This year’s Annual New Year’s Day Trail Ride lead got split between three trail guides. Rich Martinez led the group from Harrisonburg all the way up Dunkle Hollow Road where he had to leave to get Brook to lower elevations. Allen Staiman took over to lead us up to Flag Pole Knob for lunch, then on to Reddish Knob. To follow the original route and head back down to Union Springs via Flag Pole Road would get the group off the trail after sunset. Several in the group need to get home before that, so we split the group. Allen led half back to Harrisonburg while the other eight of rigs headed back to the trails for some more wheelin’!
Part 3, Reddish Knob to Union Springs
Bryan Folts, son Adam (actually driving), 87 YJ 31's, member
Paul Neubert, 93 Explorer on 33s, member
Roscoe Primrose, The little TJ that could, member
Chris Schneck , TBD passengers, JK / 35s, non-member
Johnathan Short, wife and 3 kids, F-150, non-member
Ben DeVore, 2013 JKUR / 32's, non-member
Joe Youkers, +2 (Wife and Dog), 2014 JKUR / 32's, non-member
Graydon Weideman, 1 passenger, 2011 JKUR / 33, non-member
We left the Reddish Knob parking lot at 2:25 and headed down the paved road to get back off-road. At Briery Branch Gap we got back on to Flag Pole Road and on some dirt. A few minutes up the trail we stopped at a puddle/hole where John Short had lost his front license plate on the way past earlier. After passing Flag Pole Knob, Dunkle Hollow Road, and many puddles to splash in we were on fresh trails not run by us yet that day. There were several rocky down hills on the way to Meadow Knob. At Meadow Knob we stopped to talk to a couple guys wheeling an H1 Hummer. It was good to see one of those on the trail, and I gave the guys each an OCC brochure. Continuing on we slowed when we got to the rocks at the top of a steeper hill. With a little guidance for some all the rigs got through. John’s F-150 did get a running board damaged on those rocks. We got to the stair steps and I recommended that each driver take a look before attempting them. Adam, with a total of 12 hours driving on his learner’s permit, went first. Success! The four JK’s went next. All were successful; some had to work a little harder than others. Roscoe and Paul took the hardest line and had no problems. Wisely John took his F-150 up the by-pass. Directly after that we got to the mud flats, or should I say the Ice Holes! We all splashed in the slush for a while before heading down the long decent on Slate Springs Mountain Trail and Union Springs Road. We got back onto paved roads at 5:30 and headed back to Harrisonburg.
Happy Motoring,
Bryan Folts