Edit: The trailride is over! Go to page 5 to see the Pics! .... and page 6 for the Video!

Aww is it that time again!? Yep, I think so! It's time for another trail ride for the tri-state mks! Technicaly, any Jeep Patriot driver in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio is invited, but I think we'll be willing to accept any Jeep driver in any state, so long as you're willing to make the drive.

It's because we're nice guys. We also like to go offroad at the best known offroad park... Badlands, Indiana. This location can easily be found by doing a google search. I managed to get Sunday March 8th off, so I'm there, so help me, if it's the last thing I do. If you have a Partiot and want to see what it can do, then now is the time to try it out. You'll have excellent and expirenced guides, like myself and Will H.

Join us for a winter trial ride!

This thread will be for final planinng and logistics.

tail ride! :woot:

too far for me, but I'd be in otherwise.

Its a 6 hour hike for me so I will probably just take monday off, and have a long weekend.

I will be definately be there!

Just a few questions that I, and others may have.

What time did you guys meet in the past?
Is there a fee to get in? If so how much?
What equipment is required by the park? Ex. toe straps, flag, tow hook, radio, etc.
What additional equipment would you recomend?

Its a 6 hour hike for me so I will probably just take monday off, and have a long weekend.

I will be definately be there!

Just a few questions that I, and others may have.

What time did you guys meet in the past?
Is there a fee to get in? If so how much?
What equipment is required by the park? Ex. toe straps, flag, tow hook, radio, etc.
What additional equipment would you recomend?


Very good questions Schoat! The fee is only $20 for the whole day. This is an excellent deal considering how vast and well-maintained the park is. 6 hrs? And I thought my 3.5 hrs drive was long! You may wanna camp. Their electric sites are cheap. I'd camp if it was a weekday. But I could only get Sunday off. Oh well. They also have a good hotel in Attica. Bring an extra few bucks for the gift shop. And I think we're planning on dinner afterwards at a local resturant. Also, there's a gas station in town but we never use much more than a quarter tank after a full day of riding.

Here's Badlands' website:
http://www.badlandsoffroad.com/

The only required equipment is the orange flag. You can get the kind on the long whip pole or the one that sticks in the window. For safety sake, the higher the better. It's been my experience that we often vanish behind dunes or hills and the flag gives us and the atv's an extra second to see what's coming over the hill and avoid collisions. It's also a good idea to have a tow strap, the kind with loops and not metal hooks. The longer the better. Something to attatch the strap to is also helpful.

Edit: Badlands sells orange flags, BTW.

On the past few rides, we found that radios are really helpful. We'll be on CB channel 19 or FMS (talkabout) channel 1.0 I got both and have two extra FMS radios to lend out. Base mounted CBs work good but handheld CB's signals are blocked by the jeep's interior and don't transmit very far. For that reason, I reccemend FMS, because they're cheaper and easier.

Additional equipment could be a fire extinguisher (god forbid) and be sure to dress for the weather. I once wore sandles to Badlands and will never do that again. They have soft drinks and snacks at the office.
We always try to meet up as early as possible. Around 10ish. That means I have to set out around 630a! Yikes. Gonna need coffee... no, Rockstar! The unforseen may happen and one of us may be late. My cell doesn't work once I hop off the freeway so we usually just randevous at the large parking lot down the hill from the park office. Start calling for us on one of the radio channels when you arrive. When the bulk of the group meets, we'll start offroading and then check the lot periodically for stragglers.

Wish I could join you... I'm so jealous...

Sounds great----- Shame I have the Atlantic in the Way!!

I'll be there along with some of the other guys that went last time.

A little contribution from me to your little club there.
Since I can't join you...it's the only thing I can do...
HAVE FUN for us too!!! :)

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq41/deres/Jeep%20Patriot/tri-stateMKs.jpg

PS Joe loved it, I hope the rest of you like it as well.

Deres
I do not know about the rest but I love it. Thank you very much.
I vote for you to be listed as an honorary Charter member of the club.
We have not become official but with a logo I think we should start the process.
Thanks again for your contribution.
WWW:smiley_thumbs_up::banana::smiley_thumbs_up:

I really love that logo as well! Will be printing out a dozen copies soon, thanks Deres! That is one heck of a contribution indeed!

Will, that's great that your buddies are coming again! Only a few weeks away, I can't wait. Need to get away so very badly!

I really love that logo as well! Will be printing out a dozen copies soon, thanks Deres! That is one heck of a contribution indeed!

Will, that's great that your buddies are coming again! Only a few weeks away, I can't wait. Need to get away so very badly!

Glad you liked it, thanks for your good words.
Joe, if you want it in higher resolution or any editable format, PM me your mail.

Very cool deres:smiley_thumbs_up:. That would look great as a window decal. I second honorary charter member wwworth; and do you think you'll make this ride?

I am working on it. I might loose my membership if I don't make it!! I may convoy with Joe if he will let me. How about it Joe can I follow you up Sunday? I could be in Warsaw that weekend for taxes if I am I will come from there.

Wwworth, I was actually thinking a caravan was a great idea aswell! Since you gotta drive by my area to get to I70, and I practially got the route memorized! Last time, I drafted a semi all the way out at 65mph. Probably won't need to be so stingey with the gas this time.

Deres, higher resolution "probably" won't be necessary. I intend to make it into a bunch of little stickers. Perhaps combine those stickers with a Jeeppatriot.com flyer and hand it to the countless Patriot drivers that keep popping up in my area.

Ok Joe we can work out the details closer to the time of the trip. Schoat333 any idea what route you will take?

It looks like ill be coming down I71 and catching I70 in columbus.

If it works out, looks like it could be a convoy of 3. My son was just hired at Kings Island for the summer so I won't have to worry about taking him to work in march, My chance of going on the ride is getting better.

Sounds perfect! Perhaps we can all meet somewhere on I-70w. Like a burger king or something. Then I can get a quick breakfast to go with the 4 amps I'll be drinking.

How about the one at Ohio 127 and I70 just west of Dayton?
Travel Centers of America (937) 456-5521 6762 Us Route 127 N, Eaton, OH

How about the one at Ohio 127 and I70 just west of Dayton?

I was litteraly thinking the same thing! Schoat, if you wanna caravan with us, PM me or Wwworth with a cell number.


For those of you just joining us, we are making final preperations to drive out to Badlands Offroad park in West Indiana for a trail ride on March 8th. Anyone one who is willing to make the drive and wants to do some real offroading is invited. Details are located on page one of this thread. There are other threads in this meet/greets forum on our last trailride at Badlands. It has pics and a youtube slideshow.

We need a videographer badly if anyone is willing!

Score! Check out my new signature! Thanks Deres! Now, off to get some stickers made!

Joe, I sure would like one of them stickers, I'll pay you for it.

Joe, I sure would like one of them stickers, I'll pay you for it.

Hey, you and Joe interested in an "Obama '08" sticker???? I have a couple leftovers.....:D

Will, not in a million years are you paying me for anything I do for you! I'll hook stickers... and hopefully decals for anybody who shows up on the 8th.

Panda, hold onto the Obama stickers. I think they'll make good collectors items to go along with all the plates and coins they're makin now. I already own a piece of history, as it turns out. !

Hey, you and Joe interested in an "Obama '08" sticker???? I have a couple leftovers.....:D

No you can keep it for the "smart" car. Embrace the "O"

OBAMAnation ROCKS!!! :banana:

Okayyyy, anywayyy......

The long range forcast for the 8th should be approaching soon! We'll have to be sure to keep an eye on it. Based on what we're gonna get tomorrow, it looks like there's still a chance we'll have some snow on the ground on the trailride. It's a win-win either way for me! Snow is awsome but also scary because it hides boulders and fissors. Either way, it's sure to be cold.... that will be so good for the vehicles! We won't have to worry about cool-down breaks!

Hey Joe!

Not to be picky or anything, but did you know Winter 09 is almost a year away yet?

Just sayin...

:icon_rolleyes:

P.S., I hope you guys have a great time on the 8th! I look forward to a trail ride later in the year.:smiley_thumbs_up:

Hey Joe!

Not to be picky or anything, but did you know Winter 09 is almost a year away yet?

Just sayin...

:icon_rolleyes:

P.S., I hope you guys have a great time on the 8th! I look forward to a trail ride later in the year.:smiley_thumbs_up:

Nonsense! It's still officially winter.... and it's currently 09! Geesh!

That pic under your signature is the best photo ever, isn't it?! (I'm the furthest to the left). That was good times! I'm sure this one will be too.

Nonsense! It's still officially winter.... and it's currently 09! Geesh!

That pic under your signature is the best photo ever, isn't it?! (I'm the furthest to the left). That was good times! I'm sure this one will be too.

Make sure you line 'em up for another photo like that bud! If you get a good one, feel free to send it along and I'll do it up for ya just like my sig.:smiley_thumbs_up:



(And I must be out of synch. Here I thought it was still winter of the 08 season):confused:

One week away! The long term weather forecast looks to be dry and in the 50's. Still a long way off to know for sure.

Www, here's the route I got set up. The straight shot through Indianapolis is definitly the bast way to go despite what mapquest sayes... then again, I don't know what traffic will be like at 9am-ish driving through the city. Guess we'll see. What do you think? Did I get #1. right? I know it takes around 3.5 hrs. So if we meetup at 7ish we should be there by 11a at the latest.


1. Randevous at Travel Centers of America on us127 off 70w with Wwworth and Schoat between 7:00a-730a.

2. 70w straight into Indianapolis then take 74w

3. 74w to 41n into Attica

4. Left at the big church at the South end of town then Left at the dead end. Look for large Badlands sign on the right.

Well guys, it's getting closer to the date and I was wondering how many Patriots we will have attending this trip? I have 3 non Patriot vehicles comming with that I know of. I was hoping we would or could get a few more takers.

Can I tag-a-long? I will be doing no to little off-roading in my 2WD. I can bring my camera and take pictures and videos of more Jeep Jeeps having some fun.

Traffic? At 9AM on a Sunday? Ha, there won't be any... :)
Here is a suggestion for travelling through downtown Indy (in this case it is the corner of downtown and mostly Speedway).
This will take you right past the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
I-70W to I-74W Through Downtown Indy (http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Mt+Comfort&1s=IN&2c=Attica&2s=IN#a/maps/l::I-70+W:Indianapolis:IN::US:39.79977:-86.024391:::1/l::N+Stadium+Dr;+Stadium+Dr:::::39.784164:-86.179473:::2/l::W+16th+St:::::39.787868:-86.212532:::2/l::I-74+W:Indianapolis:IN::US:39.821857:-86.306709:::1/m::9:39.801329:-86.165643:0:::::/io:1:::::f:EN:M:/e)

Can I tag-a-long? I will be doing no to little off-roading in my 2WD. I can bring my camera and take pictures and videos of more Jeep Jeeps having some fun.

Traffic? At 9AM on a Sunday? Ha, there won't be any... :)
Here is a suggestion for travelling through downtown Indy (in this case it is the corner of downtown and mostly Speedway).
This will take you right past the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
I-70W to I-74W Through Downtown Indy (http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Mt+Comfort&1s=IN&2c=Attica&2s=IN#a/maps/l::I-70+W:Indianapolis:IN::US:39.79977:-86.024391:::1/l::N+Stadium+Dr;+Stadium+Dr:::::39.784164:-86.179473:::2/l::W+16th+St:::::39.787868:-86.212532:::2/l::I-74+W:Indianapolis:IN::US:39.821857:-86.306709:::1/m::9:39.801329:-86.165643:0:::::/io:1:::::f:EN:M:/e)


No problem. I'll have an extra seat if you want to ride along with me if the roads or trails get too rough for 2WD only. I should be there around 9:30ish.

