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Snow Wheelin’Two Days of Cold From the April, 2009 issue of Jp
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When the Jeep was first introduced, its primary function wasn't to climb over boulders but to support troops on primitive roads and trails, in the mud and the snow. And sure enough, some 50-plus years later, that's exactly what they still do. Of course, the troops are generally a Jeep club, and the terrain is private or public land, but the foul weather and primitive trails are what Jeeping is all about. In the Pacific Northwest, snow comes in early December, and the mud stays moist or gooey throughout the year--just-perfect conditions for wild wheelin’. Clubs like the Wandering Willys out of Seattle revel in this type of slop, and we were fortunate enough to join them on a snow run before Christmas. If that weren't enough, day two found us at the Elbe Hills OHV area, just west of Mt. Rainer National Park, with a small group of the Good Time 4-Wheelers, led by Bad Joe. This place was hardcore-only, with pools of mud that could swallow a Jeep. And if not for our experienced guide, we'd probably still be lost in the snowy wood. Both areas are administered by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, which work with the local 4x4 crowd to improve the trails and keep them open. If you want to explore great Pacific Northwest wheelin' in Washington state, contact the Washington DNR, Dept Jp, 28329 SE 448th St, Enumclaw, WA, 98022, 206,825-1631. The good folks at ARB (Dept. JP, 20 S. Spokane St., Seattle WA 98134, 206/264-1669) can help you out as well, and the boys at Off Road Outlet (Dept Jp, 8901 Willows Rd. NE, Redmond, WA 98052, 425/558-9238) are also willing to help out. Just be sure to pack your long johns and fix the heater core on your Jeep--unless what you want to do is stiff Jeeping.
 With the help of ARB (the...  With the help of ARB (the guys who sell ARB Air Lockers and IPF lights), we joined up for a flurry of snow and Jeeps to run trails in the Walker Valley OHV area north of Seattle.  Leading us through the treacherous...  Leading us through the treacherous Elbe Hills 4WD area was Bad Joe in his 1991 Wrangler Renegade. The extended flares of the Renegade package were all but wasted and showed the hard-core stuff he puts the YJ through. Even the Swampers and ARB Air Lockers were no match for the cold slick mud on a steep hill, so the Warn winch was undone to save the day.  Tall tires and trees typify...  Tall tires and trees typify the terrain, and the two theories of tires were bandied about all day: Many prefer a wide tire for flotation, to ride on top of snow, and others like the skinny meats to dig down to the ground underneath the white stuff. Either way, the snow is cold, and it's best to have a heater in the Jeep when you get stuck.  Powering through the powder...  Powering through the powder in the ARB Wrangler is Tim Lund of ARB. The air-locked TJ is fitted with all the IPF and Old Emu suspension goodies it can hold, and after letting us drive it, the factory side steps (or what remained of them) ended up in the back seats. Thanks go to ARB, Jim Jackson, Tim Lund, Chris Wood, and Buddy King for lending us the Jeep for the weekend to keep our driving skills honed.  Green and white are the predominate...  Green and white are the predominate colors in Washington this time of year. Even though the temperature was below freezing, and snow was falling, the swift streams kept flowing. Crossing these waterways can be difficult if the tops of the rocks freeze, causing an even more slippery road to follow.  The CB radio crackled with...  The CB radio crackled with a call for help, and, sure enough, a TJ had turned near turtle. Bill Wade is a GM mechanic who frequents these trails in his 1997 Wrangler. His Jeep was equipped with a Vortec 4.3L V-6 and a 9-inch rear axle from Currie. Bill slid off a turn on the Poop Shoot trail and ended up sideways. With a little help from a winch and a snatch block, the undamaged Jeep continued down the trail on its tires.  The Walker Valley OHV area...  The Walker Valley OHV area has many trails that wander through the woods and up steep, rocky slopes. The slime-covered rocks make lockers nearly mandatory on this hill, but Suzanne Haag nearly made it up with her unlocked 1973 CJ-5. This was only Suzanne's third time driving a Jeep on a trail, but she drove better than some of the veteran drivers.  Long wheelbases on tight trails...  Long wheelbases on tight trails take a special driving technique, and Peter Brodie of Olympia showed us how to do it. The 1981 Scrambler sports a 258 with a 500-cfm Edelbrock carb, which spins the 33-inch Swampers enough to traverse the trail, even with only the rear axle locked up.  The Wandering Willys club...  The Wandering Willys club have plenty of flatties in the group, and John Lidra's M38 is a good example. Registered as an 1983, this 289 Ford-powered Jeep has a Detroit-Locked 44 rear and a Lock-Right in the Dana 25 front, with a T-98 four-speed selecting the speed. With 4.88 gears and a Warn Overdrive, the 35-inch tires can scoot the Jeep down both trail and tarmac.  Tire spin is usually needed...  Tire spin is usually needed when traction is marginal, and Mitchell Carter zips his 289-powered flattie up the slick stuff. Note how the Warn 8274 winch is mounted below the bumper for better airflow to the radiator, but not too low to restrict ground clearance.  Serving winch duty on one...  Serving winch duty on one of the first hills were Ross Fahlen and Kevin Wyman of Off Road Outlet. The company's YJ sports some of the shop's offerings, such as the ARB Lockers front and rear, Swampers, PIAA lights, a Black Diamond lift, Howell fuel injection, and ARB bumpers. The two run with many of the local 'wheelers when they're not stuck at the shop.  Mitchell also did some winch...  Mitchell also did some winch duty to help some of the unlocked rigs get over some rough spots. Mitchell's dad also helped and has a near identical M38 with a Chevy 283 and a four-speed. At least, when the now was falling, everything kind of blurred together in a cold haze, so the Jeeps looked identical.
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Insane!
Wheelstands, Mud Holes, Snapped Parts, and More!...
more
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