An Old Mountain Access Road...

[jp1203]

I've gone up here for years...there used to be a fairly decent road that went to the top, but it hasn't been used regularly since the 1930s. ATVs keep it from getting overgrown, but it's very rocky. Jeeps and various SUVs/Pickups go up from time to time, but someone once tried driving up with a Ford Escort and lost their oil pan on a rock. Obviously their attic was pretty empty.

I figured since I have the Outback I should give it a shot. I was a little worried about clearance, but a friend followed me in a Blazer and said it looked like I had quite a bit everywhere. Near the top there was a bit of mud to go through, but the Outback went through flawlessly.

I wished there was a Jeep or something up there when I got there, just because it would be funny to pull up next to them in an Outback, but no such luck.

It's not something I'll try too often because it's got to be murder on the suspension and steering, but it's nice to know that I can do it and I did go pretty slow to hopefully minimize whatever toll the rocky road would take.

I didn't have my camera, but I found a picture of one section of the road (a better part, by the looks) and what the top looks like (but not the view, unfortunately) from a previous trip.

[ntippet]

Nice, how far is the trek to the top?
I need to find a road like this around here.

[jp1203]

Originally Posted by ntippet

Nice, how far is the trek to the top?
I need to find a road like this around here.

Thanks, it's around 2 miles to the top. There are a lot of similar trails nearby that I haven't explored much yet.

[jp1203]

Found a couple more...one shows the beginning of the access road, another shows the view from the top.

It's a fun ride up...if you're ever in MA, check it out. Coords to the beginning of the road: 42°23'38.38"N 73° 0'55.44"W

[jp1203]

Took another discontinued road today. It was fairly muddy and rutted, but it was no challenge. Got to where the road was no longer Outbackable, but didn't really realize it until I drove through mud and was within a half inch of high-centering it. I figured I was stuck there, but put it in reverse and backed the 40+ feet uphill through all the mud, spinning the wheels the whole time, but I got out...on worn out all seasons. Subaru's AWD never ceases to amaze me. If I knew I could get out, I would have taken a video of that. Realized I had my camera with me and got a few shots on the way back.

The last one is my way to avoid high-centering it on the way back. It consistently has more clearance than I expect, though...I expect to hit lightly on things and never do.

[ported]

Took our Outback up and around some logging roads on the Queen Charlotte Islands this last summer. A friend came along with his Harley Davidson Special Ford 3/4 ton diesel truck and was amazed on how the Outback could scramble up some pretty rough terrain. I'm glad I had a Primitive skid plate attached, it gave me warning when I was running out of clearance. I'd like to get a rear dif skid plate now.
It was harder on my marriage than the car.

[jp1203]

Originally Posted by ported

Took our Outback up and around some logging roads on the Queen Charlotte Islands this last summer. A friend came along with his Harley Davidson Special Ford 3/4 ton diesel truck and was amazed on how the Outback could scramble up some pretty rough terrain. I'm glad I had a Primitive skid plate attached, it gave me warning when I was running out of clearance. I'd like to get a rear dif skid plate now.
It was harder on my marriage than the car.

I had a friend with me in his Blazer today, and he absolutely could not believe that I was able to back out of the mud pit that I shouldn't have driven in. I need a skid plate. I hit really lightly in the front a few times...nothing bad enough or in the right place to destroy the oil pan, but it reminded me that I need to put something there to protect the engine.

Also turns out my Outback has the same clearance as his Blazer (possibly slightly more). We hit in exactly the same places, though there were a few that I didn't and he did. That might just be because his suspension is softer, though.

So far, lack of a low range hasn't been an issue (I expected it to be). I was able to stop on some pretty rocky inclines and had no problem starting again...though a few times I had one foot on the brake and one on the gas so it wouldn't roll back (has a tendency to do that on very steep hills).

I'm going to find a clean and shiny lifted pickup to park my mud-covered Outback next to when I have class tonight.

[jp1203]

Went up again this evening. Road isn't in good shape. The open section of the road (no pictures) was so muddy that they imposed a 2 1/2 ton weight limit. Lousy cell phone pictures: