Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
I got to California a day early so I ran the Deer Valley Trail also known as Hermit Valley which only had one or two obstacles, but nothing spetacular. Well I must say that the 1,700 mile drive one way to Lake Tahoe area was well worth the drive, besides it give my little diesel engine more time to break-in. The only disappointment was that there wasn't to may other TDR members that made the trip other than Ranger Dick and hopefully next year more poeple could make it. Anyway the trip started at leaving for the Rubicon on Saturday from Wentworth Springs and camping a Buck Island that night for those of you that are familiar with the Rubicon. All went well except I did get the pleasure of straping Ranger Dick up a ledge and not that he couldn't make it, but because a fuse had blown which killed his engine (bummer). On Sunday we left Buck Island and headed down the Big Sluice, into Rubicon Springs and up Cadillac Hill and ending at Lake Tahoe. Ranger Dick and I said our good-byes and he headed home. I stayed in Lake Tahoe for another week to see what kind of trouble I could get my self into by Jeeping alone which I would have to say is not usually recommended on the harder trails that are there. On Monday I did the Fordyce Creek Trail which was a blast until I got to the second stream crossing and after I waded out in the stream it was up to my waist at the shallowest point which I thought was too deep for my Jeep. So I thought I would tarp off the side of the Jeep and the front so water would have a harder time getting under the hood and set the winch up and ready incase something bad happened (stalling). Well everything was fine and dandy as planned until after I moved about 2 feet and heard my fender bending down, so my Swamper tire grabbed the tarp and riped it. So I thought I would just winch across, well low and behold that Swamper tires also broke my winch controller cable (oh no). So after getting about half way through the trail and it getting closer to dark along with smoke rolling in from the fires over by Emigrant Gap, by day was starting to get worse (no I know why they say don't 4-wheel alone). So I turn around and headed back out the way I came which was a lot of fun since some of the obstacle where funner driving up going out like the boulder field droping down into the first stream crossing. While heading out the first stream crossing must of gotten deep during the day as when I drove though it the second time it almost stalled my motor, just what I needed when my winch doesn't work. On Tuesday I ran Barrett Lake Trail which is what Ranger Dick said is a good run. I must admit it was a blast it had quite a few tuff obstacles which I loved the Rock Garden the best. I made it safe and sound the the lake in which I deside to camp there for the night and head down in the morning with some really nice folk I meet up at the lake. Wendsay and Thurday I stay at some folks house of people I meet at Barrett Lake and on Friday headed back to the Rubicon, but this time starting at Loon Lake (very pretty) and camping at Buggle Lake (above Ellis Creek). And on Saturday when to a Big Old Barbaque in the Granite Bowl held by Marlin Crawler (Toyota Crawler Boxes)and watching people in Toyotas running a rock crawling event. After that I loaded up and headed on home after a wonderful two week stay and definetaly plan on going out there next year. The good thing is I didn't break anything (drivetrain wise), but I did add a scratch or two along with a dent.
I also noticed that my truck pulls a lot stronger with the DD1's than the last time I drove over the mountains as I gained 5 MPh without any of the EGT's problems I had before. I could of went faster, but now I have a cooling system problem as it was running almost 210 degrees. The pass I was driving over was the one along Intersate 80 just west of Salt Lake City, UT which I thought was pretty steep and the ambient temperature was about 90 degrees so that might of been why the cooling temp was almost 210, but my EGT's never got about 1100 degrees.
Thanks again Ranger Dick for showing me around.
I also noticed that my truck pulls a lot stronger with the DD1's than the last time I drove over the mountains as I gained 5 MPh without any of the EGT's problems I had before. I could of went faster, but now I have a cooling system problem as it was running almost 210 degrees. The pass I was driving over was the one along Intersate 80 just west of Salt Lake City, UT which I thought was pretty steep and the ambient temperature was about 90 degrees so that might of been why the cooling temp was almost 210, but my EGT's never got about 1100 degrees.
Thanks again Ranger Dick for showing me around.
