"Took my family away from my Carolina home, had dreams about big rocks and started to roam. Two long days on rock strewn trails, they say Heaven is in Crozet and they're right as far as I can tell." ~all due apologies to the Marshall Tucker Band.
Searching the internet for wheeling spots in the North Carolina/Virginia area; Chris and Heather Packard's Virginia RockCrawling and Offroad Challenge's location in Crozet, Virginia repeatedly came onto my radar. Message boards and photo hosting sites were exploding with images and video captured there. What mostly hits the internet are the most extreme obstacles, yet I was assured by the owner that he had trails on his facility that would fit the Liberty's capabilities.
Right away, I knew it was on my "A" list of places that I had to visit. Soon after my announcement that I wanted to take a Liberty to Crozet the public deriding started. Are you crazy? Take a Liberty? At one time, I had eleven other Libertys on the hook to go with me, yet when go time came there was only one Liberty that made the trip, mine.
My wife attributes her packing skills to her childhood mastery of Tetris.
The NCKrawlers out of Greenville, North Carolina had graciously invited me to tag along with their crew. John of NCK arranged a noon jump off point at his shop, Extreme Auto & Graphics in Ahoskie. After the introductions I'm surveying John's "Toyzilla", David's back halved CJ, and Greg's Samurai equipment(all of which were on trailers) and left questioning my own sanity. Could a "Mall rated" Liberty survive a weekend of brutality at the Middle Atlantic's, and questionably the East Coast's premier rock park?
When Paul and his son, Paul, arrived flat towing their YJ, we set off across beautiful Northeast North Carolina into Central Virginia's Appalachia. Our trip was uneventfull minus our missing of the last turn, that being the one into the compound. After some impressive k turning to get the tow rigs turned around, we were back on the right track. On the trip up the dirt drive, you're taken aback by the scenery of the Appalachian Mountains jutting out at obtruse angles to the surrounding skyline.
On the road with the NCKrawlers.
Monday through Friday our campground is occupied by cows, which led to some obstacles of a different kind, but hey it is the cow's pasture. Being the first to arrive has it's advantages, one being you get first pick of camps. As we claimed our share of treeline, Chris and Heather arrived on the scene, in Heather's Juggy,to welcome us to their front yard/pasture. How lucky do you have to be to live in God's country and have your hobby in your front/back/side yards?
The view from the front of our tent.
As my wife, Tirzeh, finished putting up the tent I rounded up our three kids(Destiny six, Grace three, and Caleb eighteen months); loading them into the Jeep so we could head into town for a bite to eat. Originally we had eyeballed a Mexican food restaurant on our way through Crozet, but after surveying their max capacity parking lot we headed on in search of another venue. We ended up at Uncle Charlies Smokehouse, 5793 The Square in Crozet. Hot wings, Barbecue, and beer; how could that be wrong? While we didn't hang around to hear the band, we did encounter many very friendly locals who were all inquisitive about our stay in town, in a very welcoming sort of way. None of them showed any awareness of the sport of fourwheeling, nevermind the rock nirvana right under their very noses.
Back at camp it was time for the evening bonfire conversation and enjoyment of your favorite frosty libation. Chris came over and we chatted about the sight and my expectations for the weekend. We concurred that the blues were the place to start, while imparting that I wanted to try some black trails/obstacles at some point. He assured me that I would have a good time that weekend.
At dawn the cows were mooing instead of the proverbial rooster crowing. Camping on a slope is tricky business, at some point in the night I'd managed to slip halfway down the air mattress. I'd seen other ingenious guest with tents on their trailers and the trailer leveled out. To some it may have been a minor inconvenience, but I found it to be part of the charm of the event. Running a brush across my teeth, I was ready to go out for a meet and greet. Many of the NCKrawlers had come in late the prior evening.
At the drivers meeting, Chris pointed out the trail guides for several different levels of trails. There was a group of high blues/low blacks that I tried to jump into and Chris came over and convinced me that I was in the wrong group, so I headed over to follow the what appeared stock Rubicon.
First obstacle in and I'm convinced that Chris knows what he's talking about and reading vehicles capabilities. The Liberty is testing out it's armor and Carolina Rock Shop sliders as it resoundingly clanks down on them. I'm starting to wonder who is more pumped about the Liberty on the trail, myself or those that were amazed at how well it was actually doing. NCKrawler's took tremendous pride in helping spot, stacking rocks, whatever it took to get the Liberty through. At one point I've got NCK members adding weight on a corner and spotter strapping the unbalanced rear tire as it unloaded on a steep rock descent. When it was time for lunch, I was amazed at how well the Liberty had done and only anticipated more fun.
