Matt Osburn begins:
As most of you know by now, I like to start my trip reports in the preparation stage of a trip.  So, to make sure I disappoint those who hate that, that's exactly where this one is beginning too.

The planning of this trip really began back in August of 97.  Or should I say, the planning not to go.  Mark and I had gone to the Rubicon last year.  This was the first "World Class" (so to speak) trail we had been on.  Neither of us had been on it before nor had Perry our only other companion.  At the end, Mark and I had agreed we had gotten our fill of the Rubicon (and maybe four wheeling altogether).  The trip was pretty grueling for 2 novices and a newby.  That's another story though.

Problem was, many of our friends down here really felt they missed out.  And looking back, we really didn't realize how much fun the trail was until it was over.  So, we decided we'd do it again.  I had met Bud Boren just before our trip last year.  When we decided to do it again, Bud said he'd come along, but only if we planned the trip to last at least 5 days.  Well, we really wanted Bud to come, even if we thought that 5 days was just too much.  So, it was set.  All of us SOCAL guys started planning and getting ready.  Then, through the IRC #jeep channel, MsVicky (my wife) met Jeff Yokomura (aka Yakamucho).  When he heard we were going to the Rubicon he asked if he could fill any empty seats that might become available.  We had no problem with that.  Then, as the trip got closer, and Jeff began posting on the L about his intentions and mentioning his anticipation in meeting Bud, Mike Garner says, "Hey, what about me?  What about the rest of the guys?"  So, it became the official, Jeep-L (I want to meet this crazy old guy called Bud) Rubicon Trip.

Mike Garner adds:
I was on the Jeep-L Rubicon trip the year before.  Once I heard rumblings of a second annual, I thought I 'had' to be there.   Many of you on Jeep-L know I have trouble turning away from a Jeep trip.  I really didn't care that much bout that 'crazy old guy Bud' I just wanted to see his Jeep.  ;-)

Matt resumes:
The rendezvous was set for 10:00am on Monday morning the 27th of July 1998 at Loon Lake.  I couldn't tell you if anyone was there at 10:00am that morning, I wasn't.

MG:
10:00am?  I thought it was 8:00am.  No wonder I waited so long.

Back to Matt:
My trip began back in San Diego a day later than the planned departure on Saturday morning.  I arrived in Vacaville at my brother's house in the late evening on Sunday with MsVicky, Lacey (my daughter), Josh (her fiancé), Mark Alligood, Misako (Mark's wife), Kimi (Mark's daughter) and Brian Williams.  I spoke with Dave "Gonzo" Peterson that evening on the phone and we agreed we would all meet up the next morning at 7:00am to leave for Loon Lake.  Round about 7:30am Dave arrives, un-couples his CJ-5 from his tow vehicle and off we go.  Missing the on-ramp (naturally) then swinging around to get on highway 80 towards Sacramento.  This was the first opportunity I'd gotten to drive my SOA YJ with my brand spank'n new 33" BFGs on it.  The tires had a good 500 or so miles on them, but 495 of them were put on while towed behind MsVicky's ZJ between San Diego and Vacaville.  I was really enjoying this.  The Jeep was handling superbly and I was finally off of them damn Dunlops that continually beat the crap out of me for a year and a half.

Mike again:
Only 500 miles?  Wow, must be nice to live that close to the Rubicon.  (says the guy from Iowa)

Matt again:
I can't remember what time we arrived in Placerville to top off on fuel, but it was definitely ahead of schedule.  I sort of pushed everyone into skipping breakfast until we stopped for gas.  Of course there wasn't much in the way of nourishment at the Chevron, but no one seemed to mind.  Once gassed up and ready to go, we made our way towards Ice House road.  I knew we weren't going to make 10:00am but we weren't going to be too late.  I skipped the fire permit (not realizing I'd be camping without the group that evening) figuring since I was late, and several camped at Loon the night before, someone would have a permit.  The further we headed up Ice House road the higher we got.  I'm not talking drugs or altitude; I'm talking attitude!  We made it to the Jeep-L group at 10:30am.  Not bad!  There was no chance you could drive by the group with Kurt "Duffy" Ladd's very bright red Scrangler sitting at the entrance near the road.  Duffy reported that Brad Kilby and Bud hadn't made it yet.  I thought "Good!  They're later than I am!"  Duffy also said some dorks had already gone ahead on the trail.  I thought, "Gee, Steve Friend is in that group, why would Duffy call them dorks?"  Well, maybe that's not exactly what he said.

Mike again:
A few of us stayed at Loon lake on Sunday night.  Among the group was Jerry Whitterage, (also a Jeep-L Rubicon veteran) Josh Paulson, (drove all the way from MA, and was my convoy partner since Iowa), Gil Meacham (who I was real glad to meet.  See, we had exchanged dozens of emails since we both have FI302 Fords in our Jeeps), and Dennis with his trailer load of gear.  We had all meandered up to that new campground by the spillway.  As we got there we met up with Paul Nasvik (prolly spelled wrong) and Dave Goodale.  A few minutes pass buy, and up rolls this huge jungle cat.  Tim "Zen" Turner in his SOA (with 2.5" lift springs) tiger stripped Scout riding on 35" BFG MT's.  You see, Zen and I have become good friends. It really is an odd pairing, a farmer from Iowa, and a software 'dude' (hey! I'm a farmer, I don't know all the software terms.  QA I think) from the Bay area.  Zen and I had exchanged a thousand emails over this Trout in the last month.  Among the things on the list was a new set of bumpers which I built before leaving home.  Much to my surprise, all the measurements were correct, and it bolted up.  I was even more surprised when Zen admited that he couldn't find a tape measure, so he had figured out all the measurments useing a 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper, and a 3.5" floppy.  AMAZING!   While we were bolting on the front bumper, and making a few other adjustments to the day old SOA, Steve Friend and crew showed up.  I glanced over and they had started to air down.  As soon as I had a minute to meet them, I would.  Seems like Steve was in a hurry, and as soon as his group was ready, they left.  Not so much as a "Hello", and our Jeeps were parked nose to nose.  Oh well.

