JGW @ The Badlands: 091909

[Jeffro95]

On Saturday September 19, 2009 the Jeeps Gone Wild Offroad Club hosted an open event at The Badlands Offroad Park in Attica Indiana.

I was on the road at 0530, topless, in 53 degree weather. Yes it was a bit cold. I was wearing a winter coat, hat and gloves. I also had the heat blasted. The forecast for the day was sunny with temps in the high 70s or low 80s, so I refused to put on the top. The 3 1/2 hour drive, alone, was boring as usual. Dense fog set in at about the half way point, which didn't make things any more pleasurable...all of a sudden it was cold and damp.

By the time I hit my fuel stop, in Kentland Indiana, about 40 miles from the Badlands, things had cleared up, and the sun was out.

It was about 0930 (1030 Indy time) when I arrived at the park. Nobody from my club was to be found...which I expected, since I am usually a late arrival. I aired down and put my flag on....no more disconnecting, since I tossed the sway bar. What a time saver.

I jumped in the jeep, tuned to channel 12 on the CB, and headed off towards the quarry to look for the others. As I drove along I heard awillard69 mention the ridge where I had teetered before, so I knew they were on the green trail, near the end. I headed over to the exit of that section and met with them there.

It turned out to be a small group consistting of club members awillard69 and 5cents along with a non-member, sobster88.


My jeep, as I waited for the guys to exit the green trail.


awillard69 exiting the green trail.

We headed off to the quarry, with me in the lead. Once in the quarry we did the step up (I'm still mad that it's been filled in).


awillard69 made it up.


sobster88 couldn't make it, due to his shovel, I mean skid plate, hanging up.

We decided to head for the creek. There hadn't been any rain in weeks, so we really didn't expect to see much in the way of mud. Turns out there was still mud. The main mud holes had not dried up, they weren't as deep, but that didn't really mean anything. I went into the first big hole on the section we call Kevin's Trail, and stopped dead half way through. I managed to back out and tried it again. Same result. It felt as if I was running into something underneath, so I backed out again. I didn't feel much like breaking anything right at the beginning of the day (I've been there done that) so I backed out again and took the bypass.


The bypass was a bit of a problem for sobster88, who was stock height on GSA's...I believe.

A quick tug from 5cents and sobster88 was free.

We managed to make it through the remaining mud holes on Kevin's Trail with little problem. Sobster88 did have a bit of traction issue at one point, the drive wheels were spinning in the air...but a quick push from a couple of the guys got them back on the ground and off he went.


5cents hitting one of the mud holes on Kevin's Trail.


5cents making it through said mud hole.

As we ran the trail towards the creek we ran into a traffic jam. Several jeeps were running with two fullsize pick-up trucks. The first pick-up truck was stuck holding up the line. After waiting a bit we decided to head back to the quarry for a bit.


sobster88 pretty much hit whatever we suggested.


5cents did some rock climbing...even though he says " I'm not a rock guy".


sobster88 hitting whatever we pointed at.

We ventured down to the quarry pond. I decided to give the step up hill a try. I've done it before, but like most things at the Badlands, it's ever changing, and was a bit more dug out and vertical. I gave awillard69 my camera to capture a shot or two.




My first shot at the step up pitched me to the right, but I tried it again and made it without a problem.


The other guys used another path out.

After playing around in the quarry we headed over to the snack shop, in the lower lot, and grabbed lunch.

After lunch we headed over to the Orange Trail.


A group shot of us on the newer portion of Orange.


Orange Trail, as seen from my jeep.


5cents dropping into the old starting point of Orange.


5 cents traversing a small ledge.




awillard69 on the same drop.

[Jeffro95]

We made it through Orange without a hitch. Yes that means we avoided the swamp section.

Once at the halfway section of Orange we climbed out.


awillard69


sobster88

At this point of Orange you have the option of dropping back in, which will take you to some rocky sections. We opted not to drop back in and instead headed back to the creek, hoping those fullsize trucks would be long gone.

On the way back to the creek I saw a guy and gal walking back towards the parking lot. I stopped and asked what was up. Turns out his CJ had died a ways back. I took them back to their rig and towed them back to the lot. I couldn't believe they managed to walk as far as they did. They told me one jeeper stopped and asked what was up, but he didn't want to get separated from his group so he couldn't help...that will probably come back full circle on that guy someday.

