Mostly the same, just from a different angle. Day 1
Tuckering On
Tuckering On
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Alpine Cat Jamboree 2022
- Thread starter tucker
- Start date
The little Tucker that could.
Day 2.
I count eight cats there.
Me and my boys had a great time at the jamboree. It was definitely worth the drive from Utah. It had its adventurous moments. The drive was an adventure in itself trying to make it to the nearest gas station as my truck was sucking 5 miles to the gallon. It pulled good but I have never stopped to fill my truck so many times on a trip before I think. When your truck is sucking gas like that you pay more attention to how few gas stations there really are along the way along I-84 and lots of decision making if you should stop and fill or try to make it too the next gas station. I don't dare to look through all the receipts and how much I spent in gas. I should have brought a bigger truck but I like driving my Chevy. Then the last hour into Joseph we had thick fog and tried to make it through all that. It was great to get to the Lodge to say the least.
The lodge had a nice feel to it with a lot of its original look from when it was built, I think it was in 1923 or something like that. Really friendly and accommodating staff at the lodge.
Saturday started for some having a fun morning with trailers and trucks sliding backwards down the road up to the trailhead. Pure ice. Jack blew my mind as he and his truck started sliding backwards down the road. He was going quite fast, I watched in horror expecting a nasty wreckage especially as there was another truck and trailer a little ways down below. He eventually got the trailer slid into the snow bank and then stepped out of his truck like nothing was going on. He was like "this is no big deal. I happens all the time". He has my respect for staying calm in all situations.
The drive up to the radio tower on Mt. Howard had its fair share of breakdowns starting even before we got going. Kristi clutch cable bracket on one cat broke as the cat was being unloaded. That got fixed that same day in nearby Enterprise by a really good fab shop that liked to be working on Saturdays. Not far after starting the parade up the mountain we had our first breakdown, a new fuel pump that did not want to be working on one of the Tuckers. Amazingly there were several people with fuel pumps that were willing to help. That cat got back running and we were back on the road again. Didn't take long for the next incident, a Tucker with no power to get up steep hill. It was abandoned and the parade continued. Later found out that that cat was only running on 4 of the 6 cylinders. It also got fixed later that day. Fourth incident, was a Tucker track skipping the sprocket. It got fixed by the helpful group of catters and it continued only to do the same thing just on the next hill. That cat was also abandoned on the wayside. Not too far past that point we had one of the Thiokols loosing engine power and it also had to be abandoned on the trail.
The road going up to the tower gets steeper and steeper and there is less and less breathing room the farther up you go. The rest of the parade made it all the way up without incidents. I did discover that my Tucker did not have the same guts as the rest of the cats as I was screaming up the hill in 2nd gear in my 1443 Tucker desperately trying to stay ahead of the cats behind me. I was mildly frustrated not being able to get into 3rd gear and get some clear between me and the followers. Incredible views going up the road to the tower. There is one traverse that has some pucker to it with a exposed steep drop-off on one side. I don't think I would not have gone up that in fresh snow. The trail was groomed this time though and the traverse was a walk in the park.
I would say this trail is a good test of your snowcat with steep continuous climbing. Any weak links will make themselves known quickly. The view from the top was amazing and you could see part of Wallowa Lake down below and the surrounding peaks. I figured we climbed about 4,000 feet from the parking lot. Fair share of backcountry skiers in this area with multiple ski huts scattered around the nearby mountains.
The decent went well and all abandoned cats were collected by the helpful group snowcatters. What a bunch of great good people!
Sunday was at Salt Creek Pass and what incredible views you have driving up to the parking area. I was a little nervous driving up there as I had been told that there was a long climb just getting to the parking lot with a serious drop-off on one side. No place for trailers sliding backwards.. Luckily the road was in good shape and did not pose any issues for anyone.
It was good to have everyone back in the saddle after all the issues the day before. A Kristi with a new and improved clutch bracket running like a champ, a Tucker with 6 cylinders instead of 4 now tearing it up (big smiles from the driver BK who also had brought special dedicated 443 brew for the trail), Tucker 443 with fixed tracks and new electric fuel pump and a Thiokol with power, all lined up with the rest of the parade. Sun was beating down and the snow was excellent as we meandered down through the trees to the "Meadows" where we had a great time playing with our kitty cats and having lunch. A little bit of fuel pump fun as there has to be something that happens but it got handled. The Kitten was adventurous and took a little trip out on the snow on the pond, most of us wanted to go out but when we saw the water in the snow we thought "maybe not". Kitty made it over pond though without issues. I am impressed with that little Kitten as it would go almost anywhere it was taken by its operator. It even high marked with the snowmobiles...
