Mr. Go Slow wrote:But wait, you not easy! Ent you now get that van last week? lol lol Recommend you get a set of off-road wheel / tires to be used on your next trip, and consider installing a front air locker (if you can find one for the bt-50) or alternatively consider replacing the rear LSD unit with a locking diff. If you serious about 4x4, get a winch as well.
On Sunday 16th August we decided to take a lovely scenic drive up to Paria Falls - last point on the north coast. Having driven this trail before, it all seemed like a piece of cake. The weather was fine - sunny and windy - absolutely beautiful tropical weather good for some outdoor activities.
We arrived at the point where Hikers normally park their vehicles and start the journey to the falls. Directly opposite the "parking area" sits an old wooden house - the main person known as "red-man". However the trail continued and given the good weather we were experiencing decided to go past this house about 2 1/2 miles into the forest into an area void of telecommunication. There were no signals for B-mobile and Digicel. It was supposed to be a lovely, safe drive - testing the 4 wheel high and low ranges.
We arrived at a point where the hill was pretty steep. It avergaed around 45degrees down hill and was made up of "sapatay" clay mud with huge water channels, dips and dunks on the trail. From the top of the hil - the sturdy point, the hill was about 30-45 feet down. However, at the time it was dry and we decided to venture further. This was where the mistake occured. As we began the decent the mud became very slippery and the vehicle lost traction.
We stopped and tried reversing, this was hopeless. The vehicle had now slipped sideways and became stuck into one of these huge water channels. At this point, it was still retrieveable. We started gathering rocks, debris, stone, branches and everything else ina bid to help with traction. As we attempted to reverse rain began drizzling and then a heavy downpour. This was the turning point. The vehicle slid sideways and downwards and became stagnant at the bottom of the hill.
Lack of traction made it impossible to move.
The pics you are seeing were taken on Monday after the vehicle was forced to stay in the middle of the forrest over night. The pics may appear pretty normal, but on the day of rain, conditions changed drastically. This was the most terrifying part, knowing that it could be vandalized, parts stolen etc etc. It was a very challenging time.
These hills / pics were after the fact - showing dryness and apparent stability to easily drive out.
Just as an example, a Toyota Landcruiser had extreme difficulty accessing where the vehicle was - and these are real power houses.
Thanks to google map
This is the hill. Very steep decent (camera doesnt really capture the essence) - clay, and sapatay mud, - here we are seen digging out the road to make some traction. it looks simple, but after a heavy downpour it was utter head-ache. Try and picture - everytime you take a step, your foot sinks about 3inches in mud.
This is a picture shows after the rain dried up.
One of the hills on the paria trail.
Tools used to dig out the hill and these gratings used for traction
Inside the van "muddy" up
Under van
Needless to say, all things turned out okay.
You tube vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbDdGSJKJ3M
