First Annual Canadian 49^th Parallel Run

June 28 to July 2, 2003

Osovoos, British Columbia, Canada

Page 1

The 1st Canadian S-10 Extremists 49th Parallel run took place in Osoyoos, British Columbia, June 28th to July 2nd, for a small but dedicated number of participants. The weekend offered plenty of hot weather, broken parts and social entertainment. To ensure that camping provisions were taken care of, we arrived at the Osoyoos R.V. Campground on the 26th, to pick out our sites and construct some much needed overhead shading for the weekend. At 11p.m. Helene and I found ourselves trying to get some rest in 28C temperatures. If this were a sign of what our afternoons would turn out to be, we knew the group would roast. Waking up on Friday morning, I was already anxious to hit the trails, however, Helene and I were still the only two in attendance so far. The morning was already extremely warm so Siesta wound up being most of the day. Later that afternoon while snoozing in a Coleman loveseat, I awoke to the sound of two lost but found Extremists. Well what do ya know? It appears to be Grizz Axemann and our fearless Trail boss Okanogonite? You bet. The two of them hooked up in Kelowna and made the trip in. While still half asleep I was excited to see two more members of the trail team. This was a reunion for Ryan Fulcher (Okanagonite) and I, as well as a great opportunity to meet Grizz (Pete). We spent a little time talking and I updated the rest of the group’s arrival. We still had the rest of the day to relax until the big event. Ryan decided to head home and try to make some repairs to his Wagoneer before hitting the trails, “Tranny problem”, he says. “It’s an easy fix”. Grizz and I just looked at each other and assumed that Ryan knows what he is doing; otherwise it would be the Pathfinder leading the way.

Getting Grizz settled in, we decided to head into town to replenish the fast melting ice and purchase the food to get us through the rest of the weekend. Osoyoos is a tourism town and the population tripled for the long weekend. While this made getting around very interesting, it also made for good “spectating”. Grizz and I couldn’t get over a Chevy Avalanche lifted to the heavens and rubber side on 35’s. Clearly this is a poser truck, but at least built right. Back to camp for the rest of the gang we await. Calling Andrea, she gives us the news that things weren’t quite up to snuff, so they would not be pulling out of Vancouver until evening… Yikes!!! Now I was getting worried. Not long after talking to Andrea, we get a surprise call from Jimmy Little (Tyler) and that him and his partner just purchased a new ride and they would be coming out for the weekend. Well talk about dedication. To go as far as buying a new ride just to go wheeling, Tyler just sold us!!! That evening, Grizz and Helene made up some burgers for dinner and we sat down to a real hardy meal. Afterwards we all decided to hit the sack in preparation for tomorrow’s big day. Pete mentioned that he would stay up for a while to help the Vancouver convoy set up when they arrived. Well apparently Donkeyloaf and SunnyChevy Girl pulled in around 1 a.m. Andrea (Sunny Chevy) and her boyfriend Ryan trailered the Jimmy in with his Dodge Diesel. As well as a camper on the bed, apparently they made a hell of a racket getting all that weight up a small hill to pull into camp. Funny thing is, I never heard anything. I guess we got the camp manager all excited, so paying the late arrivals a visit was her priority. We took our scolding and mentioned that it wouldn’t happen again.

 Saturday morning!!! June 28th. Rocco (Donkeyloaf) was already up itching to get romping. I was just getting out of the tent to see that everyone had made it. Getting everyone ready to go took a little doing. Ryan and Andrea decided to stay behind for the morning run and take care of a few extra things on the Jimmy before riding. Ryan Fulcher (Okanagonite) offered the use of his driveway for repairs so Andrea’s Big Jimmy headed for the house. The rest of us decided to go and have some fun. Our trail boss immediately introduced us to our first challenge… A hill climb. While it caught me by surprise, Rocco and his SFA-10 made the climb look like nothing. Onwards we progressed. The temperatures were hot and both Rocco and I were having cooling problems. We both decided to keep going and just really monitor things. A few Kilometers into our trip, Rocco calls out on the radio that he is having troubles. Ryan Fulcher finds a nice level area to stop and check out the woes. Unfortunately, he just tore his tranny mount. Rocco decided to head back for Ryan Fulchers pad and make the necessary repairs. Jimmy Little and I decided to keep riding and Ryan was happy to lead the way. The scenery was beautiful to say the least, despite the hot weather. Ryan slowly led us up the hillside and commented on the radio that we were only feet away from the Canada/U.S. border and that we would be expecting some overhead patrols. Neat! Hill climb number 2!!! Ryan first tries it out and almost makes it, but gets caught up in a real big hole and loses traction. Jimmy Little decides to pass, but of course Hay gets cohersed into trying. So from the bottom, I put the truck into 4Lo, second gear. Away I go. Well, to my surprise I’ve almost got this hill beat when the truck suddenly comes down hard and BANG! Next thing I remember is trying to control my truck going back down the hill as fast as I went up. The truck began leading it’s own way down the hill and off the tracks. This suddenly put me into an off camber situation. At this point we still didn’t know what broke. Did I break the front shaft again? Was it the transmission this time? Not sure. I put the truck into first and tried powering my way out of my dilemma, only to see that one tire in the rear and none in the front were turning. Great… I broke ANOTHER front drive shaft! Between all of us, we were able to get myself out and back on level ground. The rest of us decided to turn back for repairs.

I like how Ryan Egger put it. “Here I am working on Andrea’s Jimmy when I hear a truck slowing down. So I peek out and see Rocco pulling in. Oh, oh. I wonder what he broke? Not but half an hour afterwards, I hear a few more trucks slowing down into the driveway. I peek out and it’s the rest of you! Man, are we in trouble yet or what?

Next Page