Another year of fun in the snow at West Branch, MI has come and gone. This year Two Rivers Jeep Club was represented at Sno-Blind 2001 (sponsored by the Mud Chuggers) by three Scramblers: Rooster's, TNT's and Rusty's. A small group compared with previous showings, but we had a great time.

Rusty and Margarita Man were the first to arrive on Thursday night and signed the others up for the mid-morning Friday run. Both TNT and Rooster ran into freezing rain and slippery roads on the way up. Everyone made it safe and sound and after a good night of rest we were ready to hit the trails.

Going out for a mid-morning trail allowed for a relaxing breakfast and loading up of the CJ 8's (except for Durrell - he relied upon Rooster for his standard trail supplies…..those items such as: a spare tire, snatch strap, etc. He did have a winch, only because it was already attached to his jeep!).

West Branch, Michigan had 10 to 12 inches of new snow on Thursday and rain (including the pouring kind) during the night, so Friday morning we were still getting rained upon and slopping through slush. Rooster brought along his neighbor, New Bob, and by the end of the day he was addicted to Jeepin'! The trails were fresh so we took turns being the leader, because the trail leader's tires (and ours) were not getting us very far. We'd go 5-6 feet (sometimes only 2 or 3) forward and have to back up. Rusty's pizza cutters (33 by 9.50) did the best (if I do say so myself). Rooster's big 8 would power through the snow/slush, but he couldn't find a way to stay straight! If you didn't stay in the tracks, well, ask Durrell sometime. I think his buck-a-stucks financed the Christmas party with just this trip. Next time, put some weight in the back (like a spare tire maybe? Which, in all fairness, he did not need.) Now, you have to realize that the trails used at Sno-Blind are milder than some people's driveways, but add in snow (up to your knees) and rain (making icy slush when the first axle of wheels pass over the trail), there gets to be a little challenge. Even slight inclines posed problems. And any type of long uphill - well, no one in our group could master one. Two guys in a CJ 7 put chains on their front wheels, one guy in a TJ tried to power his way up. Didn't help. The best effort was made by a modified Grand, but still not enough to get more than a third of the way up the hill. So, our wise trail leader went another way. This time he put the crazy TJ in front and let him use his energy wisely. During those waiting times, there were snowball fights and the game of "Who's got the brownie can?" Absolutely, sinfully delicious caramel brownies baked by Rooster's wife, Sandra. We missed you on this trip, and thanks for the goodies! If someone had measured the distance for that day we may have gone only 1-2 miles. It's the first time I only needed 2 gallons of gas at the end of a trail day. We were in early enough to clean up and have dinner in the hotel's restaurant.

Late in the day, Durrell discovered a broken front hub so he was forced to put his CJ 8 up on the trailer. For Saturday, that left 2 CJ 8's for the trail and the Miller's went shopping. Ah, the ever-changing weather….the temperature dropped! And all that icy slush froze! However, we were again on fresh snow, taking turns at being leaders, as Saturday's guide's vehicle was a Dodge pickup. We were late for lunch but it didn't matter as our leader had the firewood, so we had a fire. We were late because of "playing' in a logged area that had a depression filled with water, which immediately attracted Rooster. Of course, he made it over the hill, through the water and back up the hill. This encouraged others to do the same, only not quite. Stucks all over the hills. As the area was logged, it was wise not to try and go over any snow lumps, which mostly hid pulled out tree stumps. A great time was had by all, including New Bob, who had to pay up for trying to make his own trail, sideways, on the hill, having buried Rooster's CJ 8. After the playtime, getting us all out of the area took another hour. Our last obstacle for the day was a long, some times steep, hill climb. Rooster took the lead and blazed a crooked path for us, up the hill and down, with a surprise visit to a sapling along the way. Once a path was made, we all were in it. The beginning of the hill took a couple of tries as the steepest part didn't have any snow left, but the ice was exposed. But we all did it and slithered down the even steeper back side.

We joined up with Durrell, Syndy and 218 other event participants for the evening dinner and raffle goodies. There were a total of 112 vehicles on the trails this year so it was quite an honor for Rooster to receive mention and a Sno-Blind hat for his trail leadership and the 'un-stucking' of others. The Mud Chuggers passed around their buck-a-stuck bucket, which many needed to fill (except for me and my pizza cutters)! We'll be back next year, so come and join us.