CAMPING RSVP! Please Respond if attending!

[mattadams]

I got a lot of vagueness from the other thread... such as "I might be there" or "might try to make it" yada yada. So here I'd like everyone to respond if they are planning on being there. Obviously things come up occasionally but if you are planning on being there, respond here!
Also if your going and you'd like to participate in the pot luck, please respond here with what you will be bringing.

I will be there, with Courtney and Maggie.
I will be bringing Smores fixins
Courtney will bringing Rice Krispy Treats
Maggie will be bringing milk bones. Hee hee.

[MMPC]

I'll be there with myself. Nevermind.
Anyway, I'll be bringing:hot dogsbunscondiments

[Walking Eagle]

I'll be there with my girl. Will not be participating in pot luck.

[mattadams]

Is Cory your girl, are you planning on bring the inflatable woman? :)

[cory]

no jeff's the bitch

[Walking Eagle]

I'm leaving the inflatable girl at home. I'm bringing someone else.

[mattadams]

Alrighty... Cory, are you planning on going?

[Walking Eagle]

Cory will be there. We are thinking about going earlier, so we can unload our gear and go off and do some wheeling.

[cory]

you dont think i put that snorkle on for looks now oh yes im going ,got mud.

[mattadams]

Sounds good... Cory, are you participating in the pot luck or you gonna be a bum like Jeff? :). j/k..
Dom said hes going up Friday so you might want to find his campsite so we can all camp together, then when I come up with the "rest" we can camp there too. I wasn't sure if everyone was planning on camping near the marsh where we put the signs up or what, I'm open to whatever.
Curiosity has intriguied me as to who Jeff is bringing...

[cory]

dont know what to bring but all ways think westnile, the marsh does sound good to me.

[Glass]

Well, Ill be in Leadville when you all are meeting at the Safeway...soo...Ill just fly home when i am done and head up from the G-Town side of Saxon. I usually go up Waldorf, so I am not too overly familiar with saxon.hopefully I can get a vague turn here, and then turn here to where you all will be at, ill find you all. If theres going to be any cooking out, ill bring some of my veggie burgers, and if any of you would like some, feel free to have some. (the trick is to add whatever you want it to taste like, or else it has no taste). Other than that...Ill see you all there
---JOHN

[Up2myLbowsNmud]

Oh Matt... you may need to call *eww cant remember his name* to get one of the official tally sheet thingys that the club is supposed to fill out when we go up the trail each time... maybe we can stop by there saturday am to pick it up but he may need to k now we're commin...

[y33dave]

Me, My wife, our son Nathan, our friend John and Guinness d' Dog will all be attending on Saturday !

We are also planning on bringing a bit of Fireside Fajitas for the group ...

by the way .. count me and John in for a hand of Poker if the game is still on!

Dave

[CNTRYCOWBOY]

Me and Jen will be there, and I don't think we're gonna do the pot luck thing. We will be heading up friday night. If anyone wants to head up with us, give me a call (b/c I still don't have internet at the house) (404) 964-4772 yeah i know its not a local number! I wasn't planning on setting up camp by the marsh I figured there would be too many bugs. I'll try to find a good spot with enough room.


Dom

[cory]

im thinking about making a batch of chile when i get there hope you like it hot.

[Walking Eagle]

I'm supposed to bring firewood, but the truck is getting worse each time I drive it. The truck stalled about 5 times this morning on the way to work. I may not be able to drive the truck this weekend, so if somebody else could plan on bringing some wood it would be helpful.

[mattadams]

I should be able to bring some, my parents have a wood pile but Im not sure about the quality of whats out there. If otehrs can bring some too, that'd be good... otherwise we can collect some dead wood while we're up there... I'll try to remember to bring a hatchet.

[mattadams]

I will have the Forest Service forms with me as well, so we can get credit for being there, get volunteer hours, etc.

[MMPC]

Okay, and while we're on the topic of wood - let's not forget to bring FIRE EXTINGUISHERS! If you've got one, bring it...

[TrooperGirl]

Could I get some directions.... I will have to drive up Saturday....
Jenn

[mattadams]

Troopergirl, are you able to meet us at the Safeway in Idaho Springs at 10? Otherwise instructions are rather difficult unless you know the trail. I can try to get a map printed out though...

[TrooperGirl]

how long does it take to get there...... ?
Jenn

[Glass]

Jenn, what time are you thinking of going up? I have to br in Leadville in the AM on saturday, and i will have to drive up in the afternoon, Ill be leaving from the Georgetown side, and im sure Matt could give good nuff directions from there, or maybe he could just highlight the route on the map in the information page about Saxon, and we could follow that, what do you think?

