2008 SWFWDA Winter Quarterly - Chile Challenge in Las Cruces

[redcagepatrol]

We were planning on going to the Chile Challenge but a few people needed more time to get ready and some of us wern't up for the big groups of people on the trail...
March 17~21, 2008 plus the weekends

EDIT: We are driving up on Wednesday the 19th, and wheeling on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday - driving back on Sunday.

http://www.jpmagazine.com/eventcoverage/154_0709_september_2007_the_07_chile_challenge/index.html

http://www.4wdandsportutility.com/adventures/0707_4wd_new_mexico_trail_challenge/index.html

http://www.southernhighrollers.com/trails/albums/chilechallenge2006/index.html
http://www.southernhighrollers.com/trails/albums/lc_2003/index.htm

a very old write-up:
http://www.4x4now.com/trnmlc8.htm
http://www.4x4review.com/events/chili_challenge/

There are plenty of pictures and write-ups online. I just did a quick and simple search to post a few and draw interest.

Who's In?

Cody & Brandi
Rodney and Edith
Scott, Lynda & Jake
Matt Conlee & SO
David O and Whitney
Troy?
Jimmy?
Fred?

[agjohn02]

why could it be the last year?

[redcagepatrol]

the city of Las Cruces just voted to make it a "Wilderness area". Take a look at the article in the first link

[Graystroke]

I surfed te New Mexico Land Alliance....nothing ground breaking....no pictures what so ever of all the extra trash that ORV's leave vs. hikers.
Soap Box:
I always love the shot of the vehicle crossing a "fragile desert river". What they fail to mention is the first spring rain comes through, and mother nature totally wipes out the canyon. everything is diffferent, boulders are moved, etc. The other thing I always laugh about is the when the greenies talk all about the destruction to the fragile sand dunes and the delicate plant life. Case I remember...I think I caught it on the world news....Imperial Sand dunes in commiefornia is a good example....they shut down a lot of the park b/c ORVers were damgaging "delicate" plant life and desert turtle that ate the plant. well guess what. the protected area saw a decline in the turtle b/c the ORVers were hitting the plants, spreading the seeds, more plants=healthy turtle population...so they ended opening it back up.

[JeepPhisherman]

Man, I'd love to make that and it saves me the hassle of planning another big trip, but it may be too soon. I might have to start searching for a money tree here soon.

[redcagepatrol]

I really think we might go this year - just going to make it happen. It's always best to burn up vacation in the beginning of the year anyways... I just need one or two confirmed firends to hang with. I'm ready to pick trails and send money :gigem:

probably just take Lynda's Jeep on this trip

[davido]

Let's be sure not to take it on anything too crazy. I don't want to see you cry... again. :flipoff2:

[redcagepatrol]

I think Cody, Rodney, Lynda, and myself will be going. Probably leave the Patrol at home though

[DRAGOONRANCH]

probably just take Lynda's Jeep on this trip


probably just take Lynda's Jeep on this trip

John, does this qualify as an R???

[JeepPhisherman]

I saw their Spring Quarterly will be in Clayton. This may be my first real run with the 4Runner, with TCC as a shakedown. Any interest in that?

[redcagepatrol]

there's always interest in that - we'll see when it gets closer. We were also thinking about going to Hot Springs to avoid the crowded trails in Clayton

[redcagepatrol]

BTT,
I made a few edits - this has moved into a Spring Break trip

[davido]

In.

[uglyota]

With the date change I might join in the first weekend, would Saturday or Sunday be the first wheeling day?

[JeepPhisherman]

In for the new dates

[redcagepatrol]

With the date change I might join in the first weekend, would Saturday or Sunday be the first wheeling day?
We really don't have a plan yet. Some of the group can't get off work for the whole week and plan on leaving on Wednesday to wheel Thrursday - Friday - Saturday, drive back on Sunday (Easter)

[davido]

Maybe we can stop here for a day on the way out.

http://www.tmtc.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=5

[JeepPhisherman]

At the TMTC forum?

[agjohn02]

Edra

[DRAGOONRANCH]

Edra

???

[uglyota]

Ozona, now Escondido Draw Recreation Area

[robertf03]

Scott are you all still planning on going? A&M spring break is the 8-16. If theres any chance of moving it up a week I'm interested.

[redcagepatrol]

Scott are you all still planning on going? A&M spring break is the 8-16. If theres any chance of moving it up a week I'm interested.

We actually moved it to Easter weekend.

People are leaving on Wednesday the 19th, wheeling on the 20th, Good Friday the 21st, and Sat the 22, return the 23rd.

Lynda and I will leave before that or stay after that and extend the vacation. MIght spend Easter Sunday in El Paso and do Big Bend before Thursday.

[redcagepatrol]

any TAMOR kids coming to play on the real rocks? Should be a good time. Lynda and I are leaving next Friday the 14th to start our vacation:gigem:

[robertf03]

any TAMOR kids coming to play on the real rocks? Should be a good time. Lynda and I are leaving next Friday the 14th to start our vacation:gigem:

no, see my above post Scott ;)

[redcagepatrol]

I know, but your off for Good Friday too right?

