Mid-Atlantic Full Size Jeep Club - day trip to Rausch Creek

Day trip to Rausch Creek
Dec 4, 2011
Trail Report

Left home at 6:00AM headed to the Allentown Service Plaza for a planned meet with Lou and Glenn. Almost no traffic so I made it to the Service Plaza at 7:15AM. Glen showed up at 7:30AM and Lou arrived late at 8:15AM. We left and after a fuel stop (11.5 gal) we made it to RC at 9:30AM.
Truck ran fine on the highway. 1 minor issue, the light on the oil pressure gauge isn't working. As I was driving to the Service Plaza I compared my speedometer to my GPS. At 55mph on the speedometer I'm actually doing 60mph at 60mph on the speedometer I'm doing 65mph.
Met with 4 members of the Mid-Atlantic Full Size Jeep Club. Brian, JR and Anne, Earl in his XJ and Craig who showed up shortly after I did. Our group consisted of 6 FSJs and an XJ. After meeting with the rest of the group we hit the trails at around 10.0AM. I took point and decided to do some green trails on the East Property starting with Trail B. I haven't been on these trails in quite a few years. They were a bit tougher than I remembered but nothing that a stock Grand Wagoneer couldn't do. Followed B all the way around to D then hopped onto 1B. There was more water than I expected but nothing too bad. Most of these trails were a bit slippery and there were a few little hill climbs. A lot of rocks but nothing too serious. We eventually got to Trail D and followed that to Crawler Ridge. Earl, Brian, JR, Craig and Lou played there for a while; none of them had any issues. We left there and headed to the Pole Line and then to Tower Road. I did a go-around at the Mud Pit on Pole Line and saw in my rear view mirror that Earl was going to go through the Mud Pit. I got out of the truck to take pictures and was surprised to see that the Mud Pit is no longer a 5' deep hole. Water barely hit the bumper on Earl's lifted Cherokee. Everybody else went through the Mud Pit. Up the Pole Line to Tower Road and we stopped for lunch.
The Junkyard Dog did fine on all of these trails. I ran in 4wheel high but never had to shift into low range. The automatic transmission worked out great. It will be even better once I replace the shifter cable so I can select which gear I want to be in.
After a lunch break of hot dogs, hamburgers, deer sausage, Wawa hoagies along with assorted other goodies Earl and I got our heads together and made a plan for the afternoon run with Earl taking point. We decided to take Trail J (not J1 or J2) to Trail H until we hit Trail 11. The approach to Trail J is daunting. Immediately after getting onto the trail there is a very tricky section that really tests your FSJs flex. Everyone except Glen did this section; he took a go-around and met us right after the Trail H Trail J1 split. We took Trail H downhill. Part of Trail H is very off camber tilting your FSJ to the right at an area that has a drop off of about 200'. It really is a white knuckle run. After that section we turned onto Trail 11 and stopped at the Rock Garden for a couple of minutes to show everyone that trail. Wisely nobody tried that. Earl turned us onto Trail 14. This is a very right twisty rocky trail, not my cup of tea but every one made it through. There is one wet slippery steep section that gave Glen some problems but we all made it through and back onto Trail 11. I was in low range for most of this trail. We followed 11 thinking that we'd just make our way back to Rausch Creek's office and call it a day. It didn't quite work out like that.
At the intersection of 11 and 11B Earl told Glen to take 11B back to 11. Earl thought this one section of 11 would be too much for Glen's stock Waggy. I thought it would be a good idea to take this section since I had no idea what Glen would find, it's a trail that I have never taken before. I took point with Glen in the Rocking Chair between Lou and I. 11B is a tough rocky uphill trail. Glen had a tough time even making the turn but fought his way through some mud and the got stuck 50' later. I had no problems with the trail but I really need low range for most of it. I lost track of Glen in my rear view and stopped to wait for him. I could almost see Trail 11 from where I was. I backed down to try to help Glen out but had an issue with one section that kept me from getting back to Glen. While all of that was going on JR and Earl had walked down Trail 11B to see what was taking us so long. I went up the trail to the Trail 11 intersection with Earl riding in the back of the JYD thinking that I'd turn around and go down the hill face forward to help out. At that point Earl decided he was going to take his XJ with the winch to pull Glen out. Brian went along with him and they took my Recovery Bag with straps and various other implements to help out. I waited at the intersection with Craig and his family. Not too long after that both Glen and Lou joined us. Seems that they both need to be winched through that 1 touch section.
After all of that we headed back up Trail H and onto the Pole Line before heading back to the check in area. Nothing too difficult there just uphill then back down again.
Junkyard Dog did fine on all of these trails although I was in low range quite a bit.
After checking out and airing up our tires we started the long drive home. Glen and Lou went along with me. We made a quick stop at the Service Plaza then took the last leg home. I got home at 8:00PM hungry dirty and tired.
All in all a great day. The weather was fine once the morning clouds departed it warmed up nicely. None of the FSJs suffered anything significant damage wise. Lou did get a small crease in his driver side quarter panel but nothing major. All of the FSJs ran well so no real issues with that.

