The 3rd Annual ECXC saw a total of 46 trucks over the course of the 3 day weekend, 45 Xterras and 1 Frontier (MAXC member).  On Friday we had close to 30 trucks and split up into 4 groups, 2 stock, 1 intermediate and 1 small hardcore group.  Here, one of the stock groups and intermediate group head into the woods from the staging area.  This year marked the first year that MAXC was able to provide it's own guides, but we still had a Jeep amongst us, only for Friday, as event sponsor Skid Row Automotive brought out their Jeep Cherokee to wheel with us for the day.  They also came back to the campground Friday night to hang out with us.  Skid Row donated a Gas Tank Skid plate, which was won by Johnny Ruiz.

Each night we relaxed around a very nice bonfire at the campground, Echo Valley Campground.  We reserved their pavilion area which has 5 total pavilions and accommodated the roughly 40 tents with ease.

Saturday we had 42 trucks and again we broke up into 4 groups, 2 stock, 1 intermediate and 1 slightly larger hardcore group.  Friday we had the park to ourselves, but 2 other clubs showed up on Saturday.  Fortunately they were only had a few trucks in each club and the group that I lead only ran into them at the staging area and as we were leaving the park for the day.

ECXC 2k3 marked the first year that anyone did any major damage to their truck.  Here one NJAX member broke a torsion bar anchor on a rock garden in Trail 2.  Fortunately they were able to temporarily fix it on the trail to get him off the trail, under his own power and back to the campground to weld up the anchor and get it safe for highway driving.

Saturday night was the traditional Blow-Out.  This year we had a BBQ cook out with Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Chicken, Italian Sausage, Pork Steaks & BBQ Ribs.  Several folks help with the grilling, over 4 propane grills.  Extreme Off-road Equipment donated a Keg for the Blow-Out and ECXC provided Soda, Water and Mike's Hard Lemonade & Iced Tea.

ECXC 2k3 also marked the first year we had serious major brand sponsorship, including the previously mentioned Skid Row, ARB USA, Warn, and Calmini Manufacturing.  During the Blow-Out, we also gave away some great gear like tow straps, a hi-lift, snatch block, ARB Gift Certificate, gift certificate for a Plush Fab Rear Bumper with Tire Carrier, brake pads, gift certs for Iridium Spark plugs and AirRaid Intake Kit and a set of Calmini Rock Crawler gears.  To make sure that the gears went to someone that would use them, we sold tickets (up to 2 per wheeler) for $5.  The cash collected, $280, was also given away.  After the BBQ & raffle we partied through the night around another nice bonfire (burning a full Frontier load worth of fire wood).  A small handful of us went out to some local trails for a night run.

Most people were pretty hung-over and all partied out Sunday morning, so the turn out at the staging area was small, only about 12 trucks.  My X started running really hot during the 2 mile drive to Rausch Creek from the campground, so I decided to call it a weekend.

All-in-All, by far the best ECXC to date.  If you didn't make it, you missed a truly memorial event.  But don't worry, it happens every year, so make sure to make it out to the 4th Annual ECXC which should be even better!

-Michael