[agjohn02]

I know, but your off for Good Friday too right?

the 21st? yeah.

[redcagepatrol]

the 21st? yeah.

So, drive up Wednesday after school, skip thursday for hitting the trail in Cruces...

Anyways - so I've been working on the Dodge to get it in good working order for this trip.

I replaced the front shock bushings, put a Lukes Link on a tie rod, replaced the front brakes, replaced the passenger side 4-link bushings - sleeves - bolts, replaced the steering stabilizer, and the rear driveshaft carrier bearing.

The 4-link bushings on the passenger side were toast. I had the passenger side of the axle on a jack and was able to move the axle about 1/4" foward and back. The bolts were worn out, the sleeves were worn out, and the poly bushings were cracked and worn. Apparently whoever put the lift on used the wrong ID sleeves to begin with and the movement and wear started from there.

Long story short - it drives much better now - doesn't even have any death wobble:gigem:

[agjohn02]

i saw 14th and thought you were thinking of the wrong friday.

[redcagepatrol]

Lynda and I are leaving this Friday the 14th and heading for Big Bend... We'll meet everyone up in Las Cruces on Wednesday night the 19th.

I also changed the windshied wipers, replaced the cracked wiper fluid tank, and put some RainX on the windshield

[redcagepatrol]

just finished the second day in Cruces. No carnage, nothing spectacular, just good wheeling...

We got a little lost wheeling outside of Big Bend... Pics to follow:gigem:

[JeepPhisherman]

I hate you.

[redcagepatrol]

home safely and all unloaded. I'll try to get some pics up soon.

[redcagepatrol]

here are some from Cruces

[redcagepatrol]

some more

[redcagepatrol]

Jake

[redcagepatrol]

so if I do one at a time, it imbeds it?

[redcagepatrol]

from big bend

[redcagepatrol]

another from Big Bend

[redcagepatrol]

Driving from Big Bend to El Paso thru the Davis Mountains in a little snow... I had to put the Dodge in 4x4 to get out of that...

[redcagepatrol]

another in the Davis mountains

[Cajun]

Nice pics. Jake's getting big! Has he asked you to drive yet? :gigem:

[redcagepatrol]

from a hike

[redcagepatrol]

Nice pics. Jake's getting big! Has he asked you to drive yet? :gigem:

sure...

[JeepPhisherman]

Looks awesome!

Nice little hawk he's got going there.

[redcagepatrol]

Jake and I

[redcagepatrol]

Matt putting a dent in his truck...

[redcagepatrol]

Lynda let me drive once

[redcagepatrol]

Rodney playing around

[redcagepatrol]

steak time!

[redcagepatrol]

We had a few drinks at Rodneys uncles? place in Las Cruces. It's just down the road from the trail head...

Race truck in the "guys" garage, movie room, full bar with ice maker, full kid playground in the back yard. Cool place...

[redcagepatrol]

backyard playground for their one kid

[redcagepatrol]

Matt and Karen

[DRAGOONRANCH]

Jake and I

that rig needs more triangulation!!!


Awesome pics, looks like a great time.

[agjohn02]

my favorite

http://www.tamor.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=12797&d=1206381243


fook the man. put one on each post and use the bandwidth. we pay for it!

[redcagepatrol]

that was a huge Dozer! he tried to climb the blade but couldn't get in there right...:gigem:

[davido]

Looks cool. I missed the whole week of work. Couch to bed and back, all week since last Friday. I didn't even walk outside for 4 days straight. I still have a cough and drainage. Can't shake it.

Any more news on the trail closures?

[Lynda]

Looks awesome!

Nice little hawk he's got going there.

I shaved him a mohawk before we left...I like this photo, he's a mean dude :angry:

[Seth]

from big bend

"Always bring an extra towel!" - Towlie. or maybe he was just crying a little.

Great pics.

New wheels and tires for rodney?

hows conlee? never hear from that dude.

[Seth]

damn that was supposed to show the pic of jake with redish eyes

[CheapJeep]

Cool pics, looks like ya'll had a great trip. I dig Jakes mohawk.:gigem:

[agjohn02]

New wheels and tires for rodney?



new axles i think. 9"s last he told me.

scott, did you take another leaf out of the back or is that just trail gear settling?

[redcagepatrol]

there are 4 leafs of the 6 in there - I think that's where I left it... It sits pretty level, except the passenger side is about 1" lower...

Rodney now has 9's front and rear, sitting on 40" MTR's and MT classic ii's

Here is his album:
http://picasaweb.google.com/edith6/LasCrucesNM?authkey=CVCRjZj2dqg

[redcagepatrol]

look at that group!

[Doug Krebs]

scott, what did you do with the truck and trailer when you were at big bend?

[redcagepatrol]

scott, what did you do with the truck and trailer when you were at big bend?

left it at the hotel in Terlingua that we were staying at. I drove the Dodge in the park all of the time. We took the Jeep out one morning on the mountains in Terlingua. The hotel was 10 miles up highway 118 from the intersection in town on the West side of the park

[redcagepatrol]

and here are the pics from my camera:
http://picasaweb.google.com/scott.n.lynda/LasCruces2008

Our pictures from Big Bend are on the same site if anyones interested