s10extremist.org

Got Mud '03?

August 9, 2003

Paragon Adventure Park

Hazleton PA USA

As some of you may have followed, Got Mud? was an annual event by and for the people of www.ZR2.com at Paragon Adventure Park in Hazleton PA.

Paragon Adventure Park is on the web at www.paragonap.com and is several thousand acres of former mining territory recycled into continued productive use as a commercial venue for four-wheeling and ATV use. It has been the scene for national events put on by many including Superwinch and Hazel.

Considering the need for more www.S10Extremist.org events, we asked to join the ZR2.com folks for this year's event as a trial location for future events.

Attending on Saturday, August 9 were 27 vehicles. Most were ZR2s and several were regular members from www.S10Extremist.org

TwoTracks (Aaron Simon) and his son
Carmine and Eva
Vinnie, Cindy, Steve and
Blackage (John) and his dad (Rob)
Volpster (Mike) and son Anthony and
4x4x4doors (Keith)

We met at the Exxon station near the interstate around 7:00 with many folks already there. It gave us all a chance to meet and greet and see who all was there as well as get some last minute supplies. By request, we also took the time to write our names and handles on the rear windows of our rigs to make it easier to identify the pictures. As we were making moves towards loading up, Mother Nature did her part to hurry us a long with a torrential downpour, effectively washing most of the window writing away.

The park had several other groups in that day and we saw them at various times during the day. As Volpster discovered, there was a benefit for United Cerebral Palsy oing on that weekend with Paragon donating a portion of proceeds on Saturday and Rausch Creek Off Road Park www.rauschcreekoffroadpark.org/ donating a portion of proceeds on Sunday. The two are about 30 miles apart by interstate. At the time of GotMud?, I'd never been to Rausch Creek, a new private park, but had heard good things about them. Since that weekend, I've been to Rausch Creek and recommend it as destination when you get the chance. The JonFund folks from up northeast USA were there for their "Cool Ride" and we saw a group of Hummers and Unimogs and representatives from several local clubs as well as some from www.ColoradoK5.com.

We re-assembled at the pay trailer where all went through the process of waivers and payments and got ready to start the day. We had hired two guides for the day. Paragon has guides available at a cost of $125 per guide for the day. In the first couple of years they were open, guides were required but now are optional. We went out the parking gate (where the vehicle inspections included a once-over and a op-check of battery tie-downs) and went to meet out guides. There we split into two groups with a drivers meeting for each. Initially we split into Big Dawgs (defined as those having 5 or more inches of lift) and everyone else. All of the S10Extremist group initially went with the "everybody else" group, as we didn't meet the cutoff line. ("You must be at least this tall to ride this ride") The initial split put 20 some in the "everybody else" group. So most of this account comes from that group.

First we went down to Lake Rubicon, which was quite a bit higher than my last visit. Where you could once drive all the way around the lake easily during a drought year, beach was only about 50% of the way around at this time. Our first obstacle was a fairly easily downhill off-camber ride down to the lake. We went around to the other side and took a little path through some rocks up through a hairpin back down. The longer wheelbases were at an obvious disadvantage here in trying to make the hairpin. But we all eventually made it through.

We left the lake and took the High Road headed for Turtle. The trials of trying to run this large a group became evident as we moved to Turtle. While all in the group were having a good time, small delays rippled back through the group and slowed our progress considerably. Enough about the group size, read on to find out later what we did about it!!

Our guide led us through past the 52-degree mine shaft. 52 degrees refers to the temperature not an angle. On a hot summer day, 52 degrees makes for a cool spot. In the winter, that 52 degrees is a warm break in a cold and damp day. Next was the stream crossing. For we of near stock height, the water was generally at bumper height, but the bottom was not perfectly smooth, there were rocks and holes to add to the challenge. Several trails come together at this one spot, so we met several other groups crossing at near the same time. Good for a big audience and plenty of entertainment! Also lots and lots of pictures.

Thanks to Keith (4x4x4doors), John (blackage), JohnG, Matt (Mr. Purple) and Len (Poconoboss) for their pictures...