Matt resumes:
I immediately set out to disconnecting my Maxwell gear and airing down tires.  Once I got through with this I decided to mingle and meet some of these infamous people called the Jeep-L.  Bart Jacobs and his wife Janelle who both have deep down good spirits.  I made my way over to the huge, obnoxious, tiger stripped trout, uh..er..I mean Scout, sitting with the hood open (which is how I most frequently saw it) and a really skinny guy in the drivers seat.  I said "Zen?" and he said "No, Mike Garner."  You could say Mike is a good trail hand.  Nothing occurs on the trail that Mike is not aware of and/or a part of.  I guess being a farmer, lazy ain't one of his traits.  It's one of mine.

Mike adds:
I didn't notice that lazy thing, but come to think of it, Matt didn't move much.  ;-)  I think Jeeping can be alot like farming.  Breakdowns can bring your whole day to a halt.  Instead of doing what you expect all day, you spend the day fixing.  So, when a Jeep breaks on the trail, it is very similar to an equipment breakdown.   I only hope that I didn't 'take over' anyone else's repairs.  Sorry if I did.

Matt's story again:
Jerry Whitteridge was there.  The feature that stands out most with me now, is his accent.  Turns out he's from England.  Doesn't that make him a bloke?  Steve McKay was there with his brother Cliff as navigator.  I already know Steve M. real well.  I don't stand behind him.  I said hi to Donald Clark and Jennifer, part of our gang from San Diego.  A BS session started while waiting for Bud and Brad.  I can't remember the conversation exactly, but I know Mike Garner's size came up.  Someone asked if I was expecting the huge 200lbs guy that Zen had described on the list.  I explained that I knew he wasn't going to fat.  Cause people don't call fat people fat to their faces, usually.  I told them "Nobody calls me fat!"  Someone should have said something kind here, but didn't.

Mike defends himself:
Zen had made that comment to the list about a month earlier.  I let it ride.  I heard two questions over and over the first day.  1) Aren't you a big fat guy? (I'm 6' and 145lbs) and 2) How is the rock trail coming?  (see, Since Iowa is not noted for it's rockcrawling, I've taken to collecting as many big ones as I can find, and am making my own trail)

Back to Matt:
Soon a conversation with familiar voices could be heard over the CB.  I recognized Bud and Brad brow beating each other as usual.  Duffy, not realizing they were further down the road than he thought, has them follow the sign to Loon Lake.  The second sign to Loon Lake you aren't supposed to follow.  The first one you are supposed to follow turns you onto the road heading towards Loon Lake and the damn.  The second one turns you into the Loon Lake campground, the damn is beyond that.  Bud and Brad were past the first sign and shouldn't have turned on the second one.  So now Bud and Brad are lost in a tiny little campground and Duffy departs to rescue and retrieve.  The next report over the radio is that Duffy has had a close encounter of the deer kind.  Word was later, the deer was moved off the road and reported to a passing ranger.  Duffy, Bud, Brad and  Will "Danger" Robinson make it to our staging area and air down.

Matt resumes the adventure:
Eventually (what 12:00?)

GonzoDave Joins the conversation:
yeah, that’s about right, given that it took us for-EV-er to meet up, not to mention Dr. “Deer” Duffy.

Matt resumes despite many interuptions:
we all line up on the damn

Gonzo pipes up again:
that damn dam – you’d think someone would teach it some manners.

Matt tires again:
for the standard line photos with Duffy leading the group and Zen's Scout and his buddy Randy's Amigo (a regular for the Jeep-L Rubicon run) at the rear.

Mike pipes back up:
Last year we had a fairly early start, that Randii could not make.  After we took a wrong turn before the slabs, became mired in the swamp, we finally found our way to Wentworth Springs road.  during this time Randii, who started late, had made his way to Spider Lake.  Perplexed as to where we were, he tried the CB.  Once contact was made, he was able to talk the travelers in.  Somehow the guy from Iowa was in the lead following Randii's directions.  We have been friends ever since.  I've always thought of Randii as the guy who got us 'unlost' on the Rubicon.  Until about midnight that evening............

Gonzo:
after we got all lined up, Duffy decided to rearrange us all and alternate locked and open rigs, so I got to move up closer to the front.

Matt:
We all head down into the trailhead and over that first bit of slab at the entrance.  As we're heading down the slab, I'm getting my first taste of what an overloaded SOA YJ feels like.  Damn squooshy (hmmm, MS Word doesn't seem to think "squooshy" is a word.  I know I didn't make that up!)
 
Gonzo D:
yes you did.

Matt:
In any case, I'm thinking maybe I don't like this SOA thing too much now (that changed later when rocks didn't beat on my belly).

Gonzo adds:
At least you waited until the slabs to feel squooshy. Josh and Mark were having fits just getting to Loon Lake, because I don’t have an antisway bar and so I was doing just a whisker of lean in the turns. (Josh was in my Jeep; Mark was behind me. I think. Or maybe it was Brian.) I was used to it, but I don’t think they were.

