Trail Report prepared by David Landreth-Smith Training & Safety Officer.
Pictures by Andrea.
 

Sunday morning at UWI South Gate saw Calvin scrutineering just three 4X4 Rigs (Paul, Andrea, David and Frankie) which is just one more than the minimum number of rigs rule which would call for an aborted event. It was a bright and sunny day, and so Events Manager Frankie waited an extra 20 minutes for any possible late comers making several phone calls to rally more members.

Finally at 8:35 am four intrepid souls set off for the Arima Blanchicheuse Road and the challenges of the Verdant Vale Trail with its hairpin switch-backs, deep eroded ruts and semi-vertical inclines (which last time not counting the recent aborted attempt due to mechanical issues, saw a gruelling finish of 9:00 pm in the dead of night).

With only three rigs to co-ordinate, things moved along very quickly and we were soon airing down at the entrance to the trail (trail head). Paul thought just for the experience, he would like to run higher pressure in his tyres that day and so he only aired down to seven pounds instead of the usual six psi (smile). Frankie was eager and rearing to go since he had recently installed a new set of rear lockers that he so badly wanted to test. Note To Reader: All the rigs were locked, Paul and David locked front and rear, and Frankie for the first time locked also but only in the rear (which accounts for approximately 70% of the possible/available traction so that’s cool anyway).

The trail was not quite as water laden as previously but yet it was wet from fairly recent rainfall possibly the night before (the rainy season has started). In any case the locked rigs made very short work of the first four “river” crossings starting with the first one which has the PVC pipe across it (Frankie did the connect and disconnect honours). This was the fun part of the trail and Frankie was starting to become impressed with his new rear locker, but the real test of traction was only just beginning.

Andrea was in all of the difficult spots taking all the action shots as the locked rigs and slow and deliberately driving soon had us at the start of the fifth “river” crossing which is at the foot of the infamous steep hill. The two fully locked rigs climbed with out much ado, Paul hardly off idle, David revving to take the right hander at the top with his two left side wheels in the air as the right side ruts swallowed the 35 inch tyres (Note I found out that the secret to Paul’s effortless driving is that his rig has music and for the extra tough trail spots it has air-conditioning).

Then it was Frankie’s turn; the rear locker got him all the way to the top right hand turn as he fearlessly entered the ruts, but then the front started to hunt for traction – no go – he backed down the hill for another go (more like he fell down the hill, since it was so steep).

 Third attempt and this time Frankie gets out clean, and grinning from ear to ear he started talking about the virtues of having a locker in the front as well as the rear (we can guess what his next mod is going to be).

After that it was fist and second gear in 4XLow and the three rigs were climbing non stop through steep switchbacks left and then right again and then again. At times our front wheels pointing to the sky and at times our rigs leaning precariously in off camber spots to the brink of a roll over, but at all times it was non stop four wheeling action and  a heightened sense of tackling and conquering the challenges. Not once was a rope used to tow another rig; in fact we were forced to stop and use the chain saw only twice (to cut fallen trees) and before you could say Jack B. Nimble we were back out on the Arima Blanchichesuse Road once again. The trail was over and it was only 12:20 pm i.e. lunch time.

It was a glorious day.....  David Landreth-Smith  davidlan@tstt.net.tt