New Mohawk Trail Run

[Lawn Cher']

Earle from RI has announced the intentions of hosting a run in the Mohawk Trail area in No. Adams, MA for the weekend of August 29-31... especially convenient since the Paragon Hardcore run got postponed. Camping arrangements will be announced shortly as soon as we have an idea of how many plan on attending.

There are trails for all levels, containing dirt, rocks, mud, logs, trees, water crossings, hill climbs. Many long trails for hours of non-stop wheeling.

Please reply below with your intentions to attend. Thanks!.

[sidriptide]

count me in... the trail rig will be back on the road tonite.. finally...
mike
P.S... though i'm fairly new to the NAC i got the feeling at the last ride a few weeks ago that new faces arent that common.. summer's awastin' guys!
(..steps down off the soapbox..)

[TOZOVR]

My one down weekend and I'm installing 2 lifts:(

I'll be out there for the the BSROA and VTXS competition the week before though.


Good luck!

[Grizzley]

We're (family and I) coming out to see everyone but won't be running. Still bone stock and found out that TC won't stay in 4 low now. Hoping that it's just a linkage adjustment after it was pulled for the flex plate change.

[Eagle]

Griz, there are some roads/trails out there that you can drive in 2WD -- or maybe 4WD high range -- especially if you have an automatic. Sidriptide and I found a couple last time, and I'm sure there are more. They are more dirt roads than trails for much of their length, but they're off pavelemt and out in the woods.

Maybe some other stockers will show up to run with you. If I'm in the area I'm happy to run stock trails, but I may not be in the area that weekend.

[Moto]

if everything goes according to plan, I should be heading out that was as well. Look forward to seeing you all there.

[Grizzley]

Eagle, thanks for the info. Sidriptide has been egging me on in the background, so I thought we'd at least meet everyone before Maine. If other stockers show and we can do some back roads then we'll probably run.

An aside and a little off topic. Anyone know of a Mainer that has just moved to North Central MA? 90's era red XJ with AJ's bumper, rock rails, decal and a 4-6 inch lift. I'm getting ready to drop one of our cards on his windshield with my telephone number on it to see if I recruit a new face, but if he's already here, then there's no need. Can't imagine he'd know AJ and not us. PM me if anyone has any idea who he is.

[sidriptide]

i talked to earle tonite and i am setting something up to meet with some locals out there from the "berkshire ridgerunners" on saturday. they are a small local club in pitsfield.. maybe we can learn some new trails and make some new contacts and maybe spur a lil interest in eachothers clubs.. only makes sense since we wheel in their backyard anyways..
mike

[Eagle]

Excellent.

Those topo maps we bought show some other dirt roads/trails heading southerly from approximately where we picked up that second trail you and I hit, but heading more south toward Williamstown rather than southeasterly toward North Adams. Perhaps they could tell you if those would be suitable stock-level trails.

[sidriptide]

i'm thinkin its time for a GPS too..
mike

[Lawn Cher']

I won't be able to make it this time... long story, I don't feel like explaining it here.

[sidriptide]

well i guess we will have to see you in Moab then!!

[sidriptide]

lawn cher' do you have the info from earle on the new campgrounds?
mike

[sidriptide]

ok.. i talked to earle tonite.. there are a few changes since the last run.
1st.. the camping is not at greylock this time.. it is in VT on rt 9, about 30 mins north of north adams.. if you intend on camping friday nite i can get you directions..
2nd change is the meeting place. since the trail saturday will be close to the campground the meeting place saturday will be the campground at 9am, INSTEAD of the Big Y lot as has been in the past.. since the campground is out of the way and not as easy to find as the Big Y i will volunteer to meet people at Big Y at 8AM so no one gets lost or delayed.. if you want to meet me there let me know.. pm cellphone # and so forth... i am still working with the Berkshire Ridgerunners to meet them as well and will probably meet them there as well... if you intend to stay over friday or saturday let us know so we can tell earle how many to expect.. as it stands i'm staying over saturday. the trail rides will most likely be finaliazed when we all get together.. if we get stockers and small lifts we can split off from the big boys.. hope to see you there!!
mike

[Grizzley]

8 am on Saturday Mike - you're brutal! E-mail me the directions or at least an address for the campgrounds.

