07-08-06 Jakes Corner to Young to Punkin Center
Man, What a ride. I cant remember a ride I have ever been on with so many suspensions. Roy was definitely on a mission to complete at least 150 miles and he wasnt going down without a fight. He fought off many suspensions for leaving his riding companions in the dust. As well as suspensions for leading us to several dead end roads. Greg said he just wanted to check out what was on the signs at each of the dead ends. Hey Roy, they all said the same thing. Wilderness area, do not enter
The Outlaw riders for this adventure were Greg (Tsgreg), Don, (Azquadrider) , Chris (Az Griz), Bob (Ballbearing), Steve (Luke), Mark (?) , Jeff & Jeff (Azgolfer & ThelostSimpson) & our fearless leader Roy (Roy D)
We left Jakes Corner at about 5:15 AM. The trail goes through a ranch along the river. Roy had called the owner the day before to make sure the gate would be open. What a neat looking rock home along the river. From here the trail climbs rapidly up and over the mountains. At our 1st stop Greg's quad was making a funny noise but we continued on in spite of it. We headed to a cabin Roy calls the Bat cabin because he saw a bat in it one time. I just happened to catch Jeff Sr almost going over on an off camber spot because when he got into it he put on his brakes. That's not a good thing, remember if the back starts to come up hit the gas and power through. After a few photos we continued to the end of the trail at a wash so Greg and I could play on the rocks briefly. The rocks in this area for some reason were very purple. I don't remember seeing such purple rocks before. Greg went up and over a tough stair step and followed it up by going through a spot with water collected. What a sight, I didn't know he could ride with his short leg sticking straight out to keep him off a large boulder so well. Then It was my turn for some fun. I dropped over a ledge and came up a rock staircase that was almost straight up. Bob was coming to help but I was at the top just as he got there. From here we traveled several trails that were dead ends. Roy got out some cheese to give to Greg because he was whining about all the dead ends. Along the way we had our 1st casualty. It was Roy's BRP, He ripped the skid plate off. I can't imagine why? We were only riding on a trail for hours with basketball size boulders on it doing 80 MPH. Roy was saying it didn't count as a breakdown. Something about it being an aftermarket part? Finally we came out at Young and headed to the gas station at the other end of town.
When we arrived at THE town pump there was a problem. There was no power to the pump, so we put out 2 best men on it. Chris is an electrician so he was checking all the contactors and breakers and Roy was beating on the pump with a rock. After many repeated failed attempts our fearless leader was on top of the gas tank begging anyone that would listen to give him a hose so he could start the siphon process. I think he was on suspension at the time so no one was paying any attention to him. Gas pumps in Young 2 Roy 0. Ma Kettle who runs the shop said she had two 5 gal cans in the back that we could use if we wanted. We did and paid her for the gas. I think it had been around for awhile but nobody had any problems with it. We probably had enough gas we just wanted to top off, so the 10 gal just made us feel comfortable.
Back on the trail we were going to stop for lunch at the Y but the leader split up the group again. Another suspension was in order, and it started to rain. The rail felt good and now there was no dust. After collecting the group once again we had a lunch break, followed up with a hill climb and a swim. We had a spot picked out where the trail crossed the creek that drops into a deep hole. There were several quads that had to get pulled from their watery grave. When I pulled Greg's quad out it was making lots of noise. Our leader (Roy) had already taken off for the trailhead so I caught up with Jeff SR and told him Greg and I were going back the shortest way. Jeff said he and Jr would go with us as well but he would have to catch up with the leader and tell him. It took about 30 min for him to return because when Roy saw him he took off and it took about 10 miles to get him to stop. We pulled off Greg's wheel for inspection and I found his frame was broken. Nothing to do at this point but limp back. At one stop I was having some fun climbing out of a wash. I later got in trouble from Jeff's wife for letting Jeff Jr try to help by holding on to my front rack. She said I put little Jeff in harms way. NOT!!! Next time he will need a signed note to help.
We made it back to Punkin Center where we had placed a couple of vehicles to shuttle us back to Jakes Corner for the other trucks. It was now about dark and we only got in 120 miles. As we were driving away we spotted Jeff's camera laying in the road and retrieved it for him.
The mud was like JB weld. I power sprayed my quad and Gregs for 1 & ½ hours Saturday night (until 11:30) and had to go out in the morning and do it again. I think Gregs quad was on suspension as well because he left it at my house. All and all it was a fun ride just a lot of clean up.
