Completed : GWNF trail ride Flagpole Run not Second Mountain

[Blazintrails03]

I was talking to Mike (Firefox2051) yesterday about Peters Mill and he talked me into Second Mountain and possibly Dictum Ridge. Just putting the word out for anyone in the area that wants to tag along. Here's a link to Mikes thread with some video you can check out. viewtopic.php?f=57&t=4756

31's or larger recommended
Skid plates suggested

[Trail X]

Man, if I wasn't planning to put in my front diff this weekend I'd be there. As is, I have no 4WD option due to the two different gear ratios installed.

[Blazintrails03]

Well it's not until next weekend so put in your diff and come test it next weekend.

[Trail X]

Good point, I got my dates mixed up. I might be able to go after all.

[Blazintrails03]

Good point, I got my dates mixed up. I might be able to go after all.

Nice

[Blazintrails03]

Talking to Mike yesterday we are going to meet in Haymarket at Sheetz at 8 and be down at the trail around 10. Mike said he has a buddy with a Vehicross coming on 33's so that's gonna be interesting to see. I think he's pictured in some of Mikes pic put wasn't lifted then.

[firefox2501]

So here is the count so far:
ORTB:
Bobby (Blazintrails03) - coming
Mike (firefox2501) - coming
James (Trail X) - maybe

outside of ORTB:
Terry +1 passenger (Jeep Wrangler stock) - coming
Travis and Karen +1 passenger (Isuzu VehiCross w/ 1.75 lift + 33s) - coming
Chip +2 passenger (Jeep Wrangler w/ 2.5" lift + 33s) - maybe - leaning to yes
Matt (Toyota FJ Crusier w/ 3" lift + 33s) - pending thumbs up from the Mrs.

Had a few others drop out due to scheduling...

Anyone else?

[Blazintrails03]

I'm looking forward to seeing that VehiCross and i updated the list to include my passenger unless something changes.

So here is the count so far
ORTB:
Bobby (Blazintrails03) + the Mrs. - coming
Mike (firefox2501) - coming
James (Trail X) - maybe

outside of ORTB:
Terry +1 passenger (Jeep Wrangler stock) - coming
Travis and Karen +1 passenger (Isuzu VehiCross w/ 1.75 lift + 33s) - coming
Chip +2 passenger (Jeep Wrangler w/ 2.5" lift + 33s) - maybe - leaning to yes
Matt (Toyota FJ Crusier w/ 3" lift + 33s) - pending thumbs up from the Mrs.

[Trail X]

Looks like I will be installing my front diff this day guys... I wanted to get it done this past weekend, but we only had time to get it set-up and not installed, so as of now my 4x4 is inoperable. Yall have fun!

[Blazintrails03]

Get it done James and hopefully some of us can join you for the test run.

[Blazintrails03]

So we started off the day meeting at Sheetz in Haymarket where it was only Mike P, Travis with the Vehicross, myself and our passengers. All others didn't make it and Mike talked me into Flagpole instead of Second Mountain. I will post pics tomorrow but right now a big thanks goes out to Mike for leading the group. He used his passed experience from rides and TECORE and stopped along the way to point out a couple of key spots too.

[Trail X]

Flagpole is a fun ride, one of my favorites in the area. Glad you got to experience it!

Which way did you guys run it? From the top down, or from the bottom up?

[firefox2501]

Which way did you guys run it? From the top down, or from the bottom up?

We ran from the Union Station side up to Meadow Knob over to Flagpole Knob then down to Switzer Dam.

[firefox2501]

The ride validated 3 major things for me:

1) Radflo Shocks - Installed Dec 2013 - WORTH EVERY PENNY! The truck handled great and never bottomed out. The old shocks/springs bottomed out at least once on every ride...
2) 4 wheel drive repair (front axle disconnect was trashed) - Mar 2014 - The way the truck handled and pulled through the different obstacles was a completely different feeling than the previous trips out there. I really doubt that the 4x4 was ever working before the repair...
3) Storage drawers - built Mar 2014 - Definitely worked out. No problems with any of the drawers, including the 150-200lb drawer. These are now stamped trail rated...

[Trail X]

Nice! Agreed about those Radflos. Completely different experience!

[firefox2501]

I am thrilled with them!

On a side note, once Bobby posts the pictures, he earns an upgrade to trial rated! He did great out there.

[Blazintrails03]

I'm working on that now. I'm hoping for Offroad Rated. No way a stock TB could've done what we did!

[Blazintrails03]

Mike would have to tell exactly where this is but it's right at the beginning of the trail. Perfect air down point. He did make sure to mention that even though it's not posted there is a $1500 fine going over the berm behind my TB and trying to climb that hill.



The VX was awesome and performed outstandingly well. And all he did was turned the torsion keys up front and Amigo springs in the rear for around 1.25" lift for the 33's to fit





The beginning of the trail had me a little nervous and Mike saying "This is nothing" a couple of times was making me think I was in a little too deep. And he was right it was nothing compared to what made my nether regions pucker up pretty bad at first. I didn't get any pics of Mike unfortunately guess I was guiding him down this rocky area. Keep in mind I'm on Mark's 2.5" and aired down 31's





Normally I'm not one for the whole rock on pic but at this point I was still a little thrown off from the rock descent and that's all I could see from Mike behind his camera so I went with it haha.





The view from Meadow Knob wasn't the greatest with all of the fog but still an enjoyable place to stop for lunch.





On our way down to Switzer Dam we figured out why we hadn't encountered any traffic from the other way. This bad boy had fallen and we couldn't push or pull it out of the way. So we had to go around.



The view from Switzer Dam was amazing.



And this would be my ugly mug putting my stuff away after airing up and getting ready to get off the trail and head home.

[firefox2501]

And of course the tree had to be across the trail on the one ride that I didn't bring my chainsaw....

[Blazintrails03]

And of course the tree had to be across the trail on the one ride that I didn't bring my chainsaw....

Hey I wasn't gonna put you out there. I didn't have anything worthy enough with me either.