---JOHN

[mattadams]

Jenn, once you leave Idaho Springs, it will probably take an hour or two hours to get to the camping spot, somewhere around there. Idaho Springs is about 45 minutes out of Denver.
Directions coming from the Georgetown side are much easier, but once you know the route, going from teh Idaho Springs side is quicker.
If you go to the Saxon Mountain adoption page (http://rmftc.com/saxon.html) and look at the map, in the lower left hand area you say "highland park" which is approximately where we will be camping. Dom said he is going up on Friday and is going to try to find a good campsite...

[cory]

jen jeff and i are going up early sat morning tag along with us ,we are taking the easy way,

[mattadams]

ok, so is anyone actually planning on meeting me at 10? Otherwise I'll just go up whenever I feel like it, LOL. Dom is going up Friday, Jeff and Cory going up earlier Saturday, etc.
If no one wants to meet at 10, I'll just go up whenever.
Cory, what time are you and Jeff going up?

[Walking Eagle]

Cory can't answer that, because he needs to talk to his daddy first.

[mattadams]

What is the "easy way"? Do you mean taking the switchbacks or going from Idaho Springs?

[cory]

what the #@$% are you talking about beyach.

[cory]

and matt i go through clear creek canyon much faster for me.

[Walking Eagle]

I was planning going up from the Idaho Springs side. The only thing is I've never gone up that way before, that's the way I always come down. I just hope I find where the trail starts.

[cory]

just use the force .

[mattadams]

Jeff, when are you guys planning on going up? If no one else is planning on meeting at 10, I'll just go up whenever you guys go up.
The easiest way to leave from Idaho Springs is to find the Phoenix Gold Mine Tours, thats one way to come in... Clear Creek Canyon? Hmm I dont think I've done that one before...

[Walking Eagle]

You know what? Matt may have a size 15, but when I get to work, you're going to find out what a EEEE wide shoe feels like in your ass.

[Walking Eagle]

Cory was talking about taking Clear Creek Canyon from Golden to Idaho Springs, because the hills on I 70 take him awhile. I would like to meet in Idaho Springs at the Safeway at 9am.

[cory]

you cant even get your leg up that high. :laughing2:

[mattadams]

I'm fine with 9... y33dave and Troopergirl, how about you? I think you two are the only others who have said your going that might possible be meeting me in Idaho Springs.

[y33dave]

We were definitely planning on meeting in Idaho Springs at 10am ... I'm sure we can find the 'spot' if you don't need/want to meet ..

also .. I just took down about 80 plus feet of split rail fence that I was planning on cutting into 'campfire' size pieces ! so I'll have plenty of wood with us! (can you say bonfire?)

:angryfire:

anywho .. keep me posted on whether or not we are meeting ..

[mattadams]

After thinking about it, I think Im going to have too much to do that morning, so lets just plan on still meeting at 10, that way I can get everything done we need to, and we can introduce the dogs at Safeway before hitting the trail. Jeff, if you want to head up early thats fine, I'm sure you can find the route. Otherwise, I think 10 as planned is best.

[Walking Eagle]

That sounds good. I'll let you know by tomorrow night, if should expect us at 10 or if we are going earlier.

[MMPC]

Matt, I'm still catching a ride with you, right? Do you want me to meet you about 9am down in town? Let me know...

[mattadams]

yeah thats fine. You and Courtney will have to switch off being in the back seat though.

[TrooperGirl]

Sorry everyone I have to work now....... have fun.....
thanks anyway
Jenn

[mattadams]

yeah right, you just dont want to hang out with us... :)

[cory]

from what i saw on the news please tell me saxon is as muddy as everythinkg else is " all the flooding " gotta play sometime.

[mattadams]

guess we'll find out when we get there... I'm hoping its not too muddy personally, since I plan on having my dog with me and camping there and don't want ot come back with a tent full of mud, feet full of mud, truck full of mud, LOL.
I know though, different strokes for different folks :).

[Up2myLbowsNmud]

after seeing all the wash-out in Idaho Springs, I would be surprised not to see a bunch of mud up there...

[MMPC]

If there's more washout, that will just allow me to say "this trail is a lot rougher than I remember" again... :P Yeah, I hope it's not bad as well - of course there's always "camping by car..."

[cory]

just buy her this



http://www.petblankets.com/products/36.jpg

[Walking Eagle]

Cory and I will meet everyone up on Saxon tomorrow. We are leaving the Denver area about 7:30.

