Swamp Lake trail / Grouse Lake

[Desert Dog]

Thank you Richard for setting up yet another fantastic remote wheeling/camping trip. I couldn't have imagined a better place to be this weekend. I will definitely be making this trip on a regular basis.

Two Jeeps from the Rogers Family left Bakersfield Late on Friday, got to the Trailhead after 5pm, and had our tents set up at Grouse Lake before dark. The southern half of this trail (the way we went in) is pretty easy, for the exception of "Rooster Rock" which isn't bad if you get the right line. The camp site was better than I had hoped for, right on a beautiful high Sierra lake full of hungry Brook Trout. Everyone had fun swimming, hiking, and fishing by day, and drinking and bullshitting around the fires at night. There were about 12 rigs in the group, but everyone split up and ran out in small groups. A group went back out the way we came in, mainly to try to recover a Jeep that was left behind 2 days earlier because of a busted D35. The two Rogers Family Jeeps decided to continue on and finish the trail on our own. A couple more groups of NAXJA guys planned on running out later. Richard had indicated that the north half of the trail was more difficult and he was right; it was like running a mini Rubicon. We didn't need to winch or strap, but I did have to stack a few rocks for the daughter's TJ. The second half of the trail was challenging enough to make it fun for the MFDD Jeep.

CARNAGE:
The Rogers' Jeeps = My JK lost 4-low due to a stretched shift cable. I ran the trail in 4-hi with my doubler on, which made it almost like regular 4-low. Victoria's TJ had a small computer issue that we worked through on the way in and fixed in camp. On the Way out, the TJ kept throwing rear coil springs in the rock gardens. I ended up making limit straps out of lengths of chain and had no further issues.

The Other Rigs = There was a jeep with a broken chromoly axle shaft and broken ARB for a D35. I saw two flat tires that were fixed with patches. One XJ had to patch a hole in his radiator. Another Jeep had his on-board compressor fail and had no lockers. Another XJ was having overheating issues. On the way out, we came across an XJ that had sheared the bolts off his steering box; I happened to have spare bolts and gave them to the guy. I heard a rumor that Richard was collecting batteries on the trail to weld up his XJ on the way out!

For those wanting to do this trail in the future, be mindful that this is a VERY REMOTE trail that doesn't get much traffic and you must be 100% self sufficient. This trail will exploit any weak points in your rig and leave you in trouble if you don't have spare parts and the ability to install them. It is definitely worth it though, as the wheeling is great and the scenery is fantastic. Overall, I like this trail for the scenery and camping more than the Rubicon. The second half of this trail is much like Dusy/Ershim, only not so long that it gets boring.

Pics:

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HERE IS A VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U_TSSkuZ-0


Enjoy!

[Desert Dog]

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[JeremyRowell]

It was a great trip. I agree it's better than Rubicon. Better camping spot, equal scenery, and great wheeling and less people. Glad we got to hang out for a couple days, even though we didn't get to wheel together.
I just found out that Anthony and Jessica hiked out and had there parents come get them. They have to go back next weekend to get their rig. We passed it at 4 and it Steering box was broke out. They wrote on the window "hiked out at 1:30 to get help"

[Desert Dog]

We caught up with them at about 11:30am, and my daughters Jeep broke down right where he was. His XJ was off to the side of the trail at the bottom of a hill. He asked if I had steering box bolts, which I did for my daughter's TJ. I gave him longer bolts/nuts/washers so he could bolt it through the frame if those didn't hold. After I got my daughter's Jeep going (for the 2nd time), he started up his XJ and started going (we could see him from the top of the hill he was on). That was the last I saw of anyone on the trail, but the road at the end of the trail was very busy with traffic. Tell you what though, you could walk that last few miles much faster than you can drive it. They probably got picked up by the NAXJA guys that ran out after us.

Did the folks that headed south early in the morning get the Jeep with the broken D35 off the trail? Do we need an ICE team recovery next weekend on any of the rigs?

PS: I heard that there was some trail carnage in your group too. A little bit of make-shift welding!!!!!

[JeremyRowell]

The Rig with the broke D35 got out ok. Anthony red XJ is still there. It's right in the middle of the trail and it's very hard to get by it. I'm guessing it's going to be jacked up a bit because it's so hard to get by. I'm trying to find out if he needs any help.

