Mohawk Madness

[Lawn Cher']

For those of you that have not yet attended a trail ride in the Berkshire & Green Mountains of Massachussetts & Vermont, respectively, you don't know what you've been missing. The wheeling opportunities there are seemingly endless, with many miles of trails ranging from dirt roads to very nasty mud-covered boulder-strewn hill climbs.

5 vehicles met on Saturday and ran 16 miles through the VT mountains, clambering over rocks & logs, slogging through black mud, and wading across the shallow end of a large pond. After a long day, we returned to our campsite high atop Mt. Greylock for a well-deserved BBQ dinner. Despite the thick fog, the view from the group site is spectacular, overlooking a tree-covered valley with more peaks beyond.

We are looking to plan another run in the area sometime over the summer, perhaps July and/or August. It would be great to have a larger turnout, so check your schedules and reply if you are interested in attending.

BTW, access to these trails is FREE, the camping is CHEAP and the town of N. Adams, MA is very CONVENIENT; all of which makes for a very desirable wheeling destination.

 

[Eagle]

Mark beat me to it. He forgot to add that he was, once again, in command of the Kitchen Patrol, and I think Mark deserves a round of thanks for schlepping a grill all the way from Deptford, NJ to the top of Mount Greylock for the BBQ.

The real question is ... WHERE WAS EVERYONE?

Earle and Steve (BrokenXJ) have done a fantastic job of scouting out trails in this region. Except for ultra-hardcore boulder climbs like M Trail, this region has everything Paragon can offer, no entry fees, plus the trails actually go somewhere. We started out leaving pavement at the north edge of North Adams, MA, and we returned to pavement 15 miles into Vermont.

I'm very honestly puzzled. I keep seeing posts asking "Where can we wheel in New England?" and I know at my BBQ a couple of years ago lots of people said they wanted to wheel "up north." Yet whenever Earle puts together one of these runs -- nobody shows up. It's kind of like the sound of one hand clapping.

Folks, you're really missing out on some great wheeling. To be honest, I was a bit upset at Earle's choice of trail because at 4" and 31" tires, my MJ wasn't high enough. I made it through, but I'm reasonably sure there's some damage underneath to be addressed before NACFest. So if you are holding off because you think this is just a drive through the woods on a gravel road ... THINK AGAIN. This is wheeling.

Thanks again to Earle for organizing, and to Lawn 'Cher for cooking.

 

[sidriptide]

you can "pencil me in" for the next outting.. as a sidebar i will be throwing an invitation out later this summer to get some of you out here to see my local area around westfield and blandford..

 

[Mike in NJ]

Eagle posted:

The real question is ... WHERE WAS EVERYONE?

Well, one of the issues has been timing - while I was able to make it to a run last June - a fall trip was scheduled during the 's fallfest in Moab, and this trip was scheduled a week before NACFest - not all of us were in a position to deal with two outings back to back.

I would be more than happy to head North again (including the elusive Maine trip). Earle/Steve puts together a good show, and I look forward to the next one. Just don't schedule it for the first week in Oct again.

Also, to be fair, PA is more central to the entire chapter, and, where are the NE guys for the chapter's main event, Mr. Prez? Folks from Ohio and Virginia are attending, which is not any closer than Boston!

Mike in NJ atriot:

 

[Eagle]

I could dispute that Pennsylvania is central to the chapter. Boston is FAR from the northeastern limit, so using that as a point of comparison is a bit of a red herring. For example, I know we have a member in Ellsworth, ME. That's at least 5 hours beyond Boston. It takes me 3-1/2 hours to get from here to Boston, and 4 hours to get from here to Paragon. That makes it a 12+ hour drive from Ellsworth, and Ellsworth isn't exactly at the tip of Maine.

However, the real point is that this run was scheduled in order to provide an alternative for those folks who either felt they were too far from Paragon, and/or who couldn't take the time on a non-holiday weekend to make the trek from "wherever" to Paragon. It's just puzzling that with all the cries about "where can I wheel?", when we try to take wheeling closer to the people who are asking, they don't take advantage of it.

In fact, Earle will be doing another run on Clumbus Day, which we know is a conflict for those going to Moab. Again, it is being scheduled because we know that not everyone will be able to get to Moab, so here's an alternative. We also hope to have at least one more Mohawk Trail ride between now and October.

