Decided last minute to take a run out to the Mt. Defiance area near Hood River to run one of the trails before they close for the season on Dec. 1st, and take a run up to the top on Sunday. It's a great area for a solo run as every hilltop has a 3G signal. So help is easy to get if I broke something. And not much risk anywhere of rolling it or crashing horrifically.
I still need to find the other trails as they printed the maps before they had the 4x4 trails done so it only shows the dirtbike/ATV trails.
But I've not done a good exploring run to find them. Just already knew where this one was. But had not had a chance to really check it out until now.

But the one I ran was trail #197. Pretty fun trail, no huge rocks, but entertaining. Long enough and rocky enough, with a few squeezes in the trees (had a few mirror folders, heard a bit of a rub on the pass rear quarter panel).
The rocks were nice and frosty in some places, some were a trick to not just slide off of. Proly could have aired down more, only went to 20psi.

Some Pics.

Before even getting on the trail I got the KIA good and dirty. The road to it was a bit rutted and muddy. After this was a series of deep puddles to wash it all off. Though I found more mud on the way out and it's sitting plastered in the driveway right now. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


On Trail 197.


Getting around a door banger.




Coming out the top of the trail.


Got to the top of Mt. Defiance. Can't wait for a bit more snow to make it more of a challenge. It has a pretty steep "road" going up. In the summer it's a bit of a loose shale rock crawl, though it's smoother than it was several years ago.

Excellent! Thanks for posting some pics of your adventure!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

No problem.
I always try and get a few pics even on a solo run. Always waiting for it to feel like it might make a good shot and then seeing if it'll stay put while I get out, poser shots mid trail. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Looks like a fun day. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Question: Where did you source your extended skid plate?

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Clackamas Steel. I bought a plate that was the right width and just a few inches too long out of the scrap bin (it was new but a cutoff) for $10.
Then I cut a notch to clear the front diff, chopped of the extra length, and welded some angle iron down the sides to stiffen it. Added some threaded inserts to the T-case cross member and bolted it up. Still need to replace the stock front skid plate with something better though. Wish I would have bought the twin to the plate I bought, but it was gone when I went back. If it was long enough I would have just made it all one piece.

And it would have been best if it was 3/16" thick. Mine is only 1/8" thick. But it does the job. Bashed it a few times and my tranny pan is still intact.

Next time I have it off I'll try to take a pic of it and post it up. Should be soon-ish as I want to brace it some more and have my trans flushed.
You can see it in one of the pics a bit here: http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/showthread...e=0#Post1271052

That'd be great. Thanks. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

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