Trails near RVA

Hafaday · Apr 16, 2021

ToynbyuTicotex said: ↑

Out of desperation to use my new truck, I ignored the golden rule... I went out this morning alone. The first part of the trip went well, a quick loop around Upper Crabtree Falls. Then I decided to take the Kennedy trail (Big Levels) from the parkway (mile marker 27 I think) down to Sherando. The trail was tough as any trails up there, very rocky, steep and lots of mud holes. It is a nine mile run and at mile four, about an hour and a half later, I saw a sign for a "short cut" to STRT 42 (Coal Road) two miles. Tried of the beating... I decided to take it. Big mistake! This trail was rougher than the main one and about a mile or so in, it started to close in on me. With my mirrors folded in I kept on as I had no choice. I could only imagine what those laurel branches were doing to my paint. After another grueling mile (almost another hour of going through the "cheese grater" the trail ended! the shotgun peppered sigh said "no motorized vehicles beyond this point" and two bolders blocked the path. You guessed it, I had to back out in low range for several hundred yards until I found a spot where I made a painful twenty point turn to head back to the main trail. So much for the short cut. At least I was done with tearing my paint to shreds. Even though the though the damage was already done.
The next not so pleasent experience came in the form of one of the many mud holes I had to pass through, up to this point they weren't that bad so when I came upon this one in particular I stayed in first gear High, then about twenty feet in the nose of the truck dropped! I floored it, as the water almost started coming in my window and the truck was about to stall by the grace of God it stated picking up revs and the fact that I was getting a shower of stinky muddy water didn't matter I made it out! Thank goodness for Tacoma Toughness! The next dozen mud holes (none nearly as deep) only saw second gear LOW RANGE and high RMP's with the windows closed, but again the damage was already done.
The rest of the ride was uneventful, just rocky and steep. all said it took me over three and a half hours to make the nine mile trip.

I can only hope that I have learned something from this. As I make the appointment for paint restoration.
Click to expand...

Damn! I know the hole you speak of.. A thick sandy bottom with no forgiveness. gotta churn and burn through it.

03dumdum · Apr 16, 2021

ToynbyuTicotex said: ↑

Out of desperation to use my new truck, I ignored the golden rule... I went out this morning alone. The first part of the trip went well, a quick loop around Upper Crabtree Falls. Then I decided to take the Kennedy trail (Big Levels) from the parkway (mile marker 27 I think) down to Sherando. The trail was tough as any trails up there, very rocky, steep and lots of mud holes. It is a nine mile run and at mile four, about an hour and a half later, I saw a sign for a "short cut" to STRT 42 (Coal Road) two miles. Tried of the beating... I decided to take it. Big mistake! This trail was rougher than the main one and about a mile or so in, it started to close in on me. With my mirrors folded in I kept on as I had no choice. I could only imagine what those laurel branches were doing to my paint. After another grueling mile (almost another hour of going through the "cheese grater" the trail ended! the shotgun peppered sigh said "no motorized vehicles beyond this point" and two bolders blocked the path. You guessed it, I had to back out in low range for several hundred yards until I found a spot where I made a painful twenty point turn to head back to the main trail. So much for the short cut. At least I was done with tearing my paint to shreds. Even though the though the damage was already done.
The next not so pleasent experience came in the form of one of the many mud holes I had to pass through, up to this point they weren't that bad so when I came upon this one in particular I stayed in first gear High, then about twenty feet in the nose of the truck dropped! I floored it, as the water almost started coming in my window and the truck was about to stall by the grace of God it stated picking up revs and the fact that I was getting a shower of stinky muddy water didn't matter I made it out! Thank goodness for Tacoma Toughness! The next dozen mud holes (none nearly as deep) only saw second gear LOW RANGE and high RMP's with the windows closed, but again the damage was already done.
The rest of the ride was uneventful, just rocky and steep. all said it took me over three and a half hours to make the nine mile trip.

I can only hope that I have learned something from this. As I make the appointment for paint restoration.
Click to expand...

As much as I cringed while reading this, times like those really do make for great stories. Glad you made it out!

bishtaco · Dec 8, 2022

FWIW, take a class from this company. Mike Morrison is a great off-road instructor and conducts classes in NC. Well worth the $200. https://morrisonsoutdooradventures.com/classes/

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