The Holy Grail

Pinzgauer Pete · Post by **Pinzgauer Pete** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 8:35 am

When I bought my Pinz over two months ago I watched in amazement every youtube video I could find relating to the offroad capabilities of the Pinz. Living in upstate NY I had seen many logging trails and areas that looked promising for some 4 wheeling. But for me there was one path in particular that I wanted to tackle but at the same time was kinda afraid of .It was a fire trail obviously made by a bull dozer and climbs an angle that any skier would be happy to descend..Well yesterday...after weeks of becoming familiar with my Pinz...and I must add, at the prodding of my stepson, we finally attempted summiting. Concrete barriers and chains blocked the entrance, but the Pinz with its narrow track easily went around the feeble attempt to block us. As we went up we were immediately impressed with the angle of ascent pushed back into our seats we climbed and then what started out as a nice grassy path turned into a path of small bowling ball boulders and fallen trees...but we were now committed..there was no provision for stopping and turning around, only one choice...foward..We sat there with that wild eyed look on our faces and white knuckled our way to the top. All I kept thinking is if I slice a sidewall on one or more of my tires not only will I be dead in the water but how in the world could I possibly change it climbing a rock cliff. We made it to the top of the first mountain and then saw that we could continue as far as the eye could see..Getting out we looked in amazement..of course at this time I toyed with the idea of continuing but then reason and good jugement finally kicked in. I have no air compressor or winch on my pinz and would feel far more comfortable with those two items on board so we decided to descend which was way more fun since we actually spoke and laughed, something we were too scared to do on the way up. After we hit the road disengaged the lockers and getting a text from my wife declaring that she was hungry we ran home picked her up and headed to a local Mexican restaurant to celebrate..it was a great day we had stories to tell and a smile that just wouldnt end...up to the point when we climbed back into the pinz...and after switching on the ignition I had a crank but no start..long story short a quick rescue from my daughter who picked us up and my wife who now had to pilot my rescue vehicle towing the Pinz back into the yard to be repaired another day....LIFE IS AN ADVENTURE...LIVE IT!!!!

Fleg · Post by **Fleg** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 10:51 am

As a new off-roader one of the most important things you can learn is not to go off-roading where you're not supposed to. Even if you can fit around the barriers that are blocking that doesn't make it ok to do so.

undysworld · Post by **undysworld** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 2:16 pm

Pete,

Glad you guys enjoyed the ride. After having owned 3 CJ5's, 2 Toyota 4x4 pickups, a Ford Ranger w/ a 302 ci V8 and huge tires etc. previously, getting my Pinz and learning what it was capable of was an education. Unreal, aren't they?

But I also have to agree with Fleg that you probably should refrain from poaching the posted areas. After what we all went through here in Wisconsin, I can assure you that you do not want any government official deciding to make it their personal mission in life to get rid of those G** D*** army trucks (or 4-wheelers, Jeeps, etc.).

I assume you guys have as few off-road opportunities in IN as we do in WI. So I understand wanting to drive where ever you can. I've certainly driven my share of questionable paths (in the Pinz and other ways), but I pretty much back out when someone has gone through the trouble of putting up signs or barriers, even if the Pinz can get past 'em.

Putting the shoe on the other foot, I once chased down a dirt-biker who had the misfortune to drive down the closed snow-mobile path which crosses our farm.

Whatever wild tales he probably still tells about the crazy old man are absolutely true. If I was driving on somebody else's property without permission, I guess they'd have every right to go ballistic too.

Over the past decade, or so, I've seen way too many off-road trails and dispersed camping opportunities closed off. Part of it is because folks have gotten tired of people driving where they shouldn't be driving. I'm not trying to get down on you for going off-road, I certainly share your enthusiasm. But it's way better to have permission if you're going to make the drive.

Paul

pinzwheeling · Post by **pinzwheeling** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 3:19 pm

Had a trail that I went on a few years ago where we went past a chain that had been taken down, cruised for a couple of hours and were heading back down the same way we came in.

A couple of homeowners took it upon themselves after seeing us go up the trail to put the chain back up and lock it. (no way around this one) They approached us and told us it was private property (which as it turns out they were incorrect

) and that we would have to find another way out. I had 3 kids with me, and didn't know another way out, so I explained to them that there was no chain or sign up when we went through, and all we were doing was leaving. We ended up almost coming to blows, and I finally said screw it and pushed my big ass bumper against the chain and started to move forward. They finally aquiesced and lowered the chain, but it was not a pleasant experience.

lesson learned? carry a bolt cutter with you!

