2013-03-03 Meadow Knob / Flag Pole Knob Trail Report
Attendees:
Bryan Folts, ‘99 XJ, OCC member
Doug & Robin Masnick, ’93 4Runner, OCC member
Dwayne, Cathy, Peyton, Emma Squires, ’12 JKU, OCC member
Mark Tuckish, ’07 JK, OCC member
Peter Converse, CJ7, OCC member
Stephen Gibbs, ’03 TJ, OCC member
Dana Grambling, FJ Cruiser, guest
Howard Ford, ’08 JK, guest
Jack Mallam, ’96 XJ, guest
Joe Howe, ’47 Willy’s, guest
Mike Wallace & friend, ’10 JKR, guest
Rich & Matthew Schmidt, ’05 TJU, guest
Roscoe Primrose, ’99 TJ, guest
Russ & Chris Wallace, ’12 JK, guest
We all arrived at the Sheetz in Harrisonburg around 9 AM. After a drivers meeting we headed out a short while later. Joe had left a little earlier to find a parking spot for his trailer and to unload his Willy’s. We met back up with Joe on Clover Hill Road just before turning to get to the trail off of Union Springs Road. Shortly after hitting the gravel, we pulled over to air down tires. With 14 rigs we needed to stop at a wide section on the trail so we did not block other users. After airing down we headed into the George Washington National Forest. As we passed the first creek crossing, Doug announced on the CB that we had another group following us. As we climbed in elevation, the trail became covered with snow. A little at first, then it got heavier and we found that there was ice under the snow. Everyone made it up the long steady climb to the first set of switch backs, although many did slip and slide. After the group all got back together we continued on. As the front of the group got up the next long steady climb and was about to make the turn to the mud flats, a call came over the CB that Russ was stopped and stuck on some ice. We walked back down the trail to see what we could do to help. After Doug helped air Russ’s tires down a little more we got him to back up, get straitened out, and on some rougher ground for traction. Then we got everyone else past that very slick spot, ran back up the trail and continued on. Once everyone got up to the mud flats, Dwayne broke the ice on the big puddle and the rigs took turns running through the different puddles/ice holes. Heading down to the stair steps, several rigs took the bypass and the others drove the rocks. We headed along the ridge slipping and sliding often. The trees were all covered in ice and sounded like crystals as we brushed them with our rigs. The sun and clouds came and went as did the snow fall. It was very beautiful and very treasuries up at the higher elevations. Everyone made it up the long hill climb with rocks at the top and our next stop was to be Meadow Knob. There were a few more steep, slippery hill climbs on the way. As I got to Meadow Knob and got ready to eat my lunch, the CB chatter got my attention. Mike was not able to make the last climb before Meadow Knob and had slid backwards several yards. I drove back down and positioned my Cherokee just off the trail to set up a snatch block and winch line to pull him up. After Mike got up and headed on, each of the other rigs took their turn on the icy climb. Half made it up on the first try, and the others took two or more shots at it. No one else needed a pull, so I spooled the line back up and headed to the knob to eat lunch with the others. During the run so far there was intermittent chatter from other groups on the CB. We were wondering what happened to the group that had caught up to us earlier. After lunch and some posing on a large log we headed on to Flag Pole Knob. Again there are several climbs with rocks that were very icy between the two knobs. Eventually all the rigs made it to Flag Pole Knob. We stopped for some photos of the overlook, scenery, and all the rigs. A small group of three pick-ups showed up and asked about the trail we had just come up. They decided to head back out the way they came. As they were leaving a group from Virginia Jeep Off-road came up. It turns out they had come in the same way we did on Union Springs Road, but there was a rig broken down and blocking the trail. It must have been the group that had caught up to us then disappeared earlier in the day. So the Virginia Jeep Off-road group left the group with the broken rig on the trail, turned around and came up Briery Branch Road to Flag Pole Knob. After finding out what we had been through on our run they decided to go back out the way they came also. Our trip out from Flag Pole Knob to Briery Branch Road was uneventful. We stopped at the road to air up, then we headed back to Harrisonburg. Joe headed out as we were airing up to load his Willy’s and meet us back in town. As we got to Old Town, we caught back up to Joe towing his rig back home. After stopping at Sheetz, everyone ended up heading home.
Happy Motoring,
Bryan Folts
Off-Camber Crawlers Member At Large
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
540-229-2855