A few weeks ago, Trey and Melissa Burns sent an email out to our group regarding Mega Run 2003 at Shiloh Ridge near Alto, TX.  After looking at the Web site, I decided it would be fun to go and watch the competitions.

Since my wife and I have a three-month old daughter, I went with the assumption my wife and daughter would not be going with me, so I called my buddies "Magnolia Marc" and "Special Ed" (both Jeep people).  Ed had other obligations, but Marc was all for it—the only problem was he could not leave until 10:30 Saturday morning—no problem—we’re going!

Friday.  Lunch.  As I am getting into my Disco II, AKA “Sherman”, I noticed I had a really low right-rear tire.  Nice.  Not.  I drove it over to Discount Tire to get it patched.  When they pulled it off, there was a huge screw right where the tread and the sidewall meet.  Nice.  Not.  I took off my spare and replaced the screwed tire.  Now I have no spare and I am leaving for Shiloh Ridge tomorrow.  Nice.  Not. 

“Well Bill, why don’t you buy a new tire?”  Good question.  I currently have the stock 16” tires on my Disco, but I very, very much want to get new springs and shocks and 265/75-16 tires.  If I buy a new spare in the stock tire size, then that’s $ for a new tire I may not use anymore if I “upgrade.”  If I buy a new spare in the larger tire size and decide not to upgrade, then I have a spare that is larger than my other four tires. 

In step one Steve McDonald.  I called Steve at Land Rover Houston and pleaded to borrow any old spare.  Steve said, “No problem.  Do not go out there without a spare.  Come by and get it.”  I did.  Thank you, thank you, thank you Steve (turns out I didn’t need it, but rest assured if I didn’t take it…)

Back on track.  Of course Saturday morning I wake up at the crack of dawn to pack up all the gear: tent, sleeping bags, grill, water, sandwiches, and various other implements of destruction.  All packed, off to Marc’s office.

10:30, 11:00, 11:30.  One of Marc’s drivers was not back at the warehouse, so we had to sit there and wait.  12:00, 12:30... FINALLY!  We’re off.

After stopping at Marc's house to pick up his gear and implements of destruction, we finally left Houston around 1:00 and got to Shiloh Ridge around 4:00.  All of the Mega Run events were over, but hey, we made it.

After meeting Melissa and Trey, we headed off for the trails.  It had rained just a bit, so the trails were a tad slippery.  Jeeps, Jeeps and more Jeeps sums up the majority of the vehicles at Shiloh Ridge.  In our group we had two Land Rovers, two Jeeps, one Toyota and one HUGE Dodge Ram.

The trails were amazing—red sticky stuff: lots and lots of paths to choose.  We climbed huge hills and went through huge holes.  Lot of mud.  I saw Jeeps do things I had previously only seen in magazines.  Several of these folks were climbing the “Rock Wall” (sorry… too dark for pictures of it). 

After a bit more driving and watching other folks park on top of rocks, we headed back to camp to eat and sleep. 

Sleep.  Sleep would have been easier without the Metallica and Disturbed blasting (our “neighbors” at the camp) until 11:00, not to mention the conversations of bravado that always seem to get louder as alcohol is added to the equation.  Anyway, I finally got to sleep at 11:30 and slept perfectly in my 10° sleeping bag.

Marc made sausage biscuits and biscuits and gravy in the morning.  Our neighbor’s camp looked a lot like I picture the yard of an aluminum recycling plant.  The demolished chair left me perplexed; I decided not to ask—I have seen Deliverance. 

After breakfast, we headed out to the trails on the other side of the park.  Trey helped me through any many obstacles I didn’t know a stock Discovery could do.  I got stuck once on a ledge, but Trey’s Range Rover got me free.  We stayed out until ~noon and headed back to camp. 

Aside from a few new “pinstripes” and red clay up to my windows, which I am sure will cost no less than $47.00 to remove at the car wash, it was perfect!  (O.K., yes, we could have done without the neighbors and their alcohol-enhanced nuclear physics conversations).

Trey knows his stuff.  Thanks Trey for getting us to go and thanks for all of the direction and spotting over the more difficult obstacles.  This was by far the best time I’ve had in my vehicle so far.  Cosmo’s Big Adventure should be fun too!

If you want to challenge your vehicle and your skill, this is a great place to go in my opinion.  I didn’t do the “crazy” stuff, and that’s what was nice: you could go as wild or as tame as you want because there are so many trails. 

I wouldn’t recommend this place for a family unless you go with a group.  There are lots and lots of people there: many drinking.  The camp ground is loud until late and some folks drive a bit to fast through the camp areas as the night (and beer) kick in.

Interestingly enough though, the trails were a completely different story.  Everyone knew “the rules.”  Folks would wait for one vehicle to clear an obstacle or climb a hill before approaching it themselves.  When someone got stuck on a big rock, everyone pitched in to help.  Even the ATVs were respectful of the trucks and visa versa. 

Sure, there was an occasional “_________” (fill in the blank), but they were the exception.

I think Shiloh Ridge is a great place to go off-road.  You’ll see it all:

Suzuki Samurais with 44” tires, Jeeps with every bit  of 4X4 gear available, dune buggies, ATVs, even “trucks” that are actually only the bodies bolted on top of what appear to be John Deere tractors.  Basically, it is a place for hard working people who like to play equally as hard.

I had a great time and am ready to go again!  Thanks again Trey!

-Bill Mallin

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