Paragon Adventure Park is located near Hazleton, PA, about 4 hours North-West of the CLCC's home base of Washington, DC. Rob, Allen, Ross and I formed Friday's early caravan, arriving just before midnight. We had an FJ60, 4Runner, FJ40, and an FJ55 respectively. Chris and Scott arrived shortly thereafter in the minitruck.

During this visit to Paragon access to extreme trails was limited to those who trailered their trucks in. None of us had, except Allen's 4runner which had blown a rear wheel bearing, but that's another story. We took the next best offering, a set of more moderate trails. Allen Dickenson in his 4Runner and Rob in his FJ60 remained in camp to fix the 4Runner. We began with 14 trucks in our group, a mix of FJ40's, Jeeps and some wagons. Representing the longer wheelbases were two 80's, a 60 and my 55. Chris's mini was there just to prove that even the most intimidating lines can be made to look easy.

Our group began with a meandering rock garden called Mini Rubicon. This short trail twists about a Crayola colored water hole and served to hone our technical skills before moving deeper into the woods. We were told the small pond maintained it's deep aqua hue due to chemicals found in the surrounding stone. Whether a by-product of strip mining or natural sediment, we were advised to stay out of the water despite the 100 degree weather.

No one incurred damage in the rock garden, but our group was constantly surrounded by the sound of twisting and sometimes scraping metal. This section was easily navigated in any cruiser, though Allen's massive super-80 and the Rock Lobster were able to take more extreme lines. (Chris does this in his mini, even if he's just parking at the 7-11, so you may accurately assume he's somewhere beyond the edge of the envelope throughout the trip.)

To access the main trail network we followed Turtle trail towards lower Boyscout campground. This is where we had our first stuck of the day. Most of those in our group simply drove right by the massive boulder along the ridge of the first ravine, some perhaps languished in the shade it provided. Not Chris. Absurd obstacles like this constitute "trail toys" for his mini. Without hesitation he pointed a bogger at the stone's most vertical face and up he went. Up and over, but not quite down the other side. The rock was just long enough for him to drop front and rear tires off each side, leaving the truck dangling with suspension at full droop and all tires spinning. A quick tug from the Rock Lobster set us on our way again, with nothing damaged but Chis's pride.

We soon approached a small rock garden that offered some diff grabbers for those who fail to take the appropriate line for their vehicle. Technical but not impassable we were again allowed to test the limits of our suspension and differentials. Nothing damaging for the cautious driver but there were a couple lines that crossed up the trucks with less supple suspensions. Most trucks took those lines rather than the less aggressive squeeze located a little closer to the trees.

No further challenges awaited us until we reached the bottom of the hill. However, we ran into our main mechanical problems through this stretch of Turtle trail. First, a very clean jeep running a stock v8 couldn't get the 304 to start. Everyone was running a little warm, but the v8's suffered the worst of it requiring several such stops to cool down and restart the motors. We jump started it with a tow strap from the cruiser ahead, a kindness that was repeated a short distance down the trail when a v8 cruiser blew a radiator hose.

After a short eternity we joined the rest of our group at the bottom of Turtle only to find that John had grenaded the tcase in his 40. (and we missed it!) Our group had gathered at the base of a very steep hill climb, littered with loose stones and a devilish rut to mark the half way point. That rut may as well have been a sign like the ones they use at amusement parks stating, "You must be this tough to ride this hill." Every attempt at the hill was halted at the half way mark. The wheelhop and sliding associated with the rut provided most of the excitement as trucks glided towards the edge of the trail, threatening to turn sideways at the heart of the climb. It's at this point that gear oil marked John's earlier adventure.

Chris took the hill most gracefully, letting the boggers churn until forward momentum was achieved. Allen in his fully locked FJ80 on 35" swampers also made the climb, but not without insane wheel hop. We suspect this was Allen's way of providing excitement, not a requirement of the climb. Steve also attempted it in his fully locked 80 but wisely backed down after the wagon took a dive towards the steep sidehill. We're told that the other group ran this hill without trouble, but most of them were in FJ80's, that's cheating.

At this point it was agreed that our group was too large so we split into two smaller groups. Dan Shein led six of us into the woods, soon confiding that he'd never been down this particular trail before. It turned out to be one of the best of the day. A twisty path strewn with diff grabbing rocks and the occasional encroaching tree wound through the pine forest. Anxious for action, Chris drove straight up the face of one such encroaching tree. The mini began to tip before common sense put Chris back on the ground. That didn't last long, Chris quickly spotted a boulder strewn stream alongside the trail to get twisted in.