Matt:
We all trooped along to the first real obstacle of the Rubicon.  This is a little rock garden with a hard left and a "V" that teaches those without rocker panel protection they've made a mistake.

Dave offers another perspective:
only those that want to be taught…I consider the dents to be a badge of honor.

Matt:
I don't remember how many or who got through before Gonzo made his attempt but I do remember
the strap coming out at least twice.  Gonzo's attempt resulted in carnage (we had to have some, or Rick Boiros. wouldn't bother reading the report).  As Gonzo made the turn and attempted the V, he landed squarely on his rear driveshaft which immediately took on a nice cork screw shape.

Gonzo Dave:
right after that, it decided it preferred to be 2 pieces. Oh well, that was still better than busted front axle spider gears, which was my first thought.

Matt:
Gonzo was strapped through the V to the flat ground just beyond and assessments were made.  It didn't take a whole lot of assessing to know that Gonzo needed a new driveshaft and the direction he was pointed was the most difficult route to the driveshaft in Zen-wheel drive.  Considering ol'Gonzo was gracious enough to stay in Vacaville, so he could cart my daughter's fiancé to and through the Rubicon, the least I could do was escort Gonzo back to Loon and wait until he returned from town with a driveshaft.  The plan was for he and I to hit the trail the next morning and catch up with the group at Spider Lake the next day.

Gonzo:
was that the plan? Heck, I thought you were just being nice to the enemy – er, Josh. After all, his gear was in your Jeeps, and Lacey was with y’all, so I just thought, well, never mind what I thought. On with the story.

Good idea. Matt take over:
Once Mark and Brian got wind of my intentions, they immediately volunteered to stay back with me.  Bud says he's staying back too.  I convinced Bud he should continue with the main group and he made it clear that if I didn't show at Spider the next day, he was coming after me.  About the same time that Gonzo had all this trouble with his driveshaft, Zen, Randy and Mike G. had all pulled
to the side of the trail to work on Zen's Scout.  As our group of four Jeeps passed by them in route back to Loon Lake, Zen detecting my lazy streak, and needing someone to pull a toolbox out of the back of his Scout, offered a K&N filter to coax me into assisting.  Well, I'm sporting a new K&N.  Zen was having some carburetor problems among other things.  Gonzo was given some hardware and requested to bring back hardware just like it, but bigger. We moved on for Loon Lake.

Mr Gonzo whines:
Gonzo this, Gonzo that. You’d think I was the only one having problems – oh, wait. I was. Y’know, Zen never did use those bolts I got.  Wonder what happened to ‘em?

Mike takes his que:
Randii, Zen and I had echanged numerous emails on the subject of preparing the Scout for the trail.  I was full of ideas.  Mainly cuz I was 2000 miles away, and wouldn't have to help. ;-)  Anyway, some of the things I had volunteered to do, came up imediately.  One was that it flooded out every time the thing drove one side over a dime.  Never touched an Edlebrock carb before.  I was sure hoping that I wasn't gonna be surprised by any springs, or other small parts.  I wasn't.  Bent down those floats so much, I hoped it would run.  It did. That part was sloved.  Next we tried to address the overheating problem.  Whoever (not Zen) put the Dodge 360 in there, left about 5" of space between the fan and the radiator.  No Shroud by the way.  Lower degree theremstat installed. (Randii came prepared) About that time the wounded came by.  It was Randii's idea to get some  longer bolts to put a block of wood in and move the fan forward.  I was more of the school of moving the radiator back.  Since we had bolts for this, it was done.  We still could have used the longer bolts from Gonzo, to move the fan as well.  We were ready.  We were seperated from the group, but Randii knew the way.  Off we went.  To a little rock garden that the rest of the group had missed.  One of Randii's favorites.  (those who were there last year, we went this way.  I think Jerry had trouble there at the time)  As we picked our way though this obstical, a few other Scout
'personality traits' surfaced.  Wouldn't stay running in Drive when the brakes were applied. and still was running plenty HOT.  260, down from 280+.  Truned a few screws on the carb, and I had it running even better.  (I'm writing this, I can make myself sound good, can't I?)  We then broke out a tarp strap, and another block of wood.  Bungeed it to the cowl, and prevented the hood from closing.  Now it would run at 240.  Getting better.  The two other problems that showed up here were lack of visiblility,(being used to a Jeep, Zen was feeling isolated) and the slipping auto trans.  Visiblitiy couldn't be corrected, neither could the trans.  We limped on, with hope.  Next little obstical, and Zen went over without incident.  Things are looking up.  Yeah, right!  About the time confidents builds, Zen becomes stuck for no apparent reason.  Pretty soon the trans was really acting up, and it wouldn't run at all.  We never figured it out, but it would run fine on the level, and not get fuel when the nose was high.  (Hey!  I just now realized that it was likely related to my excessive float adjustment.)  Zen decrees, "Time to turn around.  A couple of 'dead winches' up the hill when the ol Trout refused to run, and we had Zen back in sight of the spillway.  It was 8:00pm.  Sent him off to find the camp.

