KICKED OFF BARNWELL MOUNTAIN AND TOWED

MOABE · 01-27-2006, 10:02 AM

GILMER 1-21-06 RUN

Thought you might be interested in the events that have led up to my withdrawal from the park that I have used so often.

I have finally had all I can stand of the onsite management. I had a group of 15 in 5 jeeps attend the Toyota event last weekend, January 20, 21.if you don’t recall, I am the gentleman that spoke with you in regards to the various gate fees being charged at the mountain and the fact that I had to constantly listen to the manager, Lawton, tell his stories of enforcement every time I went to check in or out of the trails.

Half my group showed up Friday around 2 pm, we got a hotel but went to the mountain to regroup and do some trail clean up. I signed the log in sheet and headed out, as it turned out, there were too many rigs at old camp were we normally stay so we sent the campers in our group to the campsite just past clydes ravin. They set up their camps and we did some trails I had a husband wife joining us later to ride along and see what this thing was all about. As we sat around the latern about 9:30pm we got a call from the front of the park that the couple had showed up and needed directions. As you know, its just easier to go get them, then have them call you from the back of the mountain after one wrong turn. We headed up and to our surprise it was 2 couples. We had four jeeps go for the pick up and the wives agreed to let the 2 husbands ride back to camp in the jeeps as they followed. At this time it is about 10:30 pm and yes, we are aware of the deadline to wheel, but I told the guys we would hop off the road for one short run up the first part of twister. I pulled out of the top of twister back to the main road and headed back to camp with the other jeep. The rest of my group shows up with the night patrol fast on their heels with his red light blasting. The patrolman rushes up to camp asking who was out on the trails. At this time I was sitting in a camp chair with a beer in hand, I played dumb and asked him which jeep was he looking for. He then moved into my face, and mind you im 5’9” and weigh about 175lbs, and said he’s not here to hear my mouth, and he will kick the entire camp out for DRINKING ON THE TRAIL. I raised my voice and told him “we weren’t drinking on the trail, you see the cooler right there. At this point he calls Lawton on the radio and tells him that he has trouble at this camp with drinking and night wheeling. Yes, we were on the twister at 10:30 and shouldn’t have been, but for this guy to throw DRINKING into the mix was just to add drama to the situation. The patrolman left and came back with Lawton, Lawton said drinking will get you kicked off the mountain, and this is were I told him that his son, the patrolman, had embellished a little. We apologized for night wheeling and told him it wont happen again and Lawton said he wasn’t going to stand for any trouble on the mountain, he then said he has 4 people within 10 minutes of the mountain to come take care of any trouble that he has. We assumed this meant law enforcement.

The rest of the night went fine, Saturday we started early. We picked up 2 more jeeps and had a straggler from Cajun run with us, so a total of 7 jeeps running. It was getting dark so we wanted to try the last front trail that we could so we hit Houston creek, this trail took some time, we had 1 lean over and on the way out I pushed my front d-shaft into the side of my t-case. Baseball size hole in the case, and broken u-joint. So we pulled the the d-shaft and winched up. We had 6 more to get up since I was in the lead. We gathered up at the top across from the main road and the rv electrical camping at the winch pole. As we pulled the last rig out I got a call from family in tyler so I noticed the time 9:45 pm. I said I was broken and everyone agreed we were done, the Cajuns split off to their camp and we headed out onto the main road torwards clydes campsite, as I got to the bottom near twister I saw no jeeps behind me, I turned around to fin that my 2nd jeep had tore the valve stem on the way out of Houston and needed a spare. I pulled up with lights on his tire and got out the highlift and my spare to put on his jeep, right then the patrol truck pulls up into the middle of our work area with his red light going. At this time it is about 10 minutes after 10 AND WE ARE HIGHLIFTED UP ON THE MAIN TRAIL BETWEEN THE BERMS OF HOUSTON CREEK AND THE RV SITE? The patrolman gets out shouting that he told us Friday night to stay off the trails after 10 and this time we needed to leave. I pointed out the obvious tire issue and the fact the we were on the main trail, and the fact that it was 10:10p, and I told him that we past a landcruiser disabled on the trail that could appreciate his help more than harassing us. He informed me that it was not his job to help the landcruiser, his job was to keep people off the trails. He said I see you are drinking as well, referring to the bottle of wine that my wife and her new girlfriend had opened up to enjoy while we played in the dirt with this tire change. To set the scene I had 3 wives sitting on my rollbar with lights going facing the disabled jeep as myself and 6 others tried to change this tire. It was a sight to behold. The patrolman headed back to the office to get Lawton. We all got a cup of wine and laughed about how asinine this fellow was. In short order, Lawton and his son showed back up. Lawton came straight up to me and said he was sick of my attitude and that I needed to leave, as I tried to talk to Lawton, his son kept shouting over his shoulder, I then told him to get his fat *** back into his truck and do some good by finding that Toyota. He then informed me that he was a wrestler and knew hand to hand combat and that he just wished that I would put a finger on him. At this point I told Lawton that I wasn’t here to fight with him and that I had a hotel and we were done for the night. Lawton was still talking when I got into my jeep and took the group back to camp to get the cars to go to the hotel. Me my wife and the 2 other couples loaded up into the 2 cars and headed for the hotel. The jeeps would be loaded on the 3 jeep trailer in the morning, broken d-shaft t-case and all.

