Edit: date and location has been set. Follow this link for final preparations
http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?p=128296

Well, it looks like the groundhog saw his shadow... that only means one thing, THAT THERE'S STILL TIME FOR A WINTER TRIAL RIDE!

Hello Tri-State Mk drivers! Remember the last few trail rides we went on? Remember how awesome they were? Perhaps you just saw us talking about them and remember how badly you wanted to attend the next one. Either way. It's high time we do it again! This time, there will be snow instead of mud. Gas prices are down, and tax refunds are on the way. Now is a good time to tell your friends about how you actually do real Jeep stuff with your real Jeep and along with a real Jeep club.

Anyone who wants to make the drive is invited and they don't even have to be a Patriot driver. This thread is to generate interest and set a date and location. Once we accomplish that here, then I'll start a new thread in the Meet/greets forum.

As requested, we can make this one on a weekend... even though it'll be very hard for me to get out of work :) some of the club founders were thinking about late Feb or early March, but even that isn't a sticking point. Possible destinations include, but are not limited to: Badlands, Lake Michigan, Happy Hollow, and Haspin acres.

Its understandable if people are "skiddish" about the snow but if you get stuck, your fellow Pat drivers will rescue ya. If no one gets on board with this one- it's all good because we'll just do another in spring... but it's important to try, because you know what happens if we don't try.....
Nothing.

You know that you can count me in Joe! The only day that is bad for me is Feb 21st. since it's going to be a little chilly for a picnic lunch maybe we can go to one of the local resturaunts in the area this time. As I remember last trail ride getting stuck was half the fun;) Thanks to westsidewilly for pulling out........ Twice.

I want to go. If I only ran things I would have gone to every one.
Where are these places? Lake Michigan, Happy Hollow, and Haspin acres Yes I know where Lake Michigan is but what area? Feb. 25 through Mar. 1 is out for me other wise The rest of March is open for now.

Where are these places? Lake Michigan, Happy Hollow, and Haspin acres

I remember all of these places being on the maybe list when planning the last one. Badlands is a major favorite. It is the perfect place for a Patriot. It's located in Western Indiana.
http://www.badlandsoffroad.com/

Happy hollow is very close to you and I, wwworth, in mid Ohio but I don't know much about it and their website sucks
http://www.horizonview.net/~oelliott/

Haspin acres, I've been to before by myself with my old Suzuki. The place seems to be more for ATV's but we could probably find some stocky truck trails if we look hard enough.
http://www.haspinacres.com/

Schoat (I think) mentioned some sand dune park near lake Michigan but I don't remember much else.

I'm always up for Badlands but Will and I know that place inside and out after only two meetups. There's gotta be someplace new to explore. Likewise, I'd feel pretty crappy if we drive all the way out to Happy Hollow or Haspin and it turns out to be garbage.

Count me in, this time, for sure!

Were you thinking of making it a weekday or weekend?

Either will work for me.

I remember all of these places being on the maybe list when planning the last one. Badlands is a major favorite. It is the perfect place for a Patriot. It's located in Western Indiana.
http://www.badlandsoffroad.com/

Happy hollow is very close to you and I, wwworth, in mid Ohio but I don't know much about it and their website sucks
http://www.horizonview.net/~oelliott/

Happy hollow sounds more like ATV's also so I E-Mailed them asking if Jeeps or Medium SUV's are able to use the park.

Haspin acres, I've been to before by myself with my old Suzuki. The place seems to be more for ATV's but we could probably find some stocky truck trails if we look hard enough.
http://www.haspinacres.com/

Schoat (I think) mentioned some sand dune park near lake Michigan but I don't remember much else.

Those are in the area between New Buffalo and St Joesph MI.
http://www.michigan.org/Things-to-Do/Outdoors/Off-Road-Vehicle/Default.aspx?city=G3149&lm=pf Lists some areas

I'm always up for Badlands but Will and I know that place inside and out after only two meetups. There's gotta be someplace new to explore. Likewise, I'd feel pretty crappy if we drive all the way out to Happy Hollow or Haspin and it turns out to be garbage. xx

Count me in, this time, for sure!