Randii, my wife Lisa, and I headed on to Spider Lake.  Made really good time to the slabs.  Randii pretended to be stuck, and as soon as the strap was unrolled, drove out.  I looked under my rig, why does it have a pretty good spot of oil under it?  Hmmmmmmmmmm Seems someone didn't bolt the transfercase tight enough.  As soon as I find out who did that, I'm gonna make him work around the hot exhaust to tighten all the bolts.  Doh!  That would be me.  I soon finished, ;-)   and we were once again on our way.  We made realy good time to Ellis Creek.  Then, Randii, the man who saved me last year, took a wrong turn.  Oh the irony!  To make a long story shorter, we wondered around towards Lake McKinny <Sp?>  (generally noth and west, not the east we wanted)  We eventually found a campfire.  Nervousely we approached.  Found them friendly, AND they knew where they were.  They offered us a place around the fire for the night, but we declined and started back.  I just couldn't sleep until I knew I 'unlost'.  Baja raced back to Ellis Creek area.  Stopping only once to air up one of Randii's tires.  Seemed it wanted to leave the rim.  Back at Ellis Creek, we decided to keep backtracking a little ways to make sure we were where we thought we were. Yup.  Decided to retrun to Ellis Creek one more time to bed down for the night.  Remember that offcamber spot where you squease past a rock on the right?  Well, Randii lost the right front tire bead while tipped.  Tried some coaxing, then I resorted to telling him to just drive it off.  He did, it didn't roll.  Now we had to get the tire aired up.  Winched through a snatchblock to stabilize, then jacked it up, and supplied the air.  Not a concern on the trail, but Randii would have about 2lbs of gravel to remove from a Swamper.  My eyes closed for the last time at 1:30.  What a day!

Next morning, Randii, had to return to work (we knew this all along) and I was headed to Spider lake to catch up with Gil, Jerry, and the rest of the group.  Just then, Duffy came down the trail.  He also on his way out.  They would travel together.  Lisa and I then made our way to Spider.  Alone.  Knowing there was a group ahead we could walk to if needed, and a group behind that would come along and scavange the carcases if we didn't make it.  Neither happened.   In about an hour, we were standing at the base of the Little Sluice.  Talking to Jerry, and Bud.

Finally back to Matt:
The rock slab at the beginning of the trail proved to be just a bit too slick for Gonzo in his Zen-wheel drive equipped CJ-5 and he was strapped up to the top.  Once back at the original staging area, Gonzo bolted for the city and we looked for a decent campsite for the night.  The whole camp really had a great attitude about making this setback worthwhile.  Mark, Misako and Kimi got in some swimming and fishing.  MsVicky and I took a nice peaceful canoe ride.  Then Lacey and I got out in the canoe for one of my favorite rituals we've shared over the years.  She paddles, I fish.  This time alone with my wife, then Lacey, was honest to goodness, quality time.

Gonzo:
Mushy, Matt, really mushy. Bleah. :-p

Matt:
We all love that canoe.  Brian, in his usual manner, provided hilarious entertainment while swimming and taking a bath.  We all had a really good day.

Gonzo D:
y’know, Zen-wheel drive is really interesting. I felt sorta like a crippled dog, dragging my rear end around by pulling from the front. You ever see a dachsund in a sling? It was weird to have the back end just sorta following the front and not helping out any. ‘Specially on that slab, where the front slid on some dirt, and the rear just LET IT. I mean, how rude!  And then Matt has the bright idea for me to take an alternate route up.  The alternate was harder than the original! No thanks. I’ll go with the
original – but I needed a strap to do it.

Matt resumes:
Gonzo found his way back to our camp dressed in an all-new, better-equipped, CJ-5.  Ok, it had a new driveshaft (Gonzo, don't forget the shameless plug for the place that fixed ya).  As evening set in I was able to pick up a conversation Steve Friend (now at Spider Lake) was having with someone on the CB.  He and I chatted for a bit.  We both knew then, we wouldn't see each other on this trip.  Too bad, he wasn't going to see how I turned the ugly chrome Olympic rack he sold me just before the trip, into a good-looking black rack (at the expense of Bud's compressor).  Nor was I going to get to see him drag around the new trailer he unveiled for me at his home.  Oh well, we'll always have our visions. ;-)

DAVE wrote:
I think Matt forgot my name. It’s DAVE. Nevermind I was one of only two with a nickname, the other being, of course, the one and only Zen. Oh yeah, I talked with Steve for a moment or two, too.

Okay, shameless plug: Randii (note it’s spelled “ii”, not “y” – at least that’s how he has it on his Amigo’s plates)

Mike clerifies:
Randy is his name.  Randii is his nickname.  Guess it only works in print, but you did sorta catch it.

Back to Dave, Gonzo:
recommended a place in  Placerville that might be able to make me a ‘shaft. So I beat feet to Placerville and lucked into the right place, but it wasn’t the right time. So they recommended I go to Adco in Shingle Springs. I called first. <g> They said yeah, they could do it, but I had to hurry. So I beat more feet getting to Shingle Springs – it’s about 9 miles west of Placerville on Rt 50, if you ever need to know…. And as you’re getting to the first S.S. exit, look to the left – you can see Adco right by the highway. They charged me $140 for a new ‘shaft, including a new u-joint. And it was all
charged as labor! No parts to tax! Go there if you EVER need a new ‘shaft, but they close at 5.  Remember, boys and girls, that’s ADCO Drivelines and Mufflers, 4211 Sunset Lane, Shingle Springs, CA. 530-676-1516. Now, back to our program, where we find our hero,…

Matt:
While in town, Gonzo had picked up some hardware for Zen that he had asked for in our passing earlier.  Brian volunteered to head down to where we had left them and give them Gonzo's treasure.  I'm not sure how or where Brian found Zen, but Zen was heading out of the trail by himself.

