Rounding the Monte Cristo mountains just north of Mt. Hood. Probably be there around noon.
Camped last night between Horseshoe Lake and Talula Lake just off the WABDR route. Looking like dispersed camping in Gifford Pinchot isn't encouraged. Probably spots but not obvious.
Jeep's check engine light went off after Bethel Ridge when I stopped for 20 minutes to jump in the lake. I felt it stumble on the freeway to Packwood so I think it's a misfire codes... struggled with that for a while until I got a Napa Echlin CPS.
Oil is really getting hot. I solved my RMS leak...but now the back of the pan is wet. Hoping for cooler driving today. Temperature gauge has never wavered more than a slight bump over 212. It's been perfect. But I think I'm researching oil coolers as soon as I get home. Maybe a snorkel to get my intake up above trail dust.
Duralast hydraulic clutch master/slave is garbage. Supposed to be prebled. Lid has cracked. Most of the time it's like doing a slow 200 lbs leg press...and then it's normal. Trying not to shift to much. Giving lots of time between shifts for the pedal to go down.
Emergency kit is getting some adjustments. Namely hose clamps and barbed fittings I can patch clutch/brake/fuel soft lines. And probably need an 1/8" hard line compression coupling or two. Nothing more than a small handful of parts would have kept me going. A blue butt splice crimp fit snuggly inside the hose... might have been enough. Didn't think my tube of JB Weld steel stick would have held two pieces of hose together. Auto stores don't stock the master/slave. They have everything else for a 4.0...just not enough failures.
Also replacing my tool kit sockets. Currently have 6 point - can't get a wrench easily in position with 6 and a 12 has more options. Need 15 and 17 deep sockets. My ratchets are 90 tooth. My usual set is 120. I'm spoiled. Might upgrade those. Might add racheting box wrenches. Definitely need small socket rails. The pouches of sockets works...but it's hard sorting through all of them finding a size and you can't quickly spot something missing when cleaning up.
Two quarts of 10-30 instead of one. Haven't touched much of my brake fluid. Bottle of 85w-140 conventional or better a squeeze bag. I bought a bag of severe gear Amsoil synthetic...but once you cut the cone the cap can knock right off. It's strapped to the roll bar and duct tapped. I don't want a quart of gear oil on my new Bedrug. And Bedrug's mat is absolutely perfect.
Hand throttle...not because I need it but so I can set the rpm to 2k when winching, airing up and trying to keep the battery charged for the refrigerator. Optima yellow top is doing ok but not great. Charging two cell phones, go pro, refrigerator, air compressor, 400w inverter for my laptop...not kind to the battery and 130a alternator. Only the refrigerator running when the Jeep is off.
Hammock is fantastic. Had one for years and never slept in it. Love it. I'm cold blooded so I'm using a zero degree sleeping bag... it's perfect. Getting down to the high 40s and 50s at night and you're pretty exposed in a hammock. My bag has all the insulation on top...so I have a woobie under the bag between the hammock. Emo plus the long PNW straps.
Haven't needed my chainsaw the whole trip. Used my Silky Samurai a couple times on some six inchers. Really the best folding saw size and weight wise. I use it for trail maintenance and backpacking. Lot less space than a 28" bar chainsaw, chaps, oil, gas and an ammo can of wedges, chains and tools. But a lot more traffic on this route than on or usual haunts.
Long list of things to button up at home. Motor mounts, seatbelts, rear brakes/emergency brake, eyes on top of gas tank to see where it leaked when it got too full. ODB port. Switch panel and HVAC dash lights. Think my skid pan is an AX5 switching to my 97 AX-15. Need a new BMB bolt and cone washer.
Don't have to be home till Sunday so we're taking the Oregon BDR home. Done all the OOHVA routes. Should be fantastic.
Just about to Hood River.
-Mac
