March Mudness 2015 Mountain Top Cabins

March Mudness 2015
Mountain Top Cabins - Crumpler WV
Tuesday March 10:
Having decided I could not wait any longer, I left New Bern hoping to be on THE mountain by 8.30 PM
Tuesday. I had an uneventful time on the interstates. Traffic was flowing smoothlee. I had spoken to
Jesse and he said all the roads were fine. Not long after I took that left in Montcalm I began to have
my doubts. Punisher had texted something about fog. I didn't put my glasses on but I did make out
the word fog.
I had made my first water crossing before Horton's but was still surprised a couple of times by
streams crossing the pavement. Well before the climb up Windmill Gap darkness had fallen and I fell
in with a couple of other adventurous souls heading in the direction of Ashland. Then came the fog.
That made the driving a bit more intense. I bet I couldn't see 50-75'. I unbuckled my seatbelt so I
could lean into it and see another 18". Every little bit helped.
I thought Jesse was mistaken and that the road had been heavilee damaged. Man was it bumpy! The
first time I began to slide I realized the pavement was covered with dirt, small rocks, and other things
that inhibit traction. With the fog, it was hard to see. First one then both of the other vehicles in front
of me turned off and I was left to my own devices. When I reached the end of the pavement at the top
of the Steps I took a moment to relax and partake of the Brown Medicine. That stuff is amazing.
Almost being there, I started across the top of the Steps. Even this was easier said than done. I didn't
realize how many lights the truck had to warn you of wheel slippage. Protecting itself, the GMC was
putting maybe 25 of it's 315HP to the ground, and bucking like a small bronco (no, not the ford one).
I pushed the button that would allow me to properlee apply power. I slipped, slid, and spun my way to
the cabin. Remembering a past Trot, I parked wiselee - meaning I didn't get stuck AT the cabin this
time.
I unloaded my gear. Me and Mr Beam toasted our successful arrival. The wait had begun. I wondered
how Punisher would fair in his 1WD van, considering how I struggled with 2WD. Time would tell...
Wednesday March 11:
I awoke to rain Wednesday morning. A steady rain. With others inbound, it was time to free the
Grizzlee from the confines of the Sierra. I donned my trusty recentlee repaired I want to look like
Roger bright yellow rain coat, complete with reflectors. One thing was certain. I would be seen.
Others started to arrive around 9.30.
Expecting Throttleboss and others around 1, our group of ever how many went to explore a trail. One
I hadn't been on in quite a few years. That took us down to Wagon Wheel Road where we first saw the
new washout.
We had planned to cross the road and take the upper trail but the creek was ripping. Debris from the
slide had found its way into the creek bed, making for a very soft mucky mess. One I didn't trust. We
rode on toward Jerry's, taking the right that put us the trail.
To my delight, that old trail once called Will's Trail by Will's Dad was open. As I suspected I had
remembered, the end by the little concrete mine entrance included an aggressive downhill. With water
flowing I'm glad we weren't coming up. Explorer liked it! We rode back up to the top of the ridge
across from the Steps, and then took the road back to the cabin.
Now it was time to wait again…
By the time we left the cabin Wednesday afternoon we were 12 machines strong. Easilee double the
number of a usual 1st day or half day. Our first stop was for a photo op at the washout.
The water was high in the creeks beside Wagon Wheel Road as we headed toward the campground
hoping to check out the creeks, kind of a normal thing for day one. We made it halfway - through the
campground. Seeing something like this was a first for me!!
Explorer took his Terex across but no one else wanted to try it, myself included.
We aborted crossing there and took the trail behind the Wheel toward the old Outpost with intentions
(isn't this some kind of pavement?) to hit the creeks from the trestle end. We found the shortcut with
the new deep ditch, and then the tree fall forcing us back to the gravel. In a rare instance of sanity we
decided or came to understand we could not get back via the creek, and headed toward THE BLUE
BUILDING.
From there it was back to the cabin with day one complete. Mass quantities of both food and liquids
where consumed. T-shirts and bandannas were distributed. I made the mistake of staying up too a bit
too late.
Thursday March 12:
Due to a decision I made Wednesday night, I didn’t feel too good Thursday morning. But be that
as it may, we were going to Ride. It was a bit disappointing that we wouldn't be waiting on
Roger. The texts were flying and we knew he would be noon at best. He was instructed to meet
us in Bramwell, a place we never made it to.
Today’s group would be much larger. We departed the cabin just before 10AM. Trying to
rendezvous with DLMJR9 and Chad, our first stop was Jakes.
Trying to get a headcount was difficult. I was just incapable of coherent thought. Several
figures were tossed out but I choose to go with the number Mrs Grumpy provided of 23
machines. One of these was a sport quad.
