Quinton Neufeldt
Words and Photos by Quinton Neufeldt
Several friends and I were excited to get out wheeling and try some of the trails in the Ardbeg region when fall was at its peak and before the frigid temps and heavy snow blanketed the region. After getting the wheels in motion – so to speak – we made a plan for a day trip with a group consisting of Randy in his ‘20 Jeep Rubicon Gladiator; Mike in his Jeep ‘84 CJ7; Darrel in his ‘06 Jeep TJ Rubicon; Brian in his ‘97 Jeep TJ Wrangler; and myself in a project Ford ‘99 Super Duty.
Our meeting place was the Loggers Station House Restaurant in the village of Ardbeg, about three hours north of Toronto near Parry Sound. This is the site of the old station along the CN Rail line and trains still pass by daily. The restaurant serves food (take out only at the time of publication), fuel, and other essentials. Hours of operation may also vary so be sure to check the website prior to your visit.
Quinton Neufeldt
Fueling and airing down in Ardbeg.
After airing down our tires, we drove west along Clear Lake Road and once we were among the power lines, we turned north onto a winding trail. These trails have been graded and maintained by the area’s cottage association and provide numerous opportunities to test your vehicle’s capabilities on the many rock ledges, boulders and hills.
Randy had been out on the trails earlier in the season with his Gladiator Rubicon and was excited to be running them again. His pickup has a relatively longer wheelbase, which meant he would be choosing some slightly different lines than the group’s CJ or TJ’s. In fact, he logged his 20,000th km (12,427 mi) on the odometre during this run, and to hit it on the trail was a smile-producing mile marker.
Quinton Neufeldt
Darrel's TJ Rubicon. We stayed close to the edges on more extreme water crossings just to be safe.
Fall is a great time to go off-roading here. In addition to the bright fall leaves and pristine lakes, terrain normally hidden by vegetation in the summer was now visible. The area is notable for its spectacular vistas in nearly every direction, and the powerline right-of-way offers unobstructed views from various hilltops.
The standing water levels on the trail were much higher than the last time I was here. Both Darrel and Brian had snorkels on their rigs, but we generally avoided the deepest parts by staying near the edge of the water crossings. My SuperDuty was performing well although the large hood made it a challenge to see obstacles (and avoid them). Nevertheless we were feeling pretty good about the day - up to this point.
Quinton Neufeldt
Randy’s ‘20 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon.
That was until we came to a section of the trail that looked relatively harmless. I was driving cautiously until forward momentum ceased. I put the truck in reverse and the vehicle started to slowly move back until the hitch and bumper contacted a surprising rock ledge behind me – due to a poor rear departure angle. After accessing my predicament, I realized that going forward would take me directly into a spongy, swampy area without any trees to winch from. Oh-oh.
After looking at the few options, Randy offered to pull me away from the rock ledge with his winch. To make sure he didn’t get pulled, Mike strapped his vehicle to Randy’s and we then hooked up the winch. It proved to be a relatively easy pull and once I was back on top of the rock plateau, the rest of the group maneuvered around this particular spot.
Quinton Neufeldt
Mike’s CJ7.
This is the perfect example of why it’s wise to travel in groups, especially if you’re going to try anything remotely challenging. Being equipped with a winch, jack, and other recovery gear, along with a spare tire, first aid kit, appropriate clothing, food/water, fire extinguisher, and spare tools are off-road essentials.
Since our last time out (see 4WD Vol. 22 No. 8), Brian had fixed the fuel delivery issues on his TJ. His experience with wheeling and repairs (as he has done most of the work on his vehicle himself) resulted in an issue-free day.
Quinton Neufeldt
Brian taking a dip in his ‘97 Jeep TJ Wrangler. Things could be worse…we suppose.
Darrel’s TJ Rubicon had been in the shop getting both lockers redone and this was his first chance to test them. Everything worked flawlessly. His previous vehicle was a Landrover Defender and he was very pleased with his new-to-him Jeep. In fact, the nimble size of his TJ allowed him to go almost anywhere and he made tackling a variety of tough terrain look easy.
Mike had done all his own work on his CJ7 and it performed effortlessly. He didn’t build his vintage Jeep just to sit in the garage, so he took on many challenging lines, which paid off for him in big smiles all day.
Quinton Neufeldt
The author’s project Super Duty pickup.
In the early afternoon, we travelled a little further north and passed the cut off to Bolger Lake. The trail then became gradually narrower and gnarlier to the point of getting out of the vehicle to determine the best route. The trail meandered in and out from under the power lines and forest.
By 2 p.m., we decided to go back to Ardbeg for 6 or 7 p.m. and were able to travel a little faster since we knew what to expect. In all, it was the perfect way to end a great day. The weather was clear and crisp, the vehicles all worked well, and everyone was glad to get out in the fresh air and enjoy the camaraderie that goes with wheeling.
The Ardbeg area has a lot to offer four-wheelers and outdoor enthusiasts. Most of the region can also be accessible with any SUV and we passed many people fishing, enjoying the scenery and camping. See you next time!
Quinton Neufeldt
One of the many scenic lakes in the region.