Mike interjects:
Randii and I had parked just over the hill, and walked Zen back to a point where we knew he could easily make it.  We prolly had left Zen only seconds before Brian found him.

Mr. Gonzo:
I thought he was gone a long time…. I didn’t realize he had found Zen – I thought he had gotten lost, himself.

Matt:
Brian led him back to our camp.  Later, by the really crappy fire, Zen voiced some concern over the reaction to his arrival.  He thought maybe he looked beaten or something because the younger men took to setting up his camp and the women immediately offered food.  Ya might say the group I camp with are like musketeers.  That's why I didn't escort Gonzo back alone.

Dave thanks Ms V:
Ms Vicky gave me some dinner, too – in fact, it was the only food I’d had all day. I skipped b’fast to meet up with Matt et al in Vacant… er, Vacaville, and then I skipped lunch due to my little mishap, so MsV’s dinner was most appreciated. It was delicious! I think she likes taking care of
her “boys”.  I always wanted to drive over 100 miles and not go anywhere.

Matt begins Day 2:
Come morning, Zen set out early for better ground to remove shims from his front axle.  The rest of us tore down and packed camp.

Gonzo offer's his own take on the english language:
‘scuse me, but I had new gear. Maybe you tore down your camp, but I was careful. Sort of.

Mr. Matt O:
We headed over the original Jeep-L staging area where Zen was just finishing tightening down the u-bolts on the Scout.  We let Zen know, as soon as this baby starts, we're outta here!  Fortunately the Scout fired up and we abandoned Zen like rats on a sinking ship.

Gonzo:
Also fortunately, by the time we got there, Zen was through with my Hi-Lift, so I could put it away
and we could leave when the Zebra started!

Matt:
Tension mounted as we got the near the area where all the problems had started the day before.  In our group of four, we had two Jeeps locked front and rear and two open front and rear (unless you count Brian's limited slip rear).  We alternated the line to our advantage and proceeded.  Not one
single strap.

Dave:
I have to confess, though, that we did a tad of strategic rock placement at the first obstacle – which, I might add, is now known as Driveshaft Rock.

Mike pipes up again:
Hey Gonzo!  There is a little hill on Poison Spider, in Moab, that the Jeep-L group calls Driveshaft Hill. Guess we both have an 'honor' bestowed upon us.  ;-)

Gonzo:
After we all got through there, I suggested we remove our stacked rocks, but Matt wasn’t having any of that. So if those rocks are still there, it’s his fault.

Matt:
As a matter of fact, we proceeded all the way to Spider Lake with one occasion for a strap, once we got it hooked up, Brian pulled forward.  Hmmm, guess he wasn't really stuck.  While on the huge slabs we came across Duffy and Randy heading out.

Gonzo:
and a good thing, too, cause it looked like we were in the process of getting lost. At least I was lost.

Mike:
Funny you should mention 'lost' and Randii, at the same time.

Matt:
I'm not sure how those two wound up together considering Randy was lost with Zen and Mike the night before, and Duffy made it to Spider Lake the previous day.

Mike:
Think I covered this, but Randii hooked up with Duffy as Duffy went past our campsite at Ellis Creek.

Matt:
Later, we stopped in the shade and had lunch at that area everyone remembers the Hummer having one tire way skyward in the Rick Russell video.  I even remember hearing Brad refer to this spot the same way the previous day over the radio.  Everyone really seemed to be enjoying the days ride, I know I was.  As we closed in on the Little Sluice, we were in radio contact with Bud and I think Paul "Gottarun" Nasvik.  Next thing ya know, here comes Mike Garner walking down the trail towards me.  Cool, it was good to see someone from the main camp (Turns out, he still hadn't
made the main camp yet either).

Mike:
Technically I had made it to camp.  My Feep hadn't though. After getting lost I was worried about my fuel supply, and didn't want to drive all the way to camp, then back to the LS to make my pass through.

Matt:
Mike pointed out the bypass to the Little Sluice to me and we made our way around and Danger

Gonzo:
Who? – oh, yeah – “Danger”  Will Robinson. Okay, so Zen and I aren’t the only ones with nicknames.

Matt:
and Donald met us at the end of the sluice to escort us back to camp.  I think they scouted the area for the most challenging route to bring us back.

Gonzo whines:
And how! Up and over and around and down and all. In fact, when it was my turn to go up and all, I walked over to Matt and said, “the point to all this is…..?” cause I thought they were just doing some extra rockcrawling and we were gonna go left there. Wrong. So I hadda climb this vertical
rock to get to camp. Jeep sure works better with 2 driveshafts….

Not sure why Gonzo put this here, but.....:
Dave again. I guess my "reputation" precedes me. Randii was just one of several people who, when I introduced myself, said something like "*THE* Gonzo Dave???" Being famous (or is it notorious?) is a nasty job, I guess, but somebody's gotta do it...

Matt gets to Spider Lake:
We got to camp and found most everyone enjoying the lake.  Here we met up with Dave Goodale (who's quiet demeanor hides a huge sense of humor), Gil Meachem (what a cool dude, a man's man if ya know what I mean (explanation for the deranged: I mean like "The Duke" or "Clint".  Ok?)).  Everyone else I mentioned at the beginning is here too.  Steve Friend, David Oh and Bob Bills had already departed with their local group.  That's ok, I've met all those, couldn't wait for me schmucks, before.  Josh Long, as I understand it, was traveling with that group

Mike:
That would be Josh Paulson, from MA.  Josh long, from CA, was the one that didn't make it cuz his RE lift wasn't finished.