Yes! You should totally come too Joe! I'm bringing stickers for everyone! It's be great fun. You can test the limits of the 4x2 and we'll save ya if you get stuck.

Check page one on what to bring.

Hahahaha! I almost forgot about the Sunday traffic situation! Probably not much church traffic on the freeway! I'll try to get out there as soon as possible. Shooting for 11ish.

No problem. I'll have an extra seat if you want to ride along with me if the roads or trails get too rough for 2WD only. I should be there around 9:30ish.

DON'T DO IT JOE!!! This guy is CRAZY! :wow:

j/k.....you'll be in good hands. Maybe you can get a pic of him RESCUING another YJ or TJ !! :D

Yes! You should totally come too Joe! I'm bringing stickers for everyone! It's be great fun. You can test the limits of the 4x2 and we'll save ya if you get stuck.

Check page one on what to bring.

Like I said earlier, I still have an "OBAMA 08" sticker left over, if y'all would like it! If any of you get stuck, you can ask him to rescue YOU too! :icon_rolleyes:

Like I said earlier, I still have an "OBAMA 08" sticker left over, if y'all would like it! If any of you get stuck, you can ask him to rescue YOU too! :icon_rolleyes:


Hey now... this aient the sway bar! Keep the discussion where it belongs, please! Buttt.... now that you mention it, you wouldn't happen to have any "don't blame me, I voted for the other guy" stickers left over from the Bush years do ya?

..... you wouldn't happen to have any "GO AHEAD, blame me, I voted for THAT guy" stickers?


There, I corrected that for you!:D

THATS the sticker I may be looking for in a few months, or years. But I hope for everyones sake, I'M NOT!

But getting back on the topic at hand, The Badlands is a great place and I'm already missing hanging out with Joe, Will and.....hummm, who WAS that 'other' guy???? :icon_rolleyes:

that 'other' guy???? :icon_rolleyes:

Randy! ;)

Randy! ;)

Thanks 'Snoop'! :smiley_thumbs_up:

Oh wait.....I think there were just THREE of us on that trip. The Black Pat, the Green Pat and some old Khaki colored Compass.....:icon_rolleyes:

Daylight savings time begins on Sunday March 8th just so we are all on the same time.

since Sunday I have been dealing with my first and hopefully last cold for this winter. I think it would like to grow up and become the flue and I just want it to go away before Sunday. At this point I am not sure who is winning.

Daylight savings time begins on Sunday March 8th just so we are all on the same time.


This is the second year for Indiana as a whole (ok mostly whole) to observe daylight savings time (EST Daylight). So Attica will still be on the same time as New York and 1 hr ahead of Chicago.

Just make sure to get to bed early because you're gonna lose an hour of sleep. :)

Uh oh, the forecasters are now calling for 70% chance of heavy rain on Sunday. Wonder if they will be right. :icon_rolleyes:

Great news everyone! By some crazy stroke of luck, I got monday off so I'll ba camping out there! Which is good because Ill be running on *2* hrs of sleep and 20 Rockstars... thanks to stupid daylight saving time!

I'll also have my awsome little dog with me.

I'll get to show you guy's my latest camping contraption! Running water in the Jeep! This makes handwashing for camping, fishing and trailriding very easy and convienient.

Www, this is gonna be a rough drive for me... Ill probably need to take a few pitstops for me and my dog. I understand if you don't wanna caravan. Hope you feel better. Ill give you a rockstar when I see ya. That'll cure what ailes ya! Lemme know.

The latest Attica weather showed scattered T storms with some partial sun. The rain will not really make a difference except keep the dust down which is good. Our group will leaving from the Chi-town area about 6:30-7:00AM.

Looks like I may be having someone with a Toyota FJ tagging along too. I have couple of guys comming with old beat up looking Jeeps for him to play with.;)

That's great Will! This trailride attendance may beat the last one's number! How sweet would that be?!

