Anyone up for a weekend of dirt trails, scenic waterfalls, camping, char-broiled meats, and malted beverages? I'm going to get something going for the middle of July. Either the weekend of the 19th, or 26th, depending on feedback. The venue is the public lands between High Falls Flowage (northwest of Crivitz, WI) and Iron Mt. MI. I've been going up there for about 15 years now and know of lot of places we can get into trouble. I'm planning to camp at a stream crossing big enough to accommodate at least 20 vehicles filled with rustic campers. Rustic meaning backwoods/roughing it/milky way nights/might find Jimmy Hoffa.

I will post some pics here of the last time we went out there this spring. Naturally, when you're having the most fun, the last thing on your mind is taking a picture...so allowances need to be made.

Oh, and the stock X can just make it through the tough problems...mine does.

Count me in. The weekend of the 26th works best for me.

Brandon,
Sounds good. I'll see if the wife is off that weekend, and If I'm allowed to go and/or to bring her!! Are stopping along the trail to camp the night?
Dan

My other half will be coming with us too, so she'll have someone to talk to who won't be reverting to the 10 year old boy mentality like the rest of us should plan on. There's a great place to camp along one of the trails with a water source, fire pit, and not much else. It's roughing it, but we make a home out of the place with what we bring.

The real deal is all of the trails that criss-cross this little part of God's country. I know if you show, you'll not go home with a frown. My brother has a friend who has started joining us. He and his wife began coming along about a year ago. After our first mud hole, he broke squelch with, "This is the most fun I've ever had in my whole life"! I chuckled, "welcome to the club", as my permagrin set in.

I've got a 8,000 pound hand winch, a high lift, shovel, and hip waders should any of us get into any trouble. Also, if you've got a FRS handheld transceiver, or compatible CB, we use those to communicate to each other on the trail. I'll bring a couple of them along, in case some of you don't have one.

Is it a forest road or an ATV Trail?. Just wondering what the conditions are like, and total miles. I really up for anything, but I am just getting the wife warmed up to the idea. You know, if they don't like it. You'll never hear the end of it!! Then after that it is time to have another !!
Dan

I know exactly what you mean. I was tentative when bringing mine along for the first time, I thought that she might poo-poo the whole idea, thus making it more difficult for me to enjoy. Now she's the one suggesting that we go more often. The beauty of this remote wilderness with its many waterfalls, rushing streams, and sylvan glades makes for a good mix of both types of off roading. The access roads that we'll be on are all dirt forest roads. From there we can opt to get off the beaten track along countless trails, over which tires have not tread for at least two years. The expansiveness of this area can only be outdone by the flexibility it possesses for different thresholds of off road enjoyment.... there, that's my brochure bit. Really, it's as tough as you want it, or as smooth as you want it. Lots of options available. Making it enjoyable for everyone is at the top of the priorities list. The routes that we take will reflect that.

The approach to the camping area can be all paved, with the exception of the last 2 miles. The last leg will be dirt forest road, comfortably passable. Bear in mind, my X is stock, and I've been through every one of these places several times.

I really hope that the two of you can make it. It's always more fun with more people. Plus I'd like to get to know all of you in the MadCity group.

Ok Brandon you sold me, I'm in. The wife may be able to make it. If not my two little ones and will be there, "tow strap getters" J/K. The trails sound great, more remote the better. I hate crowded campgrounds. I was wondering if it is possible to pull a small tent camper to the campsite? The wife and kids have gotten spoiled camping in it, Ok so have I . If not we can bring our tent. All we need is a date and time, place to meet, I'm open on the date. Is there anything we need to bring, besides normal camping stuff, recovery gear, and your 10 year old mentality .
Gator

BEER!!!!

I only wish I could make those letters bigger.

Pulling a pop-up camper to the camping place should be no problem. The road that goes past the camping area is a dirt forest road that's graded about three to four times a year. During deer hunting season every wide spot on the road has a pop-up on it, so it's been done before.

Concerning the wilderness, I've only run into one other group camping there (other than deer season). It was during the 4th of July last year. The sites not occupied by us remained vacant all weekend. I wouldn't expect anyone to be there on a middle of July weekend.

Things that I'll bring:

• 48" high-lift
• 8,000 lb come along
• 30' recovery strap
• Hip Waders
• FRS radios
• 400W inverter
• Gazeteer map
• Shovel (in case we find Jimmy Hoffa)
• Axe
• Saw

Things everyone should bring:

• Camping arrangements (Tent, Pop-up, etc.)
• Food and beverages BEER!
• mosquito dope
• Compass or GPS
• Camera for cool/embarassing pics
• Appetite for fun

I'm sure I'll edit this list as things go. As far as a rendezvous, it looks like it will be on Saturday the 26th. When I hear back from some of the other folks, we'll plan a good rendezvous point that's easy to find and minimizes the group's travel time.
I'm gettin' psyched now!

