GWNF New trails scouting tomorrow (Sunday)

Talon 1 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 26, 2005 10:31 pm

Hey all, I know it`s short notice but Chris and I decided to go down to GWNF in the morning to check out some new trails (and maybe an old one or two) for fun. If anyone wants to go along, meet us at the Sheetz in Harrisonburg at 9am sharp. The only thing we ask is be lifted and armored since we won`t know what to expect on any new trail.

Mike

KJRenny · **Joined:** Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:52 pm **Posts:** 72

pardon the stupidity, but what is GWNF. I'm in richmond and considering meeting up

W3CSX · **Posted:** Sat Nov 26, 2005 11:14 pm

Talon 1 wrote:

Hey all, I know it`s short notice but Chris and I decided to go down to GWNF in the morning to check out some new trails (and maybe an old one or two) for fun. If anyone wants to go along, meet us at the Sheetz in Harrisonburg at 9am sharp. The only thing we ask is be lifted and armored since we won`t know what to expect on any new trail.

Mike

Did you mean Sunday not Saturday? I might be free tomarrow. As you know. I'am not lifted but, would like park it and ride with one of you. If I can come down.

Jason

Talon 1 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 26, 2005 11:37 pm

Oops, yeah. I meant Sunday. I fixed it. :oops:

GWNF is George Washington National Forest. If you want to come along, be at the Sheetz #332 by 9am sharp. As above, be lifted and armored. We`ll be on CB channel 4.

Mike

KJRenny · **Joined:** Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:52 pm **Posts:** 72

are they pretty much open trails or is it paint scratch city. Not that its a giant deal, but I would rather not destroy my paint just yet(1800 miles on it

)

Would it be quicker to go right to GWNF from richmond?

uvalax236 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 27, 2005 12:48 am

I didnt get too many scratches on mine when I was up there. Sorry Mike but I will be at work from 10-6 tomarro.

Talon 1 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 27, 2005 1:38 am

For the most part, the trails are wide enough not to get much if any. Dunno about any unexplored trails but I`d probably guess the same. Besides, all pinstriping, unless it`s a serious gouge, is able to be just buffed out.

Mike

Talon 1 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 27, 2005 7:39 am

We are heading out.

WV(0)IIIIIII(0) · **Posted:** Sun Nov 27, 2005 9:22 pm

Well i'm back from a great ride. While Mike and I were at Sheetz these two guys (Walt & Dave) walked over to us and asked if we were going to go trail riding. We said that we were and that we were planning to go up Second Mt. and explore some other trails. Walt & Dave were also heading out, Walt is from Harrisonburg and has a sweet Land Rover that was lifted and armoured while Dave had a Grand Cherokee that had a 2" lift. We went to the top of Second Mt. and messed around while talking with our new friends. We asked Walt what other trails he knew of and he took us down the road to a trail that I have forgotten the name of, but it leads to a trail named lost mirrors. About 15-20 min into the first trail we ran into a water hole that was just deep enough that Daves GC sucked up a lot of water and locked up his motor. So Walt towed him out and we started the trail repair. We promply took out all the plugs and had Dave crank the motor so that the cylinders could push the water out. After about an hour of soaking water out of the intake we started to put everything back together. Dave ended up striping two of his plugs and I had to file down the last couple of threads so that he could get them back in. Just as we got finished we were met by a couple in a Wrangler. They asked if they could tag along and of course we welcomed them. Dave got his GC started and it was running rough, we just figured that it was because of the water that was still in the motor. We went a little further down the trail and came to a stream crossing to get to lost mirror and Dave decided to turn back so Walt went with him to make sure that there were no more problems. We continuded down the trail that was A PERFECT TRAIL and it ended with a trip riding upstream of the creek (that was sorta deep). As we entered into town we found Dave and Walt just finishing up at the parts store, where he found that one of his plugs had the end smashed together so that there was no gap. We ended the day with some wings and beer at O'Charleys. Dave called me on my way home and told me that he had no overdrive or cruise control. So we hope it is in a safe mode that won't let it go into either of these options. Mike has all the pics since my camera batt were dead and we will contact Walt and Dave for theirs.

Chris

Talon 1 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 27, 2005 9:26 pm

Today was a blast and we got to meet new friends. For those that couldn`t make it, you missed out!

The day started bright and early. After getting under 3 hours of sleep searching for info on trails, Brandin and I headed out. The trip was uneventful and traffic was moving. We did see about 8 State Troopers along the way though.