Lou Amato's Trail Report
Here is my trail report. Left the house 6:00 am. Met up with Bill and Glen around 8:30 in Allentown Pa. Got to the park and met with 5 other members. Hit the trailhead around 10:00 With FSJ Earl as our trail leader. The plan was to do green and blue trials. Well the green trails were a little more than a challenge in some spots. Lots of big rocks to drive or around. Lots of watery holes to ford through, at least they had rock bottoms. Glen proved what a good driver he is and how capable his truck by doing everything. Mind you he is rocking a bone stock GW and this is his first trip to the park and this kind of wheeling. Bill's Junkyard Dog performed flawlessly, and everyone else had bigger trucks that was able to do some rcokcrawling and deeper holes. Me and Glen were the only casualties of the day, him with a crushed tailpipe. Me losing mine, and both of us needing to get winched up a stupid slick muddy hill that our AT tires had no chance against. We headed out of the park at 4:30, and we were home by 8:30. Everyone had a blast, everyone smiling. For those that are close enough that didn't get to attend, I hope you can make the next one.

Glen's Trail Report
Started off Meeting Bill and JD at the Allentown rest stop and had a chit chat till Lou showed up then hit the road, Got to Raush at around 9:30 and signed up for my membership and then hit the trails. First thing we hit was water and my moral hit the ground having to drive through more water But wasn't too bad, It's nothing like the Pine Barrens where you can cruise through the water, these had rocks hiding in the water and me and my buddy Derek were like bobble head dolls in there. Noticed how everyone crawled through with a smooth looking ride and mine was like a crash landing simulator but it was a lot of fun. Want to thank Earl for the spotting of my stock Jeep and keeping me from breaking anything. Highlights of the day are that I stalled a few times descending a hill straddling a rut, while entering a small creek like mud pit my back passenger tire went up in the air as my Jeep tipped into the pit and my buddy jumped to brace himself with the dash. Got hung up climbing out of a small mud pit, Got spotted at all the larger stuff and Thanks again earl for that. Then got advised to take the "easier" path to the top of the mountain.... Well can't say how hard the other trail was but the "easy" one ending up involving me and Lou getting winched out by Earl. After that just a short slow bumpy cruise and then we were home free for the 130mile drive home. Only damage was making my exhaust tip more aerodynamic and punching some rust from my rocker panel on the passenger side. But I got my sticker and proudly put it on my rear driver side window to display that I made it into and out of Rausch Creek. Made it home just fine with a stop at the quarter carwash. 30min and $22 later and my jeep is cleaned and ready to look good at 20mph again. thank you all for the great day and the fun memories this trip made, Hopefully next time I won't be the "stocker" holding everyone up

JR's Trail Report
A very good trip as stated by many others. The weather was perfect and the trails were wet and sloppy depending on which one you took. A big goes to Glenn in his stock height GW as he negotiated through water holes, twisting rut-filled trails, and trails containing steep approach/descent angles with finesse and confidence. All that confidence came to a crash landing as soon as he decided to follow "Wild" Bill Houston's Swamper equipped J-10 through a sloppy, soupy, mud filled patch of trail. I'll call it a Rausch Creek welcome mat and he landed on every part of it. He got to see firsthand the importance of a winch and front tow points. Otherwise the day was pretty uneventful in the carnage dept. I think the worst breakage was a separated tailpipe. Lunch was awesome (Bill remembered the fuel) and I even scored a few extra parts. A shout out to Earl for spotting lots of trucks including myself though many tough obstacles. A big thanks to my co-pilot for dinner and keeping me awake for the 3 hour ride home.