 

[Moto]

I know I am one of those types of people that are always wondering where to go wheeling in the NE area. I will definately go but my Jeep sucks right now. It is pretty much stock and doesn't meet the requirements just yet, but pretty soon that should be changing. So I can guarentee that as the summer progresses if there are more NE trail rides especially one in Maine later on in the summer you can count me in. I know I am not afraid of there being gravel roads but rather its just like Eagle said "I was a bit upset at Earle's choice of trail because at 4" and 31" tires, my MJ wasn't high enough" it is things like that, which might keep me away. Don't get me wrong I would love to wheel trails like that but my rig isn't that capable just yet. I know it sounds lame and all but if ever an event comes up that isn't some 12 or so hours away like paragon and rig like mine can handle. I can assure you that I will go

 

[MattBlackXJ]

What's wrong with 5 trucks on a trail ride? IMO 3-5 is a perfect group.

 

[techno1154]

I am sorry I was unable to join you guys on the ride this past weeekend. My ride was broken. It would have been really good to meet some of you guys from the forum. However, I hope to be in Paragon this weekend. I know it will be fun. If there is anyone inthe Waterbury area (or passing through) who would be going on Saturday let me know and we could ride together. I have a dark blue '94 XJ with Tennessee tag.
Patrick.

 

[Mike in NJ]

Moto wrote:

. . . if ever an event comes up that isn't some 12 or so hours away

Whatever you do, DO NOT go by Eagle's driving time estimates - there is no way that Paragon is 12 hours from anywhere in Massachusetts!

I'm not saying that PAP is the only place to go, and I know we want to have good spots to go all over the North East, but the nice thing about it is that there are ALL levels trails there, a stock XJ is more than capable of handling the green trails. Don't let the lack of super mods keep you home (just concentrate on tow points first), there's more than enough stuff to do for everyone.

Hope to see you soon on the trails - somewhere!

Mike in NJ atriot:

 

[Eagle]

Mike, Mike ...

Get your eyeglasses prescription checked. I said it's 12+ hours from Ellsworth, Maine

Edit: Mapquest says it's 594.49 miles and a shade under 10 hours DRIVING time. Since I know it takes almost 9 hours to drive from here to Ellsworth, and Paragon is 4 hours in the opposite direction, I don't believe you can really make that particular 600 mile jaunt in 10 hours. That's averaging 60 MPH, which IMHO is unrealistic in this area when you factor in traffic, construction, and fuel and comfort stops.

YMMV.

 

[Mike in NJ]

You know, I would certainly enjoy engaging you in a lively debate regarding your fixation on Mapquest, discussions of geographical and membership centers of NAC, what/who's post I was responding to, and your lack of humor when it comes to busting your chops, especially regarding your grandmotherly approach to road trips . . . .



But, that would just divert me from focusing on getting my stuff together for NACFest.

See you when you get there . . . however many hours it takes you!

Mike in NJ atriot:

 

[Eagle]

Woodbridge to Hazleton: 200 miles, 4 hours, every time I've been there. Time doesn't seem to vary by more than about 10 minutes.

FWIW, I don't refer to my driving style as "grandmotherly," I refer to it as "legal."

See you Thursday.

 

[CheapXJ]

if it's July/August time, let me know, I gotta run to RI around that time, and If can make that trip coincide with a wheelin' trip...

That woud be sweet

 

[Yellow XJNJ]

You can count me in on trail runs...when my rig is better suited to handle some of the bigger stuff you guys do. (For now im in for little stuff) I got invited to my step family's reunion in Aug. way up there in Syaracuse, NY. I told them "the only way I will go is if I can bring my Jeep and not be around ANY of them, cuz I wanna go wheeling." So All you guys up there in the Northern parts of the Empire State...Ill be looking for you.

 

[Lawn Cher']

So how does the first weekend in August sound to everyone, the 1st-3rd? That way we don't interfere with the developing Paragon dates...

 

[CountryXJer]

1-3 Aug sound like a good time for me (barring any unforseen circumstances!). For the "little" jeeps, do not worry. I wheel the medium trails at paragon with 3" of lift ont 30" tires and open diffs! Just pick your lines and know your vehicle!

 

[sidriptide]

pencil me in!! i should have some sort of trail rig rolling and maybe even legal by then... if not i'll just have to tread daintily with the D/D..... looking forward to meeting some more of the crew..
mike (yes, another mike)

 

[TOZOVR]

Let's do it!!!!!!!

I'm going to be down there with a group onJune 22 methinks as well...


Earle is a BLAST to wheel with!!