So very jazzed about camping after the trailride! Didn't even know I could pull it off until today. Also, I take it we're agreed about going to a local resturant for dinner afterwards? I don't plan on roasting hotdogs that night so I'm going to dinner no matter what.

A little soggyness may be fun! I aien't worried. Hope it does rain a bit, that'll keep things clean, unless we venture into the mud pit ;)

Randy! ;)

Wasn't me Joe. I haven't yet had the pleasure of meeting Big Panda yet.

Hope you guys have a 'riot' on Sunday!
If FiremothJoe makes up another run this summer, you can bet I'll be there. (with camera in hand!)

Drive safe getting there and back you guys.:smiley_thumbs_up:

I hate to be "that guy" but Im not going to make it.

To make a long story short, my patriot is at the dealer getting some warranty work done, and im not sure if i will have it back in time.

I have had no trouble with my patriot in the year that i have had it, but i seem to have run into some bad luck. :doh:

First my drivers door lock froze. No big deal, its happened before. Well this time the lock cylinder actually cracked from the strain so my door lock has to be replaced (special order of course).

Then i was driving home from a tapping party at the local brewery. Driving along on the highway, and all of the sudden a small chunck of concrete from a bridge i was under fell and cracked my windshield. Unfortunately I have to pay for that one. :icon_rolleyes:

Finally, last weekend i was trying to change the CD out so i hit eject.... waiting... waiting... then it says thoes famous 3 letters ERR. Awsome my CD is stuck in the radio.

I gave in and just took it to the dealer, told them to look it over incase my bad luck was spreading to any other parts. :doh:

Man, Schoat, that is some bad luck! No worries though. We'll be doing one in the spring for sure. (And summer, and fall, and winter). I think I found an awsome place BESIDES Badlands. We'll talk about that later though.

Promise me you'll be at the next one Randoo! :)

I hate to be "that guy" but Im not going to make it.


Well I guess I will be that guy #2. I am in bed with the flue. The next time I plan on coming I will just show up. Have a good run guys I will be thinking about you between coughing bouts.:(

I'm still trying to reschedule our taxes for tomorrow instead of Sunday. Our tax preparer will call to see if she can get us in. If so, maybe I can make it down.

And they keep dropping like flies. The guy I know with the FJ is out
(wussed out that is) doesn't want to offroad in the rain.:icon_rolleyes: My buddies kid with the CJ7 is out due to blowing the front axles out yesterday climbing rock piles in low range with a lead foot.:doh: At least my trans rebuild is still working or was. His dad with the Cherokee is still in though.

JoeBecker, Are you still in with the few and possibly wet on Sunday?

The latest Attica weather showed scattered T storms with some partial sun. The rain will not really make a difference except keep the dust down which is good. Our group will leaving from the Chi-town area about 6:30-7:00AM.

Looks like I may be having someone with a Toyota FJ tagging along too.

Probably afraid the FJ's frame will crack:-))

http://www.toyota120.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4521

Here is the latest forecast from the NWS office in Indy.

http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=INZ035&warncounty=INC045&firewxzone=INZ035&local_place1=Attica+IN&product1=Hazardous+Weather+Outlook

I'm still trying to reschedule our taxes for tomorrow instead of Sunday. Our tax preparer will call to see if she can get us in. If so, maybe I can make it down.

Hope you can make it Hoosier let me know if you can make it.

Hope you feel better. Ill give you a rockstar when I see ya. That'll cure what ailes ya! Lemme know.

OMG, ROCKSTAR? :wow:......and I thought I was bad, drinking AMP!!! :icon_rolleyes:

Have a blast you guys and make sure you get pics with some MUD on those MK's!!! :D

JoeBecker, Are you still in with the few and possibly wet on Sunday?

Sure, the rain will give mine a much needed bath. :)
Of course, if it is blatently obvious that there is going to be unrelenting thunderstorms all day by Sunday morning...

