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7:11 pm
November 29, 2010
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oddball
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| Mud Slinger | posts 1190 | |
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Post edited 7:16 pm – November 29, 2010 by Rubi04man
Okay so I get home today and in my mailbox is the Jan 2011 issue of JP Magazine.. There is a excellent, cool and funny too write-up on wheeling in Michigan. John Cappa (JP Mag Editor), his brother, the owner of AEV, Inc; all drove or flew to Michigan (this past summer 2010) for 4 days of wheeling and fun. They wheeled Rocks & Valley's, Silver Lake Dunes and Bundy Hill. They also spent part of a day at a kart track in East Lansing (Which sounded like a blast too). The story includes great tips for both wheeling these parks as well as things to do around the area day or night.
If you don't subscribe to JP mag, you might want to pick-up the Jan 2011 issue for a great read on wheeling Michigan. There's also another point to my post here – I think the club should schedule runs to all of the parks in 2011!
On a personal note; I've never been to any of these parks (including the dunes) so I want to shout out to Tony – Wether the club actually makes these suggested events to Michigan next year or not, I want to wheel these places, so let me know! The Rubi will be ready for anything by spring. Fwiw, they talk about stock-to-mod Jeep ability on both the Adventure Trail and Python @ R&V (and Bundy Hill too).
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8:27 pm
November 29, 2010
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Weeeee
| | West Chicago, IL | |
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http://www.jpmagazine.com/even…..index.html
Sounds good to me, Tony was telling me about R&V and sounds like a good time.
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 Doug – 2000 TJ
Work in Progress
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9:34 pm
November 29, 2010
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Tony M
| | Grand Rapids, MI | |
| Mud Slinger | posts 545 | |
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Post edited 3:08 pm – November 30, 2010 by Tony M
WHAT!!!!! an actual DDO event in Michigan beside the dunes!! You guys/girls would have a blast. R & V is an awesome park. Plus, another one to look into would be Twisted Trails, which is just west of R & V. A perfect 2 fer trip. I'm actually a little tired of the Dunes but I know its a little rare for you guys, so we could include that too.
Other really good trail systems are the Mounds, Bundy Hill, and Drumond Island. Although in the U.P., I heard Turtle Ridge ORV on the Island has some really seanic views, plus you get to take a ferry there!
I even have places we could camp for free around the Copemish and Hesperia area, not to mention all the two-tracks.
Pick a good extended weekend, and a few parks that the club would like to visit and I would be happy to help you guys set it up.
If there is no interest; Jerry and Doug, I would be happy to wheel with you in Michigan.
Youtube any of these parks and you'll get a good idea of what the trails are like.
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9:55 pm
November 29, 2010
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Xjay98
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| Mall Crawler | posts 390 | |
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I'm game. By then I should have all my spares, my gas tank and t case skids.
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11:40 pm
November 29, 2010
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yellocoyote
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| Daily Driver | posts 179 |
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I've always been interested in going to Drummond Island, but I've noticed that those kinds of distances seem to scare many groups away… which is a shame.
I'd consider going up there if others planned to be there as well – the ORV park is not a place I would like to try alone.
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6:14 am
November 30, 2010
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Weeeee
| | West Chicago, IL | |
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I would like to go to Drummond Island I have heard it's a great time.
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Doug – 2000 TJ
Work in Progress
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4:42 pm
November 30, 2010
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oddball
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| Mud Slinger | posts 1190 | |
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Post edited 4:46 pm – November 30, 2010 by Rubi04man
Thanks for the link Doug. I didn't think to look on the JP website. Matter of fact, if they're posting articles (and the latest edition of the monthly rag) online, why the heck am I paying for a subscription?
More importantly – Although I really enjoy Badlands, you can keep Cliffs. I understand and accept Cliff's is close and inexpensive but I'm thinking if multiple trips are going to be planned there next year, don't look for me.
With that said; Tony & Doug, I'm thinking we need to plan a trip or two this coming spring / summer to Michigan. I write "a trip or two" because from what Tony said, Drummond sounds like a great time! Maybe a 4-day weekend for out-of-towner's. Meanwhile, I need to Google the park and find vid's on YouTube to learn more about it.
