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I'll start with the begining I guess. This past sunday Feb 18th we decided to have a trail run to a known nasty but manageable trail system up here called Elbe ORV. Located about 30 miles past Eatonville, WA.
We had 7 rigs that shwoed up for the trip. 2- XJ's with 32" and 33" one with a locker, 1 XJ with 35"s front and rear lcoker and a winch, 1 stock YJ with a winch, 1 sami on 33"S with a winch, 1 full size GMC minus the bed, locked in the rear and on 38"s, and my jeep pretty well built, locked front and rear, winch and on 36"s.
The trail we decided to run was the the Busy Wild, 2 miles long, started at 9am. This trail is known to be nasty at times but other times is a piece of cake. The day before a guy from anouther site told us it wasn;t too bad but it did have a lot of water. (IMO it wasn't alot of water I have seen worse) So we start off on the trail pretty easy for me but a little bit of a challenge for the rest. We're about 1/4mile into the trail and the stick YJ breaks a U-joint front driveline, so they decide to turn around and go back. The XJ on 35"s decided to follow them and make sure they got off the trail safely, then he was to return. Well on the way out the XJ broke a rear driveline. So he radio'd back and said he wouldn't be returning, so we kept on truckin. We're doing fine until we hit the halfway point. Thats when we started to see some deep dug out mudholes with ledges a few feet high. It takes some work but might require pulling cable. The smaller rigs took the bypasses and played around in whhat they felt comfortable with. So we get through that spot only to go aroudn the corner to a DEEPER hole. No matter what you were winching. There was a 90 degree corner that was deep and #### near impossible. It was trenched out, you couldn't back up or move forward once you were in it. So first the sami went through, winching, then one of the XJ's. Well this XJ has the 2.8 V6 in it and wouldn't you know right in the middle of the whole he has engine problems. We finally get him pulled through.. Then I went, winching my way through too. I had to winch everyone through and it took us 6 hours to go 100 feet. Once we get through we ran into anouther mudhole tranched out and deep. somehow with the power of a my heavy foot and a 4.6 stroker I floored it boucned off a few tree's and made it up and over the ledges. After that we get to a hill climb. Very, very very nasty hill climb. Trenches 6 feet deep and ruts from 40" tires. Finally at 9pm we decided it was time for the only rig to get out to go and start making phone call's. Because none of the rigs could make it 10 feet up the hill, not even me. So I gather up everyones numbers to call wives family whatever. 4 of the other gys decided to ride along and wanted out. 4 other guys (mild XJ's drivers and passengers) decided to stay with the 4 rigs. ( 2 xj's, 1 fullsize with a bent tie rod, and 1 sami with a broke winch and a broke axle. We told them we would be back with help and to just stay put.
So I start going up this hill winching, stopping, winching again, etc.. I get about halfway up and thhats when I realized the other rigs are no way in hell going to make it up this hill or even fit in some area's. So I radio'd back and said turn around and go out the way we came in. So the 2 XJ's turn around and start heading out.
Oh I forgot to mention it was snowing all day. :'(
It takes me 2 hours to get up the hill that was about 3/4's of a mile long.
Just fawking nasty the entire way. finally we get back to the campground and we run into a few people camping. Talked to them told them the situation and asked if they could head in there to help the other guys out while I run into town to make phone call's. So they do (2 rigs, Cj and YJ) and the sami owner goes with riding shotty. Rich (sami owner) said they didn't make it 100 yard into the trail (the way we came out) and the CJ roll's. :'( So they spent 2-3 hours rolling him back over and thhey got all pissy and jumped ship. We get back from making phone call's and stopped at one of the guys houses to post up on the net that we need a rescue mission. We get back to the campground hoping to see our buddies there ready to roll out. At this time we didn't know if the other 2 rigs that went in made it there or not. The campground was pitch black. So we decided to go look for the guys. around 2 am. We couldn't find them and my clutch was packed full of mud and my winch was smoked. So we decided to get some rest until daylight and we would walk in. Cant say I got much sleep because I was freezing, wet, covered in mud, no sleeping bag or tent. Yeh it sucked, but we had heaters so not too bad. Finally day break comes and we have about 2"s fresh wet snow. We head to the trail head hoping to hear them whatever, but we heard nothing. So we started walking in. At about the 1 mile mark we finally find them, 1 XJ looking fine not stuck engine running, the other sunk beyond belief. First thing we did is start a fire to get everyone warm, boy was that fun trying to lite wet logs.
To finish up the story we finally got the sami and xj's unstuck and out of the trail. The fullsize is still on the trail sunk. When we got the other 3 rigs back to the stagin area thats when we realized the power of the internet. There was about 15 rigs ready to come get us. A few were already in the trail working on getting thhe fullsize out. But the rescue party had a command tent set-up with food , clothes, and a fire.
You can read more about it Here and we have a ton of pics. Most of the pics were from before we realyl got stuck, then after that it was more of get the hell out of here than take pics.
Carnage report:
My jeep, soft top done, clutch packed, starter packed, winch needs attention, a few new dents on the hood and very muddy.
XJ on 32"s, 2 or 3 windows bashed out, front grill ripped off, mirrors gone, small electrical fire, not a straight panel on it anymore.
XJ on 33"s 2 windows bashed, and engine problems.
Sami, broke winch (unspoolled) and brokke rear axle.
Fullsize, bent tie-rod, no fenders, no bumper,
Moral of the story: I'm going to start being a bit more selective with who I wheel. Must have a winch minimum.
Here's a link to pics. http://www.the4x4net...opic.php?t=2643
All in all 30+ hours on a trail. 7 rigs in 1 out.
