Tough Enough

Hidden deep in the trees of the southern corner of West Virginia there’s untainted mud, mush, moss, and mountaintop camping that’s far too rugged for anyone less than a true explorer to plot. Having friends with this kind of prerequisite, Rob Atha of Fayetteville, West Virginia, began to mastermind the yearly Off-Road Jambo children’s charity event for the off-road populace who enlist the use of their 4x4s. Weighing trail possibilities, mountainly accommodations, and the cause, his team coordinated faces, places, and butt-kicking rigs. Want to know something more? All of the proceeds were donated to the Fayetteville Toy Fund whose purpose it is to aid local children. Those 400 little children’s smiles were just one of the reasons we traveled the John Denver “country road” to check out what WWV’s mountain 4x4 culture had to offer.

Backyard Built to Wheel

We’re always being asked, “Where can I go ’wheeling in __________ (fill in the name of a place)?” In most places, as in West Virginia, you have to know somebody with land they are willing to let you ride on. The Notch trail is such a place. The privately owned, tree-canopied trail is actually a 60-acre homestead that houses a gnarly obstacle called—you guessed it—The Notch. With a dirt-face wall on one side and a series of off-camber mossy boulders on the other, the grooved obstacle is some quality “get after it” wheeling.

One driver acted like a bull in a china shop, which you must do if you want to make it. The trick is to gas it out, causing your rubbers to burn through the mucky muss (mud plus moss) and allowing you to bump up the trail. Trail Leader Daren McMorris shepherded our group through a few warmup rock gardens before heading resolutely to “the big ’un.” You could, if you wanted, drive directly and precisely to the gnarly obstacle. Or if you’re the type that eases into the hard stuff, you can circuitously dote on abundant mossy rock gardens including one that is nicknamed Devil’s Featherbed. Or you can plow through muddy stream crossings or drive up (or down) a 12-foot waterfall.

The Quarry

Remnants of an inline meteor shower are conveniently disguised as a man-made drainage channel or could be seen as a no-sissies rockcrawlers play area. The Jambo promoters decided that the area should have a suitable 4x4 name. So after thinking about it, they came up with Swiss, which is also the name of the town it’s in. Swiss is so primitive in terms of rockcrawling that even the local species of wildlife were impressed with the means of movement. Find rocks and they will come. Nearby you can cross creeks, motor through a big ol’ mud hole, step up steep banks, and ascend a few waterfalls.

Other area trails like Twentymile, Pine Knoll, and Armstrong Mountain offer stimulating views. Curious about how you can crash next year’s course? It will be held July 4-7, 2002, at the Ace Adventure Center in Oak Hill, West Virginia. For more info check out www.offroadjamboree.jump outdoors.com, or contact Rob at 304/469-2399 or Ace Adventure at 888/ACE-RAFT.