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Snow Crawl 2009
Albany and Muddy Creek area, Wyoming
April 25, 2009
Trip leader was Dewey Williams
Trip report below by Dewey Williams
These photos contributed by Dewey Williams
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| Snow Crawl 2009 |
The April club run brought four club members. Howard & Cody Segal, Marlon & Kristina Seals, George Brook and passenger Davy Nacy and myself Dewey Williams with passenger Eric Brown. Our newest club member. Three visitors Mike Jaskolski in his big blazer with passenger John Pulley, Mike Jacob in his Jeep JK and Lenny, Jane and Jordon Golding in there Jeep TJ came along to test there driving skills on the snow. The group headed out of the parking lot in Albany only to lose Mike and his Big Blazer to some kind of transfer case issues. Without 4-wheel drive you were not making it too far on this day. I'm sure Mike will have the Big Blazer fixed and back on the trail in no time.
The group made short work in getting to the Muddy Creek turn off (FSR 553). Turning down the trail I drove right past the spots that gave last years group some trouble. Feeling what was probably a little over confident thinking this was going to be a breeze I was just about to enter the big meadow when I proceeded to plant my jeep in the deep soft snow. With several strong pulls from George on the end of the strap I was moving again. Once the group was all in the meadow Marlon took off in his Fat tired Jeep making it all the way to the second creek crossing before forward progress was stopped. George and I started to follow only to find that neither of us could make it past the first creek crossing. We made several attempts but each would find Howard, Mike or Lenny working to pull us out of the watery holes we would sink into. Marlon used Warn (winch) to free him self. After a short meeting it was decided to change directions and try our luck with the big snow drifts in Cinnabar Park.
Marlon & Kristina were having some running and fuel pump issues with their Jeep. So at the fork in the road they took a right and headed back to the trailer. The rest took a left and headed to Rob Roy reservoir and Cinnabar Park. We stopped to enjoy some lunch before making our way into the big open meadow. As we headed across what looked to be a nice flat meadow I found one jeep sized hole to get stuck in. Takes talent to find that one hole in that big of an open area. Guess I had it that day. With a little shovel work and a few strong pulls with a strap we were off to the big drifts. All the jeeps looked like toys crawling over the big drifts. If I was a betting man I would bet these drifts will be around all the summer this year. Behind all the drifts we found a nice little bowl that Howard and I dropped down into to try our skill at doing a little high markin. As I was winching myself back out of the bowl Howard was turning around in the bottom of the bowl and a snap was heard from out from under his jeep. After a quick inspection all looked good. But as he was winching himself out of the bowl another loud crack was heard and pieces were flying out from under the jeep. The right front axle u-joint had called it a day taking the ears of the axle with it. After getting the jeep to a level spot and top of the drift Howard and George swapped in a spare shaft from Howard’s tool box.
The trip back out saw each of us take turns on both ends of the strap. Back at the main road we pointed the Jeeps back toward the trailers and the thought of steaks, burgers and a cold beverage at the Albany Lodge filled my head.
The weather was not quite as perfect as the other runs this year have been but it was awful close. The clouds would come in and dump some snow then move on leaving behind blue skies and lots of sunshine. This cycle happen several times through out the day. At the end of the day all the wheelers young and old had a blast. To all that could not make it we missed you, but you’re the ones that missed out on a great day in the mountains.
See Ya On The Trail
Dewey
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