North East XTerra Club Members evaluate one of many obstacles encountered
So we’ve wanted to run this trail in Massachusetts for more than a few years and finally did last Saturday. We are sorry for not making this an “Open run” or let you all know about it in advance but it was an invitation only event that was limited to folks we knew would go and navigate this very difficult trail.
The trail was everything we hoped it would be and more. It did not give you a moments rest. The one time I took a mental break for just a sec I got high centered, in a relatively easy section of trail, on a BS rock and had to winch off it. Everyone broke my balls. We have been on tougher trails but they were all much shorter than this so you could run it, take a break and run another. Not with OFR; there is a beginning, an end, one obstacle after another with no by-passes, two large ledges to circumvent, sharp rocks jutting out all over and deep water crossing at the end that we had to do in the dark…some scary crap.
One guy broke 2 CV’s at the same time on the 1st ledge (he was the only one to make that obstacle without winching but paid the price). We had to pull both front axles out and disconnect the front drive shaft so that he could get back to the trail head in 2WD. Two guys broke brake lines (steel ones) and one guy cut the side wall of one of his GY Kevlar’s. Six of us were able to run the whole trail. We started at around 10:30am and did not finish until after dark at around 8:30pm.
We had 1 Toyota, 2 Jeeps and 4 Xterras. NEXTerra might run 7 or 8 trucks at the max, 4 or 5 would be best. You’d need min 33s, a winch, full armor, front/rear tow points, a locker would be good, two would be better and a crew you trust and most importantly; go with guys you trust, go with NEXTerra guys. This is no place to be with strangers.
Ernie was the only one who had run it before although he said it was eight years ago and the trail was easier then. He said that the “super storm” washed away much of the dirt so now it’s mostly rocks.
If you are in the northeast and like running hard trails with your built up rig I suggest you put OFR on your ‘list’. It is awesome!
-Bklyn.X