[mattadams]

ok, thats fine... I spoke with Dom, and he said go to that marshy area, but go past it and when it comes to a fork, take a right, and thats approximately where he was setting up camp.

[y33dave]

Hey Matt!

Just wanted to let you know I'm all loaded up and ready to go ..

we'll see you at Safeway around 9:30 - 10... cool?


It looks like my buddy John can't make it .. nor can our neighbors .. but dats fine .. I can't wait to meet everyone and get a little camping in!

Dave

[MMPC]

CAMPING! WOO HOO!

LOL, hey someone had to inject some excitement into this discussion. :wink: I think I'm all packed up and ready for the trip as well. Should be fun... :D

[Walking Eagle]

I'm just going to say that at this very moment I could rip somebodies face off. My damn sister who went to Missouri last weekend asked me if it was ok if she went out of town and I could help with mom. I said fine, but you have to be back Friday night, because of the camping trip.

Well she just called and said she and her boyfriend are still in Missouri. They be leaving later when he wakes up and driving back.

This changes my plans. I've called Cory and let him know. Cory is going to meet everyone at Safeway at 10am. I will head up there after she arrives and I give her piece of my *U*%&*^ mind.

Cory said he will have cb on 27 and a handheld on channel 2.

[mattadams]

Jeff, that sucks, trust me though, I know what its like to have family issues (see best man thread, LOL). See you when we see you! Cory, see you around 9:30-10ish, as well as dave.

[Walking Eagle]

Don't worry, I will be there. Is anyone bringing a shovel? I may have to do some digging while I'm up there.

[clavos]

A shallow grave in rocky soil is quite a fete Jeff. With no income, I will not even be able to come up and spend the day as I had previously planned. You folks have fun and be safe!!!

[Glass]

I love how everything happens at the last second for me...my carb started acting upon me tonight, out of nowhere..it was going strong, and fine...then...yeah, nothing....so im trying to figure it out , even though i dont know squat about carbs, so ill either blow my truck up, or get it fixed and be there after i get back from leadville, assuming i make it there, if anyones around still tonight, see my post in vehicle related forum please...

---JOHN :evil: :evil: :evil:

[Heath]

I can't believe you freakin Monkey Lickers are still going w/o me... Bunch of ungratefull bastards!!!

[mattadams]

well looks like only a few are going now... LOL. But thats ok it will still be fun...

[MMPC]

Yeah, the ol' last minute cancellations - sometimes it's unavoidable though. :(

Heath - we'll toast you around the campfire tonight. Then we'll tell Heath stories (there are so many) instead of scary stories because they're both scary... :P

[Heath]

There aren't any "Heath" stories... Well, except that time I fell on my face when I was drunk...

[Heath]

And then of course you and Matt laughed at me...

[MMPC]

Oh, there are Heath stories... There are many Heath stories... :D:P

[Walking Eagle]

Well, I'm packed up and ready to leave. I'm just waiting for the little tramp to show up so we can have a discussion and then I'll be on my way sometime.

[Glass]

well, hope you all are having fun, i tried to figure out my carb, and it has either an internal vacuum leak, or an internal fuel leak...what the luck, Anyways, im borrowing a carb from a friend for a while, and after taking it up a steep dirt road here, i figured outthat it isnt meant for any ground that isnt flat :( (saving bandwith)

So next check ill buy either a holley,, or a demon....anyway, hope i will actually be able to follow thru next time the group is planning a get together, aswell as meet some of you...

---JOHN

[Walking Eagle]

Post has been edited.

[clavos]

I guess you feel pretty "low" getting stuck where 2wd trucks had passed? LOL... You're back mighty early too. Was it fun?

[Heath]

Good Hell Jeff... How the heck do you get stuck on Saxon Mtn??? I mean if there is snow I understand... But I don't see any big snow piles in that pic!!!

[MMPC]

A great trip - for the most part! LOL I enjoyed myself a lot - was great meeting/seeing everyone again. The night of sleep could have been better, however, a lot better. :D I'm typing this just before I go for a nap - having only slept about 2 hours last night. I can only say that air beds, or bigger more comfy sleeping pads are in order for the next trip! I think the rocks had their way with me last night - and I'm still sore...

