BMRA 2016 New Years trip report (AKA, Gilmer)

[tex]

Started the new year with a little off road fun and “glampingâ€￾ at Barnwell Mountain Recreation Area. Spent the weekend with some great friends and met some new ones. The trails were wet in some spots but not bad at all.

Heading out to the park.
IMG_6042 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

Got unloaded and the first trail we did was Clyde’s Ravine. Fun trail that will really test your suspension travel.
IMG_6046 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6050 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6060 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6089 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6109 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

 

[tex]

After this we explored a little and ended up at Old Camp in the back of the park.

Road into Old Camp looked cool
IMG_6113 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr


The only trail out of the camp is Jeep Eater. Short trail that has a bypass at the very end to make the last 50 feet a little easier but still a little bit of a challenge.

Exiting Jeep Eater
IMG_6114 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6120 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

We had a little more daylight left and decided to run Fun Country. I could not make it up the trail out of the creek bottom due to some ledges and my wheelbase was not helping. Backed down and tried what looked like a bypass. Wrong. Tight fit between 2 trees and was not going to get past it without crunching a door panel. Tried a few things but nothing worked. Instead of cutting down the tree with a hand saw we backed out of the trail and headed back to camp.

Day 2
Next morning we had a hearty breakfast and started off on Twister. Good 3 diamond trail with the most technical spot being a ledge on a turn. The climb out has several options for different lines but is not bad.

Going down the ledge on Twister
IMG_6123 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6131 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6139 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6141 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6145 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

Climbing out of Twister at the end.
IMG_6147 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6153 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

We started heading down Binders Boulevard but the first obstacle had all of us second guessing it. This has gotten washed out in the last 6 months since I was here last. Nathan in the Trail Toys rig is built up more than the rest of us there so he proceeded. The key is to ride the wall on the left as far as you can. Nathan said this is the first time he has had an obstacle pull a rear tire off the ground. He finished the trail and we caught up with him at the exit for another trail.

Dropping down Binders Boulevard
IMG_6188 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6198 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6203 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6209 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

 

[tex]

Politician starts right there at the exit so we ran that one. I like this 3 diamond trail and its a good one to test out your rig. A locker really helps at the end but I did this in the past in my open/open Tacoma.

IMG_6224 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

Playing with the 4runners off road features. The crawl control made climbing up steep hills a breeze.
IMG_6229 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6234 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

Last climb out of Politician.
IMG_6242 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

The Jeep could not make it so we tried a traction device that Nathan wanted to test. In this situation they did not work and ended up putting a strap on the Jeep to get him up.
IMG_6258 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6306 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

Had time for 1 more trail before lunch so we cruised over to L&B Turnpike. The ledge at the entrance to this one is a little intimidating. It looked like more than myself and 1 other in the group felt comfortable with so we backed out.
IMG_6328 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6336 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6359 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

Clearance helps when making your way down the ledges.
IMG_6390 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6428 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6513 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6568 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

 

[TacoXpo]

Looks fun.

 

[Silverback]

Nice. Looking forward to more pics.

 

[tex]

Back to camp for lunch and relax a bit.

Helped change a CV axle on the gray T4r due to a limb punching a hole in the boot. Swap went quick and easy.

Wanted to hit 1 more trail before dark so we stayed close and started down Desi Way. Rated as a 2 diamond but when its muddy there is a tight spot that could bring it up to a 3. A little body damage is possible so be careful.

IMG_6571 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6608 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

Thats real close.
IMG_6624 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

Stand on it to pull it away from the wall.
IMG_6626 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

Had to use the winch to pull Lyndall off the wall

IMG_6643 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

IMG_6658 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr


Saw this out there. You have arrived when you put your rig and trailer onto another trailer.
IMG_6687 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

 

[balakay]

This was a good trip. One of the best trips to Gilmer I've been on. Nothing too extreme but enough to stay interested. And the food was damn good too.

 

[tex]

The food was amazing. Wish I would have got some pics of it.

 

[tx_shooter]

Looks like a good trip to Gilmer. Now that I can get there quicker just driving my 4R at 75 mph instead of towing at 55-60 mph I would not mind going more often.

 

[Silverback]

Saw this out there. You have arrived when you put your rig and trailer onto another trailer.
IMG_6687 by Aaron Jordan, on Flickr

It's a Range Rover. The other trailer to haul it on is a given.

 

[tex]

Video from the weekend. Credit goes to Nathan
[VIDEO=youtube;LSSFXHkvWTI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSSFXHkvWTI&feature=youtu.be[/VIDEO]

 

[SMKYTXN]

Nice write up Aaron. Definitely a fun weekend.


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