Hidden Valley may 24th

[muddymobil]

Hidden Valley was a good short run for the most part more rigs showed than expected not welcomed by al but we all still had a good time for those who stuck with the group, hopefully the other faired well after they split from the groop. one rig backed out due to mechanical issues with ball joints being worn so did not want to chance breaking them understandably (hopefully he gets his repair done soon) it was great to meet all.

[Stumpalump]

It's not everday you get to run with a guy on 38.5 Boggers let alone two! Once they made an adjustment those fresh rigs were cool as hell! We also got the best show ever from a bone stock Rav 4. He walked up Hidden Valley like a wallmart parking lot. That is if you call carrying a front tire 4' in the air almost running over spectators while getting sidways a wallmart parking lot. We also watched a camper in a car run her junk into a ditch and get stuck. Damsel in distress and we were the lucky ones to help that babe get unstuck. Man, the way she was falling out of that top and showing off that tramp stamp... Swing. As good a show as the Rav 4! A day wheeling dosn't get much better than that! Thanks for fetching me to run. I'm game anytime!

[Sully4x4]

It was fun...unfortunately not the best for me. Sorry I had to back out guys. My pathy still needs a ton of work up front and it is all I have for a vehicle...so it's not just for play. I will try my best this summer to get all that crap done and some more experience under my belt then we will give it hell again. Thanks to everyone for being so understanding though, it was fun!

[DamnHippie]

I think anyone who isn't a clueless newbie with a rig that was just built (by someone else, I'm thinking) into a shiny poser rig like those out of staters had would have no problem walking up hidden valley road like it was a walmart parking lot.

Martin and I certainly had no problem doing so after helping Jordon back down. We hung out at the bottom and BS'd for a while to give the traffic jam time to clear out before heading back up. From the beginning of the first rough section to the end of the last rough section I'd guess it took us about 4 minutes to make the run that those uninvited posers spent like an hour doing. And we didn't need 38.5 boggers and mallcrawler style accessories to get it done.

My gut reaction when I arrived at the meeting place and found that the number of rigs had been doubled was to turn around and head some other direction. If it weren't for the fact that I had promised to help Jordon through the run, I certainly would have done so. The morning just served to reinforce my hatred of being involved in any run that includes more than 4 rigs.

Oh well, Jordon & I are gonna go finish his outing on another trail, tomorrow. Details most pointedly NOT to be posted in public this time.

[Stumpalump]

I'd rather run with a clueless newby or a with poser rigs than a dope smelling pot head like you. We were dam glad you left. Your piss poor attituds in the parking lot didn't go unnoticed and the smell of your dope made us all glad you left. Those guys built those bad ass rigs themselfs. They had little seat time in the new setup and only went slow on the first strech because they were breaking them in. In fact one made it all the way up Hidden Valley in 2wd
untill he noticed his shifter needed a tweek. After that it was game on. You didn't give them, me or anybody a chance to even leave the parking lot before you decided that since the show wasn't going to be all yours you would cop an attitude. Thanks for giving me the oportunity to explain to my children what pot smells like. Im not really sure which one of you was which but I got the names eon and hippy to remember to steer clear of.

[Stumpalump]

It was fun...unfortunately not the best for me. Sorry I had to back out guys. My pathy still needs a ton of work up front and it is all I have for a vehicle...so it's not just for play. I will try my best this summer to get all that crap done and some more experience under my belt then we will give it hell again. Thanks to everyone for being so understanding though, it was fun!
You don't need experiance to run with me or most folks. Make sure your not peeling off into Indy right away but those of us that have wheeled never mind passing on what others passed on to us. I learned what I told you about the cluch from sombody when I had my first rig and it worked so I passed it on to you. Thats how we all learn. If safty with the rig or an iffy part is a factor then get the parts and post up for some help. I spent this morning looking for somthing on my rig to do and all I could find was a u bolt needing tightening. Plenty of folks like me would be glad to lend a hand getting your rig safe and capable for the trails. A positive attitude and a safe rig is really all thats needed for the trails. Tommorrow I will feel just like you did. I'm going down to Penrose. Hardest trails around. I'm way out of my leage and my rig met the minimum requirments. I'm sure the Rock stars I'm going with will have a blast getting a newby, faulker, rockstar wantabe thru without any problems. Wish me luck and post up if you need wrenching help or want a trail buddy that won't tell you you have to go home because you or your rig is not ready.

[DamnHippie]

I spent 3 hours Thursday under Jordon's rig, so I felt pretty confident in my assessment of his suspension and driveline. But now I feel humbled.

