February 2001 - Lower Terminator
Trail Rating - 4.0
Trip Leader: Chris Villarreal
Photos submitted by Chris Villarreal
Isn't this supposed to be a desert? This was one of the first obstacles on Lower Terminator. Since a lot of the area is solid rock, water collects after the rains and doesn't evaporate very fast unless it's hot out. When I first approached this puddle you couldn't see the bottom in the center. We decided the trip leader should try skirting the rh side and hope there were no big drop offs. It was pretty deep, I could hear my exhaust go under and couldn't see my front tire. I was more worried about the steep climb you had to do at the other side of the pond. It was actually easier than I thought it was going to be, the sharp rocks still provided some good traction.
Jim Wells bravely went right up the middle, the second picture shows the ledge you have to climb onto.
Chance had the most "vertically challenged" (I didn't want to say lowest) Samurai in the group riding on 31" Swampers. The water was rushing in over his door sills at the deepest part. He calls his Samurai the Green Monster, I dub it the Green "Loch Ness" Monster!
Mike has one of the tallest Zuks in the ZOA and you cannot even see his 33" tire in the rear!