Day 7: Friday, July 10
Are We there yet?
There comes a point in every camping trip when you realize that the funny smell you keep getting a whiff of is actually coming from you. For us, this day is usually Friday. Getting an early start to the day, we rolled up our dusty camping gear and packed up for the final road day. Though each day we have a certain schedule we need to stick to, this day was particularly important. Why? It all boils down to a little ferry. OK, it's actually a really big ferry and one that we had to catch to get to Drummond Island before its nightly shutdown.
To get on Drummond Island...
To get on Drummond Island we had to break off into groups and catch the ferry. Rolling off the last waves of the ride, we made it to the island just as the stars began to roll out.
Still running strong, the...
Still running strong, the Whooper Jr., piloted by Editor-in-Chief Rick Péwé, led the group across the colossal Mackinac Bridge. A gateway to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the bridge is the third largest suspension bridge in the world.
After almost a week's worth...
After almost a week's worth of wheeling, Keith Bailey's air filter on his Hemi-powered Bruiser was looking pretty clogged. Luckily he had a K&N cleaner kit. After an impromptu filter cleaning session in the field, he tossed it back on, which helped the big buggy breathe easier on the push towards our last trail.
As the official welder and...
As the official welder and sponsors of the '09 Ultimate Adventure, the Hobart crew was there to help whenever you needed a hand or a weld. Armed with their new portable Trek 180, they spent the trail days cruising in the massive four-door JK piloted by Mel Wade. For those in need of a more permanent repair, Caleb Krisher, Don Foster, and Darrel Sickles were always ready to lend a hand at their support trailer, which is nothing short of a mobile fabrication shop.
Not long after we made our way onto the road, a CB call goes out that the BDS TJ needs to pull over due to an intense drivetrain vibration. The culprit for their problems turns out to be a broken-off U-joint tab on the rear yoke. Luckily the Hobart support trailer was in close pursuit and fixed them up a solution in just a few minutes.
After a little more highway driving we pulled into what seemed at first glance like a long dirt driveway. As it turned out we were heading down a heavily wooded county road that serves as a snowmobile thoroughfare in winter. Cutting through the dusty road, we stopped midway for a chance to check up on our rigs and have a midday drivers meeting.
As is the case in most trips, there is that element of "hurry up and wait." After all, this medley of weekend wheeling machines and purpose-built buggies had spent the better half of the week getting beat on in the rocks, mud, and hills, so you can expect that a few components are about ready to call it quits. Always maintaining group integrity, each participant is there to lend a hand or a ball joint when you need it. So with everyone's rig holding together for the moment, we made the transition from the dirt to the street and continued our trek north.
As we stated, we love all things olive drab, so when we spotted Pineview Surplus and Supply in Frederic, Michigan, we had to swing in. Filled with racks of Army and Navy memorabilia and items for purchase, we spent a good block of time just checking out a portion of the goods. Now loaded up with a few more camo items for the road, we began to hone in on Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
To get to the U.P. we crossed the incredible Mackinac Bridge. Opened in 1957, the 26,372-foot bridge (yes, that's 5 miles) is the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere. Rolling our way over the Straits of Mackinac, we made our slow drive across the bridge and officially became Uppers.
With time definitely not on our side, we kicked things up and boogied down to the docks to catch the ferry. Arriving at the docks in the nick of time, we loaded the group onboard and set sail.
With the group divided into cabins and houses mixed between the Drummond Island Resort and Yacht Haven Resort, we all got to experience the lap of luxury on this island getaway. And while we rejoiced for the showers and fine digs, we all knew that tomorrow's wheeling would likely be the toughest.
Day 7 Breakage
Rear axle yoke: BDS TJ
Rear axle bearing: Hobart JK
Whenever anyone needed a pull...
Whenever anyone needed a pull or decided that it was time to winch out, Warn Industries' Corby Phillips was there to lend a hand. Teamed up with South Carolina shop owner Fred Perry, the two Southern gentlemen made sure our crews got where they needed to be.
Tim Hardy is an amazing wheeler...
Tim Hardy is an amazing wheeler to watch. He can crawl things with his tiny Suzuki that you wouldn't believe if you didn't see it with your own eyes. Case in point: He emerges through this massive mud pit with trailer in tow and barely has a speck of mud on him!
After a little over four years...
After a little over four years of wrenching, Tech Editor Fred Williams' Fun Buggy was finally ready to tackle the Ultimate Adventure. With a laundry list of super-trick parts and features, Crazy Uncle Fred's buggy blasted over the loose dirt ledges of Turtle Ridge with ease.
