The DeTour Trip Report-As told by Blackdawg

Like is said you must have forgotten his BULLETPROOF VEST for the trip.

 

And this is why the redhead gets a diff diaper.

IMG_0470 by Benjamin Springli, on Flickr

 

Ahhh, here we go again.

How many times do we have to have this discussion. Just because you choose to risk bashing your pinion/u-joint/slip yoke/etc does not mean that is what everyone should do. It certainly isn't my approach.

Besides, when it gets down to it, your choices are always driven by how much $$$ you happen to have in your wallet ATM. I always choose a different path. didyouseewhatididthere

 

Yeah. Still like my diff diaper too. Ideal? No. Works? Hell yeah, very good. Worth it.

 

How did you end up getting the bolts out of the spindle for the LBJ? Drill and re-tap or were they "loose" enough to use pliers?

 

Definitely not loose enough. One was bent almost 45º. That one came out and was the one that wouldn't go back in.

The tip of the outer bolts is jusssssttt able to get pair of pliers on it. But not easy to turn. That was the pivotal moment actually. I used vise grips and clamped them as hard as I could down several time to try and get it out. Didn't think it would a few times. Thankfully it did.

 

New page

 

for a new chapter

 

Coming soon.

 

to a forum near you

 

good stuff

 

would recommend.

 

Here we go

 

Chapter 7: Not out of the Snow Yet​

The next morning was very different. Ben and Kirsten had to return to work and Glenn also had prior engagements. Both rigs setup in the morning.


That left 4 rigs and we all kind of had a nice morning. We all had showered, no snow, no rain, sun was out. Powell was like a small paradise for us.


We did want to keep going though, but south. Likely to Moab though no real plan was set for that. Since the route I’d planned slowly went south anyways, we all decided to to stop at Kirwin, an old abandoned mining town in Wyo.


I was pretty tired from getting the 2nd truck ready the night before. But at the same time, we all felt renewed and ready for good things.


We had a bit of highway to get to Meeteetse and then quite aways till the forest line. The valley up the Wood River is nice though full of ranches. Including..


IMG_3628 by mike digirat, on Flickr


The buffalo!


Farm raised. But still cool to see.


We soon were on dirt but the road was smooth and with our rather lazy morning we were running late and didn’t stop for a while until the road got uncomfortable. We pulled off to the old abandoned Double D dude ranch to check out the cabin. Alas..we were back in the snow too.


2017-09-24 - 00002 - The De-Tour - Day 08 by Dan, on Flickr

DeTour-2.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


It was snowing, shocker i know, which was mostly sad as the massive 10,000 and 11,000 foot peaks around us were all hidden in clouds. The large valley was mostly in fog as well.


DeTour.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

2017-09-24 - 00003 - The De-Tour - Day 08 by Dan, on Flickr


The building is shuttered up and has been slowly restored throughout the years. Lot of history in this valley the locals are proud of. Amelia Earhart came here once and asked for a cabin to be built nearby, she disappeared before it was finished though.


2017-09-24 - 00004 - The De-Tour - Day 08 by Dan, on Flickr

2017-09-24 - 00005 - The De-Tour - Day 08 by Dan, on Flickr


The snow was not something Mike wanted a part of a pushed us onwards though to keep us moving.


The Wood River crossing can be impossible in the spring and the road changes every time as well. This time of year it was just a trickle though.


IMG_3629 by mike digirat, on Flickr

DeTour-3.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


The trees still had most their leaves as fall had been in full swing. Signaling how early this snow front was this year.


2017-09-24 - 00006 - The De-Tour - Day 08 by Dan, on Flickr


The road, not really trail, is super cool for a lot of reasons but one that I find fascinating is how high it is without seeming like it. You just slowly climb up and up.


2017-09-24 - 00007 - The De-Tour - Day 08 by Dan, on Flickr

IMG_3631 by mike digirat, on Flickr


Finally though, the trees opened up and Kirwin revealed itself.


DeTour-4.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_3634 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_3635 by mike digirat, on Flickr

2017-09-24 - 00008 - The De-Tour - Day 08 by Dan, on Flickr

DeTour-5.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

2017-09-24 - 00009 - The De-Tour - Day 08 by Dan, on Flickr


The closer you get the more buildings seem to pop out.


DeTour-6.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

DeTour-7.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

2017-09-24 - 00010 - The De-Tour - Day 08 by Dan, on Flickr

2017-09-24 - 00011 - The De-Tour - Day 08 by Dan, on Flickr

IMG_3636 by mike digirat, on Flickr


We pulled into the parking lot, which at one point I had hoped to camp in for the night.


DeTour-8.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_3641 by mike digirat, on Flickr

IMG_3642 by mike digirat, on Flickr


It was cold though. We were at 9200 feet elevation or so right next to the wilderness boundary. It was snowing and very overcast. There was no way were were staying here. Instead we decided to go look in the town and then find somewhere else to camp.


Kirwin is a cool town, the valley seems like the perfect place to live, but was too brutal in the winter and everyone left the town after an avalanche killed several people and destroyed structures.


