JP4Crawler
06-19-2006, 07:43 PM
My family & I decided to make a day trip & try & tackle Dishpan for Fathers Day. I hadn't been up there since the fires, they really ravaged the place. The wild flowers & small shrubs were already making a strong come back. The only green spots were at the creek crossing, which is a great place to cool off, before or after the trail. After a 2hr drive we took a long break @ the creek & let my boys run around & take a dip before hittin' the trail. As we were starting to pack up, a very long line of Jeeps started to pile up @ the 1st obstacle, for them it was the last, they came down the trail. After almost 2 hrs, the last of 45+ Jeeps, just a guess, had finally cleared the trail.
On to the trail. We had 3 trucks, a 98' JGC w/ 2" spacer lift, decent tires & my father @ the wheel, a 2000 XJ w/ 3" spacer lift, street tires :nono: & my brother @ the wheel, & my 04' 4R :cool1: . 1st obstacle was a little waterfall w/ a few big boulders to negotiate, no prob. If this gives you a problem, don't proceed. Met a very well equiped Cheroke coming down who informed us we would not make the next waterfall. Problem is I hear that a lot, especialy from Jeep guys??, & am usually wondering what they're talking about after completing a trail. :confused1 So, as usual, we thank them & proceed w/ caution.
The next mile or so has little to speak of, a few good ruts to stradle, then you round the bend & come to a place where lots of trucks can park & realize this is the next waterfall. I jump out to take a looksy & just catch an International about to roll it. :eek: He corrected, backed up a little, took a better line & was out. His buddy was next, very built Bronco, decided to try a different line & almost rolled straight back. A quick reverse & a few bangs brought him safely back to the bottom. No pics of the almost rolls or this obstacle, I had 1 boy in each hand & got to watch. After that he took the standard line, struggled a bit, banged his diffs real good & was clear.
Then coming down was an 84' pup, well built, who came down pretty clean until he tried to reverse, just before the bottom, & got pretty tipsy, gave it a little gas & was safely down. It seems that coming down is the easier way to go, as the Jeep group & just about everyone else was running the trail that way.
After scouting the obstacle, I thought there was a line that would lead to success, but no one else was up for the challenge & being that we got a late start & wouldn't have much time if anything went wrong, opted to turn around :cry: & enjoy the creek for awhile before hitting the road. For me, that's half the fun, give it a damn good try & if you don't make it this time, there's always next time w/ more mods, a better rig &/or improved driving skills. And the same trail, going the opposite direction is always different.
We got back to the creek, aired up & enjoyed the day. While I was swimmin' w/ my boys, a pretty built Cheroke came down the hill w/ some major carnage from a roll over @ the obstacle we declined. :doh: I didn't get to chat w/ the guy, but saw the Jeep @ the gas station on the way out. The story goes, that he was young & not that experienced & laid it down on it's side. On the way down we crossed a super! built Jeep, who we find out, charged the guy $200.00 to correct him!! :pissed1: Not O.K. in my book, as there were plenty of safe places to pull him out from. Wheelers need to stick together & help each other out!! If you can help, you should help! :shout:
All in all, we had a great time, got to do a little wheelin', met some good folks & played in the creek. Word is, there's talk of shutting this trail down again, 30 days or so. If you'd like to run it, do so soon. Also heard that John Bull wasn't too bad & that Dishpan was more difficult. These are unverified comments from some of the locals. As always, proceed with caution & rock on!! :thrasher: I will get back soon & run the other trails. Pics will follow shortly, just wanted this out there before the BBB. I might see you guys up there.
Jason
On to the trail. We had 3 trucks, a 98' JGC w/ 2" spacer lift, decent tires & my father @ the wheel, a 2000 XJ w/ 3" spacer lift, street tires :nono: & my brother @ the wheel, & my 04' 4R :cool1: . 1st obstacle was a little waterfall w/ a few big boulders to negotiate, no prob. If this gives you a problem, don't proceed. Met a very well equiped Cheroke coming down who informed us we would not make the next waterfall. Problem is I hear that a lot, especialy from Jeep guys??, & am usually wondering what they're talking about after completing a trail. :confused1 So, as usual, we thank them & proceed w/ caution.
The next mile or so has little to speak of, a few good ruts to stradle, then you round the bend & come to a place where lots of trucks can park & realize this is the next waterfall. I jump out to take a looksy & just catch an International about to roll it. :eek: He corrected, backed up a little, took a better line & was out. His buddy was next, very built Bronco, decided to try a different line & almost rolled straight back. A quick reverse & a few bangs brought him safely back to the bottom. No pics of the almost rolls or this obstacle, I had 1 boy in each hand & got to watch. After that he took the standard line, struggled a bit, banged his diffs real good & was clear.
Then coming down was an 84' pup, well built, who came down pretty clean until he tried to reverse, just before the bottom, & got pretty tipsy, gave it a little gas & was safely down. It seems that coming down is the easier way to go, as the Jeep group & just about everyone else was running the trail that way.
After scouting the obstacle, I thought there was a line that would lead to success, but no one else was up for the challenge & being that we got a late start & wouldn't have much time if anything went wrong, opted to turn around :cry: & enjoy the creek for awhile before hitting the road. For me, that's half the fun, give it a damn good try & if you don't make it this time, there's always next time w/ more mods, a better rig &/or improved driving skills. And the same trail, going the opposite direction is always different.
We got back to the creek, aired up & enjoyed the day. While I was swimmin' w/ my boys, a pretty built Cheroke came down the hill w/ some major carnage from a roll over @ the obstacle we declined. :doh: I didn't get to chat w/ the guy, but saw the Jeep @ the gas station on the way out. The story goes, that he was young & not that experienced & laid it down on it's side. On the way down we crossed a super! built Jeep, who we find out, charged the guy $200.00 to correct him!! :pissed1: Not O.K. in my book, as there were plenty of safe places to pull him out from. Wheelers need to stick together & help each other out!! If you can help, you should help! :shout:
All in all, we had a great time, got to do a little wheelin', met some good folks & played in the creek. Word is, there's talk of shutting this trail down again, 30 days or so. If you'd like to run it, do so soon. Also heard that John Bull wasn't too bad & that Dishpan was more difficult. These are unverified comments from some of the locals. As always, proceed with caution & rock on!! :thrasher: I will get back soon & run the other trails. Pics will follow shortly, just wanted this out there before the BBB. I might see you guys up there.
Jason