Were you thinking of making it a weekday or weekend?

Either will work for me.

Unless a vast majority sayes weekday (or they don't mind either or), we'll make it a weekend.

I do 35hrs of work on the weekend, and will have to use every last drop of vacation time to make it happen... but to go offroading in the snow- well, it'll be worth it!

If I get to go it makes little difference to me week day or week end.

How about right now!!!! We are having a major lake effect snow event--12 to 20 inches by tomorrow morning!!!! My wife is stuck on the Highway 421 about a mile from our house. Don't know if she will be able to make it home and I probably can't get to her.

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
632 PM EST TUE FEB 3 2009

...INTENSE LAKE EFFECT SNOW TO AFFECT NORTHWEST INDIANA...

.A BAND OF INTENSE HEAVY SNOW WILL BE ACROSS NORTHWEST INDIANA
THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THIS BAND IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN NEARLY
STATIONARY THIS EVENING OVER EXTREME SOUTHWEST BERRIEN COUNTY IN
MICHIGAN...MUCH OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN LAPORTE COUNTY IN
INDIANA...SOUTH INTO STARKE AND PULASKI COUNTIES.

MANY LOCATIONS WITHIN THIS INTENSE BAND COULD SEE A QUICK 4 TO 8
INCHES OF SNOW TONIGHT WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY
ACROSS WESTERN LAPORTE AND NORTHWESTERN STARKE COUNTY. SNOWFALL
AMOUNTS WILL VARY GREATLY FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION...BUT WHERE
DURATION AND INTENSITY ARE MAXIMIZED LOCAL ACCUMULATIONS IN EXCESS
OF 12 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE AND LOCALIZED AMOUNTS OF 20 INCHES
COULD OCCUR...WITH CENTRAL OR WESTERN LAPORTE COUNTY LOOKING TO BE
THE MOST LIKELY AREA FOR THIS TO OCCUR.

INTENSE SNOWFALL RATES OF 2 TO 3 INCHES PER HOUR HAVE BEEN
RECEIVED WITH NEARLY ZERO VISIBILITY AND STRONG WINDS OF 20 TO 30
MPH...CREATING WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND DRIFTING SNOW.

Hey, seriously, a weekend would be good for me.

I don't think the Redbird Off Road Park is open during the winter. It is located in Duggers, IN in southwestern IN.

the Redbird Off Road Park near Druggers, IN accotding to their Web Site is for ATV's, motorcycles or mountain bicycles. No 4 wheel road type vehicle use listed.

the Redbird Off Road Park near Druggers, IN accotding to their Web Site is for ATV's, motorcycles or mountain bicycles. No 4 wheel road type vehicle use listed.

Redbird had 4 Wheel Drive trails; they even had videos with Jeeps doing the trails. Maybe for winter, they have it limited to ATVs????

Trail Information

http://redbirdsra.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=33

I am Sorry I was looking at an older site I guess.
Redbird will be open to the public on December 28th and January 1st, after that it will be open by appointment only till March 27th, contact a Redbird Foundation member to set up you rides during the dates Jan. 2nd thru Mar.27th go to contact section on web site for e-mail address's and phone numbers

Tony Lance Vice President, Operations/ Jeep Questions tlance61@yahoo.com 812-249-8108

I think there is still alot of places we have not yet discovered at Badlands. Last time there we ended up in 3 or 4 new sections and I know there are more. Land between the lakes in Kentucky would be a cool place to go.

Sooo, Badlands is still looking like the best bet so far. Right? Will, are you up to the possibility of badlands again or would you rather somewhere else?

Ha! I think we posted at the same time!

What's land between the lakes all about?

Well, it looks like the groundhog saw his shadow... that only means one thing, THAT THERE'S STILL TIME FOR A WINTER TRIAL RIDE!