[jcook]

We got the D35 fixed and drove out only to have to tow it after burning up a clutch.. But we got it on the trailer and home by 7:30. Everyone was lots of help and they still enjoyed the trip, catching tons of fish.. Anyone else sunburned too?
James

[jcook]

[attachment=1]ImageUploadedByTapatalk1343678074.070149.jpg[/attachment][attachment=0]ImageUploadedByTapatalk1343678084.438574.jpg[/attachment]

[Desert Dog]

[quote="JeremyRowell"] Anthony red XJ is still there. It's right in the middle of the trail and it's very hard to get by it. I'm guessing it's going to be jacked up a bit because it's so hard to get by. I'm trying to find out if he needs any help.[/quote]
Wow, those were grade 8 bolts he fixed it with! Did they break again? We stayed in the shade at the top of the hill chaining my daughter's axle to the frame. We waited until he was driving to continue, and his rig seemed to be doing fine. The groups were very scattered, no one was on the same CB channel, so communication was hard. In retrospect, I should have stayed behind and wheeled out with him instead of assuming he was squared-away. We didn't have any back seats / ability to take on passengers - but could have helped in other ways. If you speak to him, tell him that I apologize for that.

Question though; he knew that other groups were wheeling out later, so why did he start hiking?

[JeremyRowell]

[quote="desert dog"] Question though; he knew that other groups were wheeling out later, so why did he start hiking?[/quote]

I thought the same thing. I would have just waited for a ride. there were multiple vehicles with plenty of seats. Im hoping he hiked for a ways then got picked up. I can't recall if anyone left after you that direction before our group left. I did NOT see tire marks around his rig... I saw the steering box hanging frome the frame rail. There were a ton of washers on the bolts. He may have crushed/ ripped the frame rail. On XJ's you HAVE to reinforce that area or bad things happen.

[aldo90731]

It was an awesome weekend. My "stock" Rubicon got really banged up underneath but nothing serious. I had a blast!

Here are some more photos: [url]http://www.facebook.com/aldo.mario.martin?sk=photos#!/media/set/?set=a.10151004865242600.431765.565592599&type=3[/url]

[AJ99]

hey if anyone has the xjs contact info have him get ahold of me please

[abendx]

Wow... missed another great one. This is the trip I keep missing and want to do!!

And Aldo.... any other place you are hosting those pics, I don't do FB.

[aldo90731]

Here is the "Digest" version I posted in the Mopar community [url]http://www.allpar.com/forums/topic/144972-amazed-with-my-2012-wrangler/page__pid__11281714#entry11281714[/url]

[Desert Dog]

A Video I put together with some footage that my son shot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U_TSSkuZ-0


Sorry about the poor quality. The vid is in HD on my computer, but loaded to youtube with crappy quality.

[aldo90731]

I will try to post more pix when I get home tonight...although I do not have a good track record being able to

[Goatman]

Another great trip, as usual. I took all three grandsons this time, and they had a blast, and want to go back next year. The camping spot at Grouse Lake is about as good as it gets, and as always, we were the only group there. I never did air down, which was a mistake, since it made the trip much bumpier. That last day I kept wishing I had aired down but didn't want to stop and do it........kinda dumb.

Sunday on the drive out I all of a sudden lost my steering, which is not a good feeling. The tie rod end at the pitman arm broke off, right at the point where the taper ends and the threads begin. The break showed only about 2/3 was fresh break, so it's been waiting to happen. Fortunately I have welding rod in the Jeep, so with 3 batteries I was able to weld the broken end to the pitman arm, basically a rosette weld through the hole in the pitman arm to the broken end of the TRE taper. It held together and we made it out and got home a little after 11:00.

The gang from SoCal NAXJA got home this morning. After my steering issue, we got off the trail and on the dirt road out the Land Cruiser died. They couldn't get it going, so they strapped it front and back down the mountain for about 10 miles back to base camp. Then one of the tow rigs wouldn't start, and they spent 2-3 hours before it finally got going. Avery towed the Cruiser home on his trailer and Paul drove Avery's Comanche. On the drive home the Comanche blew off a bead lock ring and lost a tire. It was a long day/night for those guys.

[abendx]

[quote="aldo90731"]Here is the "Digest" version I posted in the Mopar community [url]http://www.allpar.com/forums/topic/144972-amazed-with-my-2012-wrangler/page__pid__11281714#entry11281714[/url][/quote]

Great pics... thanks Aldo!

[abendx]

[quote="desert dog"]A Video I put together with some footage that my son shot:[/quote]

As always.... great vid Chris!

[aldo90731]

Here are some photos

[aldo90731]

a few more

[aldo90731]

...and a few more

[aldo90731]

One final set

[Desert Dog]

Awesome pics aldo! Thanks for posting! You did very good for being the only stocker on the run.

[jcook]

Also, it was nice meeting you. Good job as well.
James

[aldo90731]

Thank you, guys. I got a lot of help and some GREAT spotting!

Hmmm...I seem to always be the sole "stocker" out there. As long as I manage to scrape..errr...[i]squeak [/i]through, I guess...

It was a lot of fun!!!