July 30-August 2, 1998

Photos and article by: Bob Norton, NM 4-Wheelers

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"Winch and Go" is a steep, off camber, water polished slick climb

This extreme trail was a popular choice with many attending the event. This is an old mine road reopened by local 4-wheelers. Travel east out of Salida on U.S. 50 just past mile marker 227. Turn right, then left at the "Y". Less than a quarter mile from the highway is the first obstacle. See: http://www.4x4now.com/a4fa.htm for additional photos and perspective of this trail.

All the tough challenges are in the first few hundred yards of the trail. And the first, called "Winch and Go", gives fits to driver’s of short wheelbase 4X4's. Breakage and worse can happen at this obstacle. Of all the vehicles that drove Mine Sweeper on the three runs, only half made it up this obstacle without a winch! Wranglers and CJ-7's have difficulty here. The climb is just plain hazardous to anything shorter. Our group fared a little better. 7 of 11 made it up, with medium and longer wheelbase’s well represented.

Trail leader Jim Werkmeister, with good spotting, was first up in his Scrambler. The winch anchors are now gone so it is good to get someone "big" up quickly. Then Greg, from Colorado, drove his Toyota truck right up. Dave Teague’s capable CJ-7 demonstrated that this obstacle was going to be very testy. He tried a number of attempts. The Jeep would always crawl to the right towards the rock wall. Eventually, it crawled right into a slightly sideways, off-camber position. A winch cable was attached for safety during the back-down. Dave then found a line that worked, thanks to big tires and lotsa articulation. Drive right up the big ledge at the left and on over! Next, Greg Hibner’s "Notoyota" Chevy LUV pick-up went right up.

Single Jack and Double Jack, the next obstacles were presenting their own challenges. Clearing spring shackles or rear differentials posed problems with the wrong line. Both Greg’s decided that they would try another way past those obstacles by climbing the" V" up the tilted rock ledges at the left. Starting up, the Toyota truck slipped off and gashed the right rear tire. Plugging proved unsuccessful. Changing the tire with the truck wedged against the rock ledge to the rear while pointing uphill proved interesting. Finally the change completed, Greg was able to make the climb successfully. And likewise, the Chevy LUV pick-up successfully climbed the left side taking a more tippy, tire saving line.

Trying another way past Single Jack and Double Jack, Greg destroys a tire

The tire replaced, the climb up the V is successful

This tippy route works for the Chevy LUV

Others of the group made it up "Winch and Go" with varying degrees of success. A CJ-5 made some very hairy attempts! Then, it was Rich Streller’s turn. His TJ was having transmission lock-up problems. Control was a problem as a result. Rich really wanted to make the climb so checked transmission fluid level, topped it up and tried again. And still, having some control problems trying to make the climb smoothly. Suddenly, the vehicle leapt forward, too far to the left, too high. The TJ was steeply sideways. It would not hold and over it went through a 3/4 turn roll. Rich climbed out unhurt and the TJ was pushed upright. A torn roof, dented hood, front fenders bent down and a few other dents and scrapes. But, surprisingly little damage. A front coil spring had pulled off the perch. After things were put back in order, Rich even tried the climb again a couple of times more before finally taking the winch.

Rich's TJ leaps into a bad situation!

Ooops...so much for the first scratch!

My XJ Cherokee went right up this first obstacle. But turning right too soon, I then hung up on the rear differential. Rather than attempt to back down the hill to take a different line or to see-saw around risking sliding into the rock wall , a rock step was placed to allow driving over the offending pointy outcrop.

With everyone past these major obstacles, the pace picked up. An eroded, twisty arroyo crossing tested articulation. The trail then makes a loop and heads back towards the main highway. Our group traveled up a side canyon to look at a particularly nasty climb up a tall, steep rock crack. Driving up could be possible, but coming down would be very difficult to avoid body destruction. Most of us then head back to Salida. A few did stay to contemplate just how it might be done! Extreme 4-wheelers!

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