Another spindle failure...Backcountry DV

Agreed

 

Have you been reunited with your truck yet?

 

Really? Did you read the thread?

 

@goblue82 @Mach375 hats off to you two for such a selfless contribution, that was a mission and a half!

I'd like to help you guys out if I can. Do either of you have bedside support brackets yet? I'm working on a new version of them and should have parts ready for a few of them soon. If you can use them I'd like to send each of you a set to try out.

 

You guys are awesome! Glad to hear you made home

 

Back in town, eating dinner at copper top

 

Good to hear

 

Owner operator @tetten (Andy) is rolling and back to civilization. Now lunch for us both. Ill read through all these pages soon. Thanks all for the support!

 

No. THANK YOU !!!! you're awesome Brother !
lunch, dinner or beer on me next time we wheel. this goes to @Mach375 too

 

@goblue82 you rock! I have stopped and helped people in need, but what you did is Awesome! Glad everyone made it back safe.

 

I found OP's insta somehow!

 

Annnnnd home. Mini photo dump but ill do a write up soon since this thread got some awesome attention. Thanks again for all those reaching out and attempting to track us down. @Mach375 , good times brother. @tetten , see you soon, bud.
Also, no one try going through north pass. Shane and I tried last night. At 7k feet the snow is to your doors and its snow on top of ice. We had to dig out and turn around. That's what set us back last evening/night

 

Finally getting on a computer (vs. my phone).
If you're going to reply back to this post, be sure to cut whatever snippet is pertinent to your reply, as I'm lumping everything together here.



I still have yet to meet the OP. Don't even know what he looks like.
But I do admire the hell out of his rig. It is one awesome vehicle. Similar setup to mine, but with all the higher-end spendy parts.




My part of the adventure was knowledge of the area, preparation/equipment/spare parts, and half the labor for repairs. I pretty much let Greg determine schedule and logistics, and be responsible for communication with OP and TW. I led the driving. When Greg called at 2100 Monday, I got the impression everything was mostly lined up and arrangements made, all we needed to do was get up there (I have since learned he's a bit Labrador-Retriever-with-a-tennis-ball on these things).
Once we got to Andy's rig, I took over working on the truck, while Greg did all the bench dis/assembly (@BamaToy1997 there would be minimal dirt in the hub, because it was swapped over on the tailgate). The final product was as close to an in-shop job as one could hope for, the only difference being a lack of new CV shaft, threadlocker, torque wrench, or new brake fluid (we used some leftover stuff Greg brought......I was able to top it off because I popped the hood from the outside, just needed to remove the dust shield through the grille). I did a simple gravity bleed, since we couldn't get into the cab.




Having seen two gusseted spindles snap, I'm now a little fearful of mine. I don't know who did the welding, so I don't know if the proper procedure was done. Is why I'm still holding onto spares (I should probably carry them with me more often). I didn't know @JLee did gussets......hmmm.....




As for the snowplow comment, and why it took us longer than expected to get back into cell range:
The north pass was impassable due to snow. Not for lack of trying. I led, literally carving our way through until I ran out of traction. Once we turned around, I chose south, because that was the direction home for me, and because I kinda have a mental block about going back the way I came if there's a way to avoid it. South Pass was clear and passable, so long as one doesn't mind driving through about 30 miles of soup.

Normally, I would have gone directly there from Trona, Ballarat, and PSR. But Greg figured we would meet up with Andy in Bishop first. So that meant taking Death Valley Road to the Eureka Dunes. Once at the dunes, it was going to be easy to find Andy's rig, it was just a matter of where on the trail.




For those wondering how we would find the rig without specific directions or coordinates, well, that's why I was along. I know the area very well. Just the words "Steele Pass" were enough for me to know where we would find it. The route he was on has no bypasses, no branches, no secondary trails, not even any areas where one would be able to scoot off and play on an obstacle. I'll admit, I expected to find it between Steele Pass and Dedeckera Canyon -- alas, he was between the springs and Steele Pass, quite a bit further than I anticipated.




To address the always-expected chastisement for going solo...
It's really very simple. If YOU are not prepared to deal with the consequences on your own, then YOU should not go by yourself. But everyone has their own reasons for going solo (sometimes it's impossible to coordinate schedules, sometimes groups slow you down, sometimes you just want the trip all to yourself). Don't assume others are stupid for doing it -- they're only stupid for doing it if they aren't prepared to deal with all contingencies.
Judging by Andy's comments and his rig setup, he's like me, in that he is prepared. He packed up several days' worth of food, gear, and water, and started hiking out to a location he knew could help. He lucked out in picking up a ride on his way. I had the exact same experience, except my ride found me first. We both had supplies and gear to deal with it, so we both felt comfortable going solo.

I get lots of comments from strangers about how nice a rig I have. I always respond back that "it gets me where I want to go. But more importantly, it gets me back." Because it doesn't matter if your rig can get you there, if you can't get yourself back, you might as well be driving a broken tricycle.




