First rule of four-wheeling

[No Worries]

Originally Posted by drewpy

...did not know you were a geologist, i completed my minor in undergrad in geology, majored in enviromental science and biology, dont think i could us the geology background in TN, but out west geology has a better job market.

I worked in mining for two years before I got into exploration and evaluation of mining properties. In 1988, I was evaluating some uranium properties in Utah. The Hey Joe Mine was one of them: http://www.utah.com/offroad/hey_joe.htm. The cliff was actually 600 feet. On the trail along the Green River, a rock the size of a garage fell on the road. Being a lazy SOB, I wanted to ride over the rock instead of hiking to the mine. I had a brand new Dodge Ramcharger. I made it over the rock, but broke the rear driveshaft. Here's what torque from a 360, four barrel, granny gear, and low range can do to a driveshaft.

Twisted it like a pretzel. After getting to the other side of the rock, we had to go back over with just the front wheel drive. Luckily the Dodge had a Warn winch. But it took us all day. That's why we had to go up the cliff trail at night. Rented two ATV's and made it to the mine after we got a new driveshaft. The reason I didn't want to hike was all the mapping, sampling, and safety gear we has to use to safely go into an abandoned uranium mine.