Getting out more, short notice trips

Greetings everyone,

I work in international shipping and my work schedule has gone nuts recently. We just bought some new equipment which increases our capacity, and I have to train a bunch of new people to operate them as well.

It's become difficult to impossible to know with 100% certainty whether or not I can get any particular day off. I like to go wheeling at least two or three times a month, but due to work responsibilities I've only been able to go one time in the last 2 months.

I've decided that I am going to use this thread to post trips on short notice, in case anyone else has the urge to hit the trails. The obvious caveat being that I can never say for certain whether or not I can actually go until a few days before the trip, so I may have to back out in some instances. I'm going to post my intentions, and everyone else is more than welcome to use this thread to propose their own ideas.

Is anyone interested in doing Rausch or AOAA one day next weekend, which is the weekend of the 4th?

If nobody is interested in Rausch or AOAA, I'm probably going to do a short trip to Wharton State Forest.

For those who haven't been to Wharton, it's about an hour and 40 minutes NE of the Del Memorial and it's 124,000+ acres of pristine pine forest. In 2024, the state of NJ released a map called the "Wharton State Forest Visiting Vehicle Use Map". It shows 175+ miles of unimproved roads approved for motor vehicle access, mostly white sands. It's available for download, and georeferenced so it can work with GPS apps (the state recommends Avenza).

There is no off roading at Wharton, but it's one of the largest forests in this area and I find it to be quite relaxing.

I'm also interested in east coast BOH trails, in case anyone else is.

No, I haven't. Thank you.

One of my wheeling buddies from JLforums is interested in going this weekend, so that's 2 of us so far.

We're meeting up at RC on Sunday. So far there are five in the group.

Wheeling this Sunday the 12th at Rausch or AOAA if anyone wants to meet up.

Edit: So far there are three of us going.

Hitting Rausch or AOAA this weekend if anyone is interested.

Either day is fine with me, and I'm open to any level of trails. Either park is fine too.

Any level of skill is welcome, should any newer members wish to come along. I guess I've seen around 75% of AOAA and Rausch.

I tend to like blues and easy blacks, but I also enjoy taking it easy and exploring areas I haven't seen yet. Sometimes it's nice to relax on green trails and just enjoy being in the forest. Just getting out there is good medicine.

I'd like to rephrase my statement. I stated "should any newer members wish to come along".

What I meant was people who don't have a lot offroad experience. I myself have only been a club member for approximately 6 months, and a forum member since August of 25. Don't want to give the wrong impression.

I'm going up on Sunday.

Thank you!

I know the ORC guides fairly well. When I got back into wheeling I took a 101 and 201 course with them. I've probably been on 20 or 30 events with them over the last few years. Definitely good people.

Most likely doing a run to Wolf Den State Park in Maryland in a month or two when it gets a bit cooler. Wolf Den's trail 2103 is Maryland's first and only BOH trail, they have a some nice greens/blues/blacks there.

Peters Mill Run is around one hour SE of Wolf Den, so it's possible to get the Peters Mill Run and Trail 2103 trail badges in one day if anyone is into that. I kind of like earning badges, because they remind me of places I've been to and the people I've spent time with there. Like a touch stone. They are the first two BOH trails I obtained.

Oh lord, Rausch is going to be crazy tomorrow. Admission is 30 bucks for member appreciation days, Mount Zion Offroad is hosting one of their frequent blue rides, ORC is having a green ride, and the Great Lakes Raptor Excursions Ford Raptor racing series is racing there tomorrow as well.

That lot is going to be nuts.

Havoc 5 – Great Lakes Raptor Excursions (GLRE)

Had a great time Sunday at Rausch. We had 4 wranglers, a Braptor, 2 baby raptors, and a JT. Most of them were 1st timers, I rode tailgunner and spotted when necessary. We stuck to greens all day.

Going back on on Saturday August 1st, if anyone is game.

Hitting Rausch or AOAA this weekend if anyone is interested.

Also there are some upcoming events,

August 8 Girls Play Offroad “Pack the Park” (http://www.girlsplayoffroad.com)***

Saturday, September 5th - Fight The Blight @ AOAA.

Thanks, unfortunately I realized that after posting.

/Just signed up for Mount Zion Offroad's

August 23d Intermediate ride @ AOAA.

August Intermediate Trail Ride at AOAA

A great way to experience the intermediate trails AOAA has to offer!

www.eventbrite.com

I've been on several rides with MZO and it's always a good time. Tickets are free.

There is an ORC Blue ride at AOAA on Saturday the 22nd, and that Mount Zion Blue on Sunday the 23rd at AOAA.

I'm signing up for both, unless anyone here wants to wheel on Saturday. In which case, I'm game for whatever anyone wants to get into on Saturday.

The MZO ride is free, other than the park admission fee.

Two of the guys I wheel with from JLforums.com are signed up for the MZO blue ride, and a third member from over there signed up and is going to meet up with us for the first time. Should be a cool time, MZO likes to get after it.

Next available group rides are,

https://mountzionoffroad.com/ - September 26th, intermediate ride at Rausch. No cost, pay park entry only.

https://offroad-consulting.com/ - ORC guided rides and classes

Aug 29th green guided at AOAA

Sept 12th green guided at Rausch

Sept 12th 101 Class at AOAA

Sept 19th Winching 101 at AOAA

Sept 20th Recovery 101 at AOAA

Sept 20th Green guided at Rausch

Sept 26th Blue guided at Rausch

Sept 27th Hard Blues and Easy Blacks at Rausch

Oct 3rd Hard green and easy blues at AOAO

The J.E.E.P. Fall Trail Ride 2026 hosted by the Jeep Enthusiasts of Eastern PA takes place on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM at the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area.

J.E.E.P. Fall Trail Ride 2026

This ride is open to anyone with a Jeep! You do not need to be a member to attend.

www.eventbrite.com

September 6-7 Members Appreciation Days at Rausch. Members entry fee was 30 bucks on the last one.

I will be attending all the blue and blue/black rides, and the J.E.E.P ride. I'll probably go on members day at Rausch.

There is always a chance I might do some others, and I'll probably be around if anyone wants to run some greens or blues, or do some skill improvement.