It looks like I have some diagnosing to do with my APRS. I have no idea why it got stuck in Ridgecrest -- what's interesting is it seems to have done the same thing going back, as it started displaying other units' info as I got close to Ridgecrest on the way back (but not before). My radio was on the whole trip (wired to constant hot), and beaconing as usual. I had no idea it wasn't updating. Anyone want to help me out on this? I'm not the most knowledgeable on Ham stuff.
I'm glad y'all liked that APRS stuff. I figured a simple Google search would get you the info. Cool stuff. And I recommend anyone who does deep backcountry stuff have an APRS rig in their truck. In addition to tracking position, one can also send out basic text messages AND email -- very helpful in situations such as this thread's. And it's not all about tracking or communicating with people you know -- all APRS users in the area receive your beacon, so in an emergency others can spring into action long before people you know are even notified.

My equipment is a Kenwood TM-D710, paired with a Garmin Nuvi 350 and a diamond SG7500 NMO antenna. I also have a Baofeng UV-8R with an external mag-mount antenna. I'd like to get a Yaesu FT-857D at some point...




About that complete disappearance for hours...
Welcome to Death Valley. Don't expect any cell service once you get near the park boundaries.

In today's always-connected age, I know it's normal to get all freaked out about someone not checking in for several hours. But give people a day before losing your shit. If we hadn't checked in by the next morning, then you could start worrying -- by that afternoon you could probably start calling authorities. But four hours out of communication when talking about deep backcountry, or places like Death Valley, is utterly routine.
My wife told me Chan stopped by (thanks @bigbarlo ). She described her reaction as totally nonchalant, as if not hearing from me for hours or days is totally normal......because it is (strictly speaking about explorations). She said, "Well, yeah, of course he's unable to be reached. He's in DV. He's fine."

However, yes, we screwed the pooch in leaving Andy behind. Greg and I talked about that while working on the rig. Certainly a bone-headed mistake on our part, and for that we apologize.




Andy's pic of the Road Closed sign is legit. We blew by it like it wasn't there...and we weren't the only ones.
One thing to keep in mind is that in the larger ______Valleys area, locals like to put up Road Closed signs without authorization. Different agencies put them up without running it by other agencies that might have more jurisdiction.
The green sign was 100% correct. There was ZERO reason for that sandwich-board sign to be up, as the only problem area were North and South Pass -- North Pass being impassable, and South Pass being a big soupy mess -- but those are on Saline Valley Road, which doesn't have any connection to where that sign is.




Answering a few questions:
Yes, I have a PLB (similar to a Spot). If I ever activate it, it means I'm in a literal life-&-death situation I can't escape. If I can get to safety, even if everything else has gone to absolute fucking hell, I won't use it.
To pop a Tacoma hood, you'll need a 10mm socket on a long extension, and a screwdriver. Reaching through the grille, remove the two bolts holding the dust shield on, then wedge the screwdriver where the cable connects. Good to know for trail repairs, jammed latches, and security considerations.
My wife has no more ability to track or communicate with me than anyone else. She was just saying not to worry about me, as a lack of communication is a sure sign I'm in the backcountry.




If you ever pass through Bishop, Mahogany Smoked Meats is a must-stop. Pricey, but oh so good. Right across the street is La Petite Pantry, where everything is home-made, the portions are bigger than anything you've ever witnessed, and Jay has a boisterous personality. Schat's is over-rated, crowded, and has no parking.
I haven't been to Copper Top, been meaning to. How was it @goblue82 ?
The little restaurant in Olancha, with the massive cottonwood trees around it, has some of the best berry pie I've ever eaten. Worth the stop during berry season.




As for the various offers, I'm never one to say No!
But really, I just did this because this was my identical situation a few years back, and total strangers (and a couple friends, @The Traveler @BeeRadd ) dropped what they were doing to come get me......plus, I've had the DV Itch for a month and leaped at the opportunity to scratch it.

 

I do not, but would be very interested in them. I saw some for the first time on this rescue, OP's truck had them.
One thing: If yours are the same as OP's, I would need a modification. On the driver's side metal support post, I have several switches mounted that I use all the time. They're on the angled portion...think the yellow 120Vac power sticker on the passenger side. I can probably rustle up a pic if requested.

 

Good stuff.

Was fun to follow the adventure as I know the area pretty well.

Glad everything got sorted and worked out. What a cool story.

 

Not sure what im going to do with the rest of my week now...


Awesome story. Glad ya'll made it back unscathed. @goblue82 , still got your scepter cans too bro!

 

Offers? What offers? I haven't read the back log. Lol. I'm racking out. Catch up in the am.

 

@Mach375 btw, copper top was fall off the bone delicious.

 

The only repeaters I know of on the Mountain Loop Highway East of Everett Washington (where I go frequently) are DSTAR operated by Search and Rescue. Anyone can use them if there's no rescue going on. I'm sure you can call for help if there's a rescue. I know there are more choices in other areas.

 

@Mach375 I was at moms and figured I would check with Genevieve as people were concerned yall didn't meet up at the scheduled time. I thought yall were camping at the rig. Sounds like a good journey.