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2013 OCC Fall Run – Rausch Creek, PA

October 19 and 20

Saturday, Run #1

Our group of OCCers started arriving at RC Friday evening. The first to set foot in camp was Chip and Melissa Woods, followed by Scott Lelacheur and Suzzy-Q. I rolled in around 11 pm and Vitaly Bekkerman and his friend Andrew arrived around 1am. The campfire kept us warm as we sat around chatting, laughing and keeping Suzzy awake. (thanks for cutting the wood Jeff)

The next morning we received word that the Army was dispatching supplies to us at 0800. But in true Army fashion the coffee arrived 10 minutes late and without donuts! Finally at 0810 Scott Corliss showed up with a box of Joe. To make him feel better I accepted the Dunkin donuts coffee.

The park was busier than normal for an Oct run since RC was hosting their Off-Roading 101 course. So it took our group a while to check-in and get rolling. Our driver’s meeting started at approximately 10am and I led the following group on some black trails.

Our group consisted of:

Scott L. and Suzzy-Q driving a YJ on 38.5s

Ryan H. and his wife (sorry I don’t recall her name) in a TJ on 35s?

Scott C. driving his red Cherokee with Anne W. as passenger

Jeff E. piloting his TJ on 39’s?

And myself Rich M. as trail-leader in my CJ-5 on 33s

We headed to the West Property to run black and maybe some red trails. Starting on Trail 13 we stopped to survey the east end of Rock Creek. There I took a survey and we decided to stay on 13 for now. We continued on Trail 13 giving each other little “spots” here and there when necessary making good progress. When we arrived at the next entrance to Rock Creek, Scott C. Jeff E. and I took the opportunity to run the Creek for a couple hundred feet. I dropped my passenger front tire into a hole just as I entered the Creek and had to receive a backwards tug to get out. Afterwards, I found a good line and continued without problems to next exit. Scott C. and Jeff E. made it to the same exit without any difficulties. Scott L. and Ryan H. continued on Trail 13 until we all met up again. We continued on Trail 13B until we reached the bottom of Trail 16 where we had lunch.

After lunch we wheeled our way up Trail 16. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the great weather and the rock crawling challenge. I don’t recall the details but I think 2 of us need a tug here and there to get through.

From Trail 16, we took Trail 11 to the top of Trail 19B. Our plan was to take Trail 19B downhill to survey a “new to us” red-rated exit from Rock Creek called Deathtrap. However, halfway down Trail 19B we came upon a slow moving group. At the same time Ryan’s Jeep died for the second time with a dead battery. Earlier, Jeff E. did some troubleshooting and determined the alternator was working properly but the battery was not holding a charge. Back on Trail 19B, we got Ryan’s Jeep running again and decided to turn around to avoid waiting behind the slower group and to attend to Ryan’s battery. Scott L. located a parts store so we all headed back to the campground via Trail 11, Trail H, Power Line, Pole Line, G, and B. We arrived at camp at the same time the other group led by Chip was coming back from the trails. From camp, Ryan went to buy a new battery, Suzzy-Q and Jeff E. went to run Gaunlet.

That’s when Chip, Vitaly, Scott C and I decided to run a few more trails. (See next report).

Overall, we all had a great time. The weather was perfect and the trails were great but most of all we had a great group. Thanks for Chip for organizing this run and to the board.

Rich Martinez