Next was a rutted hill climb with several large rocks that required a little throttle to overcome. Again, we all passed without trouble. The best part was the lip where the top of the hill climb met the trail above. The momentum carried both front tires up and off the ground before trucks turned to join the main trail. This surely could have been avoided with lockers but as they weren't required I ran the 55 in open configuration for all trails except Impossible Hill.

We then drove back to Lower Boyscout and splashed in the stream to cool down. Most of us on foot, Chris in the mini of course. Chris decided his power steering was not up to the task and we left his truck there when we headed for Impossible Hill.

There is a nice rocky path leading to Impossible Hill, but it pales in comparison with the real thing. Dan, our fearless leader, tackled the boulder strewn hill with no fear (or common sense, we're not sure). In a skilled, rock smashing ascent he piloted his fully locked 40 up, over and around the dangers in a way that said he'd seen worse in his time. It was at this point that Chris realized he wasn't quite as fearless a copilot, vowing to walk next time. This from the guy we regularly need to explain which side of the mini is supposed to be on top!

Next was Allen in the super 80. Air lockers front and rear, 6.5" lift, Super Swampers even the in dash DVD were not enough to get the monstrous 80 up the hill. Impossible hill is not only very steep and covered in small, loose rock fragments but also blocked by 3 large rocks. The first is almost rectangular and loose. The next is seated firmly in the terra-firma but located in such a way that if you don't go around it you must go over it at the same time you reach the third rock. Allen's line could not get the 80 over the third rock without grabbing the rear axle control arm on the driver's side. The only line that led him clear of the control arm was so off camber that he lifted the front passenger tire, even with his ultra flexy modified OME suspension. Eventually, at the risk of rollover or body damage he choose to pull cable. Once clear of the third rock he quickly powered up the remaining hill.

Steve also gave a good show on Impossible Hill, calling for the cable only after lifting his front tire high enough to drive all passengers from the 80. By now we had a good crowd, with Steve's crew beginning to regain their color and others waiting to retreive broken fj80 parts. But it wasn't to happen. Careful spotting and team effort (included some help from Warn) brought his 80 over the third rock and the front and rear lockers carried him the rest of the way.

After watching Allen winch, then Steve almost twist off his rear driveshaft I knew I couldn't turn back. I carefully appointed several people to collect the trail of rare FJ55 parts I was sure to leave behind and fired up the pig. One glance up the boulder strewn entrance and I flicked the dust covered switch for the rear electric locker. I could feel my heart in my throat when I pointed the truck up the hill and listened to the locker churn stones as I turned. I wasn't sure if my copilot Ross was sweating from the heat or just the look on my face as gravity sat us back in our seats.

No one seemed surprised to see the mighty 55 crest the first rock with ease, but they certainly were as it crested the third. The shouts and cheering only subsided when I stalled the 55, promptly sliding backwards off of rock #3. So close. One more attempt at forward momentum told me it was time to back up and take the line again. This time when I backed off of the third rock I could see the winced faces of the trail weary observers moving perfectly in time to the sound of metal on rock. The same rock that candy caned the FJ80 shaft had taken a bite at mine as well. Fortunately I've been down that road before and had designed my torque bar to protect the shaft, and it did. Not a scratch. Third try was a charm and I walked right up, all 4 tires on the ground, a testament to spring over axle. (followed immediately by a testament to lower gears... yes, I stalled again on my way up the rest of the hill...)

A Jeep and an FJ40 followed, both putting up a good show but winching in the end. The Jeep was stopped by rock #3, the 40 didn't stop until the loose shale at the top which was now wet and super slick. From here the groups re-organized again, half heading for Rattlesnake Ridge and the rest back to camp. It's important to note at this point that just because the Rock Lobster offers to lead the way back to camp does not mean it knows the way. Hey, someone had to do it. Our group quickly ran Turtle back out to mini Rubicon and then to the blacktop. We slowed only at the rock garden on Turtle where we carefully spotted the 80 to avoid peeling the running boards off of the OME'd truck.

Camp brought a cool swim in the pond and an even cooler bottle to go with it. Paragon, the next beast in the East? See for yourself.

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