W. MI Spring Ride - April 1st- UPDATE

[Shredder]

Here is the tenative plan for the spring ride.

We could meet in Whitehall, MI (20 mi. N. of Muskegon) at 8:00 AM on Saturday April 1, 2006. Grab bagels & coffee. Lidea's Cafe (behind Taco Bell) on main street (Colby Rd.) just off US. 31. Get organized and be ready to roll by 9:00 AM.

Section One

A forest two track along a creek valley with some technical climbs, descents and a couple mud holes. Should take about an hour to compleat this section. Stock rigs can bypass or park and ride/watch the bad spots.

Optional idea. Demonstrate recovery from mud hole with a HiLift jack.

Section Two

A forest two track along a river. Some steep tight climbs. One very difficult climb (lockers, big tires, lift). Some mud and ruts. 2 miles of paved roads then back on two tracks for another 8 miles.  Should take about an hour to compleat this section. Stock rigs can bypass or park and ride/watch the bad spots.

Section Three

A short forest trail through an open ORV area the DNR propose to close in the future. Some short sandy hills to climb. Some rutted mud holes to cross (spring rains will help). Should take less than an hour to compleat this section. Stock rigs can bypass or park and ride/watch the bad spots.

Section Four

Two track and powerline. Some steep sandy hills along the way. Tight, winding two track that leads to a tall steep hill with several trails up and down it. Good place to sit and watch each other attempt the climb. Several stub trails around the hill with different levels of difficulty. Should take about an hour or so to compleat this section. Stock rigs can be assisted or bypass   first sandy hills and park and ride/watch the big hill.

Lunch at Zeek Lake roadside park on M-20 (restrooms). Bring your own food.   

From there we could either continue on more two tracks or venture to Silver Lake (20 mi.) and play in the big sand box. We can vote on it at lunch.

These trails are not extreme so save your rock buggy for the Cliffs or Badlands and drive a street legal Zuk. Several miles are on paved backroads. An ORV sticker is a good idea to keep the DNR happy. Since most the trails are on public land we will try to tread lightly by running in 4wd on any soft areas, etc.

[explosivo]

I'd be up for it, but you said street-legal zuks only... plus there's a local wheeling event that day up here

[Shredder]

I wish we didn't have to go down public roads but there is several miles between places. It would be risky but it would be up to you. I don't mind. There is a big parking lot in Whithall to leave a trailer/tow rig. The trails start about 3 miles from town.

Sorry about the date. What event is on the same day? A zuk one? Picking a day is not easy. Zuwharri, other events, etc. Turkey hunting opens on the 16th or something and didn't want hunters being upset at a convoy of Zuks. Then there is the opener of Trout at the end of the month and these trails are mostly along rivers. Oh boy. 

[hotwired]

 Opening day of Trout season (April 1st) could be a problem, there will be guys camped out along the rivers everywhere, starting Friday night. Would it be possible to get a different date? Not only will there be fishermen everywhere, but the DNR will be out in big numbers too. Better have an ORV sticker for certain.

[Shredder]

Opening day of Trout season (April 1st) could be a problem,

Actually the opener of trout is the last Saturday in April (29th) for all but the all-year opened streams that we wil be close too. And Turkey hunting doesn't begin until April 17th. So it shouldn't be an issue.

I'm a Hunting & Fishing guide so I need to know these things. 

[hotwired]

 Great, I was going by one of my buddies word, should have known better.

[Twins]

Still going on as planned?  I'm going to take a weekend off of moving to come ride with you guys.
I talked to an Uncle today who would like to bring his Sammy.

[Shredder]

Yep. That would be great. Looks like we will have several zuks there. The more the better. 

[Shredder]

Ok, lets see if I can keep track of who is planning to attend. If you are planning on it post a reply or let me know and I will update this list. This is a tenative list if you are not on it you can still show up but it would be nice to know what to expect. If everyone shows we may have to break into a couple groups.


From Zukiworld 11

Shredder (Steve)..........Twin Lake ........... ......Tracker
purpletracker................Holland...................... Tracker
Hotwired (Dave)...........Muskegon...................Tracker
hman1991....................Holland.......................Tracker or 4runner
jputnik (Jeff).................Bangor........................SAS Tracker RTCC
JasonPugh...................Grand Rapids...............Samurai RTCC
lil_Truck (Eric)...............Flint.............................Tracker
87yotafoo.....................Kalamazoo?................Toyota
karl214.........................Cadilac........................Tracker (job permitting)
AJMBLAZER...................Traverse City...............Tracker
Twins............................Ionia...........................Tracker
Wibornz........................Mid-Michigan...............Tracker
DWiddowmaker............Grand Rapids..............Tracker
Mikesova & Dad............?.................................Samurai
blue_toy.(Mike).............Grand Rapids............. Huge Toyota (Yikes)

From iZook 3

iZook (Larry).................Holland........................Samurai
Spitfire Rick...................Traverse City...............Sami/Spitfire
Trails.............................N.Muskegon................Suzuki ?

From Zuwharrie 1

samilitant.....................St. Louis, MO................Samurai

Others 7

Jim Silvis........................Montague...................Sidekick
Adam.............................Montague...................Samurai
Twins' uncle...................?.................................Samurai (maybe)
no names yet................west michigan.............Nissan & Yota
Friends of Spitfire Rick...?..................................Samurai

[AJMBLAZER]

Damn, Missouri?  Props to Samilitant...

I'm still planning on being there, providing school doesn't say otherwise.  I even have a Tracker to drive now.  So how much of this could be done with all seasonish tires?  It's got 31" all seasons on it  and I doubt I'll have better tires that soon.

[Shredder]

I think you will do fine. We even have a few stockers going so I wouldn't worry too much. Besides if you get stuck that is part of the fun. 

[Twins]

I talked to my uncle last night,  he's a maybe.  T-case re-gear,  parts should be here by Mon-or Tues next week.  He wants to add some bracing, ect to T-case mounts before wheeling much.  SAS 33's tintop.

Looks like a good amount of trucks,  I went wheeling there with some of the Michigan Jeepers group a couple of years ago.  I would think a stock rig could get to most of the spots,  maybe just not play as hard.
I'm looking forward to this. 

[purpletracker]

look like a good list 
1 more friend of mine  is going also (stock 4 runner )

[Shredder]

Looks like a good amount of trucks,  I went wheeling there with some of the Michigan Jeepers group a couple of years ago.  I would think a stock rig could get to most of the spots,  maybe just not play as hard.

Might need to ask you to help with some trail ideas if we run out. Some of the spots we will go through are too nasty for stockers but there are by-pass trails for them. It will be fun.

I went out this evening with a friend just to see how his Toyota PU would do since some of them may tag along. He has a 4" lift and runs 32x11.50 MTs. He stayed with me over the first couple climbs and then we went down into the low lands. The first mud pit was deep and soft.  I slowly churned my way across it pushing broken ice with my bumper. I got to the other side and jumped out to watch his attempt. His front end dropped into the pit with one back tire high in the air. He spun a couple feet forward and that was it. I backed into the mud, hooked him up and drug him across. It was fun.    He also got stuck in to other places that I just crawled through. He was  . Don't get me wrong I like Yotas. I use to have one. But I love my Tracker. 

[purpletracker]

you went without invite?  i know what you mean i used to have  7yotas before this tracker .