As it turns out after we had left, Lawton his son and his 3 buddies from the local sheriffs office went back out to the camp sight and made everyone, including the 4 people who had never met our group, get out of their tents so that they could search for the smart mouth punk that insulted his son. I was sound asleep in the hotel, as Lawton and his group harassed the camp for the next 2 hours. After my group told Lawton that I was in a hotel, and not camping, Lawton’s son said he would tow my jeep. My group said there was no need, we are leaving in the morning and the guy is in town asleep.

To make a long story even longer, I showed up around 8am to help load my jeep and it wasn’t there. I was informed that it was towed so I headed to the office. After counting to 10 and doing some deep breathing I went into the office and asked Lawton were my jeep was, he said he was busy and that he would get to me when he could. I told him I have wife, 2 couples, a truck and trailer waiting to head back to Dallas and he is holding us all up. I asked for the tow company and I would just chalk it up to a lesson learned after passing me over twice he mumbled that he didn’t have time to look up the number. I then asked “what is the name” , Lawton said Albright tow. I said Albright towing? He then said “Albright garage, its in Gilmer” I asked for the number, and he said “call information” so off I headed my wife and my friend and his wife in 1 car, the other couple in their car, my friend with 2 jeeps on his 3 jeep trailer, and one more truck and trailer outfit. As you know everything in Gilmer is closed on Sunday. But after stopping at the local gas station the clerk knew of Albrights which was in the opposite direction. We turned the caravan around and ended up at some shop slash mobile home slash salvage yard. I got out knocked, called the number on the sign knocked again then walked around towards the back. As I approached the back garage, something that looks like it started out as a German Shepard starting running for me, luckily he had a chain on. After checking my shorts I went back to the front to call the number on the sign. As I got to the front the owner was opening the door, I asked about about the jeep and he knew nothing, he then called his brother, the other Albright, at home in his sleep. He knew nothing about the jeep and wasn’t happy with the early phone call. At this point I have my wife call Lawton and ask where the damn jeep is, obviously I was in no mood to talk to the man. My wife tells Lawton the Albrights know nothing of the jeep Lawton tells my wife to “just sit tight and when I can get around to it I will get you the number”

We hang up and call the sheriff to report the jeep stolen. The sheriff gets our information and calls Lawton. The sheriff calls us back at 10:30 am and tells us Lawton had it towed to Johnny’s (not sure of this name) outside of town and not Albright’s. we get the caravan rounded up and head towards Mt. Pleasant to the towing company. Lawton had told this gentleman that he had me arrested for drinking and need the jeep towed, I told the guy what had happened and he said that sounds about right. “that old man has done this several times before” As we sat around the breakfast table in Pittsburg we kept laughing about how financially damaging it would have been for that park if that German Shepard mix had bitten me???

Thanks for the memories they really left an impression on the 20 people involved.

MOABE · 01-27-2006, 10:06 AM

i.a.r.a.d

good thread on the matter

http://www.texas4x4.org/showthread.p...ed=1#post84252

Dennis · 01-27-2006, 10:10 AM

Cliff Notes?

razorbackME · 01-27-2006, 10:15 AM

wow...interesting read. I think.

MOABE · 01-27-2006, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis

Cliff Notes?

i called 2 months ago about the old man over charging us and the tmtc got onto him, not his fat son chases us around the mountian...i have logged over 40 hrs volunteer work on the trails at barnwell mountain

MOABE · 01-27-2006, 10:17 AM

looks like katemcy, clayton and hot springs will be my new hot spots

COXJ94 · 01-27-2006, 10:20 AM

Why does this Lawton guy sound like Farva?

razorbackME · 01-27-2006, 10:22 AM

Moabe, just playing devil's advocate here (Obviously, the guy is an assshole, that's a given):

1. If you're supposed to be off the trail at 10, you don't start a trail at 9:30. That like having a 10 pm curfew at home and leaving at 9:45, knowing it takes a half an hour to get home. You KNOW there's a significant possibility that you'll still be on the trail after 10. Why take the risk when dealing with some assshole?

2. No alcohol on the trail means exactly that.

By breaking those rules, you gave a total assshole a legit reason to give you a bunch of shiit.

razorbackME · 01-27-2006, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COXJ94

Why does this Lawton guy sound like Farva?