Today would have been a great day to go. :(

What is the expected ETA?

I'm not sure how the daylight savings time works for you but Saturday night my clocks go ahead an hour. Based on that I will be leaving around 6:30-7:00AM and it takes me about 2 1/2 hours to get there. So I should be there around 9:00-9:30 (CST).

Tomorrow the Patriot goes in for an oil change and a tire rotate so I'll be ready to go.:smiley_thumbs_up:

I'm not sure how the daylight savings time works for you but Saturday night my clocks go ahead an hour. Based on that I will be leaving around 6:30-7:00AM and it takes me about 2 1/2 hours to get there. So I should be there around 9:00-9:30 (CST).

Warren County (where Badlands is located) is on Eastern Time and will observe daylight savings as does Indianapolis.
So the plan is 10:00-10:30 AM (EDT) - Badlands local time.

So you are on Central (the corner that goes with Chicago)?
http://www.timetemperature.com/tzus/intznew2.gif

Yep we sure are, always have been.

Yep we sure are, always have been.

Here in La Porte County, we are on CT. However, I work in the ET zone (St. Joseph County) and depending on my schedule, can be in and out of both time zones several times in one day. Talk about confusing! One clock in the house is always set to 'fast' time (ET) and rest are on 'slow' time (CT).

With the time change, that means Monday morning my body will feeling like it's getting up at 1:00 AM (2:00 ET) instead of 2:00 AM (3:00 ET). I've been doing this for seven years; I don't know if one ever get used to it. One only learns to cope with the schedule.

If I get to the trailride, I will be leaving early. On the bright side, if the park was open at 3:00 AM, I could be there without any problems!

Here in La Porte County, we are on CT. However, I work in the ET zone (St. Joseph County) and depending on my schedule, can be in and out of both time zones several times in one day. Talk about confusing!

Thats brutal Hoosier I'd be :confused: all the time!

Ill try to be there by 11a Badlands time. Ill be off work at 2:30a on Satruday which will actually be 3:30a. Will get up at 6a and should be well on my way by 7a. Could arrive by 10 if traffic is perfect.

You guys go wheelin without me and ill call for you on the radio or track you down when I arrive.

We definitly need to explore new areas time around. Ill have my hiking gear with me and will do so on foot if needs be!

Trailride: Pictures here (http://jeeppatriot.com/forum/album.php?albumid=59)

Will H, his buddy with the Cherokee, firemothjoe, and myself went despite mother nature's attempt to rain on the fun.
The place was pretty crowded too. Lots of lunatic bikers, ATVs, and several lifted vehicles.

The day started as overcast, then there was a monsoon, the sun came out, and just before we left another monsoon followed by sun.
I rode with Will H most of the day since mine is just a 2WD. After we had lunch, I did take mine out into some of the paths to the big hills (I know, no pictures so it didn't happen :icon_rolleyes:). Most of the badlands consists of various sizes of pea gravel and the loose depth can vary greatly. I was fine as long as the loose depth did not approach 3" and I could keep up my momentum. I did get stuck on the path to the dunes. There were several big puddles and whoops in a row. The loose gravel got too deep and I just could go no further. I got myself freed by rocking back and forth. I had no room to turn around. So I turned on the backup camera, and reversed my way back to the road (My jeep was now rear wheel drive). :)

The pictures are mostly from the quarry area. I have several videos of mud running, sand pile riding, and driving around in the pea gravel. I also have some video of a higly modified Bronco and a couple of Cherokees. Right now I am trying to figure out where I am going to put them.


It was fun to meet Will and Joe.
Thanks for being my driver, Will :smiley_thumbs_up:

Glad to have you ride along Joe, It's nice to have someone else looking where your going and to talk to. We all know you had the 4X2 out there and we seen it. I was surprised how well it did in the sand/pea gravel stuff out there. It might have been a little easier if it weren't so wet; I sure noticed the difference.