Marshall

m.k.smith@verizon.net

[sidriptide]

brutal? thats only 30 mins earleir than you'd be there if you are going stright to the camp! and i figured we all wont be on the same exact schedule.. so we'd hang till 830 to see if everyone shows. the name of the campground is a lil shaky earle says it's "red mill brook" or "red something" if you take RT 8 notrh from north adams to RT 9, take a left (west) the sign is on the left and the camp is on the right.... i am actually going to find the camp before i head to Big Y that morning.. if you want to go to the camp directly you will have until about 10AM before we get everything ready and hit the road.. the Big Y is a good starting place since you can pack a last-minute lunch. if you arent stopping there think ahead and pack something at home.. there is no supermarket near the camp.
mike

[Eagle]

Mike, that's very amusing! Cell phones in North Adams? You're smoking bad dope. :D

[BrokenXJ]

The name of the campground is called "Red Mill Campground", in the Green Mountain national Forest.

Red Mill Campgound (http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/gmfl/recreation%20management/camping/red_milc.htm)

[Grizzley]

OK, we'll see you one place or the other. Don't wait for us. :D Gonna leave a note on xj2k tomorrow morning, don't think he's figured out the PM feature yet as he hasn't opened the invite I sent him a few days ago.

[sidriptide]

my cell phone worked out there for 1/2 of our trail ride.. and worked in town just fine..
thanks for the info and link BrokenXJ..
have you decided if you are going to make it this weekend Eagle?
mike

[Moto]

This sucks! I was just informed today that I will have to be working this weekend which means I can't go now. I am going to see if someone is willing to swap work schedules with me but its not looking good.

[Eagle]

Originally posted by sidriptide
have you decided if you are going to make it this weekend Eagle?

Nope. The Montana XJ MUST be finished, 'cause I leave for Montana first thing Tuesday morning. Everything I look at on this poor thing turns into a major problem, so I'll be wrenching and packing rather than wheeling.

Have fun, guys.

[sidriptide]

well have a good trip Eagle.. if all goes well i'll see you at Moab... all depends on if the engine replacement in my 99 will be warranty work or out-of-pocket...
mike

[xj2k]

Ok, I'm finally finding my way around here a bit better! Is it too late to join you guys for a bit of wheeling tomorrow? I'd like to do a few moderate trails but don't want to do any extreme trails til I get a locker or two and some spare parts.

I'm not sure where anything is you guys are talking about. I'll be coming down rt. 2 west, I could probably find the big y place if I knew what town it's in!! Do you guys run cb's? What channel should I be on?

Well, if it's still ok, I should see some of you guys tomorrow morning!

Mark

[sidriptide]

its never too late........ especially when you never sleep (like me) rt2 west till get to north adams.. you will come to a scenic overlook and the road goes down the mountain into town.. you cant miss the hairpin turn!!! 5 mins past that you will rol into town.. look for mcdonalds on the right and then Big Y is just past that on the right.. i'll be there by 8.. meeting a few locals there but i'm not sure if they are coming wheeling with us or not... moderate trails are what i'm after too. from the sounds of it i dont think we'd be able to hang with earle on their trail of choice saturday.... see you there..
mike

[Eagle]

North Adams is about 45 minutes from the Greenfield/Route 2 exit off I-91, if that helps any. The Big Y is in a small strip center on the right, in the center of town.

We always recommend CBs, although on Earle's runs some people show up without. Try Channel 4, and maybe someone will be monitoring (hint-hint). Earle seems to like his Grannie's Miniature Radio Set better than a CB, even though the bloody thing never seems to work. So if you have one of those GMRS thingies, bring it along as well.