So if you guys (and anyone else interested, including the club's wisemen) want to do this, let's do it! I'm thinking summer for the UP, because I don't enjoy camping in cold weather anymore.
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7:18 pm
November 30, 2010
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Tony M
| | Grand Rapids, MI | |
| Mud Slinger | posts 545 | |
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I would suggest the UP in a trip in it's own, just because it's so far away and might cost a little dough with the ferry ride and such.
A good LP (Lower Pennsula) trip would be; 1. Rock and Valleys, Harrison, MI 2. Twisted Trails, Copemish, MI 3. Silver Lake Sand Dunes, Mears, MI, with two tracking opportunities between 2 and 3 through the Manisstee National Forest. I figure Silver Lake as the last one just because its an easy place where you rarely break down and it's on the way home from 2.
Another good loop would be; 1. Bundy Hill, Jerome, MI 2. Mounds ORV in Flint, MI. However, I would strongly not recommend this loop because camping in south, and east side of the state is scary. Detroit is the third most dangerous city in the U.S. and even the wheelers in JP mag decided to get hotels.
Let pick some dates: Late May, early June would be better then July, because of the 4th of July, and a wedding that I have.
it's never too early to plan these things.
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7:43 pm
November 30, 2010
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redline8300
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| Mall Crawler | posts 202 | |
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Tony M said:
I would suggest the UP in a trip in it's own, just because it's so far away and might cost a little dough with the ferry ride and such.
A good LP (Lower Pennsula) trip would be; 1. Rock and Valleys, Harrison, MI 2. Twisted Trails, Copemish, MI 3. Silver Lake Sand Dunes, Mears, MI, with two tracking opportunities between 2 and 3 through the Manisstee National Forest. I figure Silver Lake as the last one just because its an easy place where you rarely break down and it's on the way home from 2.
Another good loop would be; 1. Bundy Hill, Jerome, MI 2. Mounds ORV in Flint, MI. However, I would strongly not recommend this loop because camping in south, and east side of the state is scary. Detroit is the third most dangerous city in the U.S. and even the wheelers in JP mag decided to get hotels.
Let pick some dates: Late May, early June would be better then July, because of the 4th of July, and a wedding that I have.
it's never too early to plan these things.
I haven't been to the mounds in 10+ years but the problem with there, besides the smell of the mud, is that there are soo many hillbillies running tractor tires digging the bottom of the mudholes. As to camping in the southeast, there are a ton of campgrounds in Oakland county that are more than safe. They are state parks so they have some noise rules, but other than that they are fine. Worse comes to worse we could probably camp at my dad's in Wixom or my buddies out in Howell.
What about riding at St. Helens rather than at the dunes?
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8:24 pm
November 30, 2010
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Weeeee
| | West Chicago, IL | |
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I love MI and the UP!! I am up for anything, I will be trailering my Jeep this year so I will be less worried about breaking down.
Redline
St Helens is cool, did it on ATV's a few times, the Dunes is way more fun because of the size of the dunes. St Helens is closer to R&V in Harrison maybe 1.5 hours away from each other, so thats a bonus. I would hit either or both :)
Jerry – I still like cold weather camping, I prefer it over warm, but thats ok.
JP website doesn't have all the articles in the paper or digital subscription but they had the MI article.
I am up for a trip or two or 3 to MI, I went to the UP twice this year, once by Jeep doing lots of offroading from just across the bridge at Mackinaw all the way to the tip of the Keeweenaw. The other trip was a little offroading in the Keeweenaw in my truck but was there mostly to hit the beaches in search of cool rocks and hit the old mine piles for treasures.
P.S. I am not much of a fan of dumb Hillbillies and don't want to get rolled in a campground.
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Doug – 2000 TJ
Work in Progress
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8:38 pm
November 30, 2010
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Tony M
| | Grand Rapids, MI | |
| Mud Slinger | posts 545 | |
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Post edited 8:39 pm – November 30, 2010 by Tony M
Hear ya on the tractor tire ruts. These are the guys I wheel with out there, and they make some pretty deep ones. Those are some 54" Michelins and Rice and Cane tractor tires. They aren't too much fun to follow. 
St. Helen sounds good, I haven't been there yet so it would be a treat for myself as well. Plus, it's a little closer to the other parks, I think.