I'd like a liter of cola, please.

IntrepidXJ · 01-27-2006, 10:24 AM

interesting.

you broke the rules, and then gave the owners of the park attitude, and expected them not to watch you like a hawk the rest of the weekend?

plus the fact that there was alcohol on the trails with you (that should have been left behind at the camp site).

two wrongs do not make a right.

Steve95ZJ · 01-27-2006, 10:24 AM

don't think I'll be going to gilmer when I'm in Texas.
and this is why I like Arizona, there is TONS of BLM land and Arizona Public land trust land to go wheelin on. The Rangers are all really cool. We were all out camping one time and the rangers and sheriffs office stopped by, none of us were 21, had plenty of beer with us, and didn't have a fire permit. The Ranger handed us a permit for the fire, sherriff didn't care we were drinking. They stayed for a few minutes and joked around with us and then just told us not to burn the Desert down and left. Then when some illegals started shooting at us in the morning OH **** did they get pissed! They were really cool and just let us be. Sounds like these OHV parks are run by people on power trips.

IntrepidXJ · 01-27-2006, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by razorbackME

Moabe, just playing devil's advocate here (Obviously, the guy is an assshole, that's a given):

1. If you're supposed to be off the trail at 10, you don't start a trail at 9:30. That like having a 10 pm curfew at home and leaving at 9:45, knowing it takes a half an hour to get home. You KNOW there's a significant possibility that you'll still be on the trail after 10. Why take the risk when dealing with some assshole?

2. No alcohol on the trail means exactly that.

By breaking those rules, you gave a total assshole a legit reason to give you a bunch of shiit.

i was typing the exact same thing when you wrote this, as seen by my post above.

glad i'm not the only one who feels the same

MOABE · 01-27-2006, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IntrepidXJ

interesting.

you broke the rules, and then gave the owners of the park attitude, and expected them not to watch you like a hawk the rest of the weekend?

plus the fact that there was alcohol on the trails with you (that should have been left behind at the camp site).

two wrongs do not make a right.

i'll remember that when i look around and see there are only 2 people cleaning the trails that i used to help with.

MOABE · 01-27-2006, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by razorbackME

I'd like a liter of cola, please.

lawton wasnt as bad as his chubby son who got kicked out of police academy. but after i threw out the fat arss comment. lawton lost his mind

Itellyawhat · 01-27-2006, 10:38 AM

You were wrong and broke the rules. Lawton and kindergarten cop were wrong to act they way they did. Should they have said something the first night, yes, they are suppose to be professionals since they run the OHV area but they were not. The second night was completely uncalled for IMO, yes you were out past 10pm, but due to mechanical issues, not like you went out knowingly that you were breaking the curfew. The wine on the trail, main or not should have stayed corked. With all that you said, it was uncalled for to tow your heep and then be an arse about it and not tell you where it was. His threats of being a wrestler and knowing hand to hand combat was uncalled for and unprofessional. You would think since he runs a business he would want to be more accomodating and more professional so that people would want to come spend their money and time, and volunteer time to help out cleaning up the trails as you mentioned you have done.

You were wrong, but he should have handled the situation a lot better.

Steve95ZJ · 01-27-2006, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IntrepidXJ

interesting.

you broke the rules, and then gave the owners of the park attitude, and expected them not to watch you like a hawk the rest of the weekend?

plus the fact that there was alcohol on the trails with you (that should have been left behind at the camp site).

two wrongs do not make a right.

you're right, he broke the rules, but ask yourself why are the rules in place. Just like speeding, if someone is going 55 in a 45 and its two lanes and they're weaving in and out of traffic a cop is going to bust their ***. Now if they are the only person on the road the cop is going to probably just make his presence known, if that. Its really easy to tell if someone has been drinking, if the drivers haven't been drinking, the Jeeps are stopped and there is obviouse breakage, why not see what you can do to help rather than harrass. Maybe this is why I haven't been hired by a police department yet. I'd rather help people than harrass them.

Jfonz · 01-27-2006, 10:43 AM

Don't live in that area at all but I'll be sure not spend any of my adventures or promtional tour time there....

I dought I would ever have problems similar but just the coment of how its not my job to help... Sounds pretty stupid to me. I'm sure its not in his job description but is should be...

I could understand the harasment if they found you on the trail with open containers in your car or hands, but sitting at camp and drinking, and then being accused of it and having the managment get after you is... well bad management. Of course if they own the mountain they have the right to do what ever they won't but all it takes is a few post like this on the internet to cause business to go down and for there reputation to be permantly tarnished. Now ever time someone does a search on the park this will come up. sucks for them.....

RuggedJeep · 01-27-2006, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOABE

i'll remember that when i look around and see there are only 2 people cleaning the trails that i used to help with.