Day 8: Saturday, July 11
Finale
Starting off the last day of the adventure with a sound night's sleep and a great breakfast from the Drummond Island Resort, we rounded ourselves up one last time for another early-morning drivers meeting. Leading us through the day's trails at Turtle Ridge Off Road Park was Clint Carter and his fellow Williamsburg Welfare Wheelers. The local wheeling club is comprised of hard-working wheeling enthusiasts who work closely with Turtle Ridge land owners Eric and Ryan Ondrus to make the island a fun and challenging place to go off road.
Treated to a clear blue sky and a cool northern breeze, the locals said that we were in luck because the few weeks of rain prior to our arrival had made the trails that much better. We had a feeling that meant mud, and we were partially right. Seeing as how most of the island is at or below sea level, a little rain makes a huge impact.
Representing Goodyear and...
Representing Goodyear and always one to lend a hand, Chris Durham sailed through the trip with only a few mechanical hiccups along the way. A consummate professional, he cruised through the massive rock section like a pro.
Tim Hardy is an amazing wheeler...
Tim Hardy is an amazing wheeler to watch. He can crawl things with his tiny Suzuki that you wouldn't believe if you didn't see it with your own eyes. Case in point: He emerges through this massive mud pit with trailer in tow and barely has a speck of mud on him!
Weighing in a touch over 7,000...
Weighing in a touch over 7,000 pounds, the Hobart JK was one of the heavyweights in the group. With the massive four-door armed with an EVO long-arm suspension, heavy-duty body armor, and 42-inch Goodyears, not even a roll on the first day could keep the Mopar giant down.
Making our way into the first trail, it didn't take long for us to reach the soupy island mud. As each rig nosedived into the glazed brown muck, you could hear the rev limiters tapping loudly and watch the mud fling high into the bright green canopy. Kicking off our day with a little goo on our trucks, we made it through the big pit and on to more rocky terrain. Navigating through the tight and windy park, each narrow trail connected us to a more open area. These play areas were lined with tall rock ledges and incredibly loose rich brown dirt that exploded beneath our tires as soon as a little throttle was applied.
Making our way farther into the forest, we arrived at the main rockcrawling and ledge area, the Citadel. While here, it didn't take long for the crews to find some new lines and push their rigs to the limit. Though a few rigs busted a couple parts, most managed to keep things together and make it up a handful of the incredible and very much vertical rock ledges.
Terra Hagel did a great job...
Terra Hagel did a great job making it through the deep island mud. And while she kept the mud out of her hair with the windows up, she did let loose behind the wheel, putting every last horse under the hood of the K&N Jeepster to good use.
Kevin and Jen Sterns' '83...
Kevin and Jen Sterns' '83 Chevy powered up each Turtle Ridge ledge with precision and plenty of power. And though they shredded a little fiberglass and lost a body panel or two along the way, nothing seemed to slow their spirits or the big Blazer down.
As you might recall from Part...
As you might recall from Part 1 of the adventure, Clifton Slay had destroyed his CJ-7's drivetrain on the first day. Opting to continue as Fred Williams' Co-Pilot, he managed to get behind the wheel of Sam Gillis' buggy for a little last-day wheeling. It didn't take long for Slay to slay another rig. He started with a bang and ended with a kaboom! While attempting a ledge on the Citadel, he killed the rear driveshaft, front locker, and hub on the Mean Green buggy. We think he may be starting to live up to his last name!
In the evening we headed off for one last trail that dropped us into a Rubicon-style rock course. Even with the colossal rocks standing in their way, our crews crept through like a seasoned bunch of rockcrawling pros. Little did they know as they exited the last rock ledge that they were exiting the last obstacle of the adventure.
It goes without saying that some road trips feel never-ending while others come and go so fast that if it weren't for the pictures you probably wouldn't remember them at all. Ultimate Adventure is more than just another wheeling trip. It's a chance to surround yourself with likeminded 4x enthusiast and not only complete an epic off-road journey, but survive it.
Day 8 Breakage
Minimal body damage: Everyone, even the Stearns Blazer!
Power steering pull: DeMarco Grand Cherokee
Broken front locker, hub, and rear driveshaft: Gillis Mean Green buggy
UA '09 DVD Ordering info
Only $17.95 plus shipping and handling.
Order by phone or online at:
National Tire & Wheel
800.847.3287
www.ntwonline.com