{"id":1165,"date":"2013-02-17T23:52:09","date_gmt":"2013-02-17T23:52:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jeep1942.com\/?page_id=1165"},"modified":"2016-01-29T19:10:59","modified_gmt":"2016-01-29T19:10:59","slug":"2013-first-annual-snowball-express","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/jeep1942.com\/?page_id=1165","title":{"rendered":"2013 First Annual Snowball Express"},"content":{"rendered":"

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February 16, 2013 was the date for the First Annual Snowball Express.\u00a0 This event was an unofficial event held by a handful of members of the Arkansas MV Travelers.\u00a0 The main purpose of this event was to get out in the flat fender jeeps and enjoy the scenic beauty of the Arkansas Ozark Mountains.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Planning was limited by design.\u00a0 We wanted to remove the restraints of an organized event so we could enjoy the scenery, each other’s company, our jeeps, and winter weather in the Ozarks.\u00a0 The only rules were that there were no rules.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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As the week before the event took place arrived, the weather forcast wasn’t the best but we were all pumped and super excited.\u00a0 Dave and I talked on the Monday before the event.\u00a0 Dave told me he was so excited that he was vibrating!\u00a0 BJ called and left a phone message that he had run the circle (the loop that we would run on the trail ride).\u00a0 My daughter heard the phone message and said BJ is so excited he is driving in circles.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Was the weather going to stop us.\u00a0 No.\u00a0 The only way we were going to cancel the event was if the roads were not passable due to snow or ice.\u00a0 The weather forecast of a high of 39 and sunny on Saturday was “good to go”.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Our preparation included wearing multiple layers of clothes.\u00a0 We just kept putting on clothes until we could no longer bend our legs or arms.\u00a0 I had to remove one layer of clothing just to be able to drive the jeep.\u00a0\u00a0For the most part I stayed plenty warm.\u00a0 We had 4 wool blankets in the jeep and they didn’t all get used.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Dave and I camped out with the boys\u00a0Friday evening at Woolum on the Buffalo River.\u00a0 We got a chance to play around with the jeeps a bit Friday as the sun set.\u00a0 We were prepared for a cold night.\u00a0 It must have gotten down to about 28 or so Friday night.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I had taken note of the road down to the campground from the highway as we drove down Friday afternoon.\u00a0 It was a gravel road with some steep down grades.\u00a0 I was pulling a 20 foot trailer with the jeep on it and was noting that it would be a challenge to get the rig back out Saturday morning, but shouldn’t be any problem.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Dave and I and the boys woke early Saturday morning ready for the trail ride.\u00a0 We were excited.\u00a0 The nip in the air was not discouraging.\u00a0 The sky was clear when I woke up.\u00a0 I took the jeep for a quick ride down to the gravel bar on the Buffalo River and watched a couple of fisherman put their boat into the river.\u00a0 It was encouraging to know that we weren’t the only crazy people up this early.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Back to camp I went to get the boys all packed up and camp broke.\u00a0 As Luke, Nathan, and Daniel packed up the tent and sleeping bags, I loaded the jeep onto the trailer and strapped it down.\u00a0 I noticed it was getting cloudy.\u00a0 I looked up at the ridge line above the camp area and noticed that one of the high valleys up on the ridge was “all white”.\u00a0 It looked like a low hanging cloud but I knew it wasn’t a cloud.\u00a0 It was snowing up there. I called out to Dave to look up there at that white stuff.\u00a0 “It is snowing up there” I said.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Before we knew what was happening, it was snowing on us down in the campground.\u00a0 In less than 5 minutes the ground went from no snow to snow covered.\u00a0 It was snowing in blizzard conditions.\u00a0 Dave was hooking his GPW up to his jeep and making final preparations to pull out when it occured to me that the snow was accumulating way too fast and the ground was all white.\u00a0 <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I remembered the steep hill that I had to climp to get up to the highway.\u00a0 Snow covered steep hills are not a good thing for a 2wd\u00a0truck\u00a0pulling a heavy trailer and jeep.\u00a0 I told Dave we were pulling out and would meet him at the top of the hill.\u00a0 We took off to try to get to the top of the hill before the snow closed the road for us.\u00a0 We had a mile or so of steep road.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We got a good run at the hill and had some serious trouble with the steep climps.\u00a0 The back wheels of the truck spun all the way up the long hills but by the Grace of God we made it.\u00a0 It would have been a disaster if we had lost traction on one of the hills as backing down one of the hills with the long trailer would have not been easy, especially with the snow on the road.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

It all just added to the adventure.\u00a0 The event took on the the name “The Snowball Express”.\u00a0 This was fitting because of the snow early Saturday Morning and the tiny town of Snowball that we visited on the trail ride.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