Maybe someday when I'm as obviously superior as you are I'll be able to do what you've just done: Look at somebody's paint job and declare their vehicle trail-worthy.

[Stumpalump]

Sorry you had a bad time and felt the need to do your own thing. I just got off the phone with a guy that said you do help lots of folks too so I gotta respect that. Those guys in the big rigs built their rigs. Just like I did. No I didnt weld up my own diff covers or fabricate my long arm kit but I did what I could. The one rig with the cool bed he made himself along with his solid axel conversion. He is getting ready to notch his frame to clear a differnt pitman arm because since he left the desert he realized that low suspension is where it's at in Colorado. If you would have stuck around you could have found out all they did to build those rigs and maybey pointed them in a direction to get his new ride height working perfect.
I used to race a P.O.S hobicat 16 that I bought for $350. I was bitching that I could not beat the new lighter boats with new crisp sails. A fellow racer said ya know mike the last time I read the rule book I saw nothing in it that said you could not spend 9 grand on a new boat and compete in that. Just because those guys like me have lots of money and time into their rigs does not mean that it was free money or came without all the hard work involved building it. I'm sure they started just like me in an older worn out stock 4x4 just like most of us. So don't knock them now that they have years of hard work and thousands of hard earned dollers into their rigs. Dollers you squandered on dope.

[DamnHippie]

I'm glad to hear you've taught your kids that coffee (the only drug I was using yesterday morning) is what pot smells like. It's going to ensure that throughout their lives they won't fall into the evil clutches of the pushers such as Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts.

Your parenting skills are clearly just as awesome as your trailside diagnosis of other peoples' rigs.

Oh yeah, and there's there's those "dollers" [sic] I've squandered. Yeah, yeah, ya got me there, it's a pretty big character flaw I just need to own up to. Examples of it abound...

Like last year, for example, when some guys needed last minute help getting their rigs ready for GONE. I took four days off from work to work dawn to dusk helping them. I'm self-employed, so I don't get paid time off. If I had worked my contract all those hours like I should have I would have earned in the neighborhood of $5000. I think any objective outside observer would have to call that a major squandering.

Oh, then there was the time that Nate (another guy you don't know that I'm sure you would quick to label a useless pothead after interacting with him for all of 10 minutes) broke his stock steering offroad. It happened right after he had squandered all his money on surgery. I bought him an SLR steering system to get him rolling again. He's paying me back over time as he can afford it. There's another $1000 squandered.

I could go on, but really I shouldn't wallow in my own failings. Your impeccable character assessment summed it up nicely; I guess I should just strive to be more careful with my money in order to meet your high standards.

[Sully4x4]

Even though I didn't make it, nor feel comfortable to make it, all the way up, I learned a lot and found a new level of limit for my pathy. I went back down and was kinda nauseous...but looking back at it now...it was a BLAST!

In Ian's defense, he didn't force me to go back down. He said "If you wanna bail I totally understand." as I said I didn't feel comfortable on even the obstacle before. My pathy is old, it's my DD, and it needs some money invested to get it in more trail ready shape. There is a list of things to do, but it will get done, and I will get back up there and conquer that trail.

Either which way, it was a great time and it was nice to see some badass rigs!

[Stumpalump]

Sorry if I got you (hippie) mixed up with your bud that reeked of Mary Jane. I lumped you two together because you were the two that coped the attitude and left.
I'm glad you help folks. Thats a characteristic that few learn to enjoy. I am suprised then that you made it very clear to our new fellow desert wheelers that they were not welcome. Kinda blew me away too especially when I realized how the others felt your blatent distaste for wheeling with anybody other than your select group. What was the problem? I don't know but I and my kids smelled dope and we and the rest of the gang running blamed the I'm taking my crayons and going home attitude on dope. Sorry if that wasn't your case. Maybe we can put this past us and just wheel with the rigs that get brought or bought and have a good time. It's all good as long as we focus on wheeling and good times. Peace.

[Stubby~CC]

Sorry if I got you (hippie) mixed up with your bud that reeked of Mary Jane. I lumped you two together because you were the two that coped the attitude and left.


I was gonna stay out out of this, but now you've made it personal. So I'm gonna tell you this. I think you're a tool. The reason I didn't drive up that big hill you were so damn proud of was that it was so obviously illegal. I could've drove right up it, but then I'd be contributing to the problems that cause all the trail closures no one likes. If you had a problem with me or my body odors you should of called me on it then. Why wait until we're no longer face to face? Because you're a chicken wuss, that's why. If you don't like wheeling with me, then don't. I didn't enjoy wheeling with you, so I stopped. That's the beauty of being an independent thinking adult. I can do my own thing seperate from the herd and still feel okay about my selfesteem.

