"You've taken your first step into a larger universe." OB Won Konobe. That is what it felt like when I happened to hook up with some well prepared wheelers on the pipeline one day.
It was a neat feeling being there for the first time. Click here to see some pix during return trips to the pipeline.
The terrain wasn't too rough when we were there, but some of it was not something I'd try by myself and we found plenty of challenges to keep it interesting.
Let me tell you about the vehicles. One was a mid 70's Chevy Blazer powered by a 400 fed by a stock 2BBL carb. This vehicle was pretty plain but equipped with about 35" tires and plenty of clearance for them.
|
 |
 |
The next vehicle, and my favorite, was a '77 or '78 Jeep CJ-5 with the stock 304 and 4-spd(?) manual trans. He had no top and was in the low 30's high 20's when we were out. Highlights include 33 X 12.5 tires, no swaybars, 6 point cage, 4 point harnesses, front and rear mount receiver winch, and the usual Hi-Lift, full spare, and assorted gear.
The trickest of the group was an extended cap Toyolet(Chevy/Toyota combo) that looked like a jacked up, big tired Toyota on the surface, but was much more upon a second look. It was a full GM frame with extensive suspension modifications. The rear suspension had one lower control arm on each side, where the coil springs were mounted, and a single upper control arm that pivoted above the differential housing. The front axle had lower trailing arms and coil suspension, but I didn't catch all the details. The rear axle was a posi-equipped GM corporate 12 bolt and the front axle was a Dana 44. A small block chevy provided the power and a Turbo hydromatic transmission got it to the transfer case. The truck was also equipped with a PTO winch in the rear of the pickup bed, remote mounted radiator in the bed, prerunner type front bumper, custom nerfs and rear bumper.
I first hooked up with them when they came up to me and my two copilots when we
were deciding on this water crossing. The decision is much easier when you have other
vehicles to pull you out! As you can see, I had little trouble with this (thanx to
the rest of them for breaking the ice up for me 
).
After this, we hit a bar for lunch and gassed up. I tagged along with them as they took the pipline back down to where they came in. The Jeep owner had to go back to his tow vehicle as his jeep is not equipped for highway use. If you look in the background of the last picture, you can catch a glimpse of the vehicles I was with.
Being frozen, but no snow to speak of, it was interesting, but not difficult. Some parts had holes deep enough to swallow my whole Jeep, had they been full of water. Even with the solid ground, I had to be carefull as the ruts were deep enough to get me hung up.
The best part of the trip back was a long, and quite steep, rock hill we had to climb.
About 1/3 of the way up It curved to the right, so you couldn't see all the obstacles
from the bottom. It was covered with rocks that ranged from a few inches in diameter to
a few feet in diameter. I was advised to pick whatever line I felt comfortable with, but
that I probably should not follow the Toyolet, given the driver's nature! 
Here are some miscellaneous pictures on the line, from later trips:
 This is that water crossing in the summertime. |
 This guy is actually pulling a trailer! This hill is steeper than it looks. |
 I got stuck out in the middle of this hole in the winter. I was quite lucky |
 I don't know these people, but these are the worst stuck pix I have taken. |
 This is one of the bridges built to protect sensitive streams. |
 Most of the pipeline is mild and scenic like this.Well, thats not -entirely- true, there are very difficult stretches, but they are equally difficult to get to. |
 These are protective barriers you find from time to time. I don't freqently see signs of attempts to circumvent them, which gives me some faith in other trail users. |
 Wanna close a trail fast?? Try cutting you own path like this loser.
This section is now closed off because of shenanigans like this. |
Back
Last Modified 08/08/04
