Badlands: Toys-4-Tots 2009

**Jeffro06** · 12-06-2009, 09:23 AM

On Saturday December 5, 2009 the Badlands Offroad Park in Attica Inidana held their annual Toys-4-Tots event.

A bunch of clubs (Jeeps Gone Wild and Indy ORV just to name two) headed out to help the cause, and have some fun of course.

I took along a friend, John, who had not yet been on a real jeep ride, as my passenger. We bought a bag full of toys for the occassion.

Friday night I decorated the jeep for the occassion.

My jeep and the toys, notice my windshield mounted lights.

I even sported a new tire cover.

John and I met up with Justin at the local truck stop at 5am and hit the road. The temp was a bit on the cold side as we rolled out....it was like 18 degrees...brrrr.

We arrived at the park at about 9:45 Indy time. We dropped off our toys, recieved our meal tickets and signed in. There was a bit of a line. It's a good thing the Badlands decided to open an hour early, because there were already tons of jeeps, atvs, buggys and other toys there.

We saw Kris and Steve over in the top lot as we headed to sign in, but we couldn't find him when we finally made it over there. Apparently they had taken off to the Orange Trail with the guys from Indy ORV....I don't blame them.

Justine had been in touch with Thomas, a first time wheeler, who wanted to try out his recently purchased Ruby.

While airing down I noticed a fellow jeeper airing down his red Ruby accross the lot from us. He had a boy with him, but was otherwise alone. I went over and invited him to join us. His name was Mike, he had his grandson along for the ride, and they joined us for the day.

We headed off to the quarry first, in an attempt to find Steve, Kris or some of the guys from Indy ORV.

We didn't find any of them so we played around just a bit. We hit the step up and the wall right off the bat, both of which Johnny (my passenger) couldn't believe we could do, so easily.

Mike coming down the wall.

Mike coming up and over another obstacle, which seems to pitch you towards a tree.

Justin giving it a shot.

After playing in the quarry a bit we headed out on Kevin's trail, without yet finding anyone else.While doing that trail we heard Kris on the radio, so we went back to the quarry, made contact with him on the cb and played around a bit while we waited on them to arrive.

Once the six of us were together we headed for the creek.

Thomas hitting the trails.

With the temps being in the teens there was a lot of ice. We even had to break a few puddles our selves.

Mike getting dirty.

Justin trying to stay out of the ruts....come on 35's!

Thomas tried to avoid the ruts, but slid right in, and kept on going.

Steve opted to dive right in.

Kris dove in as well.

There were a couple of incidents of being high centered along the way, but nothing a simple tug couldn't cure.

Going down the creek.

Steve leaving the creek and heading to "The Rock".

Mike coming up a hill.

After reaching the tubes we turned around and dove back into the creek, going back to which we came, but with a few side changes. We followed the trail along side the creek back to the quarry. We had some fun along the way though.

Jutin decided to go down this little hill...which basically straight up for the last two feet.

Hitting bottom.

Justin did a little free fall for those last two feet and smashed into the frozen puddle below. The sound of the breaking ice made it sound much worse than it was. He cracked a KC light cover, but nothing more.

Steve gave it a shot too.

Steve did a little free fall as well, but it didn't sound as bad since the ice was already broken.

Mike coming up and over a small hill, which was proceeded by a nice puddle.

Steve coming through the puddle, before the hill.

**Jeffro06** · 12-06-2009, 09:23 AM

Justin had a little trouble with the puddle, which had a small step on the way out, thanks to being open and running those GSAs. He stuck with it though, and made it out.

Justin in the puddle.

Thomas got hung up on his skid, and I gave him a tug out.

The trail edge made it's way along Purgatory. We were running on the edge of the quarry for a bit, which was kind of cool. Steve and I took an alternate route up and over a pretty steep climb, while the others went around.

Steve fighting for traction.

Steve was able to get a grip....

...and get up and over.

When we came over that rise we had to be ready to go right, or go into the quarry....fun stuff.

Mike on the alternate route.

After making it back to the quarry we headed up to the upper lot for the free lunch...for those that donated toys. It seemed like most everyone brought toys, as the lot was full. The lunch was pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, beans and chips.

After lunch we headed to the Orange Trail. We followed in three nicely built rigs. When we got to the first big climb (the one that takes you up along the road) the three guys in front of us barely made it up. The first guy was literally smoking his tires. One of the guys made it to within a few feet of the top, but had to be pulled up and over. The trail looked slippery, but Kris and Steve had done it earlier in the morning, with no problems. It turns out we didn't have any problems either.

Steve coming up the big climb....with ease.

Kris coming up with ease.

We made our way to the halfway point of Orange, without any issues. We climbed out at the cement wall.

Justin climbing out.

Steve climbing out.

Mike finishes up.

We took time for a group shot....just the jeeps.

With all of us.

We played around on the rock pile a bit, before moving on.

It took Mike a couple of attempts...

....but he made it.

**Jeffro06** · 12-06-2009, 10:32 AM

We headed back to towards the quarry, but approached it from a slighty different direction, then headed back down Kevin's Trail and then the creek.

Justin fighting for traction.

The GSAs lost this battle.

Just to prove I was there....and to show off that tire cover!

I had a nice chrome bow on the hood of the jeep at the beginning of the day, but I hit one too many puddles on the way to the quarry....bye-bye bow.

Steve had no problem getting up the hill.