Here are a few pictures from the trip - it was beautiful!

http://www.users.qwest.net/~mountainmediapro/Images/RMFTC%20camping/sunset.jpg

http://www.users.qwest.net/~mountainmediapro/Images/RMFTC%20camping/campsite.jpg

http://www.users.qwest.net/~mountainmediapro/Images/RMFTC%20camping/matt%20toasts.jpg

[mattadams]

Glad to see people made it back safe, now that I am somewhat caught up on sleep (got home about 10:30, slept til... well... now...). Didn't get any pictures but did have a good time.

[y33dave]

We had a great time!! I was proud to see what my truck could do with very little effort!

We definitely wanted to apologize to all who were woken up through the night by Nate .. we didn't quite prepare for such a rough night and sure didn't plan on being up all night soothing him !

But hey ! the way we look at it .. it's one night out of our lives .. and we got through it with very little harm .. just a little tired!

As soon as I get the pics we took uploaded to the computer .. I'll send them to matt to post!

Thanks again for a good time guys! keep me in the loop for the next one!

Jeff ~ call/email Rancho and tell them about your experience this weekend .. see if they have any fix for those freaking swing arm brackets! I'm glad I could be of some help gettin yer baby out of a fix there!

Dave

[Walking Eagle]

Here are some more pictures.

http://walking-eagle.com/test_page/rmftc/7.jpg

http://walking-eagle.com/test_page/rmftc/6.jpg

http://walking-eagle.com/test_page/rmftc/5.jpg

http://walking-eagle.com/test_page/rmftc/4.jpg

http://walking-eagle.com/test_page/rmftc/3.jpg

http://walking-eagle.com/test_page/rmftc/2.jpg

http://walking-eagle.com/test_page/rmftc/1.jpg

[mattadams]

Dang Jeff, wheres your focus button? LOL. Good pics though.
Everyone that took pics, feel free to email them to me at mattadams@rmftc.com and I"ll try to get a page set up for them. It was a great time!
Dave, don't worry about your boy crying at night. He wasn't the only one up all night! LOL.

[MMPC]

ROFL - everyone looks so hung-over and tired in those pictures. And that was before we all tried to sleep on rocks! :wink: Dave - no worries at all about Nate - there wasn't much sleep going on in our tent (no Heath, there was no "man lovin'" going on either, before you ask). Hey Jeff, I think those pics need more compression! LOL, just kidding...

[Heath]

LOL... I love that last pic... Jen looks like she's feezing to death and Chris is just sitting there like its nothing...

[MMPC]

Yeah, it also shows the danger of wearing shorts and sitting in a low chair! LOL Thankfully my underwear kept things covered! :roll: I actually was a bit chilly there as well - that was probably taken a few minutes before I went and put on some jeans. :wink: But then we all know Jen's a wuss too...

[Heath]

Well I thnk if you didn't have all that natural insulation you'd have been cold too!!!

[MMPC]

That's very true! But Jen's still a wussy. :P As my insulation continues to go away, I guess I'll have to invest in some actual warm clothing at some point... :? :roll:

[Heath]

It would be cheaper to just pick up a loaf of bread... LOL...

[MMPC]

I know I haven't eaten "real" bread in awhile, but I didn't think that much had changed. You can wear it now???

:P

[Heath]

Sure you can, your body will turn it into natural insulation...

[Walking Eagle]

Hell, I even had to put a sweatshirt on and scoot closer to the fire Saturday night.

[clavos]

Nobody looks very happy in those pictures at all! And I wasn't even there to bring everybody down.

[mattadams]

LOL Despite the expressions on my face there, I was actually having a very good time! Chris made the same comment though! LOL.

[Walking Eagle]

It was a good time. Yes it was a little chilly, but that's expected at 10,000 feet. It did not rain, the skies were clear and it was a good night to see the stars. Plus, when the moon came up after midnight, it was real bright.

[cory]

yeh i was cool found a big hole to play in a couple of big boulders to play on and a nice wet mess to play in. :compress: :clap:
did i mention i was warm ha ha.

[mattadams]

Cory, where did you find that mud? I saw the picture... just curious if it was on Saxon or if you'd found another trail or what...

[Walking Eagle]

It was on our way down to Idaho Springs, shortly after we left the camp. We got a little turned around, and ended up on a different trail. It was near some of the mining area. I know I saw a sign for Cascade trail if that helps.

[mattadams]

yeah I know where thats at. Just making sure. If there was mudding going on on a part of the trail we had adopted, that might cast kind of a negative shadow on what is trying to be achieved through the trail adoption program though... thats barely even the same area though...

