MAR and D-web folks

[rtiqulatendisco]

I knew the snorkle would finally come in handy! I feel sorry for the stock trucks that won't be able to go anywhere if the weather is super shitty. My guess is that it takes about 2ft of moving water before getting to the island is a problem. That's just from past experience.

 

[anton]

Where is the island ? where should we park ?

 

[Randy]

We're there, come hell or high water! (LOL I just crack me up!)

 

[Steve]

That was funny if I do say so.

 

[Steve]

Where is the island ? where should we park ?

The island is on the North side of the site. There are plenty of places to pitch a tent without doing so there. The island itself is pretty flat and I imagine very muddy already. Near rally control and also to the right of rally control are some decent higher spots. There's more spots in other places but those are where those philly hoodlums hang out.

 

[bigred]

Steve.. did you ever find any historical info on the flood charts, or do you know what the river level was last year?

 

[syoung]

I searched for a long time and couldn't find any historical data on the river levels. We are probably going down there again this weekend to check on things. I'm quite sure that a lot of the work we did has been negated by the rain, which sucks. Lots of mud makes it interesting though- bring lots of windshield wiper fluid!

 

[Aaron Owens]

The USGS also has some nice water data:

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/va/nwis/uv/?site_no=02035000&agency_cd=USGS

I'm coming either Thurs evening or Friday morning. Hope to camp on the island.

Aaron

 

[syoung]

great link- appears the river level is up 3-5 feet, depending on the source of the data. I'll head down there Saturday if possible and take pics and post 'em. At the rates the river tends to recover, if there's no more rain we will probably be ok for the causeway. Five feet won't get the island itself- it's higher than that.

 

[Ron]

99 (or was it 98?) was my favorite year. The place was a mess, best fun ever. Stock disco, stock tires and lots of slippery mud.

 

[Nomar]

1. Already registered. Me, wife,baby, Boston Terrier
2. Silver Range Rover
3. Hope the causeway stays visible !

 

[dcd]

What kind of day trips do they have at the MAR?

I'm quite interested in going but I really want to get out on some trails. I'm not sure if this is more of a social event rather than a wheeling trip. Hopefully both.

Thanks,

 

[rover4x4]

its both

 

[antichrist]

What kind of day trips do they have at the MAR?

I'm quite interested in going but I really want to get out on some trails. I'm not sure if this is more of a social event rather than a wheeling trip. Hopefully both.

Thanks,

Day trips implies to me driving some number of miles to various trails. MAR is held on a very large private farm on the James river. All trials are on the property, so depending on where you're camped, you only need to go 100 yards or so to be on a trail.

If by day trip you mean off-site trips, there are no organized ones. But there's nothing to stop you from taking some off-site drives through some very nice countryside.

One thing I like about going to MAR is driving through the area just south of there. It always brings back very good memories as I spent a good portion of my childhood there.

 

[dcd]

Thanks, by day trips I meant off road trails in general.

Are the trail rides fairly organized. I'd imagine with as many people as they are projecting to go it could be a major cluster fu*&.

I don't mind a 4 day long party, but I really want to get my DII off road. I live in Ohio so this is about a 7 hour drive, I just want to make sure this is something I want to do.

Thanks again.

 

[Steve]

The trails don't take a whole day to drive the length of one. There are no organized groups departing at specific intervals like "Tee" time at the golf course. You go where you want (depending on your skill level and vehicle build-up) and have fun.

The easier trails will get congested but not anything major. I can't say except for one instance of a long winch, I sat in any one place for more than a few minutes. That's when you get out and say hi to the guy in front of you.

You can also just take a break near a trail head. Wait a few minutes after a vehicle enters and then enter. It isn't the mass chaos it sounds like but you aren't exactly out in Denali either.

 

[D Chapman]

Thats what I like about MAR:
No gay "trail leaders"
You don not have to get up early in the morning to make a "driver meeting"
You do not have to run in a group of 10 trucks where it takes 30 minutes for each obstacle
etc....

 

[dcd]

Thats what I like about MAR:
No gay "trail leaders"
You don not have to get up early in the morning to make a "driver meeting"
You do not have to run in a group of 10 trucks where it takes 30 minutes for each obstacle
etc....

That's my kind of trip. I'll be there.

Thanks again.

 

[Roverlady]

Daniel, you are right. We went to Camp Jeep with some friends and the wheeling portion of it SUCKED. We were stuck in the car for like 4 hours on a relatively easy trail.

The corporate stuff was cool. Wish Rover would do that part....but you can't have everything.

DCD-Mar is fun. Don't let the talk of guns and shock-collared dogs ruin your ideas of it. Most of us have been going for years and keep coming back. It gets better each time...and Bill Burke will be here this year!

www.roav.org

 

[Mantaray]

hey Sus!! long time, no uh "see" as it were.... looks like i'm gonna miss MAR again. might not have the Rover too much longer either. drop me an e-mail sometime. i think i have yours here somewhere......