Matt:
and Gottarun Nasvik had bagged it to catch up with them.  So the only guys I didn't meet on this run, that I hadn't met before, were Paul and Josh.  Based on what Bud said about Paul, oh nevermind.  While talking with Donald, I learned of his problem from his trip to Spider with the main group.  Donald's rear body lift mounts pushed through the tub and were now replaced with blocks of wood.

Donald had already run the sluice with Brad but wanted to do it again.  He rounded up a bunch of the brave and we made our way over to the sluice.

Mike adds:
I had parked at the entrance to the Little Sluice because of my fuel concerns. While Matt and the others were making there way to camp, Gil backtracked around and met me at the LS.  Gil had been here once before, and, due to excessive traffic, had to bypass.  This has eaten at him for a year.  I had been through hear a year earlier.  I've since added wider axles, front limited slip, and a 4:1 kit.  I was eager to see the difference from the changes.  I was not so eager that I didn't trick Gil
into going first.  Gil tried a couple different approaches, and found one to his liking.  Basically his mild lift (2.5") required just the right line to keep his skidplate off the granite.  Gil had watched Jeeps go through here the year before and learned a trick or two.  The main one was to actually drive close to 'the rock in the middle'.  He noticed the farther you stayed away, the more you tipped into it, and bent the sheetmetal.  He demonstrated this nicely as he passed it with at least a foot of clearance.

My turn at the 'Box'.  I first tried the line that hung Gil up so badly.  Thought my SOA would give me enough to clear.  Not quite.   Next line I tried kicked me off, but actually put me in a decent spot.  I was up and in.  Followed Gil's advice, and didn't hit the rock in the middle.  I'm actually not sure if it was that, or the fact that my quarter panel already had been 'clearanced' last year.  This Iowa farmer is truly at home here.  I just love the challenge, scenery, and friendship.  One of the things that I've never heard anyone say about this part of the trail is how beautiful that big tree is.  If you haven't been there, this ancient ?cedar? tree stands watch over the Little Sluice.  I'm not sure if two people could reach around it.  I can only wonder how long is has stood watch, and how the world has changed during that time.  Those of you who will return to this area, pause and admire this old friend.

Gil and I met the 'brave' on our way back to camp.  We told them we would soon walk back and watch.  Things took longer than expected, and we missed Don's and Bart's passes though the LS.  I really wanted to see Bart go through there, for he is an operator, not just a driver.

Matt:
Bart went through the Little Sluice without much fuss.  Donald busted a Procomp add-a-leaf out of his SOA pack, but still got through.  My front end slipped sideways on a rock that put me into that really big rock on the left of the sluice.  Trashed a PIAA lens and dented the fender a little.  I learned I don't have three feet, and the two I have, don't work right (nuth'n a 4to1 won't fix, eh Dear?)

Mike:
Matt is a bit vague here.  As soon as I got there, Matt starts asking me what my line had been.  I knew how he felt inside.  Last year, I knew my Jeep could go through there, but wasn't sure that I was good enough.  I'm pretty sure Matt was thinking the same.  In reality, Matt climbed up the first set of rocks very easily. I think he was a bit surprised by that.  That incident with the lens was his only problem.  Matt and I suffer from the same affliction.  We don't think we can drive smoothly enough.  He says his feet didn't work, but it looked like a ballet to me.

Matt resumes control:
Mark's trip through the sluice proved to be the real entertainment.  How or why we're unsure, but Mark wound up in a position too close to the big rock.  It was decided that the only way to spare his door was to winch him to the right to clear it.  Once we all were through with the sluice, Will lead us back to camp.  Somehow, I missed it; but Mark managed to put a foot long gouge in the door they had just spared in the sluice.  Irony.

Once back at camp we all took to the lake again.  MsVicky and I took off in the canoe and learned why it's called Spider Lake.  There are so many little fingers off of that lake I'll bet you couldn't explore them all in a day.  This lake is much bigger than it appears from the shore we were camped at.  Lacey and I have always enjoyed long swims so we set out to cross Spider and back.  We be fish in the water.  She and I have swam across Mission Bay in San Diego together.  She couldn't have been but maybe 12 when we did that.  Long swim even for an adult.  As evening set in I think just about everyone was fishing.  Lot's of bites, mosquitoes mostly.

Mike:
While Matt and Ms Vicky were enjoying the lake, there was a fair amount of 'rig sniffing' going on.  Anyone familiar with dogs surely understands.   Some wanted to see just what a Feep looked like, and I spent time checking out some of the others.  Got dark to quickly.  We all retired to the campfire, and members the various groups told their tale of getting to Spider Lake.

Matt:
After everyone was packed and ready to go the next morning, we could hear Brian Smith over the radio approaching.  We made our way from Spider back to the main trail taking a short break to get Jerry's tire back on the bead.  Mike G. set out towards the sluice and the bypass to guide Brian to the group.  While we waited Mike decided to cry wolf.  Good thing he was only kidding, cause Brad was in charge while Mike was gone and said if he was rolled over we'd all just leave him.

Mike:
I have this bad habit of asking loaded questions, that make people assume the worse.  All I asked was, "Would the first winch in line be willing to come roll me back over?"  I just wanted to be sure.  ;-)   After I got the "You didn't roll, did you?" response, there were some threats that my Jeep would roll that night in camp.