On the way home I ran into (or it ran into me) Those 60mph winds :wow: it was all I could do to stay on the road! I had to stop for fuel and it was all I could do to complete that task. It was a pretty open area.

Thanks for the cabin filter Joe I'm sure it will used soon since This is trailride #3 and my factory one has been in there since the first one. Looks like you could sell these as a alternative to the factory ones. Very nice workmanship.

Firemothjoe will probably be on tomorrow as he is camping out tonight :zzz:

Surprize!! :) anybody still up? It's almost midnight and I'm over here at Turkey Run state park's campground! My cell apparently gets a strong enough signal to use the internet! So I just found the 9,000th reason that Turkey Run's campground is better than Badland's campground: my cell gets a signal! The other reasons include, but are not limited to the fact that Turkey run feels infantly more rustic and nature-y. It is practically vaccant, and surrounded by hiking trails... I'm secluded and by myself... it's pitch black out here and there are constant wind gusts of over 20mph. The atomphere is totally scary, standing out here in the pitch darkness and thrashing winds sends my survival instincts into overdrive. I'd go on a night hike if I didn't have my dog with me. Oh, and it's only $11.50! My Ohio campgrounds charge $25 for half the quality of this place! The camp security officer is also very nice and doesn't treat me like some punk kid wierd-o, I'm sure he deals with a lot of them. I'm testing out some new camping rigs that makes sleeping in the jeep in cold-windy weather both possible and pleasant.

Anyway enough about that. Each trailride seems to be a little better than the last and this one was no exception.
(Continued in a sec.........)

As the guys said, it was the four of us who went. Only four, but it's ok, because I've come to realize that any number greater than one is a massive success. You can't go to these places alone. You just can't. You gotta have a guy waching your back incase you get lost, stuck or injured. This is vital. So I was very greatful to share the company of Will H, Joebecker, and Will's Buddy who drives a cherokee.... CherokeeDan.

We did the usual rounds at Badlands but it felt differant this time. I was kind of hopeing for a snowstorm when I planned this one, but instead we got one of the biggest downpours I've seen in a long time. If you think offroad parks are interesting, try one during a flash flood! Bumps became creeks instantly! The puddles doubled in size and the mud turned into silt, as soft and squishy as chocolate mousse. This was fine for the otherwise dry "Rock Querry" but it turned the "Mud Pit" into a big fat no-go.

I know Joebecker has some amazing video shots of us playing in the downpour aftermath and I can't wait to see them!

Oh and by the way Joe, I got SEVERAL pics of your 4x2 charging through the sand like it was nothing! Joebecker was able to demonstrate that diving skills go a very long way in the most hostile terrain. I'll post my best crappy-camera-action-shots as soon as I can! Gotta get home first.

There were a lot of amazing plays worth mentioning besides the ones already noted by Will and Joe, but I'm fighting fatugue and may litteraly go mad if I don't give my brain a rest soon. The play that I have to mention asap was "Hamburger Hill" (I'll make a list of all places nick-named by the Tristate Mk's at a later time.)

That damn Hamburger Hill!

Ok, so I can't make it up some hills. I usually can figure out what I can and can't do at this point just by looking at the hill- we often try them anyways. But Hamburger Hill had nearly no slope angle and didn't look at all difficult. It was actually low area that connected two actuall real hills. So I dived right into it like I wasn't worried and so did Dan in his Super Cherokee. We both didn't think we were in any trouble when suddenly.... QUICKSAND!!!!! My tires sank and Dan's were burried halfway. We raced neck and neck at about .5 miles and hour as both our engines labored to keep momentum on level ground. I finally got bogged down and stopped. By some mirical, I was able to back out and get out of the way so Will could take a shot. He had to same trouble as I did. We both called it quits and found another wussy route to get to the top.