The deal is this. In the run organizing post, it was said specifically that we didn't want a large group of rigs. Why? Because a large group always takes exponentially longer to get through anything. I didn't sign up to spend all day watching two built-way-to-hell rigs slowly and painfully working their way up a trail. I drove up that hard section just fine, with no problems, and without stopping every half foot. But I spent nearly half an hour waiting at the bottom for them to clear, and then helped someone back down just for a break from the boredom. Midnightblue ran his stock second gen up it in like an hour. Those built rigs should have just flown up that road.

If you wanted to organize your own run that's fine. But it was a very dick head thing to do to hijack our run at the same time doubling the number of rigs and thus quadrupling the time the run will take. What annoys me even more is that you're so self centered you actually got your feelings hurt when we didn't wanna play with you guys anymore. If you'd bother to inform me you decided to change the plans all on your own and that all these extra rigs would be coming, I would've gone somewhere else and we wouldn't be having these problems. I think it's very interesting to note that of the four rigs who "finished" the run, none of them were nissans. I mean, this is supposed to be a primarily nissan board right? I'm not an elitist or anything, and I'll wheel with anybody. Just not jackasses. I didn't really get to meet the two out of state guys, and Doug (muddymobil) was very cool. But Mike, all I can say is, :doublefinger: :doublefinger:

[Stumpalump]

Primarally a Nissan board for most and only Nissan if your involved. Non-Nissan owners like me like all wheelers. Just a few weeks back I had a Ronin Nissan in my garage for repairs after we went wheeling. Sorry you guys all don't have a better attitude about other kinds of 4x4's so next time you want to run a Nissan only run then tell me and other wheelers up front or on-line that it's Nissan only. I've had nothing but the best experiance running with Ronin members till you and your pal showed up so warn me the next time this pot head and his stuck up pal are comming so I can steer clear. Out.

[Bill Potter]

I hate to add to this... (but there is something that many new members miss)

It's not a good idea to trash someone here. Besides the fact that it is not what this group does, very often you will open your mouth and show the rest of us how uninformed you are. (trust me...I have done it before)

Add to that the fact that the ones you are trashing may just happen to turn out being the ones that could have helped you learn more and build your rig into something better.

For those here that bend over backward helping others....I would like to personally thank you for all the help! Anyone with any time here knows who you guys are!

Ian...There is no need to defend yourself, it doesn't matter what others say, over time they will figure out how wrong they were.

[soccerbrace]

You guys are ALL jumping to conclusions.

I know Micheal in person,

I know Ian in person,

And I know Martin in person.

I know Ian and Micheal better than I know Martin, but I have seen Martin on at least 5 occasions.

I was the one who invited Micheal to this board. I met him on the freeway in woodland Park, and he has a great attitude. He has helped me on various things and had even unstuck me a couple of times. Never once has he had a negative attitude towards Nissans or their owners. In fact, he is always willing to lend a helping hand. He has been to meet and greets, to mod days, and to trail runs. All who have met him know that he is a great guy. He hangs out with Justin on a somewhat regular basis.

I was the RONIN member who said that you are extremely helpful Ian. Just know that Micheal is the equivalent to you in the Jeep community and is no stranger to helping RONIN member in his spare time.

Although Micheals rig is extremely built (assuming this is the rig that you were speaking of) He is humble enough to run on trails that are no challenge to him, simply because of his love for the sport.

I understand that you two are upset with him, and that he is upset with you, however, I think, that you can all find the common ground and that is, your love for wheeling. I love it too and I will run with anyone, any day.

You guys are great, Micheal is great, just bury the hatchet, and call it good

[Stubby~CC]

First let me clarify. I never said I don't like non nissans and ronin has NEVER had a nissan only run. You guys really picked up on the not point of my post. I don't give a shit what people drive. Just thought it funny that the run ended up being all non-nissans.

I really don't like being called a worthless child corrupting pothead. Especially by someone who doesn't know a fucking thing about me. That's what I'm pissed about. That thing they say about assumptions is wrong, it only makes an ass out of the guys jumping to conclusions.

I think it really sucks being called out on the web today, when yesterday everyone was all smiles and good wishes. If you had a problem with me or my actions, you should've just said something. Like a grown up would.

I also want to state for the record that I'm not the one who started slinging the mud and doing the name calling.

I'm not entirely sure how this conversation got to where it did. But I think it has a lot to do with poor reading comprehension and a serious case of assuming. It's been a very long week and I'm extremely tired. But hey, at least I didn't drive over your ATV. :laughing:

[muddymobil]

wow If I would have know this thread I started would end up being so hostile I would have not posted it. I was simply trying to make the best of a run that didnt turn out like planed! I thought you all where pretty cool on a personal note as for the smells It was not my place to judge so I left it alone kinda sucks this thread turned out the way it did! this was not the reason for this post trip report! hopfully see you all in the near future on the trails!