By the time we made it to the highway the snow had stopped and the clouds were breaking.\u00a0 On the short drive from St. Joe to our meeting spot at Tyler Bend, we caught up with some other members of our group who were just arriving.\u00a0 Everyone’s timing was perfect and the brief snow burst had only confirmed that we were all in fact crazy.\u00a0 It is a good kind of crazy…. jeep crazy.\u00a0 Ron Naef showed up with a couple boxes of donuts which were a hit.\u00a0 Thanks Ron!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>The route was great.\u00a0 It must have been 60 or 70 miles.\u00a0 With the exception of a short bit of pavement, we were on gravel or dirt roads the whole day.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We did not have a single break down.\u00a0 The cold weather did not cause any engine problems.\u00a0 The only mechanical issue was when Dave’s tail pipe came off.\u00a0 I had seen it when I stopped to shift out of 4 wheel drive but didn’t think anything about it until I saw Nick stopped and backing up.\u00a0 If I had known it was Dave’s tail pipe, I would have run over it.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We all had a great time.\u00a0 Everyone’s since of humor was turned way up and we cut up quite a bit.\u00a0 The best part was when BJ took his jeep up on the grassy area in front of the visitor’s center at Tyler Bend and cut donuts in the grass.\u00a0 These marks will be in that grass next summer.\u00a0 <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The “Snowball Express” has surely become an annual event or at least I hope so.\u00a0 Dave and I are already planning to take the boys camping in the area with the jeeps and 1\/4 ton trailers.\u00a0 <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Plan on being part of this event next February.\u00a0 But don’t ask us for any of the details.\u00a0 There won’t be very many.\u00a0 <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Below are some images of our event.\u00a0 The event exceeded by far my greatest expectations.\u00a0 The weather was picture perfect with lows Friday night in the mid to upper 20’s and the high during the warmest part of Saturday afternoon maybe 39<\/strong> or 40.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Dan Sharon, 2\/17\/2013.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Be sure to click on any image below for a larger view!\u00a0 Enjoy.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

One of our stops along a “jeep road” in the Buffalo National River was this overlook.\u00a0 The scenery was beautiful.\u00a0 Arkansas certainly has some beautiful places to visit.\u00a0 Some of them must be visited by jeeps to really be appreciated.\u00a0 Thanks BJ for planning this route!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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The town of Snowball, Arkansas.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Crossing Richland Creek.\u00a0 The creek crossings were great.\u00a0 I guess I had better plan to drain the fluids and replace.\u00a0 Also, it might be a good time to pack the wheel bearings again.\u00a0 Many of us crossed the creek several times.\u00a0 Nick who drove Dave’s jeep the entire route explored the creek extensively with the jeep.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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On one of BJ’s trips across the creek, Dave gave him a push trying to send BJ in for a swim.\u00a0 Click on the image for a larger view.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Lunch was provided and served by Dave.\u00a0 Dave had run over a “possum” on the drive up from Little Rock.\u00a0 He skinned it with the knife that BJ found while crossing Richland Creek.\u00a0 Dave then wrapped the possum meat in foil and cooked it up on the engine block and manifold of his jeep as we drove along.\u00a0 These pictures are of Dave’s cooking and the serving line forming.\u00a0 A short discussion period ended in a vote.\u00a0 It was decided that this method would be used in September to help simplify the Pettit Jean rally.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/span><\/a>\"\"<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Dave and BJ planning the afternoon route.\u00a0 We were looking for Falling Water Falls.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Marsha was toasty warm.\u00a0 Can you find her in this photo?\u00a0 She had on the yellow scarf so we wouldn’t loose her.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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2\/19\/13.\u00a0 In response to a very hateful message that I received suggesting that we were only out tearing up the environment, I would like to state that we never left established and maintained National Park Service, National Forest Service, or county roads including the creek crossings.\u00a0 The reference to BJ tearing up the grass in front of the Tyler Bend visitors center was only a joke to poke fun at one of the greatest guys on earth, BJ.\u00a0 This group of folks has a wonderful since of humor.\u00a0 Before you spend too much time telling us what we did wrong, why not come join us next time and see for yourself!<\/p>\n

Dan Sharon<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

February 16, 2013 was the date for the First Annual Snowball Express.\u00a0 This event was an unofficial event held by a handful of members of the Arkansas MV Travelers.\u00a0 The main purpose of this event was to get out in … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1162,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1165","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jeep1942.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1165","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jeep1942.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jeep1942.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jeep1942.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jeep1942.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1165"}],"version-history":[{"count":56,"href":"https:\/\/jeep1942.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1165\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3180,"href":"https:\/\/jeep1942.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1165\/revisions\/3180"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jeep1942.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1162"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jeep1942.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1165"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}