The Last Challenge of the Millenium

      This year there were 156 vehicles registered, comprising some 19 states and 1 foreign country. The attendees were split almost 50/50 as to repeat attendance and new comers. Many came with their old standby 4x4 rigs, while others were trying out new designs of suspension, etc. The Black Hills 4-Wheelers did a smack-up job of organizing this years event; even with the deluge of rain the first few days, all events went off without a hitch.

      Once again this year the main headquarters for the 1999 Challenge was at the Whispering Pines Campgrounds and Lodging. The hospitality of owners Peter and Natalia Kronenberg and staff, was as usual, great. Along with providing a place for comradeship, Whispering Pines is centrally located for both the Dakota Challenge event and any essential that one might need.

      This year's event started off on Thursday, September 2, 1999. The morning awoke with gray skies and a slight drizzle, but without any reluctance, vehicle owners and the Black Hills 4-Wheelers began registration and going through technical inspections. This continued into the evening, as the rain was still coming down and late arrivals were still coming into camp. By 8:00 p.m., most had been registered and inspected. It was now time for the events first drivers meeting. Here all trails were announced and trail rules were discussed. Trail sign-up would start at 7:00 a.m. Friday morning and so on each morning there after. The first morning's line-up would start out with descending registration number...#1 on down; Saturday's would be done in reverse order; Sunday's line-up would be from the middle and working both ways out. This would assure that everyone would get a chance at his or her trail choice. Each trail left out on staggered times to help relieve congestion around the campground. The key to each day's departure was not to be late or you would be left behind.

     Trails for this year's event consisted of both new and old. Bikini, Hangman, and Jake being among the new trails and Hal Johns, along with Upper/Lower Buzzworm (which hadn't been run for a few years) were among some of the popular old trails. Hal Johns seemed to be a must run trail by many.

      My observation of trails for this year's event, comes from traveling with the group from Montrose, Colorado; all members of the Western Slope 4-Wheelers. This group consisted of Terry/Tanya Hawkins, Trevor/Spring McPherson of McPherson Off-Road, Craig/Marsha Ross, and Terry/Deanna Sweetin. Also running with he Montrose group from Wyoming were Rod/Bea Pepper and Dewey Williams. All of this group are rock crawler adventures; so I knew I was in for a weekend of fun and excitement.

     Thursday evening after the driver's meeting all the members of our group discussed the trail of choice. The trail of choice was Hal Johns and if not available, Upper/Lower Buzzworm would be second choice.

     Hal Johns proved to be the trail of choice by many; so Upper/Lower Buzzworm became the trail for the day for our group. Upper Buzzworm is a trail rated 4+. Its obstacles are waterfalls, rocks and more rocks!!!! There is no deviation available because once you are in the creek bed you are committed for the duration!!! Vehicle damage of some extent can be expected. The Caliper and The Squeeze are a couple of the names of obstacles on this trail. Lower Buzzworm is also rated a 4+. This is a dry creek bed with rocks, rocks, and more rocks!!!! The trail is a dead-end trail so you get to experience the obstacles both directions. The trail is located in a high walled canyon. Lifts and extra clearance is a must.

     Friday morning started out with overcast skies and a light mist, but everyone was eager and excited to get to the trail. The route to the trail was mixed with pavement, some county gravel roads, and of course some forest mud roads. Once at the trail head and aired-down it quickly became apparent that there was nothing but rocks and rock crawling ahead. Most obstacle were made but not without some difficulty. This was due to the extreme trail and wet, wet rocks. After much fun on Lower Buzzworm we were given the option of pulling out and heading back to camp or trying Upper Buzzworm. You know the answer to that question with this group. They came to "ROCK"!!!! We proceeded on with great anticipation. Weather (more rain) and the fact that we were now running in water in the creek bed, forced us out and back to camp. By this time it was raining quite hard and the approach to getting out to the road proved to be exciting. Once back in camp everyone was swapping tall-tales of the day. Early to bed was the consensus by all since it was raining.

     Gray skies and fog dawned the Saturday morning skies, but no rain yet! Trail sign-up at 7:00 am and the guys and gals got on one of the new trails, Bikini: named because not much snow stays in the rocky area. This trail proved to be a virtual rock playground. Some of the obstacles proved to be very difficult and took much technical driving due to the extreme obstacles and again the wet terrain and rocks. One obstacle in particular jump-up and bit the CJ-5 of Trevor McPherson. Trevor was attempting to climb a difficult spot and the wet rock decided to pitch him off! Trevor had a pretty dramatic rollover that could have ended worse than it did. But due to the safety restraints and driving ability, Trevor escaped unharmed, but not saying so for the CJ-5 (some body shop work in store for this fall). At this point it started raining really hard; so it was decided to head back to camp.

     Once back at camp everyone decided to go to Rapid City for none other than Red Lobster. After a fun evening out on the town, everyone came back to camp to enjoy the bonfire and door prize drawing. Each registrant had a chance for a prize, big or small. After a very enjoyable evening of socializing everyone headed to their bunks with the question of what the weather would bring and what trail we would take.