We checked Greg's quad on my ATV stand Sunday and there were 4 breaks in the frame. The 3 supports that hold the top and bottom frame together as well as the bottom frame was broken in half. That was not where the noise was coming form as we found out his rear differential had about 1/2" play in it , I don't know how it stayed together as well as his left rear housing had about 3/8" play as well. But being a Polaris it got him home safely.
Read MoreThe Outlaw riders for this adventure were Greg (Tsgreg), Don, (Azquadrider) , Chris (Az Griz), Bob (Ballbearing), Steve (Luke), Mark (?) , Jeff & Jeff (Azgolfer & ThelostSimpson) & our fearless leader Roy (Roy D)
We left Jakes Corner at about 5:15 AM. The trail goes through a ranch along the river. Roy had called the owner the day before to make sure the gate would be open. What a neat looking rock home along the river. From here the trail climbs rapidly up and over the mountains. At our 1st stop Greg's quad was making a funny noise but we continued on in spite of it. We headed to a cabin Roy calls the Bat cabin because he saw a bat in it one time. I just happened to catch Jeff Sr almost going over on an off camber spot because when he got into it he put on his brakes. That's not a good thing, remember if the back starts to come up hit the gas and power through. After a few photos we continued to the end of the trail at a wash so Greg and I could play on the rocks briefly. The rocks in this area for some reason were very purple. I don't remember seeing such purple rocks before. Greg went up and over a tough stair step and followed it up by going through a spot with water collected. What a sight, I didn't know he could ride with his short leg sticking straight out to keep him off a large boulder so well. Then It was my turn for some fun. I dropped over a ledge and came up a rock staircase that was almost straight up. Bob was coming to help but I was at the top just as he got there. From here we traveled several trails that were dead ends. Roy got out some cheese to give to Greg because he was whining about all the dead ends. Along the way we had our 1st casualty. It was Roy's BRP, He ripped the skid plate off. I can't imagine why? We were only riding on a trail for hours with basketball size boulders on it doing 80 MPH. Roy was saying it didn't count as a breakdown. Something about it being an aftermarket part? Finally we came out at Young and headed to the gas station at the other end of town.
When we arrived at THE town pump there was a problem. There was no power to the pump, so we put out 2 best men on it. Chris is an electrician so he was checking all the contactors and breakers and Roy was beating on the pump with a rock. After many repeated failed attempts our fearless leader was on top of the gas tank begging anyone that would listen to give him a hose so he could start the siphon process. I think he was on suspension at the time so no one was paying any attention to him. Gas pumps in Young 2 Roy 0. Ma Kettle who runs the shop said she had two 5 gal cans in the back that we could use if we wanted. We did and paid her for the gas. I think it had been around for awhile but nobody had any problems with it. We probably had enough gas we just wanted to top off, so the 10 gal just made us feel comfortable.
Back on the trail we were going to stop for lunch at the Y but the leader split up the group again. Another suspension was in order, and it started to rain. The rail felt good and now there was no dust. After collecting the group once again we had a lunch break, followed up with a hill climb and a swim. We had a spot picked out where the trail crossed the creek that drops into a deep hole. There were several quads that had to get pulled from their watery grave. When I pulled Greg's quad out it was making lots of noise. Our leader (Roy) had already taken off for the trailhead so I caught up with Jeff SR and told him Greg and I were going back the shortest way. Jeff said he and Jr would go with us as well but he would have to catch up with the leader and tell him. It took about 30 min for him to return because when Roy saw him he took off and it took about 10 miles to get him to stop. We pulled off Greg's wheel for inspection and I found his frame was broken. Nothing to do at this point but limp back. At one stop I was having some fun climbing out of a wash. I later got in trouble from Jeff's wife for letting Jeff Jr try to help by holding on to my front rack. She said I put little Jeff in harms way. NOT!!! Next time he will need a signed note to help.
We made it back to Punkin Center where we had placed a couple of vehicles to shuttle us back to Jakes Corner for the other trucks. It was now about dark and we only got in 120 miles. As we were driving away we spotted Jeff's camera laying in the road and retrieved it for him.
The mud was like JB weld. I power sprayed my quad and Gregs for 1 & ½ hours Saturday night (until 11:30) and had to go out in the morning and do it again. I think Gregs quad was on suspension as well because he left it at my house. All and all it was a fun ride just a lot of clean up.
We checked Greg's quad on my ATV stand Sunday and there were 4 breaks in the frame. The 3 supports that hold the top and bottom frame together as well as the bottom frame was broken in half. That was not where the noise was coming form as we found out his rear differential had about 1/2" play in it , I don't know how it stayed together as well as his left rear housing had about 3/8" play as well. But being a Polaris it got him home safely.