Lunch was a momentary break before NCKrawler rigs were rolling and we were all going out on a trail together. At that point I made a choice to go attempt a Crozet black trail. First obstacle in and I'm bouncing around playing ping pong Liberty on the rocks to the cost of a rear bumper. Unbeknownst to me this was the entrance to the creek bed and it's ominous rock garden. NCKs big boys were trying an extreme line over a giant rock, I was trying to find a line for a Liberty, at that point I turned to my wife and asked, "See that rock right there", while pointing, "I'm not going any further that that." In the trail ahead were multiple big rock that the Liberty's lack of ground clearance couldn't be compensated for, although NCKs crew tried dilligently to get me through. They tried rocking, stacking rocks, and even some winch action even though I was "Stuck like Chuck" and way over our rigs capability. At one point it slid as I tried to transverse two rocks to end up with all four wheels off the ground. Getting turned around was a chore having to climb out of the creek bed, turning hard right and leaning against a tree re-entering the creek bed. Luckily, and through NCKs Paul's expert rock stacking it leaned away from the tree. The passenger side rear door only received a kiss from the tree.
Immediatly following lunch, Ryan tore off his cross member on a rock we had transversed twice previously.
The NCKrawler's Liberty lifting team.
Having no idea where the blue crew had gone, I ambled back into camp to lick my wounds. Hearing some rigs on the other side of the camp I grabbed the camera and headed over to witness what was going on. Boy, was I in for a treat. It was the buggies and larger rigs putting on a show. First thing I see is Robert, who I'd talked with the previous night at the bonfire, was precariously stuck in a crevice. On the next big obstacle, the "Big Lime" buggy climbs to the top and then decends a sheer ledge over six feet off the ground. I'm getting stoked just watching the show. Next rock and the show continues, Eddy in Big Lime go vertical start to fall backward, to have Eddy shove it in reverse and mat it to save it. Undeterred, Eddy tries it again and perilously heads backward again. This time I swear he's backward beyond ninety degrees and there is no way he can save it. The reverse save works once again, although Big Lime slammed down with sufficient force to bend a wheel.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place.
A six foot vertical drop made to look easy.
At dinner time the NCKrawlers had a chili feed gathering. We had brought some food to grill and had a difficult time giving away ribeye to those gourged on chili. It was great hearing everyone share their accounts of the days events. During the bonfire the kids had s'mores after some impromtu marshmallow roasting.
Sunday morning and I'm ready to go again, but with the firm realization that I was going back to the group I had started with. At the drivers meeting, I announced my desire to head back to the "Bunny trails." Ha, who said this was a bunny trail, the very first climb taxed the Liberty's abilities. When Ryan and his Dad saw that I had gotten the Liberty up, they both stated, "You got the Liberty through here, I'm impressed." Then we dropped into a trail called, "The Gauntlet." Twice I thought I was going to flop and another two thought I wasn't leaving without major body damage. Dropping in between two large rocks, I had to get Justin to give me a tug back so I could line back up. After squeezing between the two rocks, I came forward while turning passenger against a large rock that resounded with a loud "Clack" of a busted CV shaft. Well, the Liberty was done. Now, Rich our trail guide in the silver XJ had to put me on the hook. Down off that set of rocks with a resounding thud on the gas tank skid that bent and caused a minor crack in the skid. Luckily, there was only about a hundred yards of trail left being there was only two wheel drive left. Easing ahead the driver's side front tire drops and hits a sharp rock puncturing the sidewall. Are we having fun yet?
Back at camp I survey the damage and mount the spare. As the NCKrawlers drag race across the empty pasture, I flag down a ride so I can watch. It was still a great time, even though Rich rubbed the roof and quarter panel of his XJ on a tree.
Getting camp all packed up, I can't help but smile to myself. Even though I incurred some carnage, the whole outing was a success in my mind. I just had to turn the radio up to disregard the clanking of the CV. In retrospect, should have taken the CV out and stuffed a rag in the differential.
Carnage:
Front bumper facia is loose.
Drivers side fender flare is loose.
Driver's side rock rail has a bend in the slider.
Rear bumper is dented.
Driver's side front wheel is dented.
Driver's side front tire sidewall punctured.
All J's SuperSkid, bent.
SkidRow Gas tank skid, small dent and crack.
License plate is mangled.
Driver's side CV broken at knuckle.
Passenger side rear door slight tree abrasion.
A little of the carnage.
Would I do it again? Of course I would. The damage incurred was from my pushing the Liberty to it's limits on black trails, no damage occurred on the blues. My biggest complaint is lack of ground clearance and an overly aggresive driver.
My future wheeler.
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