[Sully4x4]

I agree. It was just supposed to be a easy beginning teaching kinda run. No need for all this hostility. Let's do like James said and bury the hatchet. It's easier said than done though, seeing as I am not involved. It is up to those involved on how they want to go about this.

[Ryan Gee]

Holy wow!!! I really don't care what folks do....

I drink alcohol, smoke cigars, and go to a church once every five years.... Hope that doesn't make me bad.

[Midnightblue54]

Midnightblue ran his stock second gen up it in like an hour. Those built rigs should have just flown up that road.


Just to clarify, about 20 minutes of that was me cleaning my shorts after my drivers side front wheel came about 3 to 4' into the air and came back down and caused the X to damn near roll into the crack. :crazy: :roflmao:


Sorry, just trying to break the tension in here. Based on my experience with that trail, I'm not planning running it again until I at the BARE minimum have my 33's. Even then I'll have to bring an extra set of underwear and a cup of decaf. :errr:

[muddymobil]

Just to clarify, about 20 minutes of that was me cleaning my shorts after my drivers side front wheel came about 3 to 4' into the air and came back down and caused the X to damn near roll into the crack. :crazy: :roflmao:


Sorry, just trying to break the tension in here. Based on my experience with that trail, I'm not planning running it again until I at the BARE minimum have my 33's. Even then I'll have to bring an extra set of underwear and a cup of decaf. :errr:

If its the spot im thinking of Im curious to what line you took because all my dakota with 31's did was get suspention maxed on articulatoin and just spin the tires at the worst spot never even got it tilted much!

I bet that would have been fun to watch though

[Ryan Gee]

Time for some feel good pics.

http://nissansas.com/trips/2006/gonemoab2006/Moab%20RIm/Moab%20RIm%20007%20%28Medium%29.jpg

http://nissansas.com/trips/2006/gonemoab2006/Moab%20RIm/MoabRIm045.jpg


Now this is above most....
http://nissansas.com/trips/2006/photogallery/PickleGulch06092006/DSC00571.JPG

http://nissansas.com/trips/2006/photogallery/wheelerlake/Wheeler_Lake%2862%29.JPG

[Ryan Gee]

Hey I found an old one of Ian... this is starting to be fun
http://webshareimage.com/images/nk3jmx2ioy9snhm6a903.jpg


Goodness... remember when...
http://webshareimage.com/images/me7nun7vkjk3ut5d7vz.jpg

http://webshareimage.com/images/qyjigsr9vgqcklauug4.jpg

[Ryan Gee]

http://webshareimage.com/images/gdbuoizg29d23py53vw2.jpg

We having fun yet.......
http://webshareimage.com/images/0scfnl4pyp5libntz29u.jpg

http://webshareimage.com/images/ace4dsf8grk8c7y6hlr6.jpg



http://webshareimage.com/images/8lu82ethk2fnxoz5dg2g.jpg





Sorry.... haven't wheeled with any of you new guys. None of these pics are of this run! Just needed something to smile at.

[muddymobil]

Damn those are some good pics looks like fun

[Stumpalump]

If its the spot im thinking of Im curious to what line you took because all my dakota with 31's did was get suspention maxed on articulatoin and just spin the tires at the worst spot never even got it tilted much!

I bet that would have been fun to watch though

You seemed to have a good feel for what was going to hapening when you got crossed up like that and so you hit the stuff with enough momentum to carry the spinning tires to solid ground. It was fun watching you work your way right on up. Nice job.
The shorter rigs had to carry more momentum to get passed the holes. Since the trail was off camber and had rig swallowing sized ditches on the sides I'm sure that was fun.
Those of us with lockers or strong posi trac was like cheating. As long as any tire is on the ground it's pulling. Makes it safer because you can go slow but no driving skill is needed and it's not nearly as fun. With lockers and larger tires you also have to be carfull not to get wheel spin because it makes stuff break real fast. You can basically transmit 100% of your power to 1 single axel shaft and it makes things break. I'd love to run that trail in an open vehicle just to learn that type of driving skill again. They say that those that get good wheeling in an open vehicle become better drivers once they go to bigger tires and lockers. You could clearly see all the driving skill involved by those open rig drivers.
That really is a perfect trail for a stock sized open rig as long as he has the rigs to get him unstuck. It maxes out the rigs capability and maxes out the drivers skill all in a place that won't total your rig or get you killed if things go bad wrong. If you can make that then you can make anything your rig is capable of. Sure it's scary but it will make the next hard trail easier because you became a better safer driver. If you find yourself on a cliff and holes like that come up you will know instictivly what you need to do to get across them even if it means a wheel will be in the air while your hard on the throttle. It is a great trail and I'll run it with anybody any time.