Dan kept going. It's one thing for a stocky to give up, but Mega-Mods don't give up if they can keep moving forward, at least that's my theory. Inch by 9,000 RPM inch, Dan fought his way up the smooth, gentle slope of Hamburger hill. All four of his wheels were sinning out simeotaneously... but were doing so slowly! I guess that's what torque looks like! He forced his way through the belly of the beast and burst out its entrails! Hamburger was defeated, but not for good, it still must be beaten by a Patriot one day

Nite nite. More to come later. Going Hiking at Turkey Run tomorrow. If I stumble across anything beautiful, I'll snap some shots and add it to my postings tomorrow.

Keep them coming :smiley_thumbs_up:
We are waiting breathless!!!

On the way home I ran into (or it ran into me) Those 60mph winds :wow: it was all I could do to stay on the road!

My antenna whistled to me all the way home. I got over 30 MPG with that nice cross/tail wind.

The entire time I was heading down 41 toward I-74 I could hear little pieces of pea gravel falling out of my Jeep (wind gust aided).

Great pics :)
Rich

Looks like you guys had a great time!

Wish I could have made it. Hopefull I can make it next time. I have a lot of stuff coming up in the next few month tho so we shall see. Im getting married on july 18th so theres all that stuff that goes with it.

Good news is I got a call that my patriot is fixed and I can pick it up after work today.

My antenna whistled to me all the way home. I got over 30 MPG with that nice cross/tail wind.

The entire time I was heading down 41 toward I-74 I could hear little pieces of pea gravel falling out of my Jeep (wind gust aided).

I love your new "trail tested" avatar :smiley_thumbs_up:

Just got home!!!
****MORE PICS HERE**************************
http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/album.php?albumid=61
*********************************************

It turns out I took almost 40 pics. Here's the first handful. Most of these are of JoeBecker going off road.

I just got called in to do a 12 hour overnight shift! Can!t turn down $$ but I gotta get ready for work now. Will post tonight when I get settled in.

Another special thanks to Deres for making the Tri-State MK's logo. It really ties the idea of a Jeep club together and the sticker version turned out nicely. I'm gonna stick some in the waiting room of my local Jeep dealerships and see if we can get some locals to sign up to JP.com and perhaps even get some more new faces on the next trail run..... which, of course, will be in the spring sometime!


Joebecker, my favorite pic so far is the one you took of me in the downpour! That one is my wallpaper now.

Joebecker, my favorite pic so far is the one you took of me in the downpour! That one is my wallpaper now.

Just wait till you see the video. I have it put together. It is saving as I type. It will be 5 mins at 35 MB (hopefully without losing too much quality) and I will load it onto Youtube.

One of JoeBecker's pics is now my avtar (thanks Joe). :smiley_thumbs_up:

I was wondering if you had a windy evening firemothjoe and it sounds like you did. We had several branches down around the house when I got home. Dan hit that wind on Rt 41 on the way home and almost lost the whole rig! At one point he said his top speed was only 35mph floored. He said he had a great time with our Patriot group.

I Had a great time too yesterday and am looking forward to seeing more people join us the next time we head out.

I can't wait to see the video! Have to get to a computer first. Workin till 9am. I'll be on my third caffine pill by then and will probably just go home and pass out in my uniform.

Yeah, that wind was killer. But I just sat in the jeep and watched a movie. (5th element- awesome movie) The wind ruined my campfire... then supercharged it. I had to kick it apart just so a flaming log didn't fly into the treeline. I'm not too familure with Indiana but while listening to a radio news report on the drive home, it sounded like a tornado hit somewhere in my corner of the state last night. Would rather not know for sure actually.

Video is uploaded, just waiting for it to process...... however long that is going to take. :icon_rolleyes: ......... waiting ..... does it have to go through a bunch of government censors or something? :D

It's here! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itLPvrqTdsc) still processing it though, hopefully the quality will get better once it is really done.

You guys were nuckin' futs!:wow: I'm sooooooooo jealous........:(

You guys were nuckin' futs!:wow: I'm sooooooooo jealous........:(

You could have brought your Smart along. Let's see what that thing can do offroad. :D