I drove up and around some rocky sections to climb to the top of a LOONG drop off.. I stopped to put the soft-top up (it was kinda windy up there) and to air the four 31x10.5s down to 26psi.. 2 BFG Trail TAs up front, and 2 Cooper Discoverer STTs in the b ack (new).
Last year, I wrote this:
We drove down a trail to what looked like a wash going uphill. Julie (of course) didn't want to try it.. and, for today, I wasn't really game either. Again, two routes were in front of us. Both were very steep. The one to the left climbed up, about a Scout length, then had some nice big rocks sticking out, making one wicked stair step to the top. On the right, the rocks were spaced much nicer, almost a stagger configuration, but none too tall or deep, such that a good, low geared or V8 powered Scout could just claw and scratch over the top. For today, it looked like a fun place to come *down* from, but not up. Even in low, with 4.11s and the stock 235/75R15 tires, my Scout would have to really haul to have the UMPH and momentum to make it over that rock ledge. So we turned back, and headed a different way.
That was last year. Looking at the situation again, I'd still be afraid to try the climb in a stock Scout II - in fact, I was concerned about the whole thing with my 4" lift!
I looked at the left, and decided there were a few too many steps, and at a bit to steep of an angle for my tastes.. which left the right side. The right wasn't quite as gnarly.. but there was one BIG step on the left edge, while the right edge was relatively smooth, but climbed fairly steep.. I chose to drive my right tires up onto the very steep (but relatively smooth) right edge, which put my driver's side tires down into the "crack" avoiding the large stair step / ledge on the left side.. I stopped halfway through to get out and scope out my clearance.. I didn't have a LOT left, but it was good enough.. though the angle I was sitting at made it impossible for me to open my door.. I was tipped far enough, and the rocks high enough, that the door smacked on the rocks almost immediately.
I then got back on the throttle and finished my climb up and over the gnarly rock section. Fun!
Once on top, there were a LOT of new trails for me to explore.. I didn't explore any of the "down" trails, so I'm not sure if there's an easier way to get to these trails or not.. I was more interested in the UP trails, heading up to the next mountain to top.
The first trail I took climbed up and over a bunch of rocks.. bounce jounce, no problem.
I then drove around on the network of trails, and started climbing up a narrow trail that only a Scout (or a flatfender) could squeeze between the trees.. I made it up one very steep trail only to find it dead-ended.. then I had to back down the trail, wi th the close trees scratching at my soft top in both directions.
In my quest to get higher, I finally found a trial that didn't appear to dead-end.. but I was unable to climb it today. The rocks made the going rough, but doable. I was able to keep my momentum up a good way, but then I drove over one of the exposed tr ee roots, and paused for a moment while the Tracklok kicked in, and I scrabbled over the tree root.. but by that time, I'd lost most of my momentum, and fell out of the upper RPM band of my 196, and all forward motion stopped shortly thereafter as the gut sy 196 just gave up. I made a few attempts to go farther.. rev it, and dump the clutch, and I'd go another foot or three before the motor ran out again.. I tried this for a bit, which eventually also combined with spinning tires to get me NO farther.. and eventually I just ba cked down. It was getting relatively late (8pm), and I certainly didn't want to be out playing in this unexplored area after dark.. so I backed down (scratching the top on those trees, and knocking the magnetic mount antenna off the hood for the 30th tim e this trip)
I took a few different trails on my way back to the gnarly rock climb. At one point, just before the rocks, I came down a steep bank, with a few tree roots in it, down into the bottom of this little gully, and then climbed right back up the steep opposit e side.. I raced the 196 in 4-lo 1st, and made it without any problem.. probably didn't need to gun it *quite* that much. :-)
For the climb back down the rocks (The "Guardian" of these trails! *grin*) I chose the other side.. the many stair step rocks. This looked much easier going down that it did coming up, so I gently eased my front tires down a few steps, and periodically g ot out to check clearances and such, getting a much better feel for what my Scout can now do. I bounced a few times, and made my way to the bottom. Oh.. I should not that while climbing up and down this rock "cliff", I was truly impressed with how much my 31x10.5s will flex when aired to just 26psi.. they really flexed as the truck would rock back and forth.. but not enough to cause any damage.
The trip back out took me down the steel ugly wash I went 3-wheeling on last year (I took this way up, too).. on the way down, I decided to straddle the deep rut/wash on the right (coming down) side of the trail.. my hope was to avoid scraping the soft-to p on any more trees. It worked.. though at one point, my driver's tire slid down a little into the rut (soft sides) but I was able to just the turn the wheel a bit and power up and out of the wash, and finish my straddle on the way down.
I reached the bottom, and pulled just off the trail.. within a stone's throw form the paved street. I popped the hood and kicked on the compresser, aired up to 35psi all around, unlocked the front hubs, put my CD-changer magazine back in, and headed home . Nice n' close to home, and some challenging obstacles. This was the first time I really had to do some guessing on where things would go, and pick my "line" for traversing things. Thus far, my wheeling has been mostly deep snow.. it's only recently t hat it's melted. :-)
I may head back out after work on Monday for a few minutes.. bring the camera and photo the rock climb I went up.. maybe get some "in-progress" shots while I'm at it.. :-)
-Tom Mandera, Helena MT
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