Camp Jeep trail difficulty?
 

I just signed up for Camp Jeep in Virginia. I was too late to get the
information packet, so don't really know much about what is going on
there. I did register for one trail ride on the phone, the "D" trail
in the Difficult catagory I believe, which was the easiest of the
Difficult rated trails. My question is, how difficult is this really?
I have never really taken anything more difficult than bad national
forest roads before, no rockcrawling, no "intentional" mudding, etc. I
want to learn offroading techniques, but I have a new Wrangler
Rubicon, which I am not too crazy about damaging just yet. Any info
anyone can share about what to expect?

Also, will there be vendors at this event, selling racks, bumpers,
etc?

Re: Camp Jeep trail difficulty?
 

Go forth and amuse thyself. Your Jeep is more than ready for the challenges
of any trail that Camp Jeep can throw out at you. You are the variable
factor here, so be sure you are back in the pack so you can see how others
approach each obsticle. Watch how everybody else does it, and you will learn
where the good lines are, and the bad lines.

Your biggest problem will be your right seat passenger. This person may be
called upon to spot the rocks for you and give you direction about whether
you are going to hit the rock properly or not. There will be times when you
actually MUST get on the rock on the right side properly in order to clear
something else on the left side. Your passenger must be able to take your
direction - "I want to go directly on top of that one" - and then tell you
go left or go right, or wait a minute, you need to back up and get a new
line, turn hard left then go hard right.

Offroading is a game of finesse, where success or failure is a matter of an
inch or two, all you need is that last inch to be good, but you may not be
able to see it from your seat, so your passenger has to be your eyes.

When I was going out every weekend, my daughter learned how to spot the
right side for me. It takes about an hour or two hour for a kid to get the
knack of what you want them to tell you, then they can help you pick the
line without you having to tell them. Once you get a kid wired for spotting,
the next thing is to give them the wheel and you do the spotting for them.




"Bryan C" <bryancasinger@aol.com> wrote in message
news:491cfcc1.0407020637.37c4ae1a@posting.google.c om...
> I just signed up for Camp Jeep in Virginia. I was too late to get the
> information packet, so don't really know much about what is going on
> there. I did register for one trail ride on the phone, the "D" trail
> in the Difficult catagory I believe, which was the easiest of the
> Difficult rated trails. My question is, how difficult is this really?
> I have never really taken anything more difficult than bad national
> forest roads before, no rockcrawling, no "intentional" mudding, etc. I
> want to learn offroading techniques, but I have a new Wrangler
> Rubicon, which I am not too crazy about damaging just yet. Any info
> anyone can share about what to expect?
>
> Also, will there be vendors at this event, selling racks, bumpers,
> etc?

Re: Camp Jeep trail difficulty?
 

Go forth and amuse thyself. Your Jeep is more than ready for the challenges
of any trail that Camp Jeep can throw out at you. You are the variable
factor here, so be sure you are back in the pack so you can see how others
approach each obsticle. Watch how everybody else does it, and you will learn
where the good lines are, and the bad lines.

Your biggest problem will be your right seat passenger. This person may be
called upon to spot the rocks for you and give you direction about whether
you are going to hit the rock properly or not. There will be times when you
actually MUST get on the rock on the right side properly in order to clear
something else on the left side. Your passenger must be able to take your
direction - "I want to go directly on top of that one" - and then tell you
go left or go right, or wait a minute, you need to back up and get a new
line, turn hard left then go hard right.

Offroading is a game of finesse, where success or failure is a matter of an
inch or two, all you need is that last inch to be good, but you may not be
able to see it from your seat, so your passenger has to be your eyes.

When I was going out every weekend, my daughter learned how to spot the
right side for me. It takes about an hour or two hour for a kid to get the
knack of what you want them to tell you, then they can help you pick the
line without you having to tell them. Once you get a kid wired for spotting,
the next thing is to give them the wheel and you do the spotting for them.




"Bryan C" <bryancasinger@aol.com> wrote in message
news:491cfcc1.0407020637.37c4ae1a@posting.google.c om...
> I just signed up for Camp Jeep in Virginia. I was too late to get the
> information packet, so don't really know much about what is going on
> there. I did register for one trail ride on the phone, the "D" trail
> in the Difficult catagory I believe, which was the easiest of the
> Difficult rated trails. My question is, how difficult is this really?
> I have never really taken anything more difficult than bad national
> forest roads before, no rockcrawling, no "intentional" mudding, etc. I
> want to learn offroading techniques, but I have a new Wrangler
> Rubicon, which I am not too crazy about damaging just yet. Any info
> anyone can share about what to expect?
>
> Also, will there be vendors at this event, selling racks, bumpers,
> etc?

Re: Camp Jeep trail difficulty?
 

