This was my first year at the Dakota Challenge. The previous year we missed out on the registration but we were able to go on a couple of the pre runs with the Black Hills 4 Wheelers.

This first year was a blast. A number of Two Rivers members went including Steve, Jack, John, Tim, Louis, Keith, Kris and myself. Jack and Steve rode with me since Steve didn't have his CJ-7 running up to snuff yet. The event was held at the Fish 'N' Fry campground where they fit about 3 times as many motor homes and campers in as the campground could hold. It was crowded but cozy. We had a great time. The photo on the right is some of our crew.

The first trail was Upper Buzzworm. This is where I " earned " the handle " Woodpecker " . Here you can see that you come up about a six foot waterfall and must turn immediately to the left in order to clear a tree. The pucker factor is a good 10 since you have about 3 " of room on the ledge before you go over. So . . . I come up and don't turn quick enough. This provided entertainment for quite some time as I did about an 18 point turn to get situated without backing down the waterfall or sliding off sideways (which would be a major " oh shit! " )

Now I tried and tried to make that turn but the damn tree was in the way. Each time I'd hit the tree, I guess thinking it might move. The only thing that happened is that I bent my bumper in about 3 " and that gave me the clearance to make the turn. While I was hitting the tree numerous times, Pops was laughing so hard he almost fell off the waterfall himself! As you can see from the condition of the tree, the score was Tree: 1, Dave: 0. Mari Sheldon was kind enough to mark down the number of times I hit the tree.

So on to more fun and games.

Now the fun really began. We stopped for an obstacle up ahead. At the time, we were on a flat part of the canyon. I went to take off, drove 3 feet and, boom, stopped real quick! " Damn, must be a rock there. " Back up. Turn right. Go. Bam! Stopped. Back up. Turn left. Go. Bam! Stopped.

By now, Tim and John are behind us laughing their asses off. Some comments about " operator error " were being made. So I get out, look, no rock! What the heck? We jacked up the Jeep and determined that something was binding in my rear diff. I could go backwards and forwards about one tire revolution and that was it.

We popped the cover, drained the fluid into a baggie so as not to pollute and found the spider gear pin from the locker was broke and wedging itself between the ring and pinion. Major unhappiness. I beat it into submission, dinged the carrier so the broken pin wouldn't come out again (I hoped) and on we went. We finished up the Challenge that way although my rear ARB was now dead. Every now and then I'd hear a " ping " from the rear and wonder! Sure did have a handful of metal chips when I got home and rebuilt it, though!

So the next day, we decided to go on Iceman even though the rear locker was out. Probably not one of my smartest moves but we made it through with only the front locker working. Needed to winch and be strapped a couple times, though. Too bad I can't find the photos of that. Here's John, playing on the rocks.

So Tim rode with John and wouldn't drive because he was afraid he'd break the Mangler (John's Jeep.) Finally on Iceman he gave it a try. He drove 50 feet and we heard this horrendous crash as Tim wound up on a set of rocks and pulled the front driveshaft out. Nice going, Tim! This was also good for more than one laugh.

Iceman turned out to be a long day. We didn't get back until way after dark - just in time for me to win the grand prize, a Warn winch. All in all, this was one of the best trips out there - really great!