Wacker wanted to see Wild Willy’s so we slowed just a little as we past. Then it was up on
Indian Ridge to T-80, to the Choice.
We took our next break where we left T-80. Due to the size of the group, the going was slow.
We got strung out. They were maybe 4 subgroups making their way toward Windmill Gap Road.
Reaching what we call halfway, we sat here for quite a while as the group reformed into one
mass for the beginning of the second half. I was feeling much better!
And had some fun.
Back on the trail, we made for WMG Road.
Now on Windmill Gap Road, we took our pause to regroup and make decisions. We decided to
enter Pocahontas on T-11 and right the system out toward the Spillway. It didn't take long for
us to encounter unnatural trail conditions due to natural resource extraction. The skidder ruts
were 3+ feet deep and going in all directions but the direction we came from. We turned
around.
Going from the front of the line to the back, I followed the group in a generalee northern
direction. We had abandoned the idea of meeting Roger in Bramwell. We were missing 8-10
head too. Punisher led us to and through old T-85.
We stopped at the end of T-85 to regroup and try to figure out who we were missing. It seemed
Bthunter's entire entourage was gone, plus Rocinate and Throttleboss, maybe others. As we
pondered this development, we heard machines approaching from the direction we were
heading. Just like that, we had two back, PLUS ROGER!
There are at least 23 different versions to this report, but Roger said he saw someone speed by
and somehow found us. Stuff like this only happens in WV and shows how set in our routes we
or I may have become. Somewhat predictable - which is probablee good. We left for the
spillway. Mistakenlee taking a right, we learned some new trail. I tried to hide it the best I
could, but some direct backtracking did occur.
OVERHEAT seemed to be the word of the day. It was good that the spillway was spilling. Manya radiator were washed out with the grownup squirt guns.
We left the Spillway for Soggy Bottom. Choices would have to made. Try to climb out by the
gas pump knowing all the dirt was gone, or go through the water. We chose the latter and
began our run, stopping next after the big hole. Guess what? We were missing riders and
drivers again. We understand herding cats but this was getting out of hand.
I guess everybody thought everybody knew where everybody was going so nobody seemed to
wait for anybody. With so many machines, if you were near the front you would see somebody
back there. Not ever everybody, but somebody.
Eventualee everyone made it back it to the cabin, although maybe not at the same time.
Today's group was one of the biggest we had ever had. After some dinner and some drinks we
set off some fireworks. Our most experienced fire man took charge and decided to try two
mortars in the tube at once. The results were predictable with fire raining down all around us.
We called it a night, because it was one.
Friday March 13
Woodbutcher had selected Welch as our destination. As we prepped our rides people just kept
showing up! The group just kept getting larger. When we finalee pulled out, we were short a
couple of riders I was expecting to see, but still had our largest group of the trip. Was it 26, 27,
30? No one knew for sure. We made it through the campground and gathered up at the first
real creek crossing. Already things were looking a bit different.
With Danger on point we took the high trail toward Tiny's. I'm not sure exactlee how he did it,
but Dave must have shaved 2 or more miles off the route by taking us on new to us trail looping
up by the haul road. Our next stop was here where people took pictures of people taking
pictures. A perpetual picture event maybe?
The group was sizable!
Onward we went. Little did we know we would actualee ride the wheel off someone's machine
today. Well, almost. But that is for later.
We had one crossing to make before reaching Tiny's Corner. I'm glad we didn't have to try all of
them!
Our ride to Charlie Reed Junction was uneventful. With so many, we split here into 2 groups.
One for the Sterling, the other for the KFC / Exxon / liquor store. Care to guess which group I
was in?
Having already stopped at CRJ, we made the plan to regroup near the mine where the trail splits
just past the graveyard.
This is when things changed. As was becoming normal for this extended group, it took a while to
get everyone together again. This is also where we learned Roger's left rear tire / axle /
bearings had a MAJOR problem. Have you ever seen a road graders front tire lean and such?
Well, that is what Roger's tire was doing. NOT GOOD!
Getting a bit more serious about our riding, we connected with the connector and went to the
pavement at Northfork. Fearing just one more bump would cause Roger’s tire to fall completelee
off, our convoy took the road back to the cabin. Need I say not everyone got there together? I
didn’t think so.
My version of this story is now nearing an end. Since our grill master Throttleboss (and others)
were still missing, Dangerdave did an awesome job pan frying our steaks. We ate heartedlee.
The others finallee made it in and began their turn at preparing and eating dinner. With plans to
leave Saturday morning I didn’t do much partaking this evening.
Here are the GPS tracks for Thursday & Friday:
I met so many new folks that I’m not even go to guess at the names. But I do want to say it
was a great group of riders and drivers – and I enjoyed their company. Until next time, ride
safe!
Lee