What a blast. I think this event was just about the most fun you can have without risking a communicable disease.
As most of you know I went down there with Scene4productions to drive their shutter bugs around. When they found out I was a photographer too they invited me to shoot with them as well. A chance to practice two of my favorite hobbies, 4 wheeling and photography together. I wasn't going to pass this up. Boy am I glad I didn't. Four days in the West Virginia mountains does a body (and Jeep) good.
After spending Thursday setting up for the event (tagging all the jeeps for identification, setting up all the computers and learning their new database ordering system) we finally got some wheeling in on Friday and Saturday. On the advice from Kyle and his wife Stephanie from Paragon who put the event together for Jeep Jamboree USA. I signed up for a level 5 trail (Kyle said this was about equal to a blue one or two). I say it was easier than trail 25 a green three.
The liberty gets no love: Friday at staging my shooter and I met our trail guide. After exchanging pleasantries and let him know that we were there to film his trail. He asked me what I was driving... Not only did I get an eye role the whole head went with it. I could see right away I had to prove myself and the capacities of a Liberty. At the first obstacle he quickly jumped out of his Jeep swearing I had to be spotted thru this. I told him I think I had my line and he asked what it was. Then told me I was wrong and had to go left. Ok I said. You’re the boss. Let’s try it your way. As I knew I would I got hung up on the lower control arm. Tried again and still no go. Thin I did it my way. Didn't even spin a tire. Same thing on the next obstacle. My way worked. His didn't. It was the TJ sport on 35" tires behind me that got stuck here. After I pulled her off I was finally left alone. Just go's to prove it's not what you drive it's how you drive it.
This trail was full of hill climbs and a few small rocks no big deal. That was until the rock garden, this 70-80yd stretch took almost two hours to push, pull and winch 23 jeeps thru. I was the second jeep to traverse this and did vary well. That was until the last 15 feet. I was stuck between to large rocks in opposite corners and with out a locker wasn't going much further. One more last try to get out and I slipped sideways into a tree.
The crunch sounded much worse than the damage. Only losing a tail lamp and antenna mount. After winching me up the last few feet and getting thru. It didn't take long to realize the others where not going to do much better. There where well built Rubi's with 33-35" in the group that couldn't get as far as I did. That tree was hit by seven jeeps trying to traverse this stretch. Nobody except the trail guide made it up the obstacle without major help. One had to be winched half way up. I told the guide I was going to burn that tree this winter in my garage to keep the jeep warm. 
Saturday was the mud day. I was assigned the trail Yo Yo. Only a 3 on Jambo's scale. After rain Friday night this was slicker than snot on a door handle. Mike (Rock Lobster) did this the day before with out incident but the way the rain changed the trail it was worse than the five from the day before. No major rock hardly to speak of and if it was dry most of it would have been traversable in 2 wheel drive. But NO they have to add insult to injury and make it a mud bath.
After this ride the jeep gained about 100 lbs., just from the mud caked on it. The looks driving home today... Priceless.
Any how it was a lot of fun and would do it again in a heart beat. It even looks like I sold enough photos of the event to pay for my fuel. Now I will just be counting the days until the Jeep Jamboree at Paragon in September I have been invited to go on.
Hear is some pic’s for you to enjoy.
Saturday's mud
Fridays rock garden. Note the tree with the blue ribbon. Its soon to be burned!
And the rest:
http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e176/W3CSX/Snowshoe%20July%2006/
Jason