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Fourth Annual S10Extremist Bash May 29-June 2, 2003 (page 2) Eldorado North Carolina USA After all the pictures had been taken and the images committed to digits, we were off for the trails. The plan, as I understood it, was for 7 of us who were ready to go right now, to go right now. The remaining 5 vehicles were headed back to the campsite to deliver supplies and such and then would meet us on the trails. I obviously didn't REALLY understand the plan. Vinnie and Cindy; Beth and Kyle; Brandon and Jason; Bill and Leah; Brian; Mike A.; John B; and Keith headed for the trails. We went to Wolf's Den first, then Slagpile and Sawmill. The rain started again and it was slow going as that slick clay was everywhere. There were times headed downhill where you were really riding a toboggan. Slide down, steer if you can and slow down if you're able.
There is one narrow section of Sawmill where the going uphill was particularly slow. We worked our way up but apparently not quickly enough for a group of ATV riders behind us. They approached John, our tailgunner, and told him they wanted to come around. We radioed back that there was not enough room for them to pass at the moment (I believe Beth was trying to get through the narrowest and slipperiest section at the time) but that as soon as we cleared that, we would pull over at a wide spot and let them by. A discussion followed that made it clear that the first ATV rider in line (sorry, I just can't call him the leader with his attitude) did not believe there was not enough room for them to go by. The story apparently got more interesting each time he approached John. One version had a sick or injured child with them who needed to get through.
Those of us at the front of the line started working our way to the edges of the trail so that they could pass as soon as the obstacle was cleared. I got my first and only trail damage of the weekend there as I nosed up to a tree to make room where there was none. Beth got up the hill with the help of those riding behind her and we let those people by. It didn't occur to us until later that we could have radioed for an EMT to meet them at the trail head or that all of us, in accordance with the rules of the event and good trail sense, had first aid kits on board to assist. As they drove past me, the sick/injured child seemed to be holding her own and one of the riders further back in the group gave a friendly wave. Go figure. There are numerous ways to digress at this point in our story and I'll try to keep it brief.
As an interesting sidenote, the Forest Service received a phone call later that day advising them that there were some S-10’s stuck on the trail that might be in need of assistance or removal. 'Nuff said (or possibly too much). More downhill sledding followed, you may notice in the pics that the rain is really pounding us.
We eventually made it to Rocky Mountain Loop where we took a break as the rain had let up temporarily. Bruce and Janet in Shorttruck and Aaron, Jessica and Oscar met us there in their Blazer (which has a name also but it escapes me.) having come around Rocky Mountain Loop from other points. No word on where the others might be. Perhaps the pouring rain had kept them in camp for a while.
As the rain started again, we began our trip on Rocky Mountain Loop where the general direction was downhill (yep, more sledding).
When we got back to the forest road, we decided to head back to camp for dinner. 12 S10’s rode on Saturday
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