Okay… For Real This Time! Flag Pole 12 February

[cptchaos4567]

I put a run together with some FXBG Jeepers for Sunday. I’m expecting eight (me included) with four winches.

Depending on how many we ultimately get, we may split into smaller groups.

When: 13 February 2022
Rally Point: Sheetz, 5504 Germanna Hwy
Locust Grove, VA 22508
What time: 0730 rally in the parking lot 0800 FPK.
Required stuff:
1) Jeep in good order with a full tank of gas and working heater
2) your normal tool pack up and full size spare tire
3) Cold Weather gear to include a sleeping bag per person in you rig a change of foot wear and socks.
4) Recovery gear. The trails will be a challenge expect Ice and packed snow.
5) Food and drink.
6) First Aid Kit and Fire extinguisher

 

[TheoLP62]

Alright so is this firing off tomorrow? I got released from having to work so I'm in.

 

[cptchaos4567]

Alright so is this firing off tomorrow? I got released from having to work so I'm in.

I got some folks from FXBG jeepers heading out on Sunday.
I’ll update details above.

 

[TheoLP62]

Sunday can work for me if your willing to add a 9th (no winch). Were you guys stopping for gas near the trail? Be easier for me to meet out that way then to drive south first . . .

 

[cptchaos4567]

Sunday can work for me if your willing to add a 9th (no winch). Were you guys stopping for gas near the trail? Be easier for me to meet out that way then to drive south first . . .

That would work!
Willing to take suggestions on the refueling point prior to hitting the trail.
You bringing your miniature radio operators?

 

[TheoLP62]

That would work!
Willing to take suggestions on the refueling point prior to hitting the trail.
You bringing your miniature radio operators?

Yep I'll have them both

 

[TheoLP62]

Sheetz in Harrisonburg work as the rally point before the trail?

1825 S Main St, Harrisonburg, VA 22801

If you guys leave at 8am that means you'll hit that sheetz about 945am

Let me know if that works.

 

[cptchaos4567]

Sheetz in Harrisonburg work as the rally point before the trail?

1825 S Main St, Harrisonburg, VA 22801

If you guys leave at 8am that means you'll hit that sheetz about 945am

Let me know if that works.

Works nicely.
See you there!

 

[R3]

Looking forward to hearing how it went. Been down have d with a cold. Pictures or it didn't happen

 

[3VOLVE]

How’d it go? In for the pics.

 

[cptchaos4567]

It went exactly at @R3 promised!
Started with an FXBG Jeeper, Andy in a loaded JKU, me in my stock JK, Tom (another FXBG Jeeper) in a Gladdy, and Chris @TheoLP62 in his Willy’s JKU.
First 30 minutes on Dunkel Hollow were smooth as silk, and then the Gladdy in our group took a weird bounce on a rock. Then the real fun began.
The Gladdy had no weight in the bed to give it traction. We winched it down and he turned around and went home.
We then picked up a stray in a Rubi who had a winch and *fully inflated tires*. Rubi got hung up on the same spot the Gladdy did, and we winched him up and aired him down.
<Insert SpongeBob meme… three hours later>
Once we got passed that spot, we got to the top with no other issues.
Then we decided to go down the Union Springs side…
Up to this point, I wasn’t having any problems. I managed the ice and slick spots pretty well. Got down some of the larger obstacles with no problem. Even the snow didn’t cause problems on the rocks.
Then we hit a spot… and this is probably the one Rob was telling me about. See I like sledding down slopes, bit doing it backwards in a Jeep is a bit terrifying!
I’ll say this, I found the limitations of my JK and the Rubi also had challenges. Chris managed about 99% of the trail with ease. Only one are where he had issues with traction and a tow rope cleared that right up.
The worst spot involve both me and Rubi trying to get up an icy patch that offered zero traction. The whole time Rubi’s winch only let out 1/3 of its length because it had a snag in it and even with adding a tow rope for length, there were few trees in range.
Here’s where Andy’s rig shined. We daisy chained my JK to the Rubi and the Rubi to Andy. Chris already got to the top with a little skill and luck. All 8,000 pounds of Andy, pulls Rubi and I both up in what looked like a Jeep conga line!
Where we could get traction, we gave some gas. When we couldn’t, we stayed in 4L and 1st to still give some forward momentum and reduce the weight on the ropes.
Once we cleared that and got to the mud holes <Insert SpongeBob meme… three hours later>, the rest was fine and we managed to get off the trail around 7pm. We started at 10:00.

I will say that I learned A LOT from this. So while it was frustrating and exhausting, it was rewarding.

Glad I went, and I hope next year, it is the same way so that I can do it again with a more capable rig.

 

[R3]

Nice write up. A simple green trail.... what a difference a little snow and ice makes. 9 hours is not a bad day. Glad all went smooth and all got home in one piece. As to sliding backward down a shelf road..... that is just one of lifes littel moments that make you appreciate being alive and upright. LOL.

 

[mopar31898]

It went exactly at @R3 promised!
Started with an FXBG Jeeper, Andy in a loaded JKU, me in my stock JK, Tom (another FXBG Jeeper) in a Gladdy, and Chris @TheoLP62 in his Willy’s JKU.
First 30 minutes on Dunkel Hollow were smooth as silk, and then the Gladdy in our group took a weird bounce on a rock. Then the real fun began.
The Gladdy had no weight in the bed to give it traction. We winched it down and he turned around and went home.
We then picked up a stray in a Rubi who had a winch and *fully inflated tires*. Rubi got hung up on the same spot the Gladdy did, and we winched him up and aired him down.
<Insert SpongeBob meme… three hours later>
Once we got passed that spot, we got to the top with no other issues.
Then we decided to go down the Union Springs side…
Up to this point, I wasn’t having any problems. I managed the ice and slick spots pretty well. Got down some of the larger obstacles with no problem. Even the snow didn’t cause problems on the rocks.
Then we hit a spot… and this is probably the one Rob was telling me about. See I like sledding down slopes, bit doing it backwards in a Jeep is a bit terrifying!
I’ll say this, I found the limitations of my JK and the Rubi also had challenges. Chris managed about 99% of the trail with ease. Only one are where he had issues with traction and a tow rope cleared that right up.
The worst spot involve both me and Rubi trying to get up an icy patch that offered zero traction. The whole time Rubi’s winch only let out 1/3 of its length because it had a snag in it and even with adding a tow rope for length, there were few trees in range.
Here’s where Andy’s rig shined. We daisy chained my JK to the Rubi and the Rubi to Andy. Chris already got to the top with a little skill and luck. All 8,000 pounds of Andy, pulls Rubi and I both up in what looked like a Jeep conga line!
Where we could get traction, we gave some gas. When we couldn’t, we stayed in 4L and 1st to still give some forward momentum and reduce the weight on the ropes.
Once we cleared that and got to the mud holes <Insert SpongeBob meme… three hours later>, the rest was fine and we managed to get off the trail around 7pm. We started at 10:00.

I will say that I learned A LOT from this. So while it was frustrating and exhausting, it was rewarding.

Glad I went, and I hope next year, it is the same way so that I can do it again with a more capable rig.

Great write up.

Just remember, you will always learn more having to work a problem then if the whole thing went smooth with no issues.

 

[TheoLP62]

I had an absolute blast! It was definitely challenging in spots and I got some new scratches in my rock sliders, but that's what they are for.
You can check out the videos I've posted so far to my tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@redwillyoffroad with more to come as I edit new clips in the next week or so.