[Grizzley]

Well, just got back. Had a great time and right up front I want to thank Mike for following me back out to make sure this stocker made it. Definately need 3+, tires and low. Still had a great time and I'm sure that if I was alone I'd have gone all the way to Sucker Pond. Didn't worry too much when the navigators were talking, but when they got quiet, I figured it was time to turn around. hahahaha Course there is a method to my madness. . . :D Only repair will be the cat. Either a test pipe or another, haven't decided yet.

[xj2k]

I am so upset I missed the trip. I had to go to a family event and even though I tried to get out of it my better half made me go. It's been a few years since I've been wheeling and I was so disappointed not to make it.

Anyway, when is the next trip? I'm dying to go somewhere!! Anytime someone from Mass wants to go wheeling let me know and I'll go. I don't know many good places so hopefully you do!

Glad you all had fun and I hope to make it next time!!

Mark

[Eagle]

I believe Earle is planning another run for Columbus Day weekend. That's been an annual thing for hime since long before he joined NAXJA. Stay tuned.

[Grizzley]

Earl was definately talking about the Columbus Day trip. Somehow I'm going to try and be ready for that. We missed ya Mark :( , everyone was waiting for you, family does have to come first though. The group was great and the trails were a lot of fun. Everyone headed back to the campsites after for burgers and dogs. We'd left early, not being able to stay with sidriptide and a wrangler (mike) on the beginner's trail, so didn't make it there. I'm pretty sure my navigators will pass on Columbus day so will probably plan on staying over, hahaha.

:soapbox: With all the views this post got I can't believe that only myself from this site and wrangler mike from jeeps.com (I think) showed up as new faces. You people are missing some fun times that are easily accessible from most of the North East. He came in from the Boston area and it took him less that 2 hours. Sidriptide and mike were headed out to the south side of North Adams to check out a new trail the Ridge Runners told us about after I left. So there's a new trail in the offering now. Should be some good foliage out at that time too. Hope more people show up. Sorry for the soapbox rant. Isn't this why we improve our XJ's though? ? ?

[beaker]

Yep, that was me in the TJ from the Boston area. Despite some nice looking mudholes, Sidriptide & I made it through to Bennington. We would have made a right to try & poke out towards the Wall, but the turn (we thought the others took) was in the middle of a mud hole we weren't sure if we could cross w/o turning.

He has some pics he said he'd post later. Grizzly, I think you would have had mud up on your doors easily, I got some in my passenger side.

Had a good time, I'll definately be seeing some people out there again!

[sidriptide]

first off.. heres a link to my pics..

http://briefcase.yahoo.com/sidriptide

we met up with 5 of the guys from the berkshire ridgerunner at big Y and b/s'd for a while.. they didnt come wheeling but they did make an effort to come out early and meet us.. and later that day earle and steve's group met some more on the trail.. i'm sure we be seeing more of them... after running the entire sucker pond trail i will say its not out of the question for a bone stock XJ.. but definatley a good challenge for a stocker with good tires and low-range.. i got some maps in williamstown and found a good stocker trail that hasnt had much more than Quads on it for a while.. earle broke his rig saturday so sunday he got a chance to ride shotgun for a change and showed me alot more good trails for the "smaller" trucks.. including an excellent mountaintop location.. these are "family friendly" roads i assure you.. there are others i want to run before i claim to "know" them.. HUGE thanks to BrokenXJ for just happening to find a fully outfitted welding truck just stopping in the campground to "use the facilites" as he was passing thru the area.. so earle could drive home safley. i may have more pics to post later.. thanks for coming out guys!!!
mike

[Grizzley]

Nice pics Mike! Looks like Sunday's trails would have been fun for the navigators, hahaha. Look forward to seeing you out there again before Maine in October.

[Grizzley]

I meant to ask this above but forgot. It's about pic 27, any idea? That almost begs for a caption.

[sidriptide]

oh i didnt realie i posted that pic... i was on the north end of the sucker pond trail.... had some stickers like it was from a car lot... radio was gone.. and some serious skidmarks leading to it.. was highcentered bad.... didnt see any local officials to tell as we left town...
mike