What do you do on a "Winter Trial Ride"? :confused: Will this be the first time you've taken your Patriots out in the snow? :icon_rolleyes:

What do you do on a "Winter Trial Ride"? :confused: Will this be the first time you've taken your Patriots out in the snow? :icon_rolleyes:

Nice!

I got a trial run in this morning. We got hit with 6 inches of snow overnight.

Call me crazy, but I actually look foreward to driving in the snow with the Patriot. :smiley_thumbs_up:

I've read a lot about the Badlands on other Jeep sites and it seems like a great place. I know you all have been there a few times but it would be nice to go somewere that someone has been before. Just so you can show us newbies the ropes. :smiley_thumbs_up:

What do you do on a "Winter Trial Ride"? :confused: Will this be the first time you've taken your Patriots out in the snow? :icon_rolleyes:

Ha! It's a Jeep thing, Panda! Someday you'll understand.

Schoat. I'm cool with Badlands for that reason alone... that at least somebody knows the area. Let's give it another day or two and see if anyone can come up with a great place that they've actually been to before. If not. I vote badlands.

The (LBL) Land between the lakes Roads and Trails are closed until further notice. ICE DAMAGE

http://www.lbl.org/TrailsUpdate.html

Would like to make the Trail ride also!

Welcome aboard Muddhog! Thanks for the update.

That big ice storm they had down in Kentucky a week or two ago was brutal! A guy I work with was in that area last week and some of those people will be without power for a month! Badlands is good for me.

Nice!

I got a trial run in this morning. We got hit with 6 inches of snow overnight.

Got ya beat. Tuesday night we got hit with a 20" lake effect snow event. Plowed thru snow up to the bumper on my XJ at 3 AM on my way to work, which is a 46 mile one way drive.

While I was wondering why I was headed to work, the XJ just smiled.

Hoosier you guys out there sure took a pounding! The wife works with people from out your way and said the same thing 20" at least plus drifting. Over here in Dyer I could see the dark skies in the east; they looked like storm clouds just hanging. Glad we got missed and it was sunny here.

20" of snow.... good god! I haven't seen that much snow since I want to Japan! We didn't even get 9" this year. Pathetic.

Well, we have yeat to see any ideas other than Badlands. Let's put it to a vote. Are their any objections to Badlands?

20" of snow.... good god! I haven't seen that much snow since I want to Japan! We didn't even get 9" this year. Pathetic.

Well, we have yeat to see any ideas other than Badlands. Let's put it to a vote. Are their any objections to Badlands?

I wish i lived in your area of ohio.

By the end of the lake effect snow storm, on tuesday, we had about 20 inches total, with the 12 inches that were already on the ground.

I live in Parma right near Strongsville and of course we got hit the hardest. :doh:

The Patriot plowed right thru it. I really thought i was going to get stuck on my street but it muscled thru. :smiley_thumbs_up:

Ok, no objections! Badlands it is!

Now we must determine a date! Here are the dates that are currently a no-go:
Feb 21st
Feb 25-March1st
No one else has mentioned any "no good" dates.

For me, I'd rather a weekday... but- I can swing Sunday- because I got work on Satruday and Monday, for once, I just won't camp. So I guess that makes the possible dates as such:

Feb22
March 8
March 15
March 22
March 29

I'm diggin feb 22, but If we go past March 8, then well have to call it a spring trail ride I think! Please post your thoughts asap so I can give notice to the schedule manager!

Any of those dates are good for me currently.

Feb 22nd is no good for me because it is my nephews 1st b-day. My sister would kill me if I wasnt there for it.

The other dates all look good tho.

So what does everyone think of March 8? Still winter- according to the groundhog!

march 8th works for me.

The 8th looks ok for me too. Let's get some more of you guys to go this time.

Ok then! MARCH 8TH, 2009.

I'll put in for a vacation As soon as I can muster the time, probably tomorrow, I'll create a new thread in the meet/greets forum and bridge it to this thread.

The new thread will be for final preperations and what not.

Date and location has been set. Follow this link for final perparations
http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?p=128296