Photos by Dusty and Chris Rossi

March 5th, 6th & 7th 2005.                    Trip Report & photos by: Jeremy Rowell

TDS was a GREAT time. Rod and I left Bako around 4, and met Russ & Kay up in Tehachapi about 5. The weather was very ominous... Thunder, lightning, hail... not a good way to start a trip! Thankfully, we left the worst of it in Bakersfield. After grabbing a bite to eat with Russ & Kay, We headed of to TDS. We passed, and were passed by lots of wheelers on the way... which hinted at the scope of this event. We made it to the camp sites across from the Salton Sea at about 10:30. We pulled onto the first exit in and looked around, but there didn't seem to be any spots so we found a spot to turn around to go back out and hit the next entrance. while turning around, the Russinator managed to find a 10' diameter mud hole with his RV. He buried it to about the frame. He promptly unloaded his Jeep and pulled it right out and we were off to another section to find somewhere to park their RV's. Driving down the main road there were RV's everywhere. After a little intense confusion, we found an agreeable spot and parked. we unloaded our Jeeps, and headed to  registration. We were able to get safetied, but by then it was about 12:10 and registration was closed.

    Saturday morning we got up about 7 and registered, parked in the line for the run and stood around and b.s.'d for a bit. The line was by far the longest I have ever seen for a run... probably by about 10 times! I was amazed by the diversity in vehicles. I would bet just about every 4x4 made was represented! Once the line got going, I was also amazed by how little time we spent waiting. We might have been stopped for about 10 minutes or so a couple times, but it flowed really well! The trail were also marked very well! Always with a hard and easy way for every obstacle. On this run, I'm sure I flexed my Cherokee the most it's ever been. (upon arriving home I found 2 breaks in my "frame" around the steering box) The trail was fun, with steep up's & downs and twisty turns.

    After lunch, we started to head up to what we learned was "The Phone Booth". There was one little part that was about 10 feet high and very steep, and no traction. Rod tried it a couple times, then took the main road around. Russ Didn't attempt it, so I lined up to give it a shot. Gave it a little gas, and almost got my front tires over the top... but slid back down. I thought if I could just get my fronts over, I would make it. This time I gave it a little more gas.... I could just feel the promise land, so I kept the tire spinning, but slid back down. When the back tires hit the bottom, They grabbed and SNAP. I let it roll back to flat ground to check the damage. Sheared off the four Yoke bolts from the rearend to the driveline. I called Rod & Russ back to help me out. I was a little bummed... this was my first real trail breakage. We were unable to get the ends of the bolts out of the Yoke, so rod dug around and found a spare that Kinda fit. It didn't hold the u-joint perfectly, so he tacked the cap so it wouldn't come out. We headed back for camp. On the way we stopped at a place called "The Playground". It was an area full of people showing off for the crowd. Very entertaining. Watched for awhile then, left for base camp.

    When we got back, we took the yoke over to the Tin Benders, and they made quick work of those pesky bolts! Those are some cool guys, I would like to wheel with them again sometime! Marlin even gave me a hand and welded a washer to the yoke to replace the broken stub that keeps the ujoint in place. Took it back to our camp, swapped it back in, and it was good as new!  We headed back to just in time for the raffle, and were glad we sat our chair up earlier in the day. There were tons of people... I'm guessing around 30-40 people wide by about 100 rows deep. Our chairs were in about the fourth row. Close enough to smell the 4 Warn 9000's, Atlas T-case, Rock-Jock 60, 5 Sets of tires... and so on. Unfortunately we just got to watch other walk away with great prizes. It was said the average prize pack was about $1000 worth of prizes. What a raffle. It was done in a flash, an hour later we headed to try and find our Jeeps... not an easy task in a place like this! After about 20 minutes of searching we found the Jeeps, and headed back to the rv's. Kay made an excellent dinner for all of us. I had brought my grill from home, so I cooked the steaks and we all ate and B.S.'d some more. about midnight, we knocked off in anticipation of another great day of wheeling.

    On Sunday, we went and lined up for the 9am Rough Run. There were about 40-50 rigs, but it flowed really well. By Rough, they meant STEEPER, TWISTIER, MORE HAIR PIN TURNS, MORE FUN! We got to a spot that we had went the day before, and again Russ was unable to make it up it. We tried to rub it in after a GOLF CART went up it, but he seemed unphased... A nice fellow by the name of Chris drove into the area. We met him earlier when Russ pulled (Anchored, so Chris could Winch up) him up a steep loose hill. He had a bent Tie-Rod. Rod once again busted out his Welder, and it was fixed in no time. Russ even put a fresh coat of paint! I kicked back and took pics of the guys Gassing up this obstacle. They sure put on a show! After Chris was fixed up, we headed up to the phone booth, which we never made it to the day before. I wisley took the main road around where I had broke the day before... I still think one more shot and I could have made it! The Phone Booth is a high peak with... A Phone Booth cemented in the rock. It's a Geo-Cache site on a High vista over looking the camp. We had to be over a mile away, but I still couldn't get the entire camp into frame. After lunch we headed back to the RV's. Russ brought out his brand new Gas powered RC car. What a blast that was. Hearing that sucker hit second gear as it blasts by you going 40mph is great. Kay put together another great meal and Rod pulled out some old school vhs's and I got to see Jon & Marge from the early 90's. Was fun to see... and Jon has the same great laugh! The next morning (Monday) we loaded up and pulled out at around 10:30. It was a great day and we made it home by around 4pm. It was a great trip, and I thank Rod and Russ & Kay for inviting me along. I hope to do TDS again (once I get my "frame" strengthened!)

Thanks to Rod, The Tin Benders, and Marlin for fixing up my trail damage, and allowing me to get back out there on Sunday.