Jeepin' the dream II.

[chevymitchell]

**Updated 9/7/2019**

Good morning everyone. It's that time of year for me again.

It's time to take the Jeep across our beautiful country and wheel everything I can. I have planned out an Itinerary for this year, which is always subject to change. I wanted to share my experiences with you as I do this trip. I did the same thing last year for Jeepin' the dream. The link to last years trip is here: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/jeepin-the-dream.10162/

The trip this time around is going to include some of the same trails in Colorado, but with many many new ones. I'll be joining up with the Jeep Jamboree 4 times this year. The Jamborees will be marked in the Itinerary with a (JJ) next to the name.

I modified an Aluma AE46 trailer for this trip, as well. This will serve as my camping gear trailer as I plan on camping as much as possible when I'm with my Jeep. Here's the link to the trailer build: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/aluma-ae46-on-37s.29834/

Just like last time around the plan is to drive to the trails, wheel, then store the Jeep, and fly home. I'll then wait a few weeks and fly back, grab the jeep, drive to the next location, wheel, and then repeat the process. The goal this year was the Rubicon Jamboree in August, but the trip has grown into so much more than that. I'll be hitting up all the badge trails I can. I have 19 badges now and plan to collect approx. 14 more this year. Jeep Badge Trails will marked with a (JB)

If you're curious about the Jeep, the link to my garage is here: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/showcase/fat-ninja.748/

Itinerary

5/31 - 6/2

• Hurricane Creek Trail - NC
• Windrock Off-Road Park - TN http://www.windrockpark.com/
  • Trail 16 (JB)
  • Trail 51 (JB)
  • Trail 26 (JB)
  • Trail 27

6/5 - 6/9

• NEMO Tunnel #24
• (JJ) Southern Missouri Off-Road Ranch (SMORR) - MO http://www.smorr.net/
  • Pee Wee's Crossing (JB)
  • Guard Rail (JB)
  • We ran so many trails here, I couldn't keep up.

July (TBD)

With some work trips abroad coming up, I ended up skipping the Colorado trip in July. It's a good thing though since there was a lot of avalanche damage and most trails and passes were impassable.

8/8 - 8/11

• (JJ) Rubicon Trail - CA (JB)

9/12 - 9/14

• (JJ) Ouray - CO (JB)

Whichever Badge Trails I didn't complete last year, I will try to hit up here depending on which trails the Jamboree is doing this year.

10/10 - 10/12

• (JJ) Uwharrie - NC (JB)

Decided to cancel Moab for this year and get my Jeep back home. I traded the Moab Jamboree for the Uwharrie Jamboree since I'll be back in NC for it this year.

11/15 - 11/17

• Hot Springs OHV Park - AR http://www.orvpark.com/
  • Fun Run (JB)
  • Snake (JB)
  • Rubicon Ridge (JB)

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[chevymitchell]

Here are some pics from the first stops on the trip. This was such a blast to do, especially with everyone that went.

There's several of us that got together - @UNC Rubicon - @ThirtyOne - @Tar Heel Wrangler - @ChattVol - Jack W. - Angel C. - Myself

Hurricane Creek was a pretty easy trail to do. There were several nice camping spots we found. We ended up camping at Harmon Den Horse Camp for the night. We got up early and hit the road for Windrock.

Windrock is huge and a great place to wheel. I really enjoyed this park a lot. The badge trails are pretty easy except for Trail 16. Trail 16 has some good obstacles to attempt, but you can make it. Just bring a spotter and a winch. A rear locker would be super helpful, otherwise, it's a great trail to challenge your comfort zone.

These pics aren't necessarily in any order:

 

[chevymitchell]

Here are some videos from the first portion of the trip. I set the 23 videos into a playlist through YouTube.

Hurricane Creek and Windrock.

 

[Sean L]

Looks like y'all had an awesome time! I need to stock up on some camping gear if I'm gonna join in on the next one.

 

[ChrispyJL]

WOW...Anyone break anything?
That one hill decent looked hairy as hell, did you use hill decent?
That grey JKUR looked stock.
Awesome Pictures
That is my idea of a vacation...maybe one day...actually definitely one day

 

[chevymitchell]

WOW...Anyone break anything?
That one hill decent looked hairy as hell, did you use hill decent?
That grey JKUR looked stock.
Awesome Pictures
That is my idea of a vacation...maybe one day...actually definitely one day

Everyone made it home without breaking anything; just a few pinstripes here and there from some overgrowth.

 

[mgroeger]

Everyone made it home without breaking anything; just a few pinstripes here and there from some overgrowth.

Was that Sport stock or is that the one you guys put the Rubi suspension on?

 

[Sean L]

Was that Sport stock or is that the one you guys put the Rubi suspension on?

That's @ThirtyOne's Jeep and we put a Rubi suspension on it just before we did mine.

