March Mudness 2015

How about a jointlee filed ride report? What do you remember?

Tuesday March 10:
Having decided I could not wait any longer, I left New Bern hoping to be on THE mountain by 8.30 PM Tuesday. I had an uneventful time on the interstates. Traffic was flowing smoothlee. I had spoken to Jesse and he said all the roads were fine. Not long after I took that left in Montcalm I began to have my doubts. Punisher had texted something about fog. I didn't put my glasses on but I did make out the word fog.

I had made my first water crossing before Horton's but was still surprised a couple of times by streams crossing the pavement. Well before the climb up Windmill Gap darkness had fallen and I fell in with a couple of other adventureous souls heading in the direction of Ashland. Then came the fog. That made the driving a bit more intense. I bet I couldn't see 50-75'. I unbuckled my seatbelt so I could lean into it and see another 18". Every little bit helped.

I thought Jesse was mistaken and that the road had been heavilee damaged. Man was it bumpy! The first time I began to slide I realized the pavement was covered with dirt, small rocks, and other things that inhibit traction. With the fog, it was hard to see. First one then both of the other vehicles in front of me turned off and I was left to my own devices. When I reached the end of the pavement at the top of the Steps I took a moment to relax and partake of the Brown Medicine. That stuff is amazing.

Almost being there, I started across the top of the Steps. Even this was easier said than done. I didn't realize how many lights the truck had to warn you of wheel slippage. Protecting itself, the GMC was putting maybe 25 of it's 315HP to the ground, and bucking like a small bronco (no, not the ford one). I pushed the button that would allow me to properlee apply power. I slipped, slid, and spun my way to the cabin. Remembering a past Trot, I parked wiselee - meaning I didn't get stuck AT the cabin this time.

I unloaded my gear. Me and Mr Beam toasted our successfull arrival. The wait had begun. I wondered how Punisher would fair in his 1WD van, considering how I struggled with 2WD. Time would tell...

Wednesday March 11:
I awoke to rain Wednesday morning. A steady rain. With others inbound, it was time to free the Grizzlee from the confines of the Sierra. I donned my trusty recentlee repaired I want to look like Roger bright yellow rain coat, complete with reflectors. One thing was certain. I would be seen.



Others started to arrive around 9.30.











Expecting Throttleboss, and others around 1, our group of ever how many went to explore a trail. One I hadn't been on in quite a few years. That took us down to Wagon Wheel Road where we first saw the new washout.



We had planned to cross the road and take the upper trail but the creek was ripping. Debris from the slide had found it's way into the creek bed, making for a very soft mucky mess. One I didn't trust. We rode on toward Jerry's, taking the right that put us the trail.

To my delight, that old trail once called Will's Trail by Will's Dad, was open. Has I had suspected I remembered, the end by the little concrete mine entrance included an agressive downhill. With water flowing I'm glad we weren't coming up. Explorer liked it! We rode back up to the top of the ridge across from the Steps, then took the road back to the cabin.

Now it was time to wait again...

Liked the report so far. But after that weekend I had to put this to use

Capital One Vikings will come after you Ed, lol

Water water everywhere! Thanks for posting. Deliveries here to...

Need all ready - or - Just getting ready

How many miles you have now...

Oh yea. It needs them for sure. It's got 1350-1400 miles on it now. I replaced the fronts at 700 maybe? All 4 this time. It's not bad though. 44.67 for all of the pads shipped. I have to pull the tires to hit all those zerts anyway. Just two more bolts per wheel...

Continuing with the report:

By the time we left the cabin Wednesday afternoon we were 12 machines strong. Easilee double the number of a usual 1st day or half day. Our first stop was for a photo op at the washout.





The water was high in the creeks beside Wagon Wheel Road as we headed toward the campground hoping to check out the creeks, kind of a normal thing for day one. We made it halfway - through the campground. Seeing something like this was a first for me!!





Explorer took his Terex across but no one else wanted to try it, myself included.



We aborted crossing there and took the trail behind the Wheel toward the old Outpost with intentions (isn't this some kind of pavement?) to hit the creeks from the trestle end. We found the shortcut with the new deep ditch, and then the tree fall forcing us back to the gravel. In a rare instance of sanity we decided or came to understand we could get back via the creek, and headed toward THE BLUE BUILDING.



From there it was back to the cabin with day one complete. Mass quantities of both food and liquids where consumed. T-shirts and bandannas were distributed. I made the mistake of staying up too a bit too late.

Thursday March 12:

Due to a decision I made Wednesday night, I didn’t feel too good Thursday morning. But be that as it may, we were going to Ride. It was a bit disappointing that we wouldn't be waiting on Roger. The texts were flying and we knew he would be noon at best. He was instructed to meet us in Bramwell, a place we never made it to.

Today’s group would be much larger. We departed the cabin just before 10AM. Trying to rendezvous with DLMJR9 and Chad, our first stop was Jakes.



Trying to get a headcount was difficult. I was just incapable of coherent thought. Several figures were tossed out but I choose to go with the number Mrs Grumpy provided of 23 machines. One of these was a sport quad.

Wacker wanted to see Wild Willy’s so we slowed just a little as we past. Then it was up on Indian Ridge to T-80, to the Choice.



We took our next break where we left T-80. Due to the size of the group, the going was slow.



We got strung out pretty good on this trail. They were maybe 4 subgroups making their way toward Windmill Gap Road. Reaching what we call halfway, we sat here for quite a while as the group reformed into one mass for the beginning of the second half.



And had some fun.



Back on the trail, we made for WMG Road.







Now on Windmill Gap Road, we took our pause to regroup and make decisions. We decided to enter Pocahontas on T-11 and right the system out toward the Spillway. It didn't take long for us to encounter unnatural trail conditions due to natural resource extraction. The skidder ruts were 3+ feet deep and going to all directions but for the direction we came from. We turned around. :'(

Going from the front of the line to the back, I followed the group in a generalee northern direction. We had abandoned the idea of meeting Roger in Bramwell. We were missing 8-10 head too. Punisher led us to and through old T-85.





We stopped at the end of T-85 to regroup and try to figure out who we were missing. It seemed Bthunter's entire entourage was gone, plus Rocinate and Throttleboss. As we pondered this development, we heard machines approaching from the direction we were heading. Just like that, we had the later two back, PLUS ROGER!

...

There are at least 23 different versions to this report, but Roger said he saw someone speed by and somehow found us. Stuff like this only happens in WV and shows how set in our routes we may have become. Somewhat predictable - which is probablee good. We left for the spillway. Mistakenlee taking a right, we learned some new trail on the way. I tried to hide it the best I could, but some direct backtracking did occur. :-[

OVERHEAT seemed to be the word of the day. Roger had warned us about this mud based phenom. It was good that the spillway was spilling. Many-a radiator were washed out with the grownup squirt guns.

Got it pdf'ed and uploaded.

The ride report for March Mudness 2015 is here

http://www.wvatvriding.com/march%20mudness%202015.pdf