Hippie Land

[FJBruiser]

This is my first "off road trip" w/my new FJ TT.

Shawnee Land is an old gated community out west on route 50, and it sits up on the eastern exposure of the Great North Mountain (Part of the Appalachian range) right by Gore. I have heard of this place being a DC area hippie destination back in the 70's.






The trip was mostly a scenic coutry drive with a short but reasonably intense off road stretch thrown in. The drive up the side of the mountain commanded some pretty cool views so close to home.






The main off road event was through the electrical line service trail that connected from the top of the Shawnie Land property to the other side of the mountain, eventually coming out to Gore.






I was alone and found the trail to be a little more challenging than I expected so I was glad there was some company in the form of a fellow ATV'er and a trio of hikers none of whom were equipped with a winch but nevertheless provided some comfort as spectators.




Some rocky spots........







Looking back over the whole stretch.......



Some miscellaneous off roading at the west end.....



Some nice views again at the west end of the service trail....





All in all it was definitely worth it, but I regret not having been more prepared for what I expected to be a very easy trail but turned out to be a tad more challenging.

Next time I will take a hand winch and straps at least!!

As a disclaimer I need to mention this; I found out from the hiking trio that what I did was technically trespassing (It's private property leased to the electrical company) but the trail is very popular with local ATV'ers and other non street legal offroad vehicles, many who come up from a private off road park nearby in Gore, compared to which my factory FJ is very tame. With all honesty I do not feel like I added any injury to the environment or disturbed any people, as the hikers had agreed. Did I feel any guilt at the end of the day? No.

End of the trail.....

[Brock]

mmmm i am in town this week...wanna go back and lead me and my FJ through it.

[greytandy]

Looks like you had a good time. There just ain't a whole lot of "legal" places to wheel around here. Did you touch bottom on any of the rocks?

[John Smith]

Was the trail posted with Keep Out or Private Property signs? I find it interesting that the people pointed out that you were trespassing but they did not consider themselves to be doing the same.

Most power line right of ways like that are private property and off limits to all without permission to use them. I remember locally they were not posted or gated while growing up and we would ride dirt bikes and BMX bikes on them. Hell, right beside the beltway where the new Blair High School sits today at the RT29 Colesville road exit was County forest land that was full of our homemade dirtbike trails.

[FJBruiser]

Originally Posted by Brock

mmmm i am in town this week...wanna go back and lead me and my FJ through it.

I just might jump at the excuse to go back there, pending the forecast for this weekend.

Are you "in town" as in visiting from out of town? I am new to the CLCC chapter but our meeting is at Alexandria Toyota on Route 1 tommorrow night if you want to come. Of course, you might be a regular there and I wouldn't even know it.

[FJBruiser]

Originally Posted by greytandy

Looks like you had a good time. There just ain't a whole lot of "legal" places to wheel around here. Did you touch bottom on any of the rocks?

Funny you should ask......





That was on an entry. Nothing to boast about, but nevertheless on a brandspanking new car it was a little "ouch".

There were numerous other bottom smacks that I am sure I over reacted to.

One thing I confirmed on this trip; the FJC is certainly an extremely capable fourwheel drive straight out of the factory. Nevertheless a very humble lift, like three inches, could go a LONG way, not so much because it really needs it, but because it has so much potential it can really make use of even small modifications.

However my intention is to keep it dead stock save a sound system upgrade.

[FJBruiser]

Originally Posted by John Smith

Was the trail posted with Keep Out or Private Property signs? I find it interesting that the people pointed out that you were trespassing but they did not consider themselves to be doing the same.

Most power line right of ways like that are private property and off limits to all without permission to use them. I remember locally they were not posted or gated while growing up and we would ride dirt bikes and BMX bikes on them. Hell, right beside the beltway where the new Blair High School sits today at the RT29 Colesville road exit was County forest land that was full of our homemade dirtbike trails.

There were no signs as such. The hikers themselves admitted they were trespassing as well. In fact the only thing that tells you the trail is any different from the road leading to it is the obvious change in the surface and terrain. Otherwise no gate, sign, nothing.

You can also see an ATV'er in the picture. Neither the hikers nor the ATV'er had a negative thing to say about what I was doing, and they were all local folks that knew the area well.

However I would be wary of promoting a group trip through the trail beyond a just a few cars.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by FJBruiser

I just might jump at the excuse to go back there, pending the forecast for this weekend.

Are you "in town" as in visiting from out of town? I am new to the CLCC chapter but our meeting is at Alexandria Toyota on Route 1 tommorrow night if you want to come. Of course, you might be a regular there and I wouldn't even know it.

i work up here on regular basis and decided to drive my FJ up this time instead of flying...will be at VA-DC-MD meeting tomorrow night here in Arlington VA.

[greytandy]

Originally Posted by FJBruiser

Funny you should ask......

That'll buff right out!

[VA.CRUISER]

FJBruiser do you live around Winchester ?