Towards the end of the loop I learned the embarrassing way that rubber track Tuckers don't do as well as steel track Tuckers going up soft snow. I got my butt kicked going up the test piece hill while being filmed (of course you have to be humiliated on video). Like Pontoon Princess mentioned, when you get cats together like this you can clearly see the differences between different cats. Fast, slow, power, no power, traction, no traction etc.
The day ended great but there were some issues that happened at the last part of the trail where we had a idler wheel come off one of the cats and some rear end issues on the Frandee. There is always something isn't it?..
Unfortunately me and my boys had to leave for home after loading our cat and did not get to have dinner with the rest of the group. The trip home ended up being as fun as it was coming in with chasing gas stations and driving through full on fog between Boise and Burley. We made it home safe though!
It was a great weekend and I appreciate the arrangements made by Jesse and the nice bling that was provided. Thanks, I hope I can come again. I enjoyed spending time with everyone that came and the positive attitude that everyone has.
The lodge had a nice feel to it with a lot of its original look from when it was built, I think it was in 1923 or something like that. Really friendly and accommodating staff at the lodge.
Saturday started for some having a fun morning with trailers and trucks sliding backwards down the road up to the trailhead. Pure ice. Jack blew my mind as he and his truck started sliding backwards down the road. He was going quite fast, I watched in horror expecting a nasty wreckage especially as there was another truck and trailer a little ways down below. He eventually got the trailer slid into the snow bank and then stepped out of his truck like nothing was going on. He was like "this is no big deal. I happens all the time". He has my respect for staying calm in all situations.
The drive up to the radio tower on Mt. Howard had its fair share of breakdowns starting even before we got going. Kristi clutch cable bracket on one cat broke as the cat was being unloaded. That got fixed that same day in nearby Enterprise by a really good fab shop that liked to be working on Saturdays. Not far after starting the parade up the mountain we had our first breakdown, a new fuel pump that did not want to be working on one of the Tuckers. Amazingly there were several people with fuel pumps that were willing to help. That cat got back running and we were back on the road again. Didn't take long for the next incident, a Tucker with no power to get up steep hill. It was abandoned and the parade continued. Later found out that that cat was only running on 4 of the 6 cylinders. It also got fixed later that day. Fourth incident, was a Tucker track skipping the sprocket. It got fixed by the helpful group of catters and it continued only to do the same thing just on the next hill. That cat was also abandoned on the wayside. Not too far past that point we had one of the Thiokols loosing engine power and it also had to be abandoned on the trail.
The road going up to the tower gets steeper and steeper and there is less and less breathing room the farther up you go. The rest of the parade made it all the way up without incidents. I did discover that my Tucker did not have the same guts as the rest of the cats as I was screaming up the hill in 2nd gear in my 1443 Tucker desperately trying to stay ahead of the cats behind me. I was mildly frustrated not being able to get into 3rd gear and get some clear between me and the followers. Incredible views going up the road to the tower. There is one traverse that has some pucker to it with a exposed steep drop-off on one side. I don't think I would not have gone up that in fresh snow. The trail was groomed this time though and the traverse was a walk in the park.
I would say this trail is a good test of your snowcat with steep continuous climbing. Any weak links will make themselves known quickly. The view from the top was amazing and you could see part of Wallowa Lake down below and the surrounding peaks. I figured we climbed about 4,000 feet from the parking lot. Fair share of backcountry skiers in this area with multiple ski huts scattered around the nearby mountains.
The decent went well and all abandoned cats were collected by the helpful group snowcatters. What a bunch of great good people!
Sunday was at Salt Creek Pass and what incredible views you have driving up to the parking area. I was a little nervous driving up there as I had been told that there was a long climb just getting to the parking lot with a serious drop-off on one side. No place for trailers sliding backwards.. Luckily the road was in good shape and did not pose any issues for anyone.
It was good to have everyone back in the saddle after all the issues the day before. A Kristi with a new and improved clutch bracket running like a champ, a Tucker with 6 cylinders instead of 4 now tearing it up (big smiles from the driver BK who also had brought special dedicated 443 brew for the trail), Tucker 443 with fixed tracks and new electric fuel pump and a Thiokol with power, all lined up with the rest of the parade. Sun was beating down and the snow was excellent as we meandered down through the trees to the "Meadows" where we had a great time playing with our kitty cats and having lunch. A little bit of fuel pump fun as there has to be something that happens but it got handled. The Kitten was adventurous and took a little trip out on the snow on the pond, most of us wanted to go out but when we saw the water in the snow we thought "maybe not". Kitty made it over pond though without issues. I am impressed with that little Kitten as it would go almost anywhere it was taken by its operator. It even high marked with the snowmobiles...