Matt:
As it turned out, Brian Smith had overshot Spider and was actually way ahead of us.  We proceeded a little further when a small pebble leaned over and took a gash out of Brad's tire.  The spare was put on and we pushed on over the slabs.  There were several really cool obstacles and a water crossing or two.  Once we came to where the trail splits off to the Old Sluice or continues on down the slabs to Buck Island Lake, two lines were formed.

I really wasn't sure about which line to form up in, but Brad made it clear I wasn't bypassing the Old Sluice without scars to my ego.  I lined up with the fellows going through the Old Sluice.  Somewhere before it got tough, Mike put a really good bend in his tie-rod.  Mike put the tie-rod in his bumper/bench vise and slid a pipe over the rod for leverage.  Good as...well, not new but damn near straight.  The Old Sluice really isn't much until you get near the end (or do I just have a bad memory?).  Just before the nasty part, there's another bypass.  Donald was forced to take this bypass because his other Procomp add-a-leaf had just broken also.  His rear end was pretty sagged.  The nasty part proceeds down a decent rock garden and comes to the huge rock that forces you to climb the wall around it.  Mike showed precisely how it was supposed to be done.

Mike:
For I learned ho not to do it last year.  ;-)

Matt:
I don't remember exactly where I was in line but I took a pretty high line on the wall and Donald said I might be too high.  I looked up to Lisa Garner who had the prime viewing spot for this obstacle and asked her if I was ok, she calmly said "Nobody else went that high."  I wasn't concerned until then but managed by the rock just fine.  Everyone else pretty much made it through without incident.  Watching Bart maneuver his well equipped XJ through this obstacle was quite a site.  You just wouldn't think something that big could get through there with no damage, but it did.  Aw hell, he did the Little Sluice in the grocery getter, I guess this was nothing for him.

Mike:
"Well equipped"?!?!?  That is an understatement.  I drooled anytime I was near the thing.  Seeing a built up CJ/YJ/TJ is one thing, but a built XJ or ZJ is a whole 'nother thing.  They are just awesome.

Matt:
We made our way from the Old Sluice to Buck Island with my CB and frig being the only casualty (note, if they know you can't hear them, they talk about you).

Mike:
That wasn't my idea.  I swear.

Matt:
We met up with Brian Smith finally and the rest of the gang that bypassed the Old Sluice.  I replaced the fuse causing my communications outage and frig failure.  We were in the Old Sluice a long time and I was severely admonished by my daughter for the delay.  Once we got going again Jerry's other front tire popped off the bead and was quickly re-seated.  Seems we shouldn't let Jerry stop.  Whenever he gets going again he pops a bead.  Maybe he just likes longer breaks.

Mike:
Sure glad you thought it was quick.  Jerry blew off both beads, not just the usual one.  He asked for my help, and I took over.  (something I do well)  After struggling with the Jeep 'hovering' above me, I got tired of messing around, and got the ether.  Why didn't I do that sooner?  Tire fixed.  Onward.

Matt:
The ride from Buck Island to the Big Sluice was pretty much uneventful.  As a matter of fact, the ride through the Big Sluice was pretty much uneventful.  We really didn't run into any trouble until just before we hit Rubicon Springs.  Here, Dave Goodale's front passenger side hub said, "I give."  It was decided he could limp to the springs and on we went.  Jerry led us through the springs and around the main camp.  Believe it or not, there were some fairly tough obstacles on this route.  At least a few were strapped through and Bart damn near put the XJ on its side.

Mike:
I was watching Bart climb up through this spot.  I could see he was headed for a rock that would make things interesting.  I asked, "would you like some advice?"   "Not yet." Bart replied.  WHOA!  Bart is in that interesting position I saw coming.  Couple quick snapshots, and he backs down.
"You knew all along that I was gonna do that didn't you?"
"Yes, I didn't think you would roll, just get a surprise"  I reply.
"I think I'm ready for that advice now." Bart admits.
Out he drove.  I don't like it when people 'panic' over my lines (sometimes they are right, mostly they are wrong) so I wasn't gonna do it to Bart.  For all I know he was planning on putting on a show.

Matt:
A couple of old timers watched us struggle through the worst part of it, then collected our dinero for camping at the springs.  The old timer collecting money and taking license plate numbers recognized Bud and decided to charge him double.  Guess he knew Bud well.

Once we got to the campsites everyone set out to setting up camp.  Bud, Mike and Dave G. got busy fixing Dave's hub.  At sometime during the repair, as I understand it, Bud's Jeep puked trash on Dave.

Mike:
I tried to get Bud to cut-n-paste some comments to the part of the report I had sent him.  In typical Bud fasion, this is what I got back.  Might as well put it here.  ;-)

Bud Boren added:
This trip was a total blast!!!!  I got to meet a lot of jeep-lers that I had not previously known. That in it's self was worth the trip!

I know ya all are going to hear about the logistics etc. from the scribes that were on the trip, so I won't bore you with those details all over again.

I already did my version of the way it was in the big trail ride anyway.  All I really have to say is that I wheeled with a great bunch of guy's and gal's for one of the most enjoyable weeks of my life.  I laughed until I cried most of the week. Sorry I didn't get to actually wheel with some that were ahead of us. Maybe next time. It was good that we were split up into sections however because there would have been some major road blockage if we had not I'm sure.