P.S. Their are hillbillies in Michigan?
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8:52 pm
November 30, 2010
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redline8300
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| Mall Crawler | posts 202 | |
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I have no idea what else to call the people that are from north of flint and south of saginaw other than hillbillies.
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6:32 am
December 1, 2010
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Weeeee
| | West Chicago, IL | |
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Post edited 6:40 am – December 1, 2010 by Weeeee
Those are some crazy rigs, the only place I could follow them is in the parking lot. lol
Drummond would have to be a separate trip, it would be about 9 to 10 hours(500+miles) from my house to the ferry.
I have always wanted to go to Drummond so this would be a great place to go.
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Doug – 2000 TJ
Work in Progress
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4:19 pm
December 1, 2010
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oddball
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| Mud Slinger | posts 1190 | |
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Post edited 4:21 pm – December 1, 2010 by Rubi04man
Speaking for myself here, I would make a trip to the UP, a vacation. Maybe 4-5 days (including travel days)? And for the record, I would prefer early / mid June camping / wheeling in the UP.
As for Tony's suggested loops – I like the first idea. Matter of fact, we could just do R&V and SIlver Lake too? Hey Tony, how many days to do a trip like this (R&V / Silver Lakes).. and how many days, if we included Twisted Trails? I suppose I should mention the two places I want, prefer, desire, etc., to wheel are; Rocks & Valley's and SIlver Lake. As I mentioned previously, I've never been to either and I've heard soo much about these two parks I need to experience them.
Okay so (again) to be clear – I will suggest early / mid June for the UP. What do you guys thinks? And by "you guys", I mean anyone and everyone seriously interested in partaking this adventure trip. Oh and just for the record; To Doug & Tony, if it turns out we're the only three who are seriously into this trip.. still works for me!
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4:47 pm
December 1, 2010
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Tony M
| | Grand Rapids, MI | |
| Mud Slinger | posts 545 | |
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You could visit each park in a day, may not see everything at each park but you would have a great time.
R & V to Twisted trails is 1hr 25min, Twisted Trails to Silver Lake is 1 hr 31min, R&V to Silver Lake is 2hrs.
You could do a day at each park, so I would say three days of wheeling and probably one day for driving. ie: Depart Illinois Thursday and camp near Silver Lake Thrus night. Wheel Silver Fri, Twisted Sat, and R&V Sun. You could switch R&V with Twisted, but I would recommend wheeling Silver Lake Friday because it would be less crowded, and Twisted and R&V are only open on the weekends.
OR….
You could drive in on Friday to wheel Silver Lake, and do the schedule above, then return home Monday. This way it will give you a day to recover, or make any repairs to your rig if need be. We all know how hard it is to find a parts store open on Sunday.
Anyway…. I think it would take you four days to see all three parks comfortably.
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5:08 pm
December 1, 2010
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redline8300
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| Mall Crawler | posts 202 | |
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The only thing with the UP is the mosquitos and the black flies. You might be better off going a tad bit earlier before it warms up.
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6:48 pm
December 1, 2010
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Tony M
| | Grand Rapids, MI | |
| Mud Slinger | posts 545 | |
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redline8300 said:
The only thing with the UP is the mosquitos and the black flies. You might be better off going a tad bit earlier before it warms up.
X2. I forgot about that. Very good idea.
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7:20 pm
December 1, 2010
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Weeeee
| | West Chicago, IL | |
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Ya the black flies start in late May usually, and make ya bleed. I think they can stick around till July if they are bad. Earlier May would be better.
I like Tony's 1st option.
I checked on St Helens and the GLFWDA guys added some rocks to St Helens near the Ogemaw Hills ATV trails.
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Doug – 2000 TJ
Work in Progress
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7:25 pm
December 1, 2010
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Tony M
| | Grand Rapids, MI | |
| Mud Slinger | posts 545 | |
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Post edited 7:27 pm – December 1, 2010 by Tony M
I guess we have to start somewhere. How about May 18-22, or some combination in the third week.
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7:44 pm
December 1, 2010
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Weeeee
| | West Chicago, IL | |
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Those dates are open for me, and the week before memorial day should be less busy.
Any of the Wisemen Interested in this event??
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Doug – 2000 TJ
Work in Progress
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