IMG_3638 by mike digirat, on Flickr


The small group of us crossed the river and headed in to check out some of the buildings left standing.


2017-09-24 - 00012 - The De-Tour - Day 08 by Dan, on Flickr

DeTour-9.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

2017-09-24 - 00013 - The De-Tour - Day 08 by Dan, on Flickr

2017-09-24 - 00014 - The De-Tour - Day 08 by Dan, on Flickr

DeTour-10.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Though the town had early beginnings, in the 60s a mining company tried revamping things. Unsuccessfully granted, but the retrofitted cabins with electricity and other things was interesting.


DeTour-11.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

2017-09-24 - 00015 - The De-Tour - Day 08 by Dan, on Flickr

2017-09-24 - 00016 - The De-Tour - Day 08 by Dan, on Flickr

DeTour-12.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

DeTour-13.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

DeTour-14.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


The snow was coming down and we were cold but pushed on to the big building with what was left of a lift. Stopping at some of the smaller ones to get out of the cold wind.


DeTour-15.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

DeTour-16.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

DeTour-17.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

DeTour-18.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Then to the “main feature”.


DeTour-19.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

2017-09-24 - 00017 - The De-Tour - Day 08 by Dan, on Flickr

DeTour-20.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Some sort of lift mechnisim to haul up the gold everyone was after but never found.


2017-09-24 - 00018 - The De-Tour - Day 08 by Dan, on Flickr

2017-09-24 - 00019 - The De-Tour - Day 08 by Dan, on Flickr

DeTour-23.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

DeTour-22.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Not even mighty Derp could get it to work again


DeTour-21.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


We stood in the cabin for a bit as it was kind of warm compared to outside. But realized we had to get going again.


2017-09-24 - 00020 - The De-Tour - Day 08 by Dan, on Flickr


We walked back to the truck and got back in them quickly glad for heaters and started back down the mountain.


DeTour-24.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Not sure where we were going though. As we made our way back down through the snow and mud, it was agreed unanimously that no place here would work. We did not want to be in the cold and wet anymore.


But I didn’t have any ideas on where to go. Just have to wing it. Aired up our tires and got back on the highway headed south as the sun disappeared.


Devin got on the cellphone, which proved to be tricky as service was quite spotty, and googl-fooed up some place just north of Thermopolis.


Gebo


Apparently another abandoned mining town. Sounded cool. Let do it. Was a long ways to go though with another hour of driving in the dark. Eventually we made it...somewhere. It was still very muddy, but wasn’t as cold as least. Confused on where we were and what the hell we were looking for we fanned out just to find a place with enough flat space to park our trucks. Mike was the first to find a spot that also wasn’t super muddy. We took it. Tired of driving and ready for a campfire.


Which thankfully we could have in Wyoming.


It had been a shorter day and mostly highway miles, but we stil had got to explore some cool stuff. And now we were somewhere new that...well we had no idea.


But it mattered little as we talked into the night enjoying the rain free fire and each others company.

To be Continued..


Chapter 8: A Plan at Last.

Enjoying the De-Tour story? There's more - @turbodb also wrote up a version. Check out his version of this chapter here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...db-september-2017.562116/page-2#post-18472980

Read the full story:
As told by @turbodb: [Chapter 1] [Chapter 2] [Chapter 3] [Chapter 4] [Chapter 5] [Chapter 6] [Chapter 7] [Chapter 8] [Chapter 9] [Chapter 10] [Chapter 11] [Chapter 12] [Chapter 13]

As told by @Blackdawg: [Chapter 1] [Chapter 2] [Chapter 3] [Chapter 4] [Chapter 5] [Chapter 6] [Chapter 7] [Chapter 8] [Chapter 9] [Chapter 10] [Chapter 11] [Chapter 12] [Chapter 13]​

 

Love it. Was a short day looking back on it - I don't think we left Powell until after lunch. Still a pretty cool area to explore for sure. And, remember how sketch Gebo seemed as we pulled in that evening? That shady van/trailer (I forget) with the lights on that we saw (and wanted to stay away from).

Not to mention what we found the next morning! hahahaha, how's that for cliffhanger on the thread.

 

yeah was a creepy spot for sure!

I couldn't remember when we left. I know it was really late haha

Need to get writing. Im barely ahead now..

 

Damn that's crazy that nobody lives in that town even during the summer months (I'm assuming)

 

which one? Kirwin?

Its really far back there. I mean it in a gorgeous area and having been in the summer a few times, it would be a great place. But "summer" there is like 2 months haha

 

Yeah Kirwin. But that does make sense, I'm used to our summers where it's mid-March to late September. Forgot how little the summers are up there ha

 

Still reading, only on page 5 but I have a bunch of questions and comments.

@Blackdawg what cause the battery to leak? Too much race trucking? Not held down well enough? Age?

Also the winching situation you guys had on the off camber hill is what makes adventures like this so fucking fun. Recovery is not always fun, but it's part of the game. And problem solving and getting out of sketch situations is so rewarding.

Also I'm really enjoying @m3bassman rocking out to dubstep in shit pouring rain on sketchy shelf roads. #NFG