[MMPC]

Hey, I thought Heath moved to Idaho! LOL - just kidding. I have to agree with Matt on that one, though. I know he was apprehensive about coming off sounding too harsh there - but muddin' on the same trail we oversee would definitely send the wrong message to everyone outside the club. Good to know it was elsewhere... :wink:

[cory]

i love where i play in central city and i treated saxon mtn with the same respect.

[mattadams]

Cory, no worries... My main concern was what if someone from the Forest Service was monitoring, would they see it the same way as I would? Or someone who doesn't really know the group might get the wrong impression.
I remember a few years ago I was making some shirts for the explorer4x4 group, and was trying ot get the "tread lightly" logo put on, the tread lightly group went out ot the site, looked at various pictures on there, such as people mudding, people off designated trails, people tearing up property, etc. and told us if we used their logo they would sue us, because we had images of things on the site that were in direct disagreement with their core beliefs. Now, were the people int he pictures wrong? maybe, maybe not. Maybe they were on their own private property. Maybe they had permission or were in a designated off-road vehicle area... but to an outsider, they assumed the worst and that was that...
No biggie though, glad everyone had fun.

[Walking Eagle]

That's why I've deleted the 4 wheeling pictures from this weekend, so nobody gets the wrong idea.

[Walking Eagle]

I just sent in my e-mail to Rancho about this past weekend. I'll let everyone know what kind of response I receive.

[clavos]

I'm missing something here Jeff. Is it Rancho's fault that you got stuck, or are you trying to get them to give you a bigger lift kit?

[Walking Eagle]

What I got stuck on, were some small little hills. They have short steep inclines, then immediately go down the other side. I was getting high centered on the top of these peaks. Some of the Rancho parts that support the torsion bars sit pretty low. It was these parts that got hung up underneath the center of the truck. Dave's (4x4 Supercrew) and Dom's (4x2) both went through both directions. I got stuck going both directions. The trail was real narrow, there was barely enough room to walk along either side of the truck, so I had to take the same lines as they did.

No, I don't want anything from them and I did not ask for anything from them. I just wanted to point out that I think there is a severe flaw in their design.

[clavos]

I gotcha now. I don't think their design is flawed, thats really the only way to handle the IFS. We'll have to see what Matt's looks like once it is installed.

[Walking Eagle]

I guess I'm confused over the whole situation. Basically I feel the suspension lift has been a waste, if I can't go where a 4x2 can go. I thought the whole idea of a suspension lift is to allow more room for bigger tires and get ground clearance, but I'm the one getting stuck.

[mattadams]

Good luck dealing with Rancho. I learned with my Stupidlift in on my Explorer that once its designed, they aren't willing to listen to any "design improvements" unless they are sending out hundreds of replacements for warranty (I got my front end replaced twice, LOL). But yeah, that does suck.

[Tray]

Yet another factor steering me toward a body lift rather than susp.

[Walking Eagle]

If I was to do it again, somebody would really have to convince me it is worth spending well over a $1000 for the suspension lift and installation. One thing I will say is I have beat the hell out of the Rancho over the past three years and nothing on the Rancho has broken.

[Tray]

I agree, I've never heard bad things about true Rancho (not the FX4 fake stuff), but if there's even a chance that a lifted truck is going to get stuck where a stock truck and a 4x2 can go, I just can't justify the cost.

It has been hard enough to try and decide why I'd choose a $1600 lift over a $180 lift without significant gains.

I'm sure this is an extremely rare occurrence, and will probably never happen again, but the fact that it did was just over the edge in my mind.

[Walking Eagle]

I got a response from Rancho.

The following is their e-mail:

"The Rancho suspension lift was not designed for ground clearance. The only items that gain in ground clearance are rims and tires. The torsion bar suspension systems actually loose ground clearance because you need to lower the torsion bars down below the frame so they stay level. This is true with any suspension system manufacturer that uses a subframe to lift the vehicle."

[mattadams]

doh! by the way, I have only received pictures from Dave, wasn't sure if others had pictures to send or what, but I need to get a page set up for it eventually here...

[Tray]

What a brilliant response.

Ha Ha, we already have your money sucker. Should have chosen someone else if you wanted a lift for functionality. :thefinger:

[Glass]

If Rancho is that into doing things for looks instead of functionality, maybe they should just quit with the lift kits, and go into landscaping or some shat, thats like renting a loft downtown fo rthe view, and your landlord boarding the windows up, just pothetic.

---JOHN

[clavos]

They have a point though. Unless you totally reconfigure the suspension, the torsion bars have to be lowered.

[Walking Eagle]

I did not realize I bought a lowering kit. Went in for a 4" lift and it actually lowered the torsion bars.