 

[ThirtyOne]

Great post Shawn! That trip was so much fun. Enjoyed meeting Jack, Angel, and Matt (@ChattVol ) for the first time. All really great guys.

@UNC Rubicon deserves a lot of respect for tackling trail #16 at Windrock. A lot of challenging sections and a long trail. He finished it in the dark. Ran it great. Of course @chevymitchell gave him a lot of confidence leading him through it and spotting, but Brett really stepped up to earn that badge.

Also @Tar Heel Wrangler took a stock Sport S with the factory all terrains through Hurricane Trail with no trouble. Wasn't real challenging but it was a really pretty trail and it shows that you can have a great time with a stock Jeep.

Already looking forward to the next one.

 

[chevymitchell]

Great post Shawn! That trip was so much fun. Enjoyed meeting Jack, Angel, and Matt (@ChattVol ) for the first time. All really great guys.

@UNC Rubicon deserves a lot of respect for tackling trail #16 at Windrock. A lot of challenging sections and a long trail. He finished it in the dark. Ran it great. Of course @chevymitchell gave him a lot of confidence leading him through it and spotting, but Brett really stepped up to earn that badge.

Also @Tar Heel Wrangler took a stock Sport S with the factory all terrains through Hurricane Trail with no trouble. Wasn't real challenging but it was a really pretty trail and it shows that you can have a great time with a stock Jeep.

Already looking forward to the next one.

Well said, Lawrence!

 

[UNC Rubicon]

I’m not sure there’s much more to be said but I had an absolute blast with everyone. I couldn’t tell you the last time I’ve laughed so hard - between all the shit talking and especially @ThirtyOne trying to open his chair.

I’m so fortunate to be a part of an amazing group of like minded folks. I’ve quickly learned that Jeepin’ is just as much (if not more) about the friendships and bonds formed as it is about wheeling.

Huge shout out to @chevymitchell for being our spotter this weekend. His calm and confident personality really allowed everyone to push themselves outside their comfort zone and become better wheelers.

Trail 16 was a beast and tested my resolve and my Jeep. However, I’m a better wheeler because of it. It took us 5 and 1/2 hours to run (from camp to trail to camp) but it was worth every second - although at times it seemed like the wheeling version of The Song That Never Ends.

 

[ThirtyOne]

I’m not sure there’s much more to be said but I had an absolute blast with everyone. I couldn’t tell you the last time I’ve laughed so hard - between all the shit talking and especially @ThirtyOne trying to open his chair.

I’m so fortunate to be a part of an amazing group of like minded folks. I’ve quickly learned that Jeepin’ is just as much (if not more) about the friendships and bonds formed as it is about wheeling.

Huge shout out to @chevymitchell for being our spotter this weekend. His calm and confident personality really allowed everyone to push themselves outside their comfort zone and become better wheelers.

Trail 16 was a beast and tested my resolve and my Jeep. However, I’m a better wheeler because of it. It took us 5 and 1/2 hours to run (from camp to trail to camp) but it was worth every second - although at times it seemed like the wheeling version of The Song That Never Ends.

That chair is defective. I've drafted a strongly worded letter to the manufacturer. My attorney is reviewing it now.

 

[wahlsaint]

Love this whole idea guys, nice!!

 

[wibornz]

You are going to some of the places that I am this year. We will be at Windrock for the three trail badges in two weeks. Then later in the begining of November we are headed to Las Vegas from Michigan via Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Nevada for a wheeling trip.

Needless to say, I am watching this thread as you go. When we go to Windrock, there will be a stock JLUR, a JLUR on 35s and then my JLUR on 37. We are also going to go run Nemo's tunnel while we are down there. There may be a fourth JLUR with us as the Jeeping thing has bit another one of my buds and he is shopping right now for a JLUR.

Great pics, and thanks for the write up.

 

[UNC Rubicon]

You are going to some of the places that I am this year. We will be at Windrock for the three trail badges in two weeks. Then later in the begining of November we are headed to Las Vegas from Michigan via Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Nevada for a wheeling trip.

Needless to say, I am watching this thread as you go. When we go to Windrock, there will be a stock JLUR, a JLUR on 35s and then my JLUR on 37. We are also going to go run Nemo's tunnel while we are down there. There may be a fourth JLUR with us as the Jeeping thing has bit another one of my buds and he is shopping right now for a JLUR.

Great pics, and thanks for the write up.

Y’all will have a blast at Windrock. The badge trails are spread out across the park. We did 26 and 16 on Saturday. Then did 51 on Sunday. It takes close to 90 minutes to get to the trailhead for 51 from the campground.

Trail 16 took us about 5 and 1/2 hours from leaving camp to returning. We took a wrong turn, detoured to see a waterfall, and then had to wait for a lot of side by sides to make one of the last hill climbs. We finished the trail in the dark which turned out to be a lot of fun.

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