Go forth and amuse thyself. Your Jeep is more than ready for the challenges
of any trail that Camp Jeep can throw out at you. You are the variable
factor here, so be sure you are back in the pack so you can see how others
approach each obsticle. Watch how everybody else does it, and you will learn
where the good lines are, and the bad lines.

Your biggest problem will be your right seat passenger. This person may be
called upon to spot the rocks for you and give you direction about whether
you are going to hit the rock properly or not. There will be times when you
actually MUST get on the rock on the right side properly in order to clear
something else on the left side. Your passenger must be able to take your
direction - "I want to go directly on top of that one" - and then tell you
go left or go right, or wait a minute, you need to back up and get a new
line, turn hard left then go hard right.

Offroading is a game of finesse, where success or failure is a matter of an
inch or two, all you need is that last inch to be good, but you may not be
able to see it from your seat, so your passenger has to be your eyes.

When I was going out every weekend, my daughter learned how to spot the
right side for me. It takes about an hour or two hour for a kid to get the
knack of what you want them to tell you, then they can help you pick the
line without you having to tell them. Once you get a kid wired for spotting,
the next thing is to give them the wheel and you do the spotting for them.




"Bryan C" <bryancasinger@aol.com> wrote in message
news:491cfcc1.0407020637.37c4ae1a@posting.google.c om...
> I just signed up for Camp Jeep in Virginia. I was too late to get the
> information packet, so don't really know much about what is going on
> there. I did register for one trail ride on the phone, the "D" trail
> in the Difficult catagory I believe, which was the easiest of the
> Difficult rated trails. My question is, how difficult is this really?
> I have never really taken anything more difficult than bad national
> forest roads before, no rockcrawling, no "intentional" mudding, etc. I
> want to learn offroading techniques, but I have a new Wrangler
> Rubicon, which I am not too crazy about damaging just yet. Any info
> anyone can share about what to expect?
>
> Also, will there be vendors at this event, selling racks, bumpers,
> etc?

Re: Camp Jeep trail difficulty?
 

Go forth and amuse thyself. Your Jeep is more than ready for the challenges
of any trail that Camp Jeep can throw out at you. You are the variable
factor here, so be sure you are back in the pack so you can see how others
approach each obsticle. Watch how everybody else does it, and you will learn
where the good lines are, and the bad lines.

Your biggest problem will be your right seat passenger. This person may be
called upon to spot the rocks for you and give you direction about whether
you are going to hit the rock properly or not. There will be times when you
actually MUST get on the rock on the right side properly in order to clear
something else on the left side. Your passenger must be able to take your
direction - "I want to go directly on top of that one" - and then tell you
go left or go right, or wait a minute, you need to back up and get a new
line, turn hard left then go hard right.

Offroading is a game of finesse, where success or failure is a matter of an
inch or two, all you need is that last inch to be good, but you may not be
able to see it from your seat, so your passenger has to be your eyes.

When I was going out every weekend, my daughter learned how to spot the
right side for me. It takes about an hour or two hour for a kid to get the
knack of what you want them to tell you, then they can help you pick the
line without you having to tell them. Once you get a kid wired for spotting,
the next thing is to give them the wheel and you do the spotting for them.




"Bryan C" <bryancasinger@aol.com> wrote in message
news:491cfcc1.0407020637.37c4ae1a@posting.google.c om...
> I just signed up for Camp Jeep in Virginia. I was too late to get the
> information packet, so don't really know much about what is going on
> there. I did register for one trail ride on the phone, the "D" trail
> in the Difficult catagory I believe, which was the easiest of the
> Difficult rated trails. My question is, how difficult is this really?
> I have never really taken anything more difficult than bad national
> forest roads before, no rockcrawling, no "intentional" mudding, etc. I
> want to learn offroading techniques, but I have a new Wrangler
> Rubicon, which I am not too crazy about damaging just yet. Any info
> anyone can share about what to expect?
>
> Also, will there be vendors at this event, selling racks, bumpers,
> etc?

Re: Camp Jeep trail difficulty?
 

You'll be fine IMO. Even the toughest trails at Camp Jeep are
notoriously tame. Not sure about vendors etc.

Dave
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0p2es/david/index.htm

On 2 Jul 2004 07:37:29 -0700, bryancasinger@aol.com (Bryan C) wrote:

>I just signed up for Camp Jeep in Virginia. I was too late to get the
>information packet, so don't really know much about what is going on
>there. I did register for one trail ride on the phone, the "D" trail
>in the Difficult catagory I believe, which was the easiest of the
>Difficult rated trails. My question is, how difficult is this really?
>I have never really taken anything more difficult than bad national
>forest roads before, no rockcrawling, no "intentional" mudding, etc. I
>want to learn offroading techniques, but I have a new Wrangler
>Rubicon, which I am not too crazy about damaging just yet. Any info
>anyone can share about what to expect?
>
>Also, will there be vendors at this event, selling racks, bumpers,
>etc?

