Recon Run & Family Camp-Out Camp Site
19 & 20 August, 2015
By Bryan Folts
We all met at the Sheetz in Warrenton Virginia, and headed South from there about 8:30. It's just under an hour drive to the entrance of the Middle River tract of the Rapidan Wildlife Management area, through a beautiful valley and just past Graves Mill. As we headed in and were starting down a couple of the steep parts of the trail Doug asked us to stop. The first of a few stall, no starts for the Honey Badger. After a few checks it was determined that the engine had no spark because of no signal to the coil. After pulling the distributor cap and rotor to check the sensors underneath, I dropped on of the two tiny screws for the rotor. Oops! No luck finding it, but Doug had a similar screw that worked. The distributor cooled, engine started, and we were able to continue on. The main trail into the RWMA is a gravel road with a few washed out spots and a couple water crossings. We turned left to get to the first potential camp spot near the Conway River Trail. Too bad that trail is no longer open to vehicles! Anyway, it's a nice camp spot with a fire ring, but just big enough for 2 families. So after walking the area and over the creek, we headed on. The second camp spot, complete with an American flag already flying and a large fire ring, was a little more suited for 2 families, and better access to the creek, but still too small for what we need. On to Camp spot number three. This site has a grassy open area with plenty of room for several tents and a fire ring. Just down hill from that area is an opening with a larger fire ring and plenty of room to sit around it, and to set up a camp kitchen, all away from the tent site. There is also plenty of room for vehicles to park, and a poser rock for pictures. We found our September 19-20 Family Camping spot! We did then travel to a final camp spot with fire ring that is suited for one family. I thought there was one more camp spot close by and after we got to the first switchback I realized I was mistaken, so we turned around. On the way out of the RWMA I had the group stop a a couple mud holes. I knew someone was itching to get dirty, and so they did! After the JK's finished playing in the mud, the Honey Badger would not start again, so we took a break for lunch. After lunch, and pulling the distributor cap again, she started. Doug had decided to head home when we got near I81. We had decided that the camp spot a RWMA was good, so we did not need to go two the other two locations. It was getting late in the day and trying to hit the trails West of Harrisonburg would have made it a very late day. The decision was made to run Cub Run trail in the GWNF within the Shenandoah Valley. Doug was able to stick with the group out of RWMA, through Standardsville, over the mountains, and just before we got to I80 to turn North Doug headed off alone. The group of five rigs got into the GWNF and ran a VERY dusty Cub Run trail for several miles. We stopped a couple times to dust off and at Catherine Furnace at the end of Cub Run trail. From there I took the group on a back road tour to Luray. According to those using the WAZE application on their phone I took the opposite turn from what Waze recommended every time. I was called the Anti-Waze because of that. After Luray we went over the mountains again, stopped at a gas station along Rt211, and split off on our own ways back home. It was a beautiful day for a ride in the country! Thanks to all that came! Great day, great easy run, great company!!!
Bryan Folts / 1987 Wrangler / Member
Doug Masnick / 1993 4Runner / Member / friend
Ryan Gillespie / 2001 Pathfinder / Prospect / Daughter
Dean Rose / 2015 Wrangler / Prospect / Heather Lockhart
Craig McVeay / 2014 Wrangler / Prospect / Lona McVeay, Jake and Elwood Blues
Brian Nordwall / 2012 Wrangler / Prospect