Believe me I know what happens when people leave glass in the middle of the road, gets expensive quickly. Honestly I dont really go to these parties (I cant stand drunk people) and I dont really think that I could do anything useful if I did, no ones got enough respect for the land to actually carry their garbage out so everything just gets thrown in the fire and ignored. If you dont mind Id like to share your rant with my schools Facebook group because Im petty about things like this and maybe if the few of us who actually care about things like this keep talking about someone may actually pay attention at some point.
Youd be surprised where I can cram my stock half tonne, a lifted F350 is probably much more capable than that. Its smart to bring a winch or a friend for when you high-center (which you will do). My usually strategy is momentum and wheelspin, but I dont really value my paint so that may not be an option for you. I havent really been down to Victoria much, but theres a few good areas for full sizes around Cowichan lake, I spend most of my time in the Nanaimo Lakes area though.
I was so close it is painful. I got to around 745m of elevation up the north-eastern face (the blue trail on my first map), where the first switchback is. One fairly steep section was pretty washed out and took us about 45 minutes to go about 100 metres, lots of crawling and moving rocks around to get through, (dropped a rock on my hand, thought I broke a finger, probably didnt though), it is the most technical section of trail I have ever successfully passed. After we got past it it was relatively smooth until about 600-650 metres where we encountered snow. My truck is totally incompetent when it comes to snow, which can be fun in a flat parking lot, but not on a 15-20% grade up a dirt road with rocks on one side and a shear drop of death on the other. The roads weren't rough at all, but they were just steep enough that I kept sliding back down them. Had to turn back as I didnt bring chains (nor do I own any). I may attempt it again tomorrow should I find/fashion chains. If not, next weekend.
Oh yeah and I cracked the bumper (second picture), and submerged the truck in enough water to come halfway up the hood, very suprised that it kept going with no issues other than it's making a strange howling noise now. Ive blown 3 out of 4 shocks, a ball joint is broken, and the left front wheel bearing was shot (fixed that on monday though). There was a ratchet strap stuck in a brake caliper, and I keep finding sticks and stuff stuck in various parts of the engine and suspension. So yeah, its been an interesting week, we've personified the truck by giving it the name Deathtrap due to our belief that only a sentient being could have enough hatred in it to try to kill/punish me as much as this vehicle does (both physically and financially). In case you are wondering who I keep referring to as "we", that is usually in reference to myself and my usual co-driver Dima, he would be the one in the blue jacket making snow angels at our point of failure.
So I went up again against Fatty's advice to see these trails that he said I couldn't manage myself. He was correct, I could not manage them. The road was tight but not that bad, until there is one part that was cut out by a stream making it quite rough. 6" of lift and a winch and I would try it, but there is no way I could make it in the trucks current form. (The first and second pictures are most of the trail, the third is where we had to stop). We also revisited the path and river that stopped us last time, turns out there is a trail that leads down to the river (not sure how I missed it last time), a little rough for me, but I might try once I get the truck leveled and some new (bigger) tires. How bad is the actual trail up the mountain? The one with the switchbacks on the north face. It looks pretty clear if I was coming from the south. After we failed to accomplish our goal we went up about a kilometre north-east and explored around there for a bit, It was a really neat area, definitely worth going back at some point. I marked what I think is the next logical attempt on a map(from the south this time). I know that there is a gate blocking this road, but I remember one of my first times out with this truck that I found a short trail right before that road that went down to that small river, I think it may be a way to cross it. Although its been months since Ive been there. I think I'll try that one next weekend, I may also check out Deadhorse mine if I can.
Believe me I know what happens when people leave glass in the middle of the road, gets expensive quickly. Honestly I dont really go to these parties (I cant stand drunk people) and I dont really think that I could do anything useful if I did, no ones got enough respect for the land to actually carry their garbage out so everything just gets thrown in the fire and ignored. If you dont mind Id like to share your rant with my schools Facebook group because Im petty about things like this and maybe if the few of us who actually care about things like this keep talking about someone may actually pay attention at some point.
Youd be surprised where I can cram my stock half tonne, a lifted F350 is probably much more capable than that. Its smart to bring a winch or a friend for when you high-center (which you will do). My usually strategy is momentum and wheelspin, but I dont really value my paint so that may not be an option for you. I havent really been down to Victoria much, but theres a few good areas for full sizes around Cowichan lake, I spend most of my time in the Nanaimo Lakes area though.
I was so close it is painful. I got to around 745m of elevation up the north-eastern face (the blue trail on my first map), where the first switchback is. One fairly steep section was pretty washed out and took us about 45 minutes to go about 100 metres, lots of crawling and moving rocks around to get through, (dropped a rock on my hand, thought I broke a finger, probably didnt though), it is the most technical section of trail I have ever successfully passed. After we got past it it was relatively smooth until about 600-650 metres where we encountered snow. My truck is totally incompetent when it comes to snow, which can be fun in a flat parking lot, but not on a 15-20% grade up a dirt road with rocks on one side and a shear drop of death on the other. The roads weren't rough at all, but they were just steep enough that I kept sliding back down them. Had to turn back as I didnt bring chains (nor do I own any). I may attempt it again tomorrow should I find/fashion chains. If not, next weekend.
Oh yeah and I cracked the bumper (second picture), and submerged the truck in enough water to come halfway up the hood, very suprised that it kept going with no issues other than it's making a strange howling noise now. Ive blown 3 out of 4 shocks, a ball joint is broken, and the left front wheel bearing was shot (fixed that on monday though). There was a ratchet strap stuck in a brake caliper, and I keep finding sticks and stuff stuck in various parts of the engine and suspension. So yeah, its been an interesting week, we've personified the truck by giving it the name Deathtrap due to our belief that only a sentient being could have enough hatred in it to try to kill/punish me as much as this vehicle does (both physically and financially). In case you are wondering who I keep referring to as "we", that is usually in reference to myself and my usual co-driver Dima, he would be the one in the blue jacket making snow angels at our point of failure.
So I went up again against Fatty's advice to see these trails that he said I couldn't manage myself. He was correct, I could not manage them. The road was tight but not that bad, until there is one part that was cut out by a stream making it quite rough. 6" of lift and a winch and I would try it, but there is no way I could make it in the trucks current form. (The first and second pictures are most of the trail, the third is where we had to stop). We also revisited the path and river that stopped us last time, turns out there is a trail that leads down to the river (not sure how I missed it last time), a little rough for me, but I might try once I get the truck leveled and some new (bigger) tires. How bad is the actual trail up the mountain? The one with the switchbacks on the north face. It looks pretty clear if I was coming from the south. After we failed to accomplish our goal we went up about a kilometre north-east and explored around there for a bit, It was a really neat area, definitely worth going back at some point. I marked what I think is the next logical attempt on a map(from the south this time). I know that there is a gate blocking this road, but I remember one of my first times out with this truck that I found a short trail right before that road that went down to that small river, I think it may be a way to cross it. Although its been months since Ive been there. I think I'll try that one next weekend, I may also check out Deadhorse mine if I can.
Here's a couple pictures because why not