Making All the Right Moves

Running smart, safe and hard in the Hasting Highlands.

by

Words and Photos by Quinton Neufeldt

Late spring was as good of a time as any to once again hit the trails and enjoy the wheeling season. Our day destination was the Hasting Highlands, located just south of Algonquin Park near Bancroft, ON. The balmy weather provided a nice break from the gloom of spring and the trip was the perfect chance to iron out any bad driving habits or forgotten skills.

I had sent an email to some other wheelers, and Darrell and his partner Karen were psyched to go. Being visitors from the UK, they were excited to run their Jeep TJ Rubicon and hit Ontario’s true bush country head-on. I was running my tried and true CJ7.

Early Saturday morning the traffic was light and we met at a local restaurant before driving to the powerline right-of-way. The gravel road was relatively easy to access and is open to all kinds of enthusiasts. The section we chose to take - and have enjoyed over the years - is located north of Hwy 7 between Hwy 41 and 62.

It’s mostly crown land or conservation reserves but there is some private property as well. A general guideline for any off-road outing is to stay on the trail - marked or unmarked - and pack out anything that is brought in.

Getting Back to the Basics

Once we were in the powerline area via the Lingham Lake Rd. access, we stopped to let some air out of the tires, which not only offers a smoother ride (than rock hard tires) but provides a wider footprint while going over rocks or logs. Of course, when the Psi is too low, the tire can lose a bead on a hard hit. The rule of thumb is to let out one-third to half of the street pressure. However, user manuals from tire manufacturers have recommended Psi limits for when airing down.

As mentioned previously, never venture off a trail as it’s usually a bad idea for a lot of reasons, including becoming hopelessly stuck and lost. A good way to learn about running local and regional trail systems is to join a 4x4 club and run with experienced wheelers. But some prefer to learn on their own. In either case, knowing the performance, capabilities, and systems of your 4x4 is essential, regardless of the skill level of the driver.

My 1986 Jeep CJ7 has a manual transmission and a gas engine with a carburetor. It doesn’t have traction control but the aftermarket automatic lockers on the differentials make all of the four wheels receive power at any given time and the transmission will always be ‘locked’ in the gear that is chosen. Modern vehicles employ traction control systems that can determine when to slow down or add power to any given wheel at any given time.

Choosing individual gears with a manual tranny can also be advantageous to handle a variety of situations. Off-road rated tires, skid plates and body protection are also essential depending on the type of trail.

Whether it’s your first run solo or your inaugural run of the season, it’s important to bring food, water and appropriate clothing. Of course, a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, jack, spare tire, essential recovery gear, fluids, and tools are vital to pack as well.

Back on the Trails

The first upward rock slabs we encountered were dry and smooth but even small seams or ridges can cause a tire to lose traction. So, we took on the conditions slowly and steadily. With our tires aired down, we made good progress with minimal issues and reached the top of the hill to enjoy the view of the region.

We then decided to take a different route back down. Once we selected one, we went one at a time to assist each other for ideal tire placement. This kind of wheeling usually requires using low range low-gear. Darrell used careful control with the clutch and brakes to skillfully negotiate a channel of sharp rock edges and avoid damage to his undercarriage. This is where a skid plate or underbody protection is handy.

We carried on and drove our way east through forests and around lakes, rivers, swamps and bogs. After several hours, we stopped for a break when we met a group of ATV’ers and asked them about the area. Other wheelers we came across were from the Durham 4x4 Club. Sandi and John were in a purple 2016 JKU while Doug and Lance were in Jeep JLs.

Continuing on the trails, we encountered a small side hill that had a shallow water crossing at the bottom. It was about 45 cm (18 in) deep and decided that 2nd gear low range with a bit of engine revving would be good to use. With steady progress and throttle, I drove through the water crossing, up the other side, and then parked at the top to watch Darrell.

Darrel must have taken a slightly different line as he hit a rock at the end of the water crossing. This ceased forward momentum. After reversing and trying again, he hit the rock a second time. After several more attempts, we realized it was time to winch him out.

Since I was parked at the top of the hill, I turned around and secured a strap from the front tow hook and then brought it down the slope. Once I hooked up his TJ, it was a relatively easy pull and winched him most of the way up the hill since his tires were now packed with mud and had little traction. Darrell was 1st gear low range and the clutch and throttle to keep the wheels turning without overdriving the winch cable. Once clear we unhooked and he was good to go!

By this time it was about 4 pm so we decided to drive back to the highway after spending a great day in the Hastings Highlands. The region provides a great trail system with some interesting challenges. It’s ideal for 4x4 clubs or groups of enthusiasts alike to experience the outdoors.

See you next time!