GWNF Clean up

[IEATMUD]

First off Tom was a supurb trail guide had a story or each turn we took it was cool, actually so cool that once on top of Reddish nob 4,500 feet it was snowing. NO REALLY I SWEAR!!! The clean up went well filled up Tom's trailer and the back of Richards truck played some along the trail and then spent the rest of the day wheeling around the forrest all in all we put in 100 miles over the day on the trail.

[vabeachtj]

While crisscrossing the back roads of the Amish countryside in search of the local landfill...our fearless leader Tom boldly parked his rig with attached mounds of trash in the drive of a local residence which sported an ATV...seemed safe enough right? What those of us in the back of the line didn't see was the other big truck that sported purple flames, (we learned of this other vehicle through the ensuing CB chatter.) Tom, unawares of our CB chatter, reported that when he asked the local resident how far to the local landfill he was told "Just down the road aways, you can't miss it." "How far?" Tom asked. "I don't know" was the enlightened reply. Consequently, one of our anonymous comrades found this response worrisome enough to entertain us with sporadic renditions of the theme music from "Deliverance."

We found the landfill to be a recycling center and the elder caretaker to be a devilish old coot who took delight in telling us our hard work was nowhere near closure as he explained the laborious task of separating all our trash! Sandy and I promptly opened a bag to begin the arduous job when the old boy had a change of heart and told us to throw it all in the regular trash dumpster and then, to Sandy's delight he offered her his collection of blue antique jars he'd been using to decorate an exterior table. Oh...I almost forgot the discarded box of mechanical parts...against a retaining wall, a small collection of nails, odd little wrenches and other stuff was first examined and prodded by one or two, before it was all over with, there was barely perceptible shoulder shoving as all our big guys hovered around this little one foot square box...at some point the entire box disappeared, unquestionably the score of the day for someone.

[TheMaddRamm]

Yes, everything went extremely well!

A special thanks goes out to Tom for being the lead on this. While I am the enviro guy, I really didn't know anything about how it was supposed to be done. Thankfully, Tom stepped up to the plate and lead us around! Thanks Tom!

I would also like to thank Sandy, Jesse, Richard, Paul, Debbie and her friend (who wasn't a wheeler!), Dave and Russ! I think thats everyone. And thanks to Dave for letting me ride along with him since my XJ wouldn't have faired well up there!


We picked up a TON of garbage as was mentioned. Filled up Tommy's trailer and the fullsize bed of a Chevy. We also had a blast wheeling that day and the blizzard on top of Reddish Knob was interesting to say the least.

[M38A1]

I agree, we got a lot of work done and ran 2nd mountain, Long Run then, after the trash dump/recycling center fiasco we went up Union Spring to Meadow Knob, to Flagpole, to Reddish knob, back to Skidmore Fork to Kephart. Lots of gates were open due to hunting season and its a shame we didn't have more time, Hone Quarry Ridge,Gauley Ridge, Slate Springs, Pond Knob trail, etc. Maybe we need to go again during this season.
Tom

[ex-tbd85hilux]

It was a great time and we should do it again but I think i'll bring one of my vehicles next time. When we got back into harrisonburg to air up after the night run I was airing up Richards tire on the rear passenger side and noticed something a little odd on his chevy. The shock boot was bowed in a half moon... Uh OH! Closer inspection revealed that the rear shock had broke near the top mount. No big deal... drove most of the day and didn't have any problems and don't know where it could have happend... After seeing this we decided to crawl under the truck and take a look for any other potential hazardous issues... Guess what... The bottom 2 leafs on the driver side were seperated from the rest of the pack twords the passenger side... the only thing that came to mind... HAMMER TIME. After a quick couple wacks with a 3 lb sledge the leafs were in the right location. Back on the road again the broke shock didn't seam to be affecting too much other then heavy bumps and corners the rear would be a little soft. So back to Hampton roads we go... We get back through the HRBT and the CB on CH19 is all a buzz... aparently a kenworth had ran out of gas... After talking for a little bit on the radio Richard and myself decided we'd get a couple gallons of gas at Charlies and see if we could help the KW out. The KW was at the intersection for 564 and 64 but... the trucker just knew that the rig was sitting under a sign that said 564... oh boy start tweeking the RF gain... Tracked the trucker down at 64 east just before the 564 interchange on an incline... Richard drops the 5 gallons of fuel in the drivers side tank and the driver tries to turn the rig over... the starter is engaging but sounds like it's out of fuel... Another guy that was on the radio shows up that's a diesel mechanic... He pulls the fuel filter off and sure enough only half full... Further investigation reveals that the passenger side tank is attached to the drivers side tank and that with the incline the 5 gallons of diesel drain right into the passenger tank. Then the idea comes up maybe we could tow this KW up the gradual incline to the flat area just over the bridge... I'm a little skeptical myself... Well I get my winch kit and pulled my biggest shackle out and my 30 ft tow strap.... Took both ends and attached them to the KW's tow point in the front and ran it through the shackle so the strap was doubled up... Richard starts to pull... with me a good distance ahead of him and beside the guard rail... don't want to know with that much weight behind it what a tow strap will do... Richard is in 4lo and first gear the rear tires chirp a little then the front chirp just a second before BANG Ping Ping Ping... Oh crap... CV axle in the front just popped through the boot... well thank god there's a lift on the truck... Time for a trail fix... Richard loosens all the bolts that hold the spacer on pulls the spacer and lines up the Knuckle from the inside cv axle and bolts it back in... Sorry trucker... we're limping home its almost 5 am... He gets back on the road no noise no vibration... good... Well he drops me off at my house absolutly exhausted... Next time we will take my Jeep... But regardless of the little boo boo's it was an excellent trip and I would do it all over again except the truck pull part that is...

Paul G.

[vabeachtj]

Well Paul, that's what I call an After Action Report...and what about Richard, I can hear him now..."why does this always happen to me?"

[TheMaddRamm]

Being open and hopping around is what loosened the leaves busted the shocks. Both have happened to me.

I would advise Richard to replace the center pin on that side. and torque it down good so that the leaves don't rotate. they can slice into a tire....trust me.


That is one wild story about the trucker pulling. Wow!


My Jeep also suffered from weekend carnage, though not wheeling related either. The motor decided to let me know its about time to retire it and almost left me stranded toward TN.

[ex-tbd85hilux]

So does that mean that your $500 jeep is going to need a engine transplant? Did you make it back ok? or are you still in TN??? Also it wasn't Richard saying "why does this always happen to me" It was myself saying "I told you so"

Paul G.

[stuck tj]

Sounds like a nice trip should have gone but my honey do list is upheld by some state regulation i'm told. hehe
Red Sox!!!!!!!!

[Deleted]

I'm sure that drinkin' beer, hot roddin' a golf cart, and bummin' dinner from the neighbors were not on the list.

[KarlVP]

Next time call Norm and his Xcomfy F-150 to tow you home.