24 Hours of Tripod                                                                     

It all started innocent enough, a beautiful June day we were just going to take out some people from where I work for a day of wheeling then spend the night after they headed back to town. Myself, Brian, Ken and Lana, and Chuck took along some not as well equipped rigs to Buck Meadows. The trail head was clear and the first few miles went smoothly, then as we turned into the trees towards Region 4 meadows we ran into snow, alot of snow. A couple of hours and much winching netted us about 1 mile into the woods. The daytrippers were ready to head back, Chuck was to head back with them. About that time Nick, Ken and Lana show up ready for some wheeling. We aired up the rigs going back and Brian and myself hooked up the with Nick and Ken and Lana. I think this where we went wrong.

Josh and his wife on their first wheeling trip.           Brian being removed from the snow bank by

                                                                            Getta in her Cherokee, he is still in denial.

At this point the remaining wheelers said goodbye to the rest and headed off towards Tripod Flats.The thought was to make it to the cabin there and camp for the night. We made it down into the stream crossing with no problem and up the other side towards the meadow with some winching and much throwing of snow. It was still fairly early by our standards and making the progress we had we decided to shoot for the top of the ridge, I know we went wrong here.

Ken making his way up to Tripod.                                            Lana helping Ken get to Tripod.

We made good time and progress for about an hour then began to hit the side hills on the trail above the turnoff for Rocky Saddle. At about this point I began to loose interest in taking pictures and began the process of surviving the snow. One side stretch of about 300 ft required us to hook the winches up 4 times and work our way across the trail sideways. At this point we debated the merits of a cabin or a night in the snow. Brian got out the GPS and declared the top of the ridge was only 1/2 mile further, you just can't trust technology. We decided that the top was better than working our way back over the side hill. We made good time for about 1/2 hour then hit the steeper hills. At this point we decided it was time for dinner as Brian was about to pass out. After a short break we got under way with a full cable pull up a hill, we hooked the winch cable of the next vehicle to the back of the first jeep so we wouldn't have to hike the hill 4 times. Brain headed out to break trail while the rest of us got up the hill. While going down a small hill I slid off of a small drift and off of the trail. While trying to get me back on the trail and in the right direction we pulled two tires off of the beads, at this point is around 1:00am, not such good decision making at this point and it takes us two hours to get three of us through this spot. We begin the easy uphill pull just before the ridge and Ken is having trouble with his Goodyear MT's staying on the trail. We reach the top of the ridge at 3:00 am and decide that it is not a good place to camp. We will head down Milk Pond hill and camp at the end of the road at the bottom. Brian finds a large ditch and now it seems to be raining, I think I remember rain, we try to winch him out and cannot get him out of the ditch. I go around to scout the rest of the trail as there is alot snow where the bridge is supposed to be. Nick is working on getting Brian out and seems to be drooling all over himself, I did not notice, they pop a bead. They put on the spare and I turn around to help and pop a bead in a muddy ditch, cannot change the tire here so I have to drive on it through the mudhole. We winch the front of my jeep up into a tree and reseat the bead. Brian and Nick should be coming. Ken and myself get to the campsite and begin to set up camp. Where are Brian and Nick? They call on the radio and need another spare, Ken returns to give his. We make it to bed at 5:30 as the sun comes up.

The next day we decide to do a little wheeling and go from Milk Pond to Kaner and down. We run into more snow whenever we are in the trees but gong downhill we are making better progress.

This run is nicknamed the 24 hours of Tripod, can't wait to do it again.

rick