GWNF Night Run During our club meeting, held in March, Alex H. made the suggestion to organize a CORE night run to FlagPole Knob on March 25, 2006. There were three individuals committed to this project:
Alex Hinson, 92 Blazer, CORE member (Later took a raincheck) Loc Pham, 04 Rubicon, CORE member Alex Petrovsky, 01 TJ Wrangler, Guest Sergiy Abiyaki, a passenger guest riding with Alex Petrovsky.
On Friday night at 9:21PM (the night before our scheduled night run), Alex H. unexpectedly dropped out as the lead run, his 1992 S10 Blazer's engine had blown up.
Alex P. and I are the only two remaining people in the group. Since a minimum of three vehicles is recommended for any trail run, this presented a concern. We discussed the situation and concluded that the worst case scenario would be getting stuck over night. The decision was made to make the trip and pack extra foods, water, warm clothing and the most important item: sleeping bag.
Saturday morning I began going through my normal off-road checklist, spare tire was checked for proper air pressure, First-aid kit, extra batteries and flashlights and a sub-zero sleeping bag. I obtained the latest weather forecast which was: Rain and snow showers in the morning changing to all rain in the afternoon. High 44F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 40%. Saturday night: Showers ending early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 32F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
At 1:45PM on Saturday afternoon, we departed our meeting place in Gaithersburg heading to Harrisonburg. Traffic was heavy on Interstate 270 the same on 66 but light on 81. We traveled only 65mph, the average speed, and arrived at Sheetz around 4:00PM for refueling.
At 4:20PM Alex P. couldn't wait so we hit the trail. We had dinner upon reaching the top of "Flagpole Knob" mountain. At the beginning of the trail, we stopped for airing down at the same location we always stop at, right next to a stream.
As we were driving up, we noticed the ground was wet and a light snow was deposited along the side of the trail. However, the amount of snow increased with the higher altitude, covering everything. The snow had fallen the previous night therefore it was a fresh snow. It appeared that we were the first ones to arrive for 4wheeling, because there were no tire tracks. The Sun, partially hidden behind dark clouds, began to set, soft sun lights wrapped around the trees reflecting back from snow on the ground creating a peaceful scene and serene feeling. I could almost hear the forest breathing the fresh air.
Upon approaching our destination, I noticed what appeared to be narrow ATV tire tracks on the snow. When we reached the mountain top, I received a call from Alex P. on the CB radio. He was asking if I had any pain killer such as Advil for Sergiy. I stopped and gave Sergiy a bottle of mixed Tyleno and Advil. Maybe the guy had developed a problem due to the high altitude. It's too late now. I thought.
We arrived at about 6:00PM and the hill on the mountain top was completely covered with snow. We got out of our Jeeps, put on extra layers of clothing, the wind blowing gently but enough to make us cold. Sergiy said something like "I like the wilderness. It's away from everything!" Then Alex P. and Sergiy started to speak Russian with each other. I didn't understand what they were saying. Well I thought to myself in Vietnamese and started to take pictures as the Sun started to set.
After I ate dinner, I heard Alex complaining that Sergiy's chicken was too hard and cold to eat. Sergiy decided to build a fire to heat up his food then started to collect dried branches. Fifteen minutes later Alex P. was still struggling to start a fire until Sergiy brought back some Pine branches. He explained to me Pine tree has oil which he learned in his country's school. It was already dark. We stood around the warm fire talking. Then I first saw the head lights of a vehicle driving up the hill toward us. One full size SUV appeared to be older model Blazer, a Toyota pickup and one Chevy pickup truck appeared. We hadn't expected anyone else to show up for the night run. The lead man, wearing a hunter's cap, got out from the Blazer along with two other men, a woman and three teenagers. We started to talk. The man wearing the hunter cap said he saw us drive by his house earlier! I took some pictures of our unexpected guests and thought we inspired them for the night ru n!!! Just before the fire died down, our unexpected guests left. I silently said good bye. We covered the fire ashes with snow and started to discuss if I still needed to lead or Alex P. could lead because his TJ has six headlights. As I was busy walking around and taking some more pictures, Alex P. started to drive off... I quickly jumped into my Rubicon and followed him.
The dark night was still young as we drove down, the trail that was rough from rocks and snow. Each time we caught up with the other group we waited and let them go first. After we passed the Stone house, we saw the same three SUVs parked along the trail again, one of their vehicles had a leaking radiator hose. Alex P. gave them two water bottles. We passed them and continued on our way. When we reached a spot where larger rocks were exposed at bottom of a hill (This is usually where stock vehicles would need someone to spot or take the by pass) Alex P. successfully made it through those rocks. I had a little trouble following the same path so I took a different path and made it too. But when Alex P. approached the hill, ice and snow on the ground caused his tires to spin and slide. While Alex P. was trying to navigate the hill, the other group arrived and they watched while Alex P. tried many different approach angles and failed. Two of them inspected the hill and said ice was everywhere. The Toyota man said the tires on his vehicle wouldn't make it and said they should turn around! We all wished we had a winch on our vehicles.
Alex decided to try the left side of this hill. There was just enough space between trees for his Jeep to get through. But he still couldn't make it. Below the snow surface was ice then suddenly Alex managed to get his Jeep up and out of from bottom of the hill but the rear tires started to spin on ice again. This time four men quickly pushed Alex's Jeep and it made its way up the hill!
Now it's my turn! I said to myself. Then Sergiy said to me Alex's Jeep has a rear locker and still had a problem. I replied my Rubicon has both front and rear locker. I switched them on and doubled check to make sure both lockers were on. I took my Rubicon directly up the hill without experiencing any problem. Everyone cheered!!!
Next, it's time for the first full-size Blazer to follow, the 8-cylinder powered vehicle roared and its tires spun and slid like mad. Hunter cap man would not release the gas pedal, the sound of the engine was so loud, and it could be heard miles away. This Blazer somehow with raw power danced its way up the hill. Then Toyota man used the same technique staying on the gas pedal and he bulldozed his way up, the same result for the last Chevy pickup truck. Later I realized that during all this excitement I had neglected to take any pictures.
At last everyone made it. We all walked back to our vehicles, Hunter cap man turned to me and said "Now I'm a believer, Detroit locker!" I know locker on a Rubicon is not a Detroit automatic locker but I didn't want to correct him. After all locker does make the difference.
After this icy hill, the trail was still covered with snow and ice underneath. I could see Alex P.'s Jeep sliding when he applied his brakes as we went down the hill. We both engaged in 4-Low and drove in first gear until we came to the trail area where the ground is exposed with no snow. Along the way, I saw a deer run in front of Alex and called him on the CB radio, Sergiy answered they too saw a deer earlier.
At 9:30PM or so we were back on pavement, I stopped at a stop sign and took this opportunity to shake hands with Hunter Cap Man and thank him for the experience. We departed, Alex and I stopped at Sheetz for refueling and airing up. 10:04PM we headed home with a great feeling of satisfaction and memories of a successful adventure- I prayed that night "Thank you and may all of our adventurous trail rides be safe and successful as always."
Loc Pham
Maryland - US
http://core4x4.org
