Badlands, anyone?

Video Guy · **Posted:** Mon Jan 08, 2007 10:36 am

This insanely warm weather has me itching for some offroading, but I'm too busy and underprotected (no rock rails) for Livingston, KY. A shorter outing somewhere with more beginner trails is what I have in mind. Anybody want to join me in a Badlands run in January or February? I'm off work next Monday for MLK Day, but I have to watch my 1- and 4-year-olds. If I can get my in-laws to watch my 1-year-old that morning, I could make it then with my 4-year-old riding along. Saturdays and Sundays are best for me.

T.J.

FastTRX · **Posted:** Mon Jan 08, 2007 11:13 am

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!

I was waiting for someone to bring something up about the Badlands because I've been dying to go back! I cant make it to Livingston and I dont have the protection or lift for trails like that....I'd be glad to go on a run w/ you Videoguy (and hopefully other stockers/or underprotected rigs)!! I'm up for tackling some beginner trails....I'm pretty much open for any of the weekends in the rest of January and February. A February run would be better though....

I'll keep an eye on this thread....

Video Guy · **Posted:** Mon Jan 08, 2007 2:06 pm

FastTRX,

Good to hear you're down with it. There's gotta be a handful of northern-IN Hoosiers, maybe some Chicago folks, who don't have time to hike it all the way to KY. I also prefer the idea of February (more planning, etc.), but I think we're on borrowed time with the warm weather. We're more likely to have major snow and ice in February, so I'm thinking "carpe diem" while we're still in 50s most days. Isn't this weather wild? With the environment changing so fast, I think all bets are off as far as what can and can't happen with weather, and to hell with averages and almanacs. Okay, I'm rambling...

I'm still cutting my 4x4 teeth, so to speak. I've only been wheeling in my KJ twice, so I'm still getting a grip on my driving ability and my vehicle's limitations. This being my daily driver and my family's main snow shuttle (snow -- what's that?), I can't beat it as hard as I'd like. My wife and I can live with pinstriping and scratched wheels, but not with cracked differentials and blown axles. Before I do any rock crawling like in KY, I need to get more comfortable in our rig and complete the armor. For example, a guy in MD is selling Mopar rock rails for $100, but I don't have time to drive out there. I hold out for a local deal like that and save a few bucks where I can.

jerbacher · **Posted:** Mon Jan 08, 2007 2:14 pm

Hey, so where would this run be? I was thinking of getting rails real quick and going to Livingston, but it's my first time and I have no lift so I was a bit nervous about that. Beginner trails would be much better for a...beginner... Unfortunatly, I'm all the way in NE Ohio, so I need to know where this run would be so I know if I can do it or not.

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Mon Jan 08, 2007 2:54 pm

I would love to come out and lead the trail for you guys but I have some business travel coming up and then the KY trip, so I am kinda strapped for time.

Even with cold weather, BTW, the Badlands can be quite pleasant. Thier woods are kind of sunken down and very dense along the perimeter, so the wind gets stopped and it isn't biting cold, even when the tempeartures near freezing. We 'wheeled there in Feb last year and one nice thing was the lack of ATV riders due to the temperature in the dunes. It was kinda cool when we exited the stream and had a half inch of ice built up on our rims as well. :lol:

We will def have a run to the Badlands in late March as a warmup for Moab, so if you guys don't get it together for Feb, there will def. be an official run later on. I wanted to do one for New Years Day, but it just didn't come together, and frankly the Badlands is always crazy busy that day with GLJT and the Terra Club.

btw - for the guy who doesn't know where it is, it's in Attica, IN - www.badlandsoffroad.com

-- Don

jeepfrog · **Posted:** Mon Jan 08, 2007 3:12 pm

I've got a busy few weeks coming up, too. (We're in the process of selling our house/moving/etc.) So, Jan/Feb is out for me. I could probably make a March run - with enough notice. I'd like to get some more off-roading experience under my belt, too! All we've done so far is a run up at Silver Lake, MI and a few of the trails at Camp Jeep last year.

jerbacher · **Posted:** Mon Jan 08, 2007 3:50 pm

Wow! Google maps only gives me a 3min. difference between home/Livingston and home/Attica

FastTRX · **Posted:** Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:11 pm

jerbacher wrote:

Wow! Google maps only gives me a 3min. difference between home/Livingston and home/Attica

Just a word of advice from a beginner to a beginner...I'd probably stick w/ the badlands for your first run if you have had minimal experience offroading and wheeling your KJ. I haven't been to Livingston yet...I intend to....but from what others have said and from the pictures I've seen...the terrain can be a little more than a stock or close to stock rig can handle. Come out and do a run w/ us other stock/partly stock guys to get some experience w/ the KJ...the terrain is quite challenging but most of the beginner trails are perfect for the stock rigs if you take your time and have a good spotter.

I know my first time at the badlands was my first time ever wheeling...and I had a BLAST!!!

You cant ask for a better group of guys and gals in the midwest group.

jerbacher · **Posted:** Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:41 pm

This is sounding like my best option. Thanks for the advice!

Science_Guy · **Posted:** Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:59 pm

Depends on what day you decide on but I will also attend if at all possible. Short drive for me.

FastTRX · **Posted:** Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:53 pm

Awesome. Science_Guy...I recall you talking about marking the trails on your GPS system...and Henry (KJ-BOL) said that there were many trails left that we didn't hit on our last run.....maybe we can explore some other parts if anyone is up to leading w/ a bit more experience at the badlands. Just checked w/ the family and pretty much any weekend is open in Jan. and Feb. still so I'm up for any dates anyone throws out there. Badlands is a short trip for me too.

AndySRT · **Posted:** Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:57 pm

I will be heading down there febuary 3rd with some cherokees if all goes well. if anyone wants to join. I cant garentee we arent gonna hit any hard trails tho.

Video Guy · **Posted:** Tue Jan 09, 2007 10:53 am

Monday, Jan. 15 is out for me. Any January or February weekend is good with 4-5 days notice.

Don, can we try to schedule the March run early in the month? I'll be vacationing in Townsend, TN the last week of March and don't want to miss another trip with you guys. BTW, does anyone know of any Level 1-3 trails around Townsend, TN?

T.J.

FastTRX · **Posted:** Wed Jan 10, 2007 8:59 pm

Anyone have any ideas on dates?? Throw em' out there....!

Badlands, anyone?

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