A Jeep Journey Unlike Any Other
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| The Road to Rausch Creek, PA |
October 2016, I punched out early, eager for a weekend of mud, gears, and good company. My Jeep was all packed, and I was Rausch Creek-bound for an exhilarating Women's Wheeling event.
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| Two Jeep Moms |
After checking in, I darted to the hotel to link up with my co-pilot. Excitement buzzed through me; it's a rare treat to have a friend in the shotgun seat. Rewind two years—I connected with a fellow Jeep enthusiast, a mom who shared my passion. We planned to meet at a 201 off-road class back in 2014, but it took us two years to align our chaotic schedules.
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| Friday Night Meet & Greet |
Our reunion kicked off at O'Neals Pub in Pine Grove, PA, for the Women's Wheeling Meet & Greet. Believe it or not, this was my first meet and greet. My friend Amanda and I spent the evening rekindling our friendship and mingling with other spirited Jeepers.
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| Amanda & I |
The next morning, we were up with the sun, ready to conquer the trails at Rausch Creek Off-Road Park. Despite the rain, the parking lot swelled with Jeeps. The air crackled with anticipation. Everyone was revved up to hit the trails, myself included.
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| Jeeps lined up in parking lot |
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| My Jeep front grille |
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| Jeeps heading out to the trails |
This event has grown incredibly—starting with just eight women four years ago to over 200 participants this year. The word had spread, and the Jeep sisterhood was stronger than ever.
Many drove their own Jeeps, while others took the wheel of their significant others' rides. Sharing a Jeep? The idea sounds wild to me!
My First Women's Wheeling Day 2014 👉 Read More
Women's Wheeling Day 2015 👉Read More
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| Read Jeep off camber on trail |
I took on the role of tail gunner, keeping an eye on our convoy from the back. My trail guide, Mandy, a first-timer at trail guiding, but handled it like a pro. We were Team Six, a dynamic group that meshed perfectly. The guys with us were fantastic spotters, navigating us through challenges with patience and encouragement.
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| Yellow Jeep heading to Pizza Rock |
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| Jeeps on the trail |
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| Off-Road Traffic Jam |
Cruising through Rausch Creek, windows down, listening to nature—it’s my kind of soul therapy. The parade of Jeeps against the backdrop of fall colors was a heartwarming sight. Recognizing familiar faces and exchanging Jeep Waves added to the joy.
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| In my Jeep on the trails |
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| Hoodshot of Jeeps on the trail |
Amid the excitement, a former riding buddy noticed my Jeep’s new lift—what a rush of pride!
Our group tackled a mix of green and blue trails. We even revisited Trail 11, where I signed up for another Jeep Badge of Honor. Fingers crossed they send the badge this time!
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| Trail 11 - Jeep Badge of Honor |
Trail 11 Jeep Badge of Honor 👉Watch Here
Pizza Rock presented a fun challenge. We faced a minor mishap—a bent fender—but fixed it quickly. Each time someone went down the obstacle they would move rocks. That made each time a different experience for each driver. And yes, we learned later that we’d tackled the trail backwards. It's all part of the adventure, right?
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| Pizza Rock |
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| My Jeep coming down Pizza Rock |
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| The final decent on Pizza Rock |
Pizza Rock 👉 Watch Here
The day closed on a high note, despite a little hiccup after smoothly descending Pizza Rock. Curious about my Jeep's fate? I Broke My Jeep 👉Read More
Reflecting on the event, I’m filled with gratitude for the women who made it happen. Running an event is no small feat—trust me, I’ve been there with all the volunteering I did with the PTA. A huge thanks to Susan and Christie, the incredible women behind this event.
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| Fall Colors in the PA mountains |
Every time I take the Jeep out, I discover new facets of myself, my vehicle, and the art of off-roading. This weekend was no exception, brimming with lessons and laughter. More on that in tomorrow’s post. Stay rugged, stay adventurous!
One of the muddy trails that day 👉 Watch Here
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| My group from women's wheeling day |
It was an incredible day with some wonderful women and encouraging, supportive spotters.
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| Women's Wheeling day sign from 2016 |
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