I only have one short story to tell you all that wasn't in my report.  When we got to the Springs Dave Goodale had blown a hub.  I happen to park right next to him with Pokey. Well, Pokey's trash bag had split apart in the cab and as Dave and Mike Garner were going about repairing the hub I was pulling potato salad and other verious bit's of day old garbage out of Pokey. Unbeknownst to me I'm ripping it up and spilling it all over Daves work area.  Hahahaha!!!!! At the same time the milk and creamer had blown open in the cooler and Aileen took it over to a tree and was dumping it out.  It was running under Dave and Mike along with the potato salad lying on the ground. It was totally amazing that they calmly kept doing what they were doing and never said a word. I was trying real hard to divert the milky water away from them and clean up the ransid salad, but kept cracking up and didn't get a very good job of it done I'm afraid! The more I think about it the funnyer it gets.  But Sorry to Mike and Dave for them being at the brunt end of that fiasco!  Hahahaha!!!!!!

Well, they as I said took it like men anyway. Corse they loaded up and hauled ass early the next day so!!!!!!!

Well, thats about all I have on this trip. I've seen some of the write up and I am sure you will all enjoy it as I did. So, see ya all on the next trip I hope. Bring your sence of humors, you'll need em!!!

Bud Boren

Mike:
That's alright Bud.  I laugh evey time I think about it.  I never thought I'd get to see Bud embarassed, but I did.

Matt:
Later most gathered around the fire.  MsVicky and I decided to retire early.  I remember as I lay there, I could hear Bud's voice, always followed by group laughter.  Anyone who's been around a fire with Bud can relate.

Mike:
This night I stayed till the end of the campfire.  Some might even say I joined it.  A couple times Bud looked like he was ready to roll me out if I caught fire.  Hey! I was chilly, so I sat IN the firepit.  Most retired around 11:00.  Bud, Brad, and I stayed almost till the sky began to lighten.  Bud may not want me to say this, but.....  Before the run I pretty much had Bud pegged as a total goof off, if not kinda spoiled.  I was very wrong.

Matt:
The next morning Mike, Bart, Gil, Jerry, Dave, Donald and their riders set out for Cadillac hill and the trail end.

Mike:
Off we headed.  Picked up Donald and his little trailer on the way.  I was surprised we made it up Cadillac as quickly and easily as we did.  We had a few minor hang-ups, I had to turn around at one point and winch Donald up one spot, but nothing really noteworthy.  Once to the lookout, we took our pictures, and had lunch. We looked at the clouds, and hoped those down below would stay dry that day.  Sounds like they did.

Matt:
That left Bud, Brad, Will, Mark, Gonzo, Brian W., Brian S., Steve M., myself and our riders at the camp.  We all spent this day relaxing and doing whatever anyone felt like doing with this day off.  Now I totally understand why Bud insisted on 5 days.  His plan was two days off.  One day off at Spider and one day at the springs.  I didn't get the day off at Spider because of Gonzo's misfortune, but I certainly appreciated day off at the springs.  I had one of the best days of my life.  I did just about nothing.  Well, other than a wee bit of maintenance on my Jeep.  One of my spring bolts had gotten really loose on the spring hanger end and a headlight had somehow gotten loose and was pointing at the ground.  Brad fixed his flat from the previous day.  That evening we said bad things about everyone who wasn't there around a huge fire.

The next morning we packed and set out for Cadillac Hill.  Last year Mark, Perry and myself scooted up Cadillac wondering what all the fuss was about over this hill.  This trip was much different.  Bud had gotten up the first obstacle of the hill and Steve followed.  Mark hollered over the radio he had a bunch of crap in his bead and air was escaping.  While Mark was cleaning out his bead, someone reports over the radio that Gonzo had rolled.  Just above us on the switchback there sat Gonzo's Jeep on its side.  Gonzo had just purchased the winch accessory kit before this trip and he used every piece of that kit.  A tree saver around a large tree in the right spot, a chain connecting the strap to a snatch block and his winch cable stretched through the snatch block back to his rollbar.  Gonzo easily uprighted his Jeep thanks to the 8274 powered by Optima.  Gonzo removed all the downside plugs and turned the engine over to clear out the cylinders.  Once he put the plugs back and turned it over, it started right up.  On the rest of the hill we had a few spots where some re-picking of lines had to take place but nothing serious.  Once we cleared Cadillac we came across a couple of TLCs and two Unimogs.  Somehow, Brian W. picked a really awful line and one of the Mogs was absolutely delighted to hook a strap up to a Jeep.  We obliged and the Mog driver went away with a new hat size.  We stopped at the overlook for pictures and a long lunch.

There really isn't much to report about the remainder of the trip to the staging area at the end of the trail with one exception.  This is a very deceiving portion of the trail.  The trail sort of dies off and becomes an easy to travel dirt road, but frequently turns back into a rock garden or water crossing about the time you think you should disengage the front axle.  Once we arrived at the staging area we did what everyone does at the end of a trail.

Mike:
Talk about the shower you want to take????

Matt:
This trip was definitely one the most fun and memorable events of my life.  I got to wheel with a whole bunch of you Jeep-L'ers, some I'd met before and some I hadn't.  I enjoyed the company of each and every one of them.  Remember I didn't meet Bob2 (Besides, he's not an L'er).  Before this trip I was pretty sure this was gonna be my last Rubicon trip for awhile.  I really would like to get to some of the other great trails there are out there.  But I don't know if I could stand by and not go on the 3rd Annual Jeep-L Rubicon trip.

The time of your life kid.
Matt

Mike's last comment:
It sure was Matt.  Great Wheeling with each and every one of you.

Friend in jeeping,
mike garner