Justin getting ready to dive in.

When we got to the tubes we went around them and continued on down the creek. Kris spotted a climb, so we tried it out.

Kris went first.

The incline looked worse than it was, which they seem to always do.

Justin making the climb.

Justin makes it to the top.

Mike going up!

Thomas' turn.

I tried a trail to the right, but couldn't squeeze between a tree and a stump. I also stopped and let John remove a branch that wanted to go through my windshield. We got tippy trying to make the turn, and that gave John his pucker moment of the day. It really wasn't that bad, just unloaded the weight on one of the tires.

Here is a vid Kris took of everyone coming up the hill.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5cents

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We follwed the trec race course back to the parking area and called it a day. With the trec race taking place at 5pm, we had to be in the lots by 4:30pm. We decided to cut out a bit earlier to beat the rush at the air hoses.

We really had a great time. According to my trip meter we managed to cover 15 miles, which was pretty good considering the number of people in the park.

CLICK HERE to see all the pics I took.

Well this puts the wheeling season of 2009 officially (no really) behind me. It was a blast. I can't wait for next season to get here.....2010 isn't that far away so it'll be here soon!

Until next time.....

**Jeffro06** · 12-06-2009, 11:19 AM

Here's a pano shot of the lunch crowd:

A crop of the group shot.

Feel free to add any pics, vids or stories you have from the day....in fact I kind of expect it.

**Recoil** · 12-06-2009, 12:10 PM

Thanks for the great write up jeff. I haven't wheeled in forever so your posts are bitter sweet torture.

Sextiva · 12-06-2009, 12:36 PM

It was really fun. More so than I expected. I felt myself keep itching towards wanting to grab the grand cherokee, but I resisted.

Good thing too because my poor little tires woulda left me stranded in a lot of that stuff! See ya next time.

-Steve

**Sobie** · 12-06-2009, 01:32 PM

I had a blast. Yes this was definately the final last run of 09. I'll get my pictures up a little later. I've got alot of cleanup to do. More-so than any other time I've been.
The one mud pit in I think kevins trail (where it was Jeff, Mike, and I only) was really deep and got the Jeep REALLY dirty. It must have had to do with mud flying 20' + in the air while I was trying to get out!

That drop off where I broke the ice felt alot more verticle in the jeep than in the pictures. It was the steepest drop I've had the Jeep thus far. It was a pucker moment for sure.

5cents · 12-06-2009, 01:46 PM

Strizzy in the creek

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Jeffro in the quarry
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Jeffro in the quarry
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Mike on the orange trail
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Mike on the orange trail
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Mike on the orange trail
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Mike on the orange trail
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Halfway point on orange trail
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more halfway point on orange
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IGotADisneyJeep · 12-06-2009, 02:10 PM

Awesome, It looks like everyone had a great time and I really wish I could have made it. I'll catch up with everyone in 2010.

**Jeffro06** · 12-06-2009, 02:13 PM

Kris in with the vids!

**awillard69** · 12-06-2009, 04:23 PM

Nice pictures and a nice report as always. Thanks Jeff!

It looks like you guys had a fun time. The iced over mud holes must have made it interesting.

I really liked that picture of Justing making the climb, nice composition. And it gives a pretty good sense for the climb itself.

5cents · 12-06-2009, 04:24 PM

It was one of the first things I did last night after the kids got to bed. I did get to install a new cook top while I waited for you to get the trail report going this morning. Kids were gone with the wife so I could multitask.

**Jeffro06** · 12-06-2009, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5cents

It was one of the first things I did last night after the kids got to bed. I did get to install a new cook top while I waited for you to get the trail report going this morning. Kids were gone with the wife so I could multitask.

Sorry to keep you waiting....not!

I started the report as soon as I got up. I was up until about midnight getting the photos processed and loading onto my webpage, after that, I crashed.

My jeep is still in my front yard, at my doorstep. There wasn't any place to park when I got home last night, so I pulled right up to the steps....made it easier to carry everything inside too.

Anyone else already thinking about a New Years run?

Mud-Hunter · 12-06-2009, 05:39 PM

I am in Utter shock at what a Jeep can pull off. Now I thought we were going to go through some easy trails and right from the 1st hill the guys taught me Wheelin 101! Amazing time and I was so tired when I got home! Thanks for everything guys! You're the best! I am honored to roll with you guys anytime and heading back asap and please tell me when you guys go again as I am in every time! I now know I need new tires and a lift for xmas but other than that I am very happy to say the least with my baby! Any other car or truck would have had to get towed home with thousands of dollars of damage to fix and we just drove out and aired up and away we go. Thanks again and the pictures are so sweet! No one can believe what these things can do and you truly HAVE to be there. WOW What a fun day and can't wait to go again! She is getting new plugs and pulling both diffs this weekend! Only damage I took was from a tree going up a hill where we had to turn asap once you made it up the hill. Say good-bye to my tow package as it just gets in the way! It does sound WAY worse than it is as I looked under my baby this morning and not a scratch other than the bumper. I'm just going to have a shop trim 5 inches off of each side of the bumper until I can get a new one.
You guys hooked me for life and wish I had a Jeep long ago!
Jeep FTW!
Thanks again for everything!

**Jeffro06** · 12-06-2009, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mud-Hunter

Thanks again for everything!

No problem, glad you enjoyed yourself. Welcome to the addiction!