Re: Camp Jeep trail difficulty?
 

You'll be fine IMO. Even the toughest trails at Camp Jeep are
notoriously tame. Not sure about vendors etc.

Dave
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0p2es/david/index.htm

On 2 Jul 2004 07:37:29 -0700, bryancasinger@aol.com (Bryan C) wrote:

>I just signed up for Camp Jeep in Virginia. I was too late to get the
>information packet, so don't really know much about what is going on
>there. I did register for one trail ride on the phone, the "D" trail
>in the Difficult catagory I believe, which was the easiest of the
>Difficult rated trails. My question is, how difficult is this really?
>I have never really taken anything more difficult than bad national
>forest roads before, no rockcrawling, no "intentional" mudding, etc. I
>want to learn offroading techniques, but I have a new Wrangler
>Rubicon, which I am not too crazy about damaging just yet. Any info
>anyone can share about what to expect?
>
>Also, will there be vendors at this event, selling racks, bumpers,
>etc?

Re: Camp Jeep trail difficulty?
 

You'll be fine IMO. Even the toughest trails at Camp Jeep are
notoriously tame. Not sure about vendors etc.

Dave
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0p2es/david/index.htm

On 2 Jul 2004 07:37:29 -0700, bryancasinger@aol.com (Bryan C) wrote:

>I just signed up for Camp Jeep in Virginia. I was too late to get the
>information packet, so don't really know much about what is going on
>there. I did register for one trail ride on the phone, the "D" trail
>in the Difficult catagory I believe, which was the easiest of the
>Difficult rated trails. My question is, how difficult is this really?
>I have never really taken anything more difficult than bad national
>forest roads before, no rockcrawling, no "intentional" mudding, etc. I
>want to learn offroading techniques, but I have a new Wrangler
>Rubicon, which I am not too crazy about damaging just yet. Any info
>anyone can share about what to expect?
>
>Also, will there be vendors at this event, selling racks, bumpers,
>etc?

Re: Camp Jeep trail difficulty?
 

You'll be fine IMO. Even the toughest trails at Camp Jeep are
notoriously tame. Not sure about vendors etc.

Dave
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0p2es/david/index.htm

On 2 Jul 2004 07:37:29 -0700, bryancasinger@aol.com (Bryan C) wrote:

>I just signed up for Camp Jeep in Virginia. I was too late to get the
>information packet, so don't really know much about what is going on
>there. I did register for one trail ride on the phone, the "D" trail
>in the Difficult catagory I believe, which was the easiest of the
>Difficult rated trails. My question is, how difficult is this really?
>I have never really taken anything more difficult than bad national
>forest roads before, no rockcrawling, no "intentional" mudding, etc. I
>want to learn offroading techniques, but I have a new Wrangler
>Rubicon, which I am not too crazy about damaging just yet. Any info
>anyone can share about what to expect?
>
>Also, will there be vendors at this event, selling racks, bumpers,
>etc?

Re: Camp Jeep trail difficulty?
 

"Bryan C" <bryancasinger@aol.com> wrote in message
news:491cfcc1.0407020637.37c4ae1a@posting.google.c om...
> I just signed up for Camp Jeep in Virginia. I was too late to get the
> information packet, so don't really know much about what is going on
> there. I did register for one trail ride on the phone, the "D" trail
> in the Difficult catagory I believe, which was the easiest of the
> Difficult rated trails. My question is, how difficult is this really?
> I have never really taken anything more difficult than bad national
> forest roads before, no rockcrawling, no "intentional" mudding, etc. I
> want to learn offroading techniques, but I have a new Wrangler
> Rubicon, which I am not too crazy about damaging just yet. Any info
> anyone can share about what to expect?
>
> Also, will there be vendors at this event, selling racks, bumpers,
> etc?

Just listen to your trail guides & you'll do fine. They aren't trying to
wreck your pride & joy, and they'll guide you true. I've only done
Intermediate at Camp, although they almost sent us on a Difficult trail by
mistake last year. The Intermediate was enough for my unmodified Cherokee-
lot's of fording and mud. One mud area was so bad after several groups went
through it, that all of us (except modified mud crawlers) had to be strapped
through it. This entails the wonderful *volunteer* guides slogging through
many yards of mud, then laying down in it to hook up the straps to your
vehicle. Also, the first fording was deep enough that I drifted downstream
about 10 feet before getting traction- about all the excitement I want in my
family vehicle. Then we had to climb an obscenely steep, muddy "trail" from
out of the stream. Looked impossible, but the Cherokee handled it without a
slip or slide. Your Jeep will make you look pretty good at this stuff.

You should have two major stores to shop at- a Chrysler Jeep outfitter, and
a large 4 Wheeler store. Smaller vendors are also scattered about. Have fun!
--


David Mize dmize@wowway.com
Pickerington, Ohio