Just to clarify my thinking as the person who organised this weekend - My plan when I set up a GRR is firstly to have a number of small groups doing their own thing rather than a 20-30 vehicle rolling roadblock. This gives people some freedom and also allows people to get to know each other a bit better maybe ? Where possible I plan to have a circular route rather than an "up & back", although this is not always possible due to the geography. Then to have a main route that anyone can drive in their shiny daily driver without any great risk of damage, so decent enough tracks, maybe a bit rough and ready.
Like this:
Off that I'd hope to have some more challenging bits, which are optional and can be avoided if required. I try to provide warning about what the issues are - tight vegetation, deep ruts or whatever so people can make up their own minds. Experience says that people who were initially cautious see other people having a go, join in and are pleasantly surprised at how capable their vehicle is. The other Freebie out on Sunday did the rest of the run with no problems at all. The track Dave, Steven & Co decided to explore was a few hundred meters of dead end forestry extraction track leading to an area of clear-fell. 6 of 20 odd drivers decided to try it.... 1 got stuck on an unseen tree stump.
So, that bit was optional and maybe 400 metres in over 10 miles of track. On the other hand, it certainly seems to have provided a fair bit of enjoyment ! The rest of us were in a clearing a few hundred feet above them, looking down and giggling while eating our sandwiches ! The mud-lovers arrived a bit later....
Cheers,
Gene