Towards the end of the loop I learned the embarrassing way that rubber track Tuckers don't do as well as steel track Tuckers going up soft snow. I got my butt kicked going up the test piece hill while being filmed (of course you have to be humiliated on video). Like Pontoon Princess mentioned, when you get cats together like this you can clearly see the differences between different cats. Fast, slow, power, no power, traction, no traction etc.
The day ended great but there were some issues that happened at the last part of the trail where we had a idler wheel come off one of the cats and some rear end issues on the Frandee. There is always something isn't it?..
Unfortunately me and my boys had to leave for home after loading our cat and did not get to have dinner with the rest of the group. The trip home ended up being as fun as it was coming in with chasing gas stations and driving through full on fog between Boise and Burley. We made it home safe though!
It was a great weekend and I appreciate the arrangements made by Jesse and the nice bling that was provided. Thanks, I hope I can come again. I enjoyed spending time with everyone that came and the positive attitude that everyone has.
Here is Rock'n BKs 443 that sat in a field for 35 years before he found it. He and his beer brewing buddy did an incredible job getting it ready for the Jamboree. Had a great time talking to and catting around with these two guys. What an incredible machine! BTW they even brought their own custom label Tucker 443 beer, sorry I did not get a photo of it, hopefully someone did and will post.
Mill666er's 443, I have been to many Jamborees with him and never seen him have a problem with this cat, this time though he wins the prize for the most issues, from fuel pump failure to track problems. Even with all that this cat went out each day and returned and trailered on it's own.
vintagebike
Well-known member
Are the Kristi and Thiokol 2100 owners Forums members? Lots of good upgrade ideas on both. Each looks to be highly under rated.
We must have put on 15 miles each day, however the Kitten must have put on an extra couple miles each day. He was going everywhere, constantly. What that machine can do is incredible, if you are willing to drive it. My son just loves driving that thing and putting it to the test. Yes, after this weekend I will be opening up the pontoons and adjusting the brake/clutch mechanisms.
We sure had a GREAT time!!!! It was nice seeing old friends and making new ones. The lodge was excellent and made everything run much better each day, and the food they provided was excellent.
I still have a few videos I have to put together then post, I will try to get them up soon.
Thanks again to Jesse (tucker) for putting this on and everyone else that helped out, can hardly wait until next years event.
About 10 minutes after this picture was taken the transfer case popped on the Frandee, with help from several she was able to limp back to the parking lot and loaded on the truck under her own power. Tomorrow I will drop the case and see what damage has happened and what parts will need to be made, must hurry, the Sun Valley Serenade is only a few weeks out.
I still have a few videos I have to put together then post, I will try to get them up soon.
Thanks again to Jesse (tucker) for putting this on and everyone else that helped out, can hardly wait until next years event.
About 10 minutes after this picture was taken the transfer case popped on the Frandee, with help from several she was able to limp back to the parking lot and loaded on the truck under her own power. Tomorrow I will drop the case and see what damage has happened and what parts will need to be made, must hurry, the Sun Valley Serenade is only a few weeks out.
Best line of the weekend; as the kitten pulls up the first time in the field on day one I tell lil capt, "look it's just a little one". He looks at it, looks back at me and says in all sincerity and hopeful, "is it a robot?"
And that IPA of the weekend.
And that IPA of the weekend.
hey, boring guy, really not so boring,
is that a poster? and or ?
is that a poster? and or ?
Yes, hollar at 'Tucker' I'm sure he'll get one to you.
Sounds like you decided to just purge the demons of so many successful past trips in one fell swoop. Now you should be good for a little bit going forward!
'Almost' incognito without your powder blue jacket!
LOL, guessing my coming was a jinx, trucks sliding on ice, all the broken cats, this alone, disqualified me for a poster,
pretty sure I will never be allowed to come again
I came away thinking,
you always can tell a cat owner, but, not much.
great group of cat owners
DAVENET, i wore the OTHER, non powder blue coat, so you wouldn't notice me driving your cat
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Frandee transfer case issue is a failed drive chain. I will drop it today and see if there is any additional damage. Also found a crack developing in the frame I will weld up and the muffler inlet and outlet pipes have come loose, which I will weld up also.
Hey, thanks for all of you who are posting! Love seeing the different shots people get. I will be posting a few pictures that I took and some that my daughter was able to capture very soon but I had to throw this one up as soon as possible so no one forgot about the man that's loud and proud... CB.
