It was a perfect day for a trail run, and the recent snow had the group hoping we would find some snow deep enough to play in.  Seven rigs met at Baken Park.  The group was made up of myself (Kent Renaud) in the taco, Rayland and Corbin Bender, Mike Heitland, and Adam McLain eachi n their own 4Runner.  Peter and Natalia Kronenberg with K9 sidekick Victor were ready in their J**p.  Tom Baker and Mike Smith brought a nice FJ80 from Colorado with their Rotweiler Sampson.  The Kinsella 80 was piloted by Donna and Cody with Colt and Elsa providing snow support.  The decision was made to run the bypass of Jake.  We headed towards the trail hoping it wouldn't be too "easy".  It didn't take long for the group to realize the bypass to Jake was going to be plenty challenging today.

Mike was leading the way and found the first tough spot.  It took some winching and careful throttle control to keep his 4Runner from sliding off the bypass and into the actual trail.  The tree strap was set and the rest of the rigs were winched through the off camber trap.  Rayland brought up the rear and showed us how to make it without winching.  Cody took over the Kinsella's 80 and we headed to the next challenge.  Everyone got to practice generous throttle use and eventually made the rocky steps.  Peter showed up a short wheelbase and lockers are really helpful in this area.  Cody got some great seat time piloting the 80 over the steps with mom providing encouragement and a little winching guidance.  Cody was keeping the windshield clean by lobbing snowballs at his big brother.  We stopped for lunch a mile or so short of the hwy and Cody hooked the sled to the back of Mike's 4Runner.  We made our way to the hwy with Cody enjoying a sled ride.  Peter and Natalia headed for home once we made the pavement.

The group then made its way towards the Experimental Forest.  The snow there was deep and provided a fun and challenging run up the gravel road.  I took my turn in the front of the group and had a great time blasting through the snow.  It was short lived, as I soon found myself off the road and high centered in even deeper snow.  Donna pulled me out and the group was moving again.  This process was repeated as we made our way up the road switching leaders as we went.  Robaix Lake was our next destination and again we found the road to be challenging with piles and miles of deep snow.  Momentum was important in order to keep moving forward, as was occasional windshield wiper when the drifts were really deep.

We decided to head back the way we came from and check our another loop.  So we then headed over to the Custer Crossing Road.  Mike was supposed to be back in town in a couple hours so he showed good judgment and headed towards Rapid with Colt Kinsella tagging along.  We made our way down this road a ways when Donna decided she better turn towards Rapid.  Leaving myself, Adam, Rayland and Corbin and the Colorado 80.  The most amusing part of this part of the trip proved to be just simply crossing the road which proved to be our greatest challenge yet.  The snow was deeper and the going was slow.  We moved forward a few feet at a time with Rayland busting through the snow in front.  There was a generous use of the tow strap until we decided it was late enough and we better make our way back to town.  Turning around in the deep snow proved to be a chore but we made it and headed back to the plowed road.  Overall it was a great day and all the rigs went home packed full of snow.  Mike cracked a tail light on his 4Runner and Donna scuffed a rocker panel a bit, but not bad for a day full of fun.  Everyone made it home and we met later at Minerva's for dinner.         

                                                                                       Kent Renaud