high).
Rich and I dropped back down the "Hill", to go rescue Nate, and along the way picked Bill up who was hunting back towards us. We diceded to head back towards Caribou Creek, and get camp setup. We ran into a few hunters along the way who had filled their tags :yesnod:.
Saturday, we spent the last half of the day getting camp setup, planning on a good hunt in the morning. On the way in, Nate had semi-seperated his t-case from his tranny (Bolts came loose). Turns out, the threads in the tcase were stripped (Thats what he gets for using my old stuff... :rofl:). We JB welded the bolts in, and ran a ratchet strap to keep the two connected tightly, and had no other issue wih it.
The weather was great... atleast, until the sent went down. It got cold. Well below freezing cold. Sunday morning... everything was covered in frost. Nice clear skys, but made for a semi late start due to the temps...lol
Sunday was spent hunting the surrounding areas, exploring areas, and following creek beds. Nate nad Rich were on foot up high, and aside from seeing an immaculate Bull Bou, had no luck with the moose bull.
Mid afternoon, we decided to pack up and get a good start out, as there appeared to be weather heading our way, and we didn't want to get stuck on the wrong side of a wet "Hill". We mae it virutally problem free, until about 1/4 mile passed the "Hill". Thats when, Nate realized he'd lost his steering... :banghead:
Broken sector shaft, on some bypass trail that we didn't come in on. Sucky. We had a friend (A good friend apparently :rofl:), drive out a steering box to the trail head. I drove Nate to the trail head, and Bill was on the wheeler, and Rich stayed at the truck getting his hunt on (Hopefully he got something, since all of us loud asses weren't around:rolleyes5:).
I left my tools and some gear with Nate and Bill at the trail head waiting on Buddy.... made it about 50 ft out of the parking lot.... I noticed a shimmy...lol By the time I realized what it was, it was too late. I had a rear drive shaft flailing around underneath my truck. Fixed that on the side of the road right quick and was on my way.
As of now they are still up there doing the steering box replacement. I hope it goes as planned because I don't want to drive all the way out there till ATLEAST next year :icon_bs:.
Edit: Nate got a fork at about treeline 2PM on Monday.... :toetap05:, truck is under its own power now...lol
This is a great trail, we had a blast with all that went, even if the first night was a little roudy...lol The scenery is amazing, and it the weather cooperates, makes for a great trip any time of year.
FYI, the "Hill" when wet would be a mistake... especially in a full size rig. :seeya:. The second time going up the damn thing, I think I even peed a little...lol
I am leaving out a good deal of went on, hopefully others will fill in some blanks ? Tow rig burning down, etc?
Pictures on the way..