For some of you that have a sense of what Hardcore is like, this might be new news to you, for those of you that don't Johnson Valley, home of the hammers is considered some of the toughest and most technical rockcrawling trails in the country.

This past weekend, MJR and JEEPBBS and some from Jeep forums had the annual JV rookie run up the world famous SLEDGEHAMMER.

The Sledgehammer trail consists of a series of tight switchbacks, waterfall climbs, tight squeezes for over a mile of climbing, Rocks the size of minivans, waterfalls etc. make this trail challenging for the most prepared.

Well I agreed to accompany a bunch of GREAT people through the trail in my Grocer Getter ZJ, I new this would be an extremely tough challenge for it and just basically hope for the best as I new the people attending were going to help no matter what.

So on Saturday morning we all headed accross Means Dry Lake bed in JV, CA
12 TJS and 1 ZJ for a day of wheelin'



Yeah, the doors are off, or else they would have been smashed.



The start of the trail begins with good sized rocks headin up towards a big bunch of switchback v-notches with MORE boulders

Then progressively gets harder after the 1st small waterfall



and gets harder




Its a TIGHT squeeze for a TJ, EVEN MORE for a ZJ!!! Thank YOU JKS for the Supernerfs, they worked GREAT!!



to put it all into perspective, here is a nice shot of how tight and technical the trail is. If you want to call it a trail





AH, made it to the mailbox in 1 piece!!!




mmm Creepy crawlers with 5 psi air..




Did I mention the trail is Tight!!!!



Man, my jeep feels wide!!..




Overall very little carnage, Jerry, blew up a steering box (not his fault) another guy cut an MTR which needed 20 plugs (the trail requiring you be as light as possible, so very spares are brought on the trail), and another guy had a small electrical short on his winch.

I had to winch 2xs cause of diff hangers on some of the waterfalls, but overall it was the time of my life,..

My Currie tie-rod self clearanced itself as did my (last trip on it) alu rear diff

My 35's were "barely" big enough in Some spots and my jeep is too friggen big to take it up there.

However, On some of the steeper waterfall/ledge climbs, the wheelbase was GREAT.. totally walked up spots where the built tjs were having problems, however in the narrow/technical stuff, the TJS really shined, they are just so much more nimble than the ZJ..

Thanks go out to all of the crew and friends for a GREAT!!! weekend..

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Grocery Getter, Basically Stock but getting there

I was just reading the report on MJR and noticed the ZJ but didn't recognize it as yours w/ the doors off. Glad you had more pics because they sure shorted you over there. Looks awesome and I guess i don't want your Currie anymore huh? LOL!

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99 TJ
71 C101
04 KJ
03 SFA KJ Sport
LOST JEEPS So-Cal

That is just WOW....Great stuff....just keeps reminding me of why i want to move West....

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Had 2005 KJ Rocky Mnt. Edition (destroyed)
Had 2006 KJ Sport 4x4
Have 2007 JK 4-dr Sahara 4x4 (tow package so stock 4.10s!!)
AEV 3.5" RS Lift; Schrockworks FR bumper and Warn 9.5ti winch; Cobra 75 CB; Rigid 50" LED light bar; Adventure Trailers (AT Overland) JK Kitchen setup in the cargo area.
Southern L.O.S.T. # 236487

Yea thats nuts....

That ZJ looks funny with the doors off. Congrats on not breaking anything...that looks to be a feat alone on that trail!!!

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02' Frankenlifted White Sport on 31" TrXus M/Ts

89' 2 Dr. Khaki XJ- Waggy 44's, 4.88s, 35's, 3-link on 5.5" coils.

I like those Creepy crawlers. are those the Maxims?

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- Burchie

Those are amazing pictures. So, that was a "small" waterfall?

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Nanette

03 Freedom with some neat stuff done to it that I learned about here.

Errr....ah...Maxxis...yeah that's them.


That looks like KJ country for sure.....who's with me !


If you loook close at the last picture, it looks like Mike is praying to the rock god's for safe passage.

Uh, yeah, that was the 1st obstacle at the trail head.

here are a few more pics.



To put it into perspective, the Green TJ thing, is on 40s the CJ7 is on 37's

and I am the smallest rig out there with TINY 35" tires..











PEEK A BOO



heres a good sized waterfall about 15 feet

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Grocery Getter, Basically Stock but getting there

one word


INSANE

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Lisa W.

2003 Patriot Blue (when not muddy-up), Rusty's 2.5" lift, skids, boulder bars,245/17R16's

So you are ready to go then huh Lisa?

Awesome looking stuff for sure. I recognize Blaine spotting you and driving the TJ thing. I Spent two weeks on the Con w/ him for the JK launch.

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99 TJ
71 C101
04 KJ
03 SFA KJ Sport
LOST JEEPS So-Cal