Smiley Rock 4-25-09 (56k of doom)

[ttora4runner]

After attending the Overland Expo I meet with a group from Expeditionportal in Chino Valley to run Smiley Rock trail lead by Mark (Crawler#976). I had run this trail once last year on a solo and had a blast and wanted to hit it up again. Eleven vehicles in total were to run the trail (3 Tacoma’s, 2 4runner’s, Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2 early Ford Broncos, Mitsubishi Montero, a Nissan Pathfinder and Frontier) only ten made it though, datupr in the Montero turned around before the rock garden portion of Martin Canyon to avoid undercarriage and rocker panel damage. Prior to that the Montero did a great job and surprise me a bit how well it did.
Enough talking on to the photo’s
Heading out to trailhead (I think I need to clean bugs off the windshield next time)
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2135.jpg
Mark moving a snake off the trail.
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2140.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2141.jpg
At the trailhead the line up
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2150.jpg
These two where hiding from the camera
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2148.jpg
But I think they were spotted by these guys
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2152.jpg

Off to the trail:
Again I really need to clean those dang bugs off
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2153.jpg
Catus in bloom
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2156.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2159.jpg
The dang rock I missed last year and I don’t know how after seeing it
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2160.jpg
Looking up out of the trail and side creek
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2165.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2166.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2167.jpg
Shameless plug of the 4runner
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2164.jpg
This is where datupr had to turn around.
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2169.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2170.jpg
The reason being
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2171.jpg
Moving forward, the time I got up to the first rock ledge Crawler and JJackson had already gone though and where walking back.
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2172.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2175.jpg
Next was Rexsname
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2179.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2183.jpg
The Pathfinder was next (sorry, don’t remember your name)
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2185.jpg
Followed by weezerbot in her 4runner
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2188.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2190.jpg
Up next was the Frontier. Frontier had a little problem with this area but eventfully made it though a little dinged up.
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2192.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2195.jpg
Followed by one of the Bronco’s
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2196.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2197.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2198.jpg
Next up was the another little rock ledge that made for some good poser shots and some rock slider action. I’ll throw in a dented gas tank skid plate as well.
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley%20Rock%204-25-09/2520Apr200920-20smiley204.jpg
Rex
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2200.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2201.jpg
Pathfinder
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2203.jpg
Weezerbot coming though (only video I got of the trip). It’s not the greatest due to tight location and trees but it is what it is.


http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2207.jpg
Next up was the Frontier. The longer wheelbase was cause it to hang up some, which eventfully lead to weezerbot backing up and giving him a tug out.
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2208.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2211.jpg
Giving a little tug
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2216.jpg
Lastly the Bronco’s which I didn’t get very many photo’s of.
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2217.jpg
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2221.jpg
The weather at the top where the other’s group were camping for time was in the 50’s, with a slight breeze. It felt great. Tired from the long day it was time to air up, grab some grub and gas and head for home. This was a nice break that over due and sorely needed.
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley Rock 4-25-09/100_2222.jpg

[ttora4runner]

Short video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0CSwW1-B-k

[Scuba]

Kool pics, Like like a great diverse group on a mild to medium trail, All in all looks like a great day run..
Nice truck btw, Time to update the avatar with a pic of the shrockworks...I vote this one :D

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/wormholegamma/Smiley%20Rock%204-25-09/100_2175.jpg

[Crinale]

that looks like a lot of fun... very nice report ^_^

[ttora4runner]

Well, I need to update my profile picture since it's my old 4runner.

[Scuba]

Ohh, My bad, didnt notice much of a big difference cause the pic is soooo small..
hah

[ttora4runner]

It's changed now.