Post by **VinceAtReal4x4s** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 5:21 pm

Another good reason to have a winch. Years ago I ran into something similar where someone gated a public trail area because some idiot's precious vacant forest hunting trail was close to it. The gate was a big industrial grade metal thing. I went up one day to permanently take care of it since 20,000lbs of force via my heavy snatch-block and straps would move pretty much anything... but to my surprise, some raging red-neck with a big, raised '82 Bronco had simply rammed it to death. He had some bumper issues but the gate was gone and never repaired.

kpoling · Post by **kpoling** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 6:07 pm

If you like to go off road via Pinz to mountain bike, you should belong to one of the pro access groups and support them in you area. The anti motorized access crowd has been very active and successful in removing land that can NEVER be used by off road vehicles again. Please consider joining one. Here are only a couple of them:

http://www.sharetrails.org/

http://www.arra-access.com/site/PageServer

Kevin

Erik712m · Post by **Erik712m** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 8:51 pm

No pics. :?:

undysworld · Post by **undysworld** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 8:53 pm

Kevin,
This is a REALLY good piece of advice!!

Vince,
The other two pieces of equipment that no true poacher should ever go without: A gas generator and an electric grinder (the bigger the better). My step-brother once got booted at a bar. To the bar owners frustration, they'd booted his race-crew truck, with (you guessed this) a generator and a grinder. They left the pieces of the boot where the truck used to be.

As another alternative, an oxy-acetylene torch would work well on any chain/barricade/etc.

Pete,
I wasn't trying to get preachy. We've all been there probably. But what I'd have done 30 years ago is different than what I'll do nowdays.

Paul

Pinzgauer Pete · Post by **Pinzgauer Pete** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 9:03 pm

OK just to get understanding here I dont 4 wheel through private property the trail that I did was a access road for the powerlines and have large towers. The land I believe is owned by the utility company and I am sure is barricaded to keep people from hurting themselves or vandalizing the towers. Most companies are afraid of litigation from someone that hurts themselves and then trys to hold the company responsible. The other trails I have found are state owned and not posted. I live in a state that has no real provision for off-roaders they allow snowmobiling on almost all state land, logging roads, abandoned railroads but as for trailbikes, quads, and 4wheelers the options are bleak at best. I have come to the realization that I love this sport or passtime if you will and will now seekout some legitimate off-road clubs who have permission to ride on negotiated private trails, it will make my offroading safer and will also be a learning experience since I will gain experience through advanced recovery techniques pulling out all those jeeps that try to do things they arent meant to. Trust me I dont want to damage the publics perception or cause unfavorable legislation but in order to have come to this realization I guess it was doing the HOLY GRAIL TRAIL...standing on that mountain..looking down on the incredible ascent and the wicked terrain that MY pinz just climbed without as much as a hiccup was exhilerating...I am hooked!!!!

undysworld · Post by **undysworld** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 6:44 am

Pete,

I don't know what the power company's policy is on that trail you ran. But generally speaking, crossing barriers, public or private, is a sure way to chap someone's arse, and maybe get into trouble.

Whether you've ever been to Colorado (or similar western states), you should definitely try to go out there with your Pinz. It's sure to be an education, and a thoroughly enjoyable time. Especially so if you go out and participate in one of the RMP Treffens. That way, you'll have the advantage of some folks who'll be familiar with the area and trails. They can show you where the trails are, and can help to recover you if you happen to tip over or ruin your oil pan on the trail (like me

).

There are also a few commercially run off-road venues in Wis. and Minn. that sound promising. Until this spring, McCaslin Mt. was a challenging option, but the DNR shut them down permanently.

The local prospects for most of us midwesterners are pretty bleak. A local fwd club might present opportunities on private land near you too.

Fleg · Post by **Fleg** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 10:02 am

undysworld wrote:Pete,

I don't know what the power company's policy is on that trail you ran. But generally speaking, crossing barriers, public or private, is a sure way to chap someone's arse, and maybe get into trouble.

Truer words could not be spoken better. Those blocks might be there because of what you said, maybe not. In the end it really doesn't matter because someone has gone through the trouble to close the area and closed means closed no matter what the intent might have been!

If you want to get more involved with helping keep open what we have and possibly getting more land opened eventually, check out the Blue Ribbon Coalition. I don't know if they are mostly a west coast group but they are a big help out here. Also, check out the Tread Lightly website. Tons of great info out there.