1st Jeep Jamboree for Me!

So I am pretty excited to let you know that my friend Chris and I will be participating in our first ever Jeep Jamboree this coming May! We signed up for the Spring Coal Mountain Jeep Jamboree located at the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA). I wanted to share this trip with you when I signed up back in November but it was birthday gift from Chris's family so I had to keep my mouth shut all this time! Thankfully, his birthday was Jan 5th so I can finally talk about it.

It runs from May 2nd (check-in) through May 4th with wheeling done on Friday and Saturday. I am trying to secure a camp ground for this trip and probably should have done so sooner as they are all booked up or a longer drive in, each morning. Ehh, I will figure something out.

This trip consists of both sides of the property and here is a description from the Jeep Jamboree website of the trails:

West Side HO–BD Highway • Rating 2–4 This trail ride gives a great overview of the west property that includes mud, rocks, and coal dirt along with scenic overlooks such as “The Caves Overlook” and “The Whaleback”. We may also encounter active mining near the “Fan House”. There is a wide variety of terrain from forest trails that highlight the region’s coal mining history, up and down hills, mud and water pits, tight tree sections, and a rocky creek bottom in the “Little Rock Creek” area. 

West Side Coal Crackers • Rating 4–6 We start with a little loop to get you back in off-road mode, then we travel through the woods to tackle the tight and winding Potato Chip Hill. Close your eyes and scream as we go over Roller-Coaster Hill. Head back up the Dozer Cut on your way to Fern Ridge. Start with the rocky, non-stop Fern Ridge Challenge then original Fern Ridge Trail with an optional drop into the Fern Ridge Hole, climbing out will challenge both driver and Jeep! On to the Trench and the Fern Ridge Extension. 

West Side Kyle’s Follies • Rating 4–6 Anybody’s guess. With numerous new trails being developed this winter expect new stuff! Trail Guides will be bulldogging you along a wide variety of trail conditions to see if you’re ready for our Darker Blue Trails. Only our surveys will reveal what it really is. Although Trail Leader, Kyle Buchter, has been running a lot of 101 & 201 trail rides we know he’s got a darker side.

West Side – Breaker Boys • Rating 7–8 Big Boy rock garden early into the newer section. Then to rockface outlook and up a rocky hill that travels to Kutch’s Krack (see Mike Kutch for that story) and Fern Ridge east with numerous Rock garden loops. Hit the NJ Trench downhill & out to the “Stairway to Heaven” then east bound on West Fern Ridge with a hill rock garden with several different lines. You pick it!

East Side Mud Mining • Rating 2–4 This will cover a large portion of the east side property. If you are looking for something scenic and historic this is your trail. It includes tight trails that test your driving ability as well as hill ascents, hill descents, rocks (you are in coal country after all), off camber obstacles, and some mud if mother nature cooperates

East Side East Bound and Down • Rating 5–7 Travel along the pole line with up and down hill climbs and ravines as you make your way to The Point. Then it’s onto Upper Anthracite downhill. Challenge both yourself and your Jeep on Barney Rubble’s uphill rock climb.

East Side AAA • Ratings 6–8 Loop in and out of the trees, discovering rocky washout hill climbs and descents along the way. Begin challenging yourself in Green Briar, a looping twisting rock garden ending in a gulley that’ll put your front tires in the air. Push yourself by completing Upper Anthracite, working your way down the usually dry creek bed. Finally, test your Jeep’s limits on Barney Rubble, the rocky uphill climb that now features a downhill side that may be even more technical than it appears.

East Side Rock and Rumble • Rating 8–9 Travel the same lines the 2018 Ultimate Adventure Traveled! Rocks, rocks and more rocks! Warm up with Barney Rubble then into Bam-Bam onto Thunder Alley. Then it’s onto M Trail, and pending vehicles & conditions “Screaming Jimmy Hill”….Winch points await you! Next it’s “B Line” with numerous rock sections including The BIG UGLY which is always changing to test driver & Jeep. For more we wrap things up with Lower & Upper Anthracite. 

Now I need to get all my upgrades installed pretty quick!

I am really looking forward to this trip and suggest, if you want to take on a Jeep Jamboree, find a local one and sign up, they sell out quick.

The Journey is what counts, Adventure Awaits!