I met back up with the guys and we headed for the creek.


I believe this is where the pick-up got stuck...lol.


awillard69 made it through, as we all did, without a problem.


awillard69 climbs one of the hills on the way to the creek.


5 cents in the creek.

The creek was very very low. We could actually see all the rocks we had only felt in the past.

We found a Kodak Picture Spot, while traveling down the creek.

This is me.


5cents


sobster88


awiilard69

Once at the end of the creek we met up with Mikes99XJ. We decided to head back up the creek, without a paddle, and look for some new trails along the way.


Mike99XJ

We managed to follow a trail out of the creek that took us along the rim of the quarry and around Pergatory. It was pretty cool. I didn't manage to take many shots along that section, but I'm sure one of the other guys did...right?

That trail took us back to the quarry where Mikes99Xj left us. After a quick break we decided it was time for sobster88 to climb the wall.


...and he did.


awillard69 climbed the wall as well.

We decide to call it a day, but not before a group photo....


The jeeps.


The jeeps and their owners L-R: jeffro95, sobster88, 5cents and awillard69.

Oh, I almost forgot sobser88 had his dad along for the ride, who will most likely have a Cherokee before they come back...

All in all it was a great day, no breakage and no body damage, that I'm aware of. Of course once we clean the jeeps we may find something new.

All of my pictures from the day can be found HERE.

I won't be able to make the Halloween Run @ the Badlands, but I do hope to make it out again before the year is over.

Hopefully the other guys will post up some pics soon!

[sobster88]

Here is a link to all the pics we took. I had a fun day and learned alot. I was pretty beat when I got home.

is the link to the video.

[semikrazy]

Great pictures can't wait for the video.
Thx for posting

[Polecat]

Originally Posted by Jeffro95

All in all it was a great day, no breakage and no body damage, that I'm aware of. Of course once we clean the jeeps we may find something new.

How true is that.

Great pics and report as always.

[ZJeepMI]

Very nice pictures, as usual. Do you usually just make it a day trip?

[Jeffro95]

Originally Posted by ZJeepMI

Very nice pictures, as usual. Do you usually just make it a day trip?

I've never spent the night...but the club has a few campouts each year. I really should do that someday.

[sobster88]

The Video has been added to my previous post.
Jeff, there is a video of you on the step up hill at the quarry pond.

[Jeffro95]

Originally Posted by sobster88

The Video has been added to my previous post.
Jeff, there is a video of you on the step up hill at the quarry pond.

Nice vids....especially the part with me climbing the step up....I don't often get to see my jeep in action, pics or vids.

[awillard69]

Here are my pictures... not many say anything that hasn't already been shown.

Here is Kris/5Cents on the way out of the creek, reverse direction.



Mike, here are the only two I have of you... leading the way I didn't get many opportunities.





Jeff, here is one of you on the RTI ramp...



All in all, it was a good day. I didn't find any major damage, only a few beauty marks. Cleanup wasn't that bad either, the dry weather cuts down on the muddiness.

You can view my entire album HERE

Justin/John, nice pictures and I enjoyed the video. It's always nice to have someone who can capture more of the action. Thanks for joining us.

[Jeffro95]

I still haven't washed my jeep....I did drive it during the heavy rain yesterday, which helped wash the underside.

Thanks for the pics of me Anthony....both of them..

I can't wait to see all the pics 5cents took of me....he promised a bunch..

[awillard69]

I was glad to get you those pictures... but it was a bit difficult since we were at opposite ends of the group!

[Jeffro95]

Originally Posted by awillard69

I was glad to get you those pictures... but it was a bit difficult since we were at opposite ends of the group!

Excuses, excuses.....

[Prryan45]

Good read,great pics.Enjoyed a lot.Thanks

[StormlessWolf]

Looks like you guys definitely had a lot of fun! I enjoyed reading this post and checking out the awesome pictures posted ! It was also nice to see a fellow jeeper (Jeffro95) help another stranded!

Happy Wheelin' and Godspeed!