Pinyon Mountain Run @ ODF IV

by Chuck Seeger


We had a great trip this year at ODF IV, I lead a run of about 20 rigs (all but 1 were Jeeps) through on the Pinyon Mountain Trail out in Anza Borrego.

This is a beautiful trail that leads from the high desert, through the fameous " Jeep Squeeze" a passage that is wide enough only for narrow vehicles like Jeeps and Toyotas - an H2 won't fit.

The path through the "Squeeze" requires you to follow the spotters directions to avoid body damage - which thankfully everyone did. There is no bypass for this section of the trail.

For this trip my friend Kevin who just bought his new Rubicon-TJ and had it lifted w/ 33's came along with his brother Mark. Kevin was a bit concerned as his new Jeep didn't yet have even a scratch - the night before I promised him that if he came along on my run he would make it through without a scratch!

After getting everyone through "the Squeeze" we proceeded through a fun little ledge and rock garden and then on to "Heart Attack Hill" so named because it is very steep down. There used to be the rusting hulk of a rolled truck at the bottom which really increased first timer's anxiety! However that has since been removed and the area is clean and beautiful.

Here Dirt goes down Heart Attack hill and even though he had coached several others "don't hit the brakes" he did - you'll see the fun for yourself. Yikes!




Pretty Cool eh?

What makes it tough are the two big holes spaced just so that your wheels fall into them and the second one drops such that the natural inclination is to touch your brakes.





Lots of fun.

It was a beautiful day out.

After that we headed back to camp to race RC cars and finally we headed up to Blow Sand with Steve & Nora and Mikey.

Yellow Jeeps make for great pictures and this one is no exception - sweet rides long and short!

I like the sand flying in this shot.

Here Mikey and Dirt are going up the steep side of blowsand while a sand rail passes.

After Blow Sand hill we headed around the back side and played in some rocks where I took this awesome picture... I love how the sun that shows through on the ground and the details in the foreground - pretty good picture for a point and shoot camera (of course the camera doesn't understand composition... that's my job).

Later when we got back to camp we had the ODF Raffle - I won the Mystery prize - which was pretty cool a $50 ORW gift card, TDS registration some cash and some other stuff including a nice piece of artwork from one of the Vets -thanks.

Ang turned out to be the big winner of the night - winning the Warn Winch - here she is still holding the certificate at about midnight not wanting to let go of it.

Well at least we won't have to hear her complain about needing to win a winch anymore - Can't wait to take the first picture of her actually having to use it!!! HA

The next day I lead Kevin & Mark out to "Pumpkin Patch" that is a cool place where sandstone concretions have been formed by erosion - Sunday was the nicest day with hardly a breeze and not a cloud in the sky... isn't it always that way!!! Till next time

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