I feel like telling a story...so here it goes...
Yesterday I took a solo drive through John Bull east to west.
I attempted to enter John Bull from the left/center side of the entrance (most difficult, even though I knew it was not passable for me, I wanted to try anyway). Sure enough, I got stuck between three boulders and a hard place. First I high centered but I managed to reverse out...right onto a big ass rock that french-kissed my gas tank skid. I used the high-lift jack to jack up the wheels/vehicle and place large rocks under the wheels and managed to escape the gatekeeper. I decided to stick with the easy lines especially since I was alone.
When I reached the most difficult obstacle on John Bull, I took the line to the right. After a few different lines I managed to get through As I am exiting the obstacle my gas tank skid plate once again french-kissed a rock, this time on the passenger side crushing my exhaust pipe. Not feeling like jacking up the vehicle and stacking rocks, I used the winch and got myself out.
At the peak of John Bull I lit the grill and threw the pork chops on as it was time for lunch. To my surprise, it started pooring heavy rain drops and I was soaked in no time. I place the grill and chair under a tree and enjoyed the bbq.
For the rest of the way, John Bull became muddy and real wet and slippery (just the way I like it).
John Bull was real fun in the rain...very fun! Although I must say, I enjoy John Bull west to east because there is more uphill driving in that direction and more rocks to play on.
After John Bull I proceeded west on 3N16 to Dishpan Springs. Dishpan Springs took me 30 minutes to cross. Yesterday I realized that Dishpan is really a damn short trail with only one real obstacle. After I crossed Dishpan I hung out at Deep Creek for two hours but I had no luck catching fish.
DISCLAIMER: Offroading alone is a very dangerous thing to do especially on Most Difficult trails like John Bull where Tie rods are known to break and rocks & oil pans are known to mate. Knowing and accepting the dangers/risks, I took with me my spare parts/fluids/.45/extra water/skewers/extra propane/blanket/jacket and spices (salt,pepper,cumin,red pepper) incase I had to munch on Squirls for a few days and proceeded. I have been on John bull and Dishpan Springs more than a dozen times including in the dark so I felt pretty comfortable going alone. However, I would NEVER attempt to wheel a trail by-myself if it's my first time on that trail.
Blue Skys on 3N16
![](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs036.snc4/34159_135284259836659_100000652572845_221951_145545_n.jpg)
Thinking about which line to take...Decision Made
![](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs188.snc4/37738_135284426503309_100000652572845_221967_7992141_n.jpg)
Poser Shot
![](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs078.snc4/35285_135284519836633_100000652572845_221972_8085802_n.jpg)
![](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs058.snc4/35285_135284526503299_100000652572845_221974_7967755_n.jpg)
Nice Picture Moment
![](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs038.ash2/35285_135284536503298_100000652572845_221977_819566_n.jpg)
Here come the clouds...
![](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs019.snc4/34323_135284706503281_100000652572845_221981_6035283_n.jpg)
The main Obstacle - View From Outside
![](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs019.ash2/34323_135284713169947_100000652572845_221983_4267259_n.jpg)
Line to the Right
![](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs039.snc4/34323_135284716503280_100000652572845_221984_6620367_n.jpg)
Line to the Left...Decisions, Decisions
![](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs019.snc4/34323_135284719836613_100000652572845_221985_1923796_n.jpg)
Sitting on gas tank skid and tail pipe right when I was almost out...Stuck!
Yesterday I took a solo drive through John Bull east to west.
I attempted to enter John Bull from the left/center side of the entrance (most difficult, even though I knew it was not passable for me, I wanted to try anyway). Sure enough, I got stuck between three boulders and a hard place. First I high centered but I managed to reverse out...right onto a big ass rock that french-kissed my gas tank skid. I used the high-lift jack to jack up the wheels/vehicle and place large rocks under the wheels and managed to escape the gatekeeper. I decided to stick with the easy lines especially since I was alone.
When I reached the most difficult obstacle on John Bull, I took the line to the right. After a few different lines I managed to get through As I am exiting the obstacle my gas tank skid plate once again french-kissed a rock, this time on the passenger side crushing my exhaust pipe. Not feeling like jacking up the vehicle and stacking rocks, I used the winch and got myself out.
At the peak of John Bull I lit the grill and threw the pork chops on as it was time for lunch. To my surprise, it started pooring heavy rain drops and I was soaked in no time. I place the grill and chair under a tree and enjoyed the bbq.
For the rest of the way, John Bull became muddy and real wet and slippery (just the way I like it).
John Bull was real fun in the rain...very fun! Although I must say, I enjoy John Bull west to east because there is more uphill driving in that direction and more rocks to play on.
After John Bull I proceeded west on 3N16 to Dishpan Springs. Dishpan Springs took me 30 minutes to cross. Yesterday I realized that Dishpan is really a damn short trail with only one real obstacle. After I crossed Dishpan I hung out at Deep Creek for two hours but I had no luck catching fish.
DISCLAIMER: Offroading alone is a very dangerous thing to do especially on Most Difficult trails like John Bull where Tie rods are known to break and rocks & oil pans are known to mate. Knowing and accepting the dangers/risks, I took with me my spare parts/fluids/.45/extra water/skewers/extra propane/blanket/jacket and spices (salt,pepper,cumin,red pepper) incase I had to munch on Squirls for a few days and proceeded. I have been on John bull and Dishpan Springs more than a dozen times including in the dark so I felt pretty comfortable going alone. However, I would NEVER attempt to wheel a trail by-myself if it's my first time on that trail.
Blue Skys on 3N16
![](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs036.snc4/34159_135284259836659_100000652572845_221951_145545_n.jpg)
Thinking about which line to take...Decision Made
![](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs188.snc4/37738_135284426503309_100000652572845_221967_7992141_n.jpg)
Poser Shot
![](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs078.snc4/35285_135284519836633_100000652572845_221972_8085802_n.jpg)
![](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs058.snc4/35285_135284526503299_100000652572845_221974_7967755_n.jpg)
Nice Picture Moment
![](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs038.ash2/35285_135284536503298_100000652572845_221977_819566_n.jpg)
Here come the clouds...
![](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs019.snc4/34323_135284706503281_100000652572845_221981_6035283_n.jpg)
The main Obstacle - View From Outside
![](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs019.ash2/34323_135284713169947_100000652572845_221983_4267259_n.jpg)
Line to the Right
![](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs039.snc4/34323_135284716503280_100000652572845_221984_6620367_n.jpg)
Line to the Left...Decisions, Decisions
![](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs019.snc4/34323_135284719836613_100000652572845_221985_1923796_n.jpg)
Sitting on gas tank skid and tail pipe right when I was almost out...Stuck!
![](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs039.snc4/34323_135284726503279_100000652572845_221987_6727448_n.jpg)
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