Andy and his faithful companion, Rusty, attempted to go through this little gully on Saturday, December 13, 2003. A friend in an XJ, Fred, along with his wife, Angel, had just made it through this spot with no trouble, and it was Andy's turn next.

 

I told old Andy that he needed to stay left and keep his left side tires up on the bank of the gully. When things are as muddy as they were that day, it is EXTREMELY important to hit just the right line. Unfortunately for Andy, he didn't quite get far enough left, and his left side tires slipped down to the deepest part of the gully, right in the middle. To make matters worse, Andy had not installed a rear tow hook, so we first tried to winch him out forwards. This only got him into deeper doo doo, as you will see from the pics below.

 

We finally had to pull him out backwards, even though he had no tow hook in the back. We wrapped a tow strap around his bumper right where it attaches to the frame.

 

I was in exactly the same shape in that gully the first time I tried it when it was as muddy as it was that day. I got my left side tires right down there in the deep part, like Andy did, but I had the rear tow hook, so my buds pulled me out backwards, and I didn't get as messed up as Andy did.

 

For all of the great entertainment he provided us, we let Andy have the honor of having the gully named after his Jeep, Blackhole. I had never heard anyone call that gully by any particular name before.

 

Andy got some rocker panel damage, a broken side marker light lens, and a crunched left rear flare out of this deal. He took it like a true Jeeper and will not lose any sleep over it. But.... I'll bet he has a rear tow hook next time he goes wheelin'.  :)

 

UPDATE 12/25/03 

 

In fairness to Andy, I have to tell you that last Saturday, the 20th, I had Thelma Jane in just as much of a mess as Andy had Blackhole, except that I was leaned way over to the right. I got TOO FAR left, and my RIGHT side tires slipped down into the middle of the gully. I have a rear tow hook, though, so my bud pulled me out backwards, and I didn't get the damage that Andy did. I will post pics when my bud sends them to me.

 

Click on these pics and blow em up to full size. Think you'll like em.