Wait, the blades were on backwards from the factory? So it was wired right but the fan itself was flipped? I'm trying to picture how you even spot that without pulling the whole blower out.

Did your buddy at least get a good story out of it or did he just eat mud like I would have? Last time I tried to cross a "small" runoff creek I ended up on my back with a soaked pack and a bruised ego while my dog just stared at me. A 40 foot channel opening up in under a week is wild though. I have not been out to Lost Lake yet this season but now I know to check trip reports before I drive up there. Guess that is the tradeoff for a big snow year, the trails pay for it in June.

Those purple flowers held up fine last winter on the stretch near Clark.