Solo Trip - Northwoods Overland - Winch-o-Rama

Dave in Wisconsin · 06-13-2009, 05:29 PM

All I can say, is if you have not made a trip to Northwoods Overland,

Northwoods

what are you waiting for? I made my first trip there last year during dry weather in August. The miles of trails were really fun, but this time, wet weather turned the park into a Camel Trophy event.

I've never winched so much. Rains turned the soil into a black, greasy Northwoods goo, and the BF Goodrich Rugged Trail T/A's clogged instantly, generating about as much friction as a set of greasy doughnuts.

Hills the FJ scrambled over last summer required winching. I had to winch so much, that I kept the controller connected at all times.

But the greatest challenge of all occurred on a Yellow trail. Three innocuous mud puddles in a row appeared to present a decent challenge - until the FJ, with OME suspension and All Pro bumper sank until even the winch went under!

The truck went so deep, the exhaust was totally under the thick goo, and gurgled away like a Yellowstone mud pot. The three pits were sperated by steep, tire eroded root walls - absloutely night marish. For the first time ever, the Warn 8000 was not powerful to extract the truck, so I dug out a pully and doubled the line. It took 70 minutes and 6 different winch pulls both direct and off center to finally beat the obstacle; I thought I was going to tear the front bumber off.

Finally, she pulled free. The only casualty was the driver side rear bumper endcap, visible in this picture on the ground behind the truck.

It was quite an adventure and the FJ continues to impress the snot out of me. Also the addition of the OME suspension and 3.5 inches of new height made a huge difference on the trail.

But this place is much more than just good trails. There is a really nice campground with showers, electric and H2o hookups, primitive camp sites, a scramble area - and the owner is constantly upgrading. Well worth the drive!

I did the pipeline and McCaslin last fall and I would probably lean toward Overland - much nicer campground and fewer metal bending rocks, but still very challenging.

I would be interested in going back sometime in late summer or fall - perhaps some of you Illinesians might want to make the trip?

Dave

**SwiCago** · 06-13-2009, 06:06 PM

Awesome...Hmmm might have to make a trip to the Northwoods.

PhilC64 · 06-15-2009, 02:11 PM

Looks like you had fun Dave! Northwoods is on my to-do list for this year so I'd be more than happy to join you. Let me know when and I'm there with my 40! Maybe I can scare up a couple more folks into going as well.

Dave in Wisconsin · 06-16-2009, 05:29 AM

Great! I'm going to have to grab the calendar and look for a suitable weekend.

GoISU · 06-21-2009, 08:52 PM

That looks awesome, being that I am not heading West this summer this might just be a fine alternative. By Nothwoods do you mean the greater Rhinelander metropolitan area? I've been up there a couple times, never to wheel though. Beautiful country, I couldn't believe how close the trees were to the road

How's that for being a flat lander!

Dave in Wisconsin · 06-28-2009, 06:03 PM

Northwoods Overland is near Rib Lake, north west of Wausau, south west of Tomahawk. There are definitely some tight trails - finesse required to avoid trees!

GoISU · 07-04-2009, 02:43 PM

My old Honda Accord's fuel pump took a dump just north of Wausau while en route to Rhinelander many years ago. Keep me posted on what weekend you are looking at going. Is it a trail system or is it a OHV park?

CREACHR · 07-06-2009, 09:40 PM

Just found this thread. Dave I'm in the Portage area, and would love to make a trip up that way with you. I've heard some good things about the place, but not been there yet. Let me know...

hpiguy · 08-08-2009, 08:36 PM

I'm in Wausau myself, subscribing to this thread.

Dave in Wisconsin · 08-10-2009, 07:22 AM

I checked with the owner, Jeremy, and they close at the end of September. I would love to go up there, but my weekends are shot (rock band) and I would have to go mid-week. I realize that does not work for others typically.

I have a lawsuit pending up in Oneida County and if I have to drive up there to conduct a hearing, I am thinking of combining that with a visit to the Pipeline area, but again, stuck with a weekday situation.

I was really hoping to do something in October in any event, once the leaves are turning and thinning out a bit. I'd probably throw a grouse gun in the truck too. Nice thing about midweek is you have these places to yourself . . .

Dave