Past Trail Rides of 2-Big Broncos 4x4 Club

Pipeline Trail
July 8, 2000

Great Lakes Chapter

Pipeline Trail -- Lakewood, WI

Directions

McCaslin Campground - (6 miles East of Lakewood Wisconsin on Hwy F) Camping available at McCaslin Campground phone #: (715) 757-3734

Overview

Well, It's official! The Great Lakes Chapter of 2-Big Broncos has had it's first organized trail ride. We attacked the Pipeline Trail near Lakewood, Wisconsin on Saturday July 8th.

Participants

Those attending included. . .

Norm Tisher (Leader)
Jim Hunter (co-Leader)
Dave Berryman
Bruce (?) Norm's friend
Dave Berryman

The Details . . .

I left my house at 3:30am after working on the Bronco till almost 2:00am. So, with an hour worth of sleep I hit the road for the 6 hour drive to Lakewood. The weather at home was hot and sunny. I was not expecting the torrential downpour and thunderstorms that started about half way to the trail head. Basically we had alternating heavy rains and light drizzle most of the day. This did not dampen the mood of our group one bit though! :)

About 2 miles from the campgrounds we had chosen as the meeting location I started to receive radio traffic on the CB from other members. I pulled into the campgrounds to find Dave Berryman at the entrance. I also meet Bruce ?one of Norms friends and a fellow Bronco owner (I think he needs to join, Norm?).

I followed them around to a big dirt pit in the back of the campgrounds. There I found Norm as well as Brett and his friend Dave playing around. I quickly joined in. after messing around for a little while we gathered up and headed out to the trail head following Norm in his father-in-law's 4x4 Ranger pickup. We drove along the trail of sand washes with random water holes until we came to the Rock Pile. I watched as the rest of the group conquered this obstacle. After seeing the difficulty that one of the other vehicles had I decided not to attempt this with only having 2wd right now (my front D44 third member is sitting on my bench with the ARB waiting to go in).

So with the GPS in hand I went off in search of the other end of the trail. Katrina (my 10 yr old daughter) and I had fun exploring a few different trails and getting ourselves stuck good once when I got crossed up over some 2 ft deep mud ruts. Not being able to raise the rest of the group on the radio, I worked the stuck myself and eventually got it out.

Then I met the group back at the Rock Pile and we headed back to the campgrounds around 3 pm. Norm and I headed back home and I have not heard what the rest of the group did after we left.

My adventures didn't end there however. About 100 miles North of Milwaukee my alternator gave out and I switched on my secondary battery link to get me to a small town. There I found that no shops were open. After talking with Norm (Thank you for your offer for the rescue Norm) I ended up buying a couple of big deep cycle batteries and limped the Bronco home for 250 miles on batteries only. Ah...the Good Life!!!

Here is a pic of the group ascending the Rock Pile.
Another of the Rock Pile.

Jim Hunter - ICQ# 46881710
2 BIG BRONCOS 4X4 CLUB - GREAT LAKES CHAPTER LEADER