Here's a link to a small write up concerning the scenic waterfalls we'll be visiting along the way. Lots of good photo ops.

Waterfalls that we\'ll visit

Oh Matt! I would never forget the beer. I may forget to bring the X , But not the beer!

It sounds like it is going to be a good time. Just as long as our better halfs let us run around like little kids BTW Brandon, we have to watch Matt. He gets into all kinds of trouble if left alone!!
Gator

That's OK, once we start to run the trails he'll never be out of radio contact...in case he needs a tow.

Gator, how would you know? I had my "better half" along last time so I was kept in line. The only trouble I got in there was with her!

Brandon's right, I won't stray too far as I'll probably be needing a pull sometime that weekend. I really tried to get Holly to drive last weekend when we got stuck. I figured it would happen and I wanted someone to blame it on - but now I have to live with it...

Hopefully with all the other "behavior moderators" along on this trip they will occupy themselves for a while and we can act like real children! I can't wait.

Hey Matt, I saw that you're a climber too. Great stuff. Dave's Falls has some interesting little bouldering problems, but nothing spectacular. There's one or two top rope throws that are very dirty too. Not enough people climb it to keep it clean.

Norah and I are really looking forward to the July trip. We're headed up this weekend and next to scout out some of the better mud holes. I just got a Garmin Rino 110, so I want to get a few paths and waypoints into it.

Any chance that TCdesign wants to get in on our trip? I'm going to contact Close1 and see if he wants to come too.

Looks like my behavior moderator and kids will be coming. Get to try out some new toys I am working on! Would be great if Max, Tcdesign, and Close1 show up also.
Gator

Yeah, I would like to go, but I can't plan that far in advance. If you guys finalize a date, I can let you know 1 or 2 weeks ahead of time, but I didn't want to say I'm coming and then not show up. I will try to keep things open around then, but I never know if something unplanned will come up, or if I'll even be able to afford to go that weekend. I keep watching this thread though, so I'll let you know for sure.

-Tim

Brandon, yeah I climb a bit, but it's actually kind of pathetic in the realm of "real" climbers. I like to visit new places and spend hours working problems though, so some easy bolder problems or top ropes would be excellent. All the better to have something fun to do for when I get too stuck to keep wheeling!

But if we get too stuck to keep wheeling, there's always beer to drink! Ahhh, ice cold beer.

I'm glad that your "moderating" councelors will be coming with. It's always a lot more fun with more people, of all ages. Plus Norah will have more people to talk with.

TCdesign - It will be the 26th of July that we go on this little trip. I sure hope that things work out where you can come.

I'll contact Jesse tonight to see if he wants to come. I get my X back from the shop with new head gaskets tonight. We'll see what else they did to it while they worked on it. I called Friday and they said they "stripped two bolts" and needed to order two new ones. This got me pretty concerned since the bolts thread into aluminum. I hope they didn't strip out the hole and have to overdrill, retap, and install a larger bolt. The aluminum between the cooling jackets and the bolt holes is already super thin. Oh well, I'll know more after 5 tonight.

i have to say this is where i normally do my camping! it is awesome up there, but unfortunately/fortunately i will be heading to beautiful boulder colorado on the 27th of this month.

it was just decided monday of this week. man this sucks, i could definately go for many many beers up in god's country. speaking of beer, make sure some one attempts the camo 40's they aren't the best tasting beer(hmm is that possible...beer taste bad?) but at 8+% this high gravity lager really does the trick

oops! being that i was sooo pissed about missing this trip, i had to reread the post and then it was clear...this is being planned for july! I am soo in for this one guys!

Good to hear Close, but I think I'll let you take the Camo 40s... blech! Sorry. I didn't think they tasted that great in college when I'd drink *anything* that had alcohol in it.

I'll probably bring a "premium" lager and perhaps a homebrew if I get my bottling set up working by then...

Close1, glad you're going to make it. We've got four X's so far. If things work out for Tim, we'll be ready to take the woods in force.

Mmmmmm, homebrew. My friends stay away from mine since I gave them some 12% barley wine I'd made. When you smell the bottle, you swear you smell scotch. I think I still have a bottle or two stowed away somewhere, just in case I needed to strip wax off of floors, or oil stains off of driveways.

Got my X back last night, found it pissing coolant, brought it in this morning, found hose clamp still pushed up the hose. Oh well, those things can happen. Don, the mechanic (fellow X owner) mentioned McCaslin Mountain in Lakewood, WI. I guess it's an off-road park with an adjacent campground. He's going to get the brochure for me and leave it in the vehicle when I bring my X in for the ABS sensor recall. We ought to schedule a trip up there for August.

Good to hear that close is coming. Missed him on the Hayward Run. As long as I can evade my behavior moderator, I will bring small chainsaw for down trees. Also some "swampwater tea"
Gator

Great...more camo's for me to consume . i have to agree, they are a lil harsh.. but they take affect nice and quick