Badlands Trip 2008

Attica, IN from 7/31 to 8/2

The club had a small group that went to the Badlands in Attica, IN . Al & Mary Ann drove their TJ Rubicon, Andy & Debbie drove their ZJ, Melissa & Mike with boys Johnny & David trailer their YJ behind their Suburban. A drive that should have taken 6-1/2 hours ended up taking over 12 hours. Twice, Melissa demonstrated skillful emergency driving maneuvers.

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A trailer tire had a blowout while on the Ohio Turnpike . Melissa calmly pulled over and we quickly changed the tire without incident. Later, shortly after entering Indiana on US 20, the Suburban lost its left rear wheel and brake drum at 60 MPH. Melissa was able to pull the Suburban and trailer over to the berm without losing control. It took at least 20 minutes of searching to find the wheel and brake drum. A call made to AAA and eventually the Suburban was flat-bedded and the trailer hooked to the hitch on the tow truck . We followed it while being towed to a shop in Fremont , IN. The vehicle and trailer stayed at the shop, while Mike, Melissa and the boys drove in the YJ. It was after 5PM when we left Fremont . We stopped along the way and had dinner, then made it to Attica around 11PM .




We got a late start getting to the trails on Friday. Very few people were there. Al led the group. We drove around though the sand dunes and worked our way over to the quarry area which is off-limits for ATV's and bikes. We started out on the green trail and quickly met our first obstacle as the trail dropped down to cross a stream beside a pond. The other side required a steep climb of rocks back up to level ground.



Al only made it up partway and decided to be cautious and use the winch for the rest of the climb out. Mike hooked up the tree strap and ran Al's winch to get him up and out. Mike made a pretty good climb with the YJ after several attempts and Al used a strap to pull him through the rest of the way. Andy dropped the ZJ down through the crossing and after a little repositioning to keep the bumpers off the slope, powered his way up and out without assistance.




We continued on the green trail for a short distance and got back into the quarry area again, going up and down the numerous slopes. The ladies then took over driving around in the quarry play area. Later we made our way out and into the section called the Tubes. Ran up and down some steep sand slopes. Afterward, we made our way back to the parking area for a lunch in the shade of the covered picnic tables.




Now, more bad news after lunch. Mike received a call about the Suburban; it wouldn't be ready until Monday or Tuesday. Then he noticed the rear bumper and tire carrier leaning back on the YJ. After investigating, he found that the frame had broken on both sides just forward of the rear spring shackles. That was the end of their off-roading and we all called it an early day and left the park. That evening we met for dinner at the Attica Hotel then walked around town. Saturday just the two remaining Jeeps went to the Badlands Park . There was quite a crowd out that day. Al continued to lead and we tried driving through some other areas of the park. The sandy banked trails were better suited for ATV's and we eventually returned to the quarry area.






The bottom of the quarry area was being used by several rock buggies as a sort of obstacle course for practice at an upcoming truck competition. They would lap around the area and drive over a sand mound at speed and become air-born. This was fine until one buggy hit nose-first on landing and rolled onto its top. Emergency rescue was called in and they removed the driver on a back board and took him to ER for checking out. We met him later in the day, he was alright, just took 6 inch gash on his head. We played around on the slopes in the quarry area and both vehicles managed to get tires up in the air.



Mary Ann and Debbie got several hours behind the wheel as we made our way through the green trail through the woods, dropping downhill to make water crossings and going uphill again several times. Later after lunch, the guys drove the green trail again starting near the pond. We found out there was a bypass to the first obstacle we had encountered the previous day. Though the trail was marked, it was easy to miss markers with the summer vegetation. We made it farther along the green trail than we ever had before. The end section takes you right through a creek and under a bridge. At that point we were out of the quarry area and had many ATV's buzzing along the cross trails. It was also unclear whether the trail ended or continued through a large culvert pipe. We ended up cutting off a side trail and worked our way back to the quarry area to play on the slopes.





We saw the rock buggies again. This time two of them were climbing up a steep rock ledge. One made it; the other rolled over but then up-righted itself. Andy got some good pictures of the entire sequence. No one was hurt, and the lady passenger actually was quite thrilled about it. Eventually we called it a day and left. That evening we all met again for dinner, then viewed pictures and video on a big screen television at the Attica Hotel where Melissa Mike were staying. Sunday we drove home, all made it back safely, even the YJ with broken frame. Badlands proved to be a good four-wheeling destination, with a variety of terrain and difficulty levels. It would be a good place to go next year as a club event, hopefully with a better turnout and better luck.