2012 Graves Mountain Trailrides in Virginia

[cgarbee]

Just a heads up to everyone that the dates for the VA Rally (aka: Graves Mountain MV Trailrides and Rally) are August 30-Sept 4, 2012.
Same basic plan as last year, just with a LOT of new trails over on Doubletop and Graves Mountains (Steve's crew has been super busy cutting new ones for us, and in generating a GPS/photo map of the area with all the trails for us to use).

The nice thing is that we get to use all the Lodge facilities for the rally, and there are a lot of things for families to do so if folks don't want to OD on the green vehicles or trailrides, they don't have to, they can hike, hang out at the pool, tour the nearby wineries/antique shops/historic sites, shop, horseback ride (extra fee), etc...

We also will be having truck games on Saturday afternoon (so that folks have something to do while the pig is cooking).

Trails run from very mild to a tad wild so you can choose the level of difficulty that you want to run. We'll also be doing some convoys on the local county/state roads (mixed paved and gravel), low water fords, etc...

Hope to see a bunch of you in late August,

Registration and other info is located on the event website at http://www.gravesmountaintrailrides.com/

[MUTT Vet]

I might actually be back in Tennessee by then. If so I will DEFINITELY head over to Virgina.

[WC Matt]

Think I need to make an honest effort to attend this. Heck, it's only an hour away from me.
Matt

[cgarbee]

Looking forward to seeing you both
It's a great time, and the new trails (and a bunch of the ones we have used in the past) are perfect for M151's...


To quote Mike from Front Royal from a post he put on another site:

" plan on being there - been there past 3 years and it's pretty awesome! Lots of well-maintained trails, plenty of other stuff to do for the family, great camping area and good people. IF you have a military vehicle, or a vintage 4x4, this is a great event, gotta give it a shot, folks."

[cgarbee]

I was asked about vehicle size vs trail size...

We have some trails that you can take a five ton on (I have taken my XM813 on a couple...), we have some that are limited to a pickup (I think that you could get a Unimog down them though...just have not tried one yet...).

Only issue that we have on the trails as far as truck size is that a couple of them have tight turns (which we can't fix easily since we have a rock outcrop on one side and a steep drop off on the other).

Some of the trails we are using were used in WWII to train drivers before they shipped out to Europe since the terrain was said to mimic that of the mountains that they expected them to have to drive upon... Folks remember them taking CCKWs up on the ridges at night...

It's not a wide open place like Haspin or Rousch Creek, we are either on State Roads (can handle most anything), orchard/logging/forest roads on the farm (some steep, some pretty flat, but most can be negotiated by a 2.5 or 5 ton truck with a few limited to a 1.5 ton truck or smaller) with a few purpose cut jeep/horse trails that are limited to 5/4 ton or smaller pickups/jeeps...

[cgarbee]

Just thought that I would point out that I have learned from Gary's trip meter from a recent mapping trip at Graves that we have 29 miles of trail including the Blakely Ridge and Hoover Camp routes ready for folks to use...

That's not including the local roads that we also get to drive upon... (some paved, some gravel, all twisty...).

Don't forget to send those registration forms in so that I can ensure that we have enough BBQ and other eats...

[cgarbee]

Although t-shirts will be on sale at the event (go to the website at http://www.gravesmountaintrailrides.com/ to see the artwork), Chuck will sell them to anyone...even if you can't make the rally...

Speaking of which, you still have time to make plans to attend.
The rally/trailrides start on August 30 (early arrivals)...

[rickf]

OK Guy's, we need to show that we exist! I know we have some 838 people in that general area, stop on by. I am not taking the mutt this year but I am still taking a MV, The 151 is still having a noise issue in the suspension I have not found yet. I do not want to find it the hard way. I am dragging my M-1008 down. Automatic transmission and power steering. Plus more room for the dogs. I do need a heavier trailer if anyone has one for sale.

Rick

[moose53]

trailer to tow with the m1008 or to carry the m1008? i have a m116a1 i'd like to sell

Jim

[rickf]

I need one to carry the 1008 but I am curious about the 116 since I have an extra MEP-002A that needs a home.

Rick

[MUTT Vet]

I found out that i won't be getting out of the military until later this year.

So unfortunatley i won't be able to make it this year. I hope it will be held next year so i can go.

[cgarbee]

I found out that i won't be getting out of the military until later this year.

So unfortunatley i won't be able to make it this year. I hope it will be held next year so i can go.

Hate to hear that you can't make it this year...BUT:
1) THANKS for you service!
2) The Trailrides and Rally are held on the familly farm... I plan to hold this event on Labor Day weekend for quite a while (or, until they tell me I can't, but I really don't expect that to happen...). So, we'll expect to see you next year.


Now, what is everyone else's excuse??

[richard]

Now, what is everyone else's excuse??

I'm so far away at the moment and don't have vacation. Have been to the Blueridge a couple of years ago, have seen the Luray Caverns, went south, stayed overnight at Waynesboro and ended up finally at the Great Smokey Mountains.

A very nice and extremly scenic trip I'll never forget.

I am expecting tons of pictures of your rallye.

Perhaps I can rent a Mutt or Deuce in 2013?

[WC Matt]

Now, what is everyone else's excuse??

I'm so far away at the moment and don't have vacation. Have been to the Blueridge a couple of years ago, have seen the Luray Caverns, went south, stayed overnight at Waynesboro and ended up finally at the Great Smokey Mountains.

A very nice and extremly scenic trip I'll never forget.

I am expecting tons of pictures of your rallye.

Perhaps I can rent a Mutt or Deuce in 2013?

Yeah otherwise you're going to need one heck of a fording kit for yours.....
Matt

[cgarbee]

Hmmm... I don't have a rental Mutt or Deuce on site this year (I do have a duece with a water tank on it that is used and kept on the farm at the event site so one could borrow it for the weekend...), but I could arrange to have an extra M38 or M274 on site for you next year...

Seriously, we've got several airports nearby (Charlottesville, Dulles, and National) and we always seem to have space in vehicles for riders and an "extra" vehicle or two... So fly on in one year... Or get that really long fording extension (for you and the Mutt...).