A Day of Flexibility and Fun
When Jeep added a new trail in Virginia to the Badge of Honor App Trail list, my excitement was off the charts. This was the perfect opportunity to plan my first Jeep Momma Trail Ride. With a group of my Jeep friends, we geared up to tackle the Peters Mill Trail just outside Edinburg, Virginia.
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| Peters Mill Run Jeep Badge of Honor |
YouTube Video 👉 Peters Mill Run
The Journey Begins
The Peters Mill Trail is a relatively short adventure, taking about one to two hours. To make the most of our day, we decided to also hit the Flagpole trail, located about 40 minutes south of Peters Mill Run near Harrisonburg. This trail, nestled in the George Washington National Forest, promises a breathtaking view of Virginia and West Virginia from its summit.
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| Jeep's airing down prepping for the trail |
An Unexpected Setback
Our adventure kicked off with high spirits as we headed up the mountain. However, one of the Jeeps in our group soon encountered mechanical issues. Despite our best efforts, we couldn't get it back on track. Adhering to the golden rule of off-roading—never wheel alone—one of our group members escorted the ailing Jeep back down the mountain.
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| Jeeps waiting on the trail |
Roadblock and Regroup
As we resumed our ascent, another obstacle awaited us. A controlled burn by the forestry department blocked our path about 30 minutes into the trail. While regrouping, we met two fellow Jeepers who were also stymied by the roadblock. Inviting them to join our convoy, we redirected our journey towards Peters Mill Run.
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| Forestry road block for a controlled burn |
Lunch Break with a Twist
Peters Mill Run, part of a trail system requiring a permit, became our new destination. We stopped at a local gas station to purchase the necessary $5 permits and seized the opportunity for a lunch break. Originally, we had planned to dine at the summit of Flagpole trail, but flexibility is key in off-roading.
Lunch was on me, and I decided to test a unique trail cooking method: using the engine. At the start of the trail, I placed a ham and cheese sandwich between the intake manifold and battery. After cooking for over four hours, we unveiled a surprisingly delicious sammie.
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| Cooking a sammie on my Jeep's manifold |
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| My Cheesy sammie |
How to Video 👉 Cook Sammie on Jeep's Engine
Earning Our Badge
With lunch behind us, it was time to earn our badge on Peters Mill Run. This old mining road on Powell Mountain offers a bumpy ride with plenty of twists and turns. However, our plans faced another hiccup when we encountered a lone Gecko-colored Jeep stuck in the mud—another reminder of the off-roading rule: never wheel alone.
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| Jeep Stuck in the Mud |
Rescue Mission
True to the Jeep spirit, we couldn't leave a fellow Jeeper stranded. We broke out the recovery gear and set to work winching the Gecko out of the mud. The effort took quite a while, pushing our schedule back and making it too late to hit our last planned trail, Taskers Gap.
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| Jeep Stuck in the Mud |
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| Winching out the stuck Jeep |
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| Multiple Jeeps needed to pull out the Jeep |
Ending on a High Note
Despite the setbacks, we made the best of our day by visiting the Woodstock fire tower. While I only managed to climb one flight of stairs before my nerves got the best of me, it was a fun detour.
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| Woodstock Fire Tower |
Embracing the Journey
This day was a lesson in flexibility and the joy of the journey over the destination. As a Jeep owner and off-road enthusiast, I've learned that the best adventures are the ones that don’t go as planned. Meeting new Jeepers, honing recovery skills, and spending quality time with amazing people made this a memorable trip.
Remember, in off-roading and life, it's all about going with the flow and embracing the unexpected. Keep your spirits high, your Jeep ready, and enjoy the ride!
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| Mountain trail scenery |
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