[Nissanclay]

Holy crap! Ian used to have fenders! :)

[Sully4x4]

Just to clarify, about 20 minutes of that was me cleaning my shorts after my drivers side front wheel came about 3 to 4' into the air and came back down and caused the X to damn near roll into the crack. :crazy: :roflmao:


Sorry, just trying to break the tension in here. Based on my experience with that trail, I'm not planning running it again until I at the BARE minimum have my 33's. Even then I'll have to bring an extra set of underwear and a cup of decaf. :errr:

Eh, you don't need 33's for that trail. You prolly need more than street tires, but like muddymobil said, his dodge with 31's did just fine.

[Midnightblue54]

Trust me, I don't know what section it was but the tire was at LEAST 3' high from the ground. Scared the hell out of me. Doing that trail on my own with street 31's was a REALLY bad idea.

[muddymobil]

You seemed to have a good feel for what was going to hapening when you got crossed up like that and so you hit the stuff with enough momentum to carry the spinning tires to solid ground. It was fun watching you work your way right on up. Nice job.
The shorter rigs had to carry more momentum to get passed the holes. Since the trail was off camber and had rig swallowing sized ditches on the sides I'm sure that was fun.
Those of us with lockers or strong posi trac was like cheating. As long as any tire is on the ground it's pulling. Makes it safer because you can go slow but no driving skill is needed and it's not nearly as fun. With lockers and larger tires you also have to be carfull not to get wheel spin because it makes stuff break real fast. You can basically transmit 100% of your power to 1 single axel shaft and it makes things break. I'd love to run that trail in an open vehicle just to learn that type of driving skill again. They say that those that get good wheeling in an open vehicle become better drivers once they go to bigger tires and lockers. You could clearly see all the driving skill involved by those open rig drivers.
That really is a perfect trail for a stock sized open rig as long as he has the rigs to get him unstuck. It maxes out the rigs capability and maxes out the drivers skill all in a place that won't total your rig or get you killed if things go bad wrong. If you can make that then you can make anything your rig is capable of. Sure it's scary but it will make the next hard trail easier because you became a better safer driver. If you find yourself on a cliff and holes like that come up you will know instictivly what you need to do to get across them even if it means a wheel will be in the air while your hard on the throttle. It is a great trail and I'll run it with anybody any time.

yea I looked like I new what I was doing huh?:laughing: everybody gets lucky :bannana:

[ChefTyler]

Holy crap! Ian used to have fenders! :)

Holy crap, my paint used to be shiny :D

[DamnHippie]

Holy crap, my paint used to be shiny :D

Yeah, it took me a while to realize that was you.

[Allen Cox]

Holy Crap! My wife is smiling while still in my rig!

http://webshareimage.com/images/8lu82ethk2fnxoz5dg2g.jpg

[muddymobil]

ha ha thats deffinatly progress:roflmao:

[Stumpalump]

I heard the Dozers cleared and smoothed over Hidden Valley. Another trail bites the dust. Has anybody seen it latly and can you still do the hill climbs?

[dmcminn]

Holy Crap! My wife is smiling while still in my rig!

http://webshareimage.com/images/8lu82ethk2fnxoz5dg2g.jpg
Allen - How did you mount that jack?

[Sully4x4]

I heard the Dozers cleared and smoothed over Hidden Valley. Another trail bites the dust. Has anybody seen it latly and can you still do the hill climbs?

I really hope not, I was planning on getting my front end beefed up with a sl and going back up there to conquer it.

[Stubby~CC]

Wouldn't surprise me a bit if it was leveled out. I don't think it was ever intended to be that hardcore of a road. I think it's mostly there to allow access for a few residences and such, and they probably don't like the tippy bumps as much as we do.

Don't worry jordan, we'll find plenty of challenges for you!

[OdiN]

Allen - How did you mount that jack?

I think he welded it up there.

:crazy:

[Sully4x4]

Wouldn't surprise me a bit if it was leveled out. I don't think it was ever intended to be that hardcore of a road. I think it's mostly there to allow access for a few residences and such, and they probably don't like the tippy bumps as much as we do.

Don't worry jordan, we'll find plenty of challenges for you!

It's not that I want the challenges as much as I wanted to conquer something I couldn't do the first time just for my own personal benefit.