For everything we went through, damage was somewhat minor (until further inspection is done). I sheared a front sway bar mount (which was literally brand new) and I possibly bashed in the front leaf-spring mount on the driver's side. It possibly happened on the run Kelly and I did prior to Coal Creek but so far, no alignment issues that I can tell. Everything is tracking fine. If anything, the driver's side might be just a touch lower then the passenger side. Like I said... for what we conquered, I can live with that. Skids and sliders got a good work out.
I wish I could have taken more pictures of RacerXXL but he was always either a few rigs behind me or in front. I definitely wish I had the camera ready when he literally launched on trail #3. His front-end was easily 3' or more in the air. My first thought was busted CV or blown front-diff. Luckily he was smart enough and quick enough to jump on the brakes as soon as it got air and prevented that or at least severely damaging one or both. There is a little issue happening now but not near as bad as it could have been.
Only had one necessary extraction the whole trip. I had to use my X as an anchor point for an FJ to get over this ledge. Another wheelbase issue I feel. The rest of the times we had to pull cable, it was more out of safety than lack of capability. I did run down a highway while we took a break to pull a stranded 4-runner up the mountain. As we came around on trail #11 you can see the two-lane highway across the valley and I saw a vehicle with the hood up right in the middle of the road. These two geniuses lost all electrical power in a blind curve on a mountain. Probably the absolute worst spot they could have been in. Mining and logging trucks come through that area at a very high clip and had one come by, those two would have been knocked completely off the mountain. While the others grabbed lunch, I ran down there, strapped them up and dragged them up the mountain to a safe place to park.
Oh and if you only have maybe a few gallons left in your gas tank and you get on a very steep hill climb, you're not going to make it. Ask me how I know this.
I got extremely lucky though. We hadn't seen a rig all day but as soon as I ran out of gas (or at least it couldn't reach the pick up), two side-by-sides pulled up behind us with two spare gas cans. I happily gave the guy $20 cash for one of his 2-gallon cans and we were back on our way.
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