About a month and a half ago, I made a post to our local TLC club list asking for our next run. Roger Carrano answered with Lamentation in Connecticut. Spent a few days sorting out a date for all concerned, and we settled on 4/17. So be it.

With plenty of time to prepare, my thoughts immediately drifted to the new toys that, "I need to ensure the safe return of my son and vehicle." Yeathat's what I'll tell her.

Can't wheel without a hi-lift jack. And I need that ARB bull bar mount. And how 'bout a nice cover for the jack too. Now we're getting warmed up. Oooh. Look at those ratchet straps. Gotta have at least two. OK, that'll do for now. Cha-ching Cha-ching. For weeks I was making lists of things to bring, while the chatter on the mail list increased. Several had been there before, and were doing their best to describe the runs that we would encounter. About a week before our trip, Roger had gone up, and reported that due to the recent rain, and current condition of the trail, it could prove interesting for a stock vehicle. Thanks for the understatement, Roger.

The night before was spent cramming all the stuff into the back of my 80, and strapping it down. Tools, recovery bag, hi lift, CB, cell phone, clothing for me and the boy, cooler, food, water, toilet paper. Check first aid kit, fluids, tire pressure, top off the tank, OK, ready for bed. Up at 5:30am, jump in the shower. Ahh, the aroma of Starbucks brewing in the kitchen, lofting it's way upstairs. 2 cups, bowl of cereal, morning constitutional, and it's time to wake Josh. Out the door and in the truck at 7:00am without incident. Cool.

We had agreed to meet in a parking lot about 5 minutes from the trail head at 9:00am, and when we pulled in, it was truly a site to behold. TLCs everywhere. 40s, 60s, 80s. How good is this. People were all milling about, airing down, hoods up, TLC chatter everywhere. The best was connecting the faces to the names and shaking hands. It was like meeting a bunch of old friends. 20 minutes later, all 16 vehicles, 12 TLCs total, pulled onto the road. Let the games begin. On the entrance track, I saw the smallest green Cruiser right in the middle of our caravan. Somehow, a Subaru sedan got caught up with us, looking for the hiking trails. Not much ground clearance, but they escaped unscathed.

The trail that continued up the mountain was mostly tame, wooded and narrow, with some small mud puddles, rocks and such. Nothing to write about. All stop for the first obstacle. Did I mention that I had 2 five year old boys in my truck at this time? My son Josh had made fast friends with Mark Woytovich's son Woodrow, AKA, The Woodman. While we were waiting our turn, those two managed to eat a box of chocolate Milanos (with a little help from me) and break the right rear power window. Damn. And I wasn't even moving.

The first several obstacles were nice wide climbs. Big muddy rock stairs, tree roots, washouts, various combos of the above. The unlocked 40s bounced and slid, the stock 60 did the by passes, the lifted 60s made it, and the 80s rocked. It was here that one of the 60s had to be left behind due to clutch problems.

Then things got interesting. We stopped and watched the lead vehicles try to make it up the next climb. Glenn Teplica in a Bronco II with what had to be at least 35" Swampers, 6" lift, locked fore and aft, bounced, slid, and clawed his way up the right side of this one. The left was the "easy" way. Hug the tree roots on the left, over the 3 foot rocks on the right. Then cut hard right through a 3 foot deep washout. No problem for a 40. I watched Rick Hoffer play teeter totter with his 80 for a moment or two, as his axles crossed up with about 6 inches of air under the 2 hanging wheels. He was able to back it up, and a little more momentum carried him through. Being 10 or so trucks back has it's advantages. I saw what worked for my wheelbase, and climbed up like I was on the way to the mall.

Then came the hard part. No easy way for this one. With an ARB rear, Lockrite front, 5.29 gears, 35s, 6" of lift, and over 15 years wheeling experience, I watched Roger Carrano, the trail leader, struggle over this section with his tricked out 91 4runner. I glanced over at my 91 FJ80, sans lockers, 32s, 2" OME lift, and said, "Time for the strap." Everyone was given at least 4 or so attempts at this series of ledges. Only the most extreme of our group made it up, with it getting more and more rutted with each attempt. This was the only time I took Joshua out of the truck. I gave what I thought were 4 reasonable tries and asked for the strap. I didn't see the point in breaking something. Each vehicle strapped the next one in line. No bruised egos, but there were some squashed tail pipes. Mike Schroth did his best to try to tear the running boards off his 95 80 series, but he couldn't quite get it right. Maybe next time.

The rest was a piece of cake. Got to use my new hi lift while changing a tire in the mud. I don't remember reading that in the brochuremust have skipped that page. It was well worth it, for the view at the top was truly magnificent. We decompressed during lunch, watched the kids beat each other with sticks, andwell, what goes up

I have to mention some folks here and say thanks: Bill Fiora for the cleanest, most pristine 40 I've seen to date. Still not sure about the Armor All on the tires though. Victor Jerez and John Aiza for 2 of the most extreme 40s I've seen. Romel Cadavillo for the coolest on board air set up on a 60. Thanks for the fill up. Joe Rossi for helping me with my tire, even though your friend knocked my lug nuts into the mud. Rick Hoffer and family for inviting us back to their wonderful home for an after run BBQ and much needed rest. Grilling by yours truly. Mark Sailor and John Hakadorian for 2 well set up CJs. Those boys can wheel. Joshua Held who never lost faith in his dad, cheered me on, and helped me remain calm. Tracy Held for reminding me to bring toilet paper. A superior female. A big thank you to the rest of The Gotham City Land Cruisers and NYC Losers with Cruisers. We have a great group of folks here. Can't wait to do it again.

Hats off to Mark Woytovich. This was his first run, with a stock 60 and a well set up 5 year old boy. His cost of admission was a busted tail light, a tire, crushed tail pipe, a slight dimple on the right rear quarter, and possibly a new pair of briefs. He was also nice enough to plow the big rocks out of the way for me with his axles on the way down. Thanks big guy.

Kudos to Roger for showing us all how it's done.

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