We got there about 8:50am with Chris already there waiting along with his cousin Chris. We were discussing what trails to do when we were approached by two guys that were also there to wheel and wanted to know if we wanted to join up. Walter, who was from Harrisonburg, had a nicely lifted Discovery which had the most clearance of all of us. Dave, from Annandale, had a nice White Grand Cherokee Loredo with a 2 inch lift.

Since Walt was native and new the trails and area, he took the lead to guide us to the fun stuff. We left at about 9:15am and the first objective was to go up Second Mountain Trail which we had done before but decided to get in a little fun stuff first.

It turns out (Chris informed me it was this way at the GWNF Fall Krawl) that the best part of the trail, a big mud puddle area with a climb on the side, was now blocked off on both sides by big boulders put there by the Ranger service. Needless to say, we were disappointed. We reached the first clearing with the rock and played around there and got some pics in. After that, we decided to go down to the Dry River area.

We went in at what was called the "Salt Shed" which led to the "LOST Mirrors" trails (leads to the Dry Run area). The shed is easily noticable from the road. This trail isn`t far from Dictum and is on the other side of Rt. 33.

We started in and looped around. There were some water crossings and mud puddles as we went along and then we hit "the big `un". In this nice big mudhole, the middle of it had an unexpected drop in it and if you weren`t going slow enough, the water went splashing over the hood. well, we learned some lessons about a Grand Cherokee I`ll tell you...the air intake is "under" where the hood latches against the rubber gasket thus water can just pour in...which is exactly what happened. Good thing the Liberties intakes are higher and better placed.

It took us several hours to get the GC in working condition. We took a lunch break during this and as we were about to leave, a nice couple (Akiva and Zoie - I hope I spelled that correctly) in a stock red 4 banger TJ came up behind us (had some nice wheels on it though). We told them they could tag along and off we went.

Soon up came the first river crossing and Dave decided he wanted to head out since the GC was still acting up as we went across. Walt decided to go with him to Rt. 33 just in case and ended up going with him back to Harrisonburg to the auto store and help him fix it. The rest of us finished the trail (which took longer than I thought it would). There were some serious mudholes and other fun stuff I would recommend not taking a stock KJ into unless fully armored and then at your own risk.

After checking the GPS at one intersection, we figured out we were right near Rt. 33. Just made a nice crawl through the river and out we were. We headed to the auto store to check on Walt and dave and they were there replacing the spark plugs. After that, we headed to O`Charlies to have some wings and beer and talk over the days happenings. Dave decided to head home firat as the GC still was not 100% (he couldn`t get Overdrive and Cruise control working) and we left soon after.

All in all it was a fun day. Just feel bad for Dave and what happened to him. Hopefully, he gets that snorkel soon. The GC`s placement of the air intakes is mind boggling... In any case, here are my pics. Walt, Dave, Chris, Akiva - feel free to use any of the pics. If you need any sent to you, e-mail me.

Mike

Steakgoddess · **Posted:** Mon Nov 28, 2005 4:30 pm

Are you kidding me?? I was IN Richmond this weekend!! :shock:

ACK!! I should have checked the forums again. I did peek in once.

Joe Jeeper · **Posted:** Mon Nov 28, 2005 8:13 pm

As usual, Great Pics Mike! Joe

KJRenny · **Joined:** Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:52 pm **Posts:** 72

Good pictures, kinda glad I couldnt make it... that water is a little deep for me, like 2 feet too deep

Guyute1210 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:03 pm

Chris: Is your new avatar from the trip?

WV(0)IIIIIII(0) · **Posted:** Tue Nov 29, 2005 2:04 pm

Guyute1210 wrote:

Chris: Is your new avatar from the trip?

Why yes it is. This is the same water hole that drowned our new friend Dave and his 01 Granc Cherokee.

DoverKJ · **Posted:** Tue Nov 29, 2005 3:09 pm

Was the trail right off of Route 33 and looped back around so eventually you ended on 33?

WV(0)IIIIIII(0) · **Posted:** Tue Nov 29, 2005 5:10 pm

DoverKJ wrote:

Was the trail right off of Route 33 and looped back around so eventually you ended on 33?

If you were heading out 33 towards the forrest it was on the left next to an old shack. You had to do a few big stream crossings but it led you back onto 33.

Talon 1 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 29, 2005 9:15 pm

It kind of twisted to the left, looped across the trail you just drove, hooked left at that big water puddle and went to the river. Across it we went straight in, turned right after a 100` or so (you could go straight but we didn`t) and followed that all the way out which more or less ran the same direction as the river. HTH.

Mike

GWNF New trails scouting tomorrow (Sunday)

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