    A knock at the cabin door at midnight; who is it? It was Tanya Hawkins. She and Terry had been talking to Jason Pauli, a member of the Black Hills 4-Wheelers. They had decided to try and run Hangman for the Sunday trail run, if the weather would permit. Hangman was considered one of the most extreme trails of this year's Challenge event.

      Sunday morning arrives with the first rays of sunshine of this year's Challenge. We are going to run Hangman!!!! Departure is set for 9:00 am so everyone has plenty of time to anticipate and get his or her vehicle ready for the trail. This trail is extreme and only a limited number of rigs will be allowed to run the inaugural run. Only two other vehicles had completed the trail to date. Our group would be comprised of trail leader, Jason's narrowed Bronco, another Bronco, three CJ-5s, A Wrangler, and a CJ-7.

      Hangman was conspired by Jason after attending the Montrose Memorial Day Madness event and the incredible; Die Trying trail (now considered one of the must do trails in the country). Jason was challenged to come up with a trail as extreme or more for the 17th Annual Dakota Territory Challenge. And as the adventure unfolds you will agree that he performed his task as challenged.

      The sun was shining bright, we depart for the trail. Vehicles in single file heading down the highway, then onto county gravel roads, and finally into the forest on what appears to be an old logging road, which narrows against the hillside giving the passenger a thrill as there was much air between vehicle and valley floor below. Once down into the valley and the start of the trail the first of many obstacles was encountered. Some where in these first few obstacles, we incurred our first break of the day. Here Terry Hawkins lost a front axle yoke. But having a spare and quickly fixing the break we were back on our way again. Obstacle after obstacle, some get over and some get winched. So went the day with more being winched than not. The rain from the previous days make the rocks quite slippery. At a dryer time some of the obstacle could have been conquered.

     The trail is so new that many of the obstacles had not been named. But one obstacle in particular did become known as the Hole. This obstacle had an off camber approach from the left and then a climb out over a waterfall. You really had to get lined up for the climb out. The Hole claimed Hound Dog, a CJ-5 owned by Craig Ross; as his approach from the left went fine, his line up for the climb out produced a roll on the side, of his CJ-5. Not much damage and once rolled back on all fours he continued on to the next obstacle. These obstacle were BIG wet rocks, waterfall, dead trees, and more rocks.

     As the participants reached possibly the halfway point it was decided that some of the observers would held back to camp and the rock crawlers would continue on. It was already 5:00 p.m. and we were only halfway. Everyone knew we were in for some late, late evening 4X4 action.

     Obstacle after obstacle, winch point after winch point, the evening passed on until it was now around 10:00 p.m. and we had approached the obstacle that names the trail, Hangman. The first obstacle is a climb up a waterfall/boulder to the steep incline that is virtually undrivable without the use of a winch. One by one each 4X4 is winched the distance to the top. Jason, being very safety minded, also safety strapped the roll cages every ten to fifteen feet just in case a mishap with a winch should occur. Once at the top you think you can have a sigh of relief. But wait, you are released from the safety strap and your winch is wound in and you drive carefully to a point where you have to negotiate a right hand turn going into a rock outcropping, climbing over a deadfall tree, and missing a large tree on your right body side and being off camber!!!! Remember that this is all done in the dark.

     Everyone waits at the top for the last vehicle, the CJ-7, to reach the top. All make it fine, some with more body damage than others, Now just a short ride out- NOT-next was downhill, off camber, thread you vehicle through the trees trip to the last obstacle. For my part, the last Hangman obstacle! Here you were approaching a steep rock outcropping from a downhill line up. This to finally reach the forest floor and the road back to camp and food. No we hadn't eaten since around noon. The long wheel based Broncos and CJ-7 traversed the rock , but not with much grace, just sheer guts! The CJ5s and one Wrangler traversed the rock dangling from a winch cable in the dark. All went fine here with everyone descending to the comforts of the forest floor. After looking the vehicles over, Terry Sweetin, found that his ride could have become more exciting. His rear bumper (winch point) was bent and the bolts were pulling through the rear cross member.

     Remember the food thing, well it is now 1:30 am. At this point other members of the Black Hills 4-Wheelers are arriving to see if everyone is ok. And denouncing the fact that they had anything to do with the making of the Hangman trail. Supposed they are concerned with attending the Montrose Memorial Day Madness 2000? After airing up, everyone headed for camp, each with their own thought of the trail and how the day went.

     The gals that had returned to camp earlier had saved all of us some T-bone steak and other fixins from the BIG supper that evening. This was a welcome sight at 2:00 am in the morning. While sitting around eating everyone agreed that this was one INSANE trail. And well, what about Jason? The next question asked:would you do it again? Everyone looked at each other and said, "you bet! This is what rock crawling is all about." But look out Jason. The boys were already plotting next year's Montrose Memorial Day Madness 2000!!!!