7 & 8 March 2009  

New Challenges @ Uluyam Dalam...

We thought this was a new trail.  But we were wrong!!!  It is the same route that we did way back in 2006, but slightly different in toughness!

Well, the plan was for an outing worth three days two nites in Lepar Utara since it was a three day weekend - MaulidurRasul holiday fell on Monday 9th.  However, yet again, we were unsuccessful with the palnned Lepar trip.  This trip was first diverted to Sungai Bot, but at the last minute, on Wady's suggestion, we made a decision to go to Uluyam Dalam...

So there we were, four rigs - the usual Rocky and two LCs + the all new Ridzuan's Frontier.  He was looking forward to the outing after spending so much effort and time in prepping his jalopy... and I guess it was worth all his effort and time!

Immediately as we hit the ruts, the Frontier had already demonstrated its worth....

...especially how worthwhile it is to invest in a good and reliable winch!

Ohh.. almost forgot... Ahmad Dennis @ Step became our latest friend.  Step, Ridzuan co-pilot that day, was quick and agile + very the rajin lah.... welcome aboard Step.  Hopefully this is the beginning of many more of your association with Gugujah !!!

well, as mentioned, this route we've done before way back in 2006.  But it was medium at the time.  Now it seemed the trail has been upgraded, by volvo-axled rigs that came to play here according to a 4x4 pilot that we met on our second day here.

The first SS was this mudhole, which rendered Wady's electric winch useless.  Hmmm... one of the times that a PTO is preffered....

Wady was all out of ideas... his was the first one down this mudhole.... thus we decided, for interest of time (and easeness), to winch his Rocky back up... Romeo's PTO did the work with assistance from Ridzuan's winch. 

And we also decided to repair the timber crossing instead.... safer for the electric winches... hehehehe... or in other word, we chickened out!

It was also a bit harrowing for the new addition to our group... but Ridzuan came out of this first experince with flying colours!

The second SS offered an equally challenging task. 

Winching was the order for the day to get through this minor bend and slope.

And with Wady's winch out, Romeo did his usual.... snatch block is indeed very handy.

By the time all four cars passed that second SS, it was maghrib time.  After solat, Step, Ridzuan & me walked the uphill ahead of us to see what we were up against.  Apart from the deep ruts all the way up that steep, a 3rd SS awaits us before hitting the end of the trail.  After discussions, we decided that to turn around and headed to the first campsite on this trail (note:  this is the same campsite that Wady & I spent on the Family Outing weekend two weeks ago). 

Well, it was also an effort to go down that 2nd SS, at least for Wady's Rocky which sustained some problem with its steering rack.  So, we spent quite a bit in getting his car across that SS.  And afterwards, the blue LC had problems with its electrical system... the batteries weren't charging.  So, it was jumping time and trobleshooting - which didn't solve anything!  And to make things a bit more interesting, my 60CSx fell & got lost somewhere around or in the SS2 area.. bummer!  We spent almost an hour scrummaging through the mud and torchlighting the bushes nearby.. but to no success....  ah well.... it was late.. so, we headed to the campsite. 

When we set camp that nite, it was already 11:00pm.... and as always, the ready cooked meals that we brought really made a difference.... everyone (really hungry) enjoyed the white rice + tumis sotong + ikan kering + two quick dish prepared by Wady - sardine & telur dadar....

The next day, everyone continued to sleep until almost noon!  After brunch.. I haven't given up hope... so two cars headed back through the trail towards SS2 to again look for my GPS.  And, alhamdullilah, I found it in just a shirt while after we searched, buried beneath the mud! alhamdulillah...

Ridzuan can proudly say this: "My Frontier made it!  and she's proven that she can keep up with the big boys!"

And Step.... localised!

We got out around seven that day.. by the time we reached Selayang it was almost 8:00pm.  After a quick stop at the surau in Petronas Selayang, we had dinner at one of the kedai makan...

It was a a swell weekend!