So because you help clean the trails, that gives you the right to break the rules.

XJAndy · 01-27-2006, 10:46 AM

you shouldn't have been drinking but if you break and have problems at 7 or 8pm it is very possible that you could still be on the trail untill 11 or 12. do they just expect you to leave you busted jeep on the trail over night. If they do I hope they will pay for anything that is stolen from it while you sleep.

Jfonz · 01-27-2006, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XJAndy

you shouldn't have been drinking but if you break and have problems at 7 or 8pm it is very possible that you could still be on the trail untill 11 or 12. do they just expect you to leave you busted jeep on the trail over night. If they do I hope they will pay for anything that is stolen from it while you sleep.

Good Point....

Steve95ZJ · 01-27-2006, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jfonz

I dought I would ever have problems similar but just the coment of how its not my job to help... Sounds pretty stupid to me. I'm sure its not in his job description but is should be...

wonder why he got thrown out of the police academy?

MOABE · 01-27-2006, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RuggedJeep

So because you help clean the trails, that gives you the right to break the rules.

thats more than most of you do. and yes, you can bend them a little

MOABE · 01-27-2006, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XJAndy

you shouldn't have been drinking but if you break and have problems at 7 or 8pm it is very possible that you could still be on the trail untill 11 or 12. do they just expect you to leave you busted jeep on the trail over night. If they do I hope they will pay for anything that is stolen from it while you sleep.

again, the drinking issues was put there by chubby security. we werent drinknig until we got to camp fri then sat we broke out the wine while changing the tire on the main road to our camp. my t-case was shattered, wheeling was done..

the drinking is something that most anal folks try to force into the issue

Itellyawhat · 01-27-2006, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOABE

thats more than most of you do. and yes, you can bend them a little

Agreed, you are not someone that hits it, trashes it and leaves. The fact that you do or did care about keeping it clean and maintained should buy you at the minimum some respect and lenience, neither of which you got.

RuggedJeep · 01-27-2006, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOABE

thats more than most of you do. and yes, you can bend them a little

ugh no you cant.. Im not gonna argue the fact that u were broken down and he was being a diick about it, that i understand, but no alcohol means no alcohol.. dont matter if its your wife or your boyfriend. You cant bend the rules, and you got

for trying.

MOABE · 01-27-2006, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XJAndy

you shouldn't have been drinking but if you break and have problems at 7 or 8pm it is very possible that you could still be on the trail untill 11 or 12. do they just expect you to leave you busted jeep on the trail over night. If they do I hope they will pay for anything that is stolen from it while you sleep.

the kicker is, i got a call at 9.30 and we were off the trail. rosco slid up to our highlifted tire off jeep before deadline. we had no d-shaft-no t-case. and a blown tire...not to mention the poor toyota stranded on the actual trail, not the main road that we were on

MOABE · 01-27-2006, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RuggedJeep

ugh no you cant.. Im not gonna argue the fact that u were broken down and he was being a diick about it, that i understand, but no alcohol means no alcohol.. dont matter if its your wife or your boyfriend. You cant bend the rules, and you got

for trying.

thats funny cause i see event staff sitting under the pavillion of a raffle with a corona. how do you think they got to that pavillion from thier camps???

Dennis · 01-27-2006, 11:02 AM

Cody, if I ever get down there, I will kick the crap out of the fata$$ for you.

MOABE · 01-27-2006, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itellyawhat

Agreed, you are not someone that hits it, trashes it and leaves. The fact that you do or did care about keeping it clean and maintained should buy you at the minimum some respect and lenience, neither of which you got.

not that i like you, BUT I CONCUR

MOABE · 01-27-2006, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis

Cody, if I ever get down there, I will kick the crap out of the fata$$ for you.

no need, i think heart issues will do that for me...

Itellyawhat · 01-27-2006, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOABE

not that i like you, BUT I CONCUR

You know you like me, that I had you at "hello"

Barry · 01-27-2006, 11:06 AM

Why is it that in nearly every confrontation booze is present? Duh.

Next time, enjoy a friendly Hookha.

MOABE · 01-27-2006, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itellyawhat

You know you like me, that I had you at "hello"

yes, you did

MOABE · 01-27-2006, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry

Why is it that in nearly every confrontation booze is present? Duh.

Next time, enjoy a friendly Hookha.

because the pot heads are trying to weed out the milawkees best.

XJAndy · 01-27-2006, 11:09 AM

I wasn't specific about where you were drinking but I was refering to the saturday night event. Drinking in camp shouldn't be a big deal. They probably have that rule for insurance reasons. If you hadn't been drinking on the road on saturday it might not have made suck a big stink. I know when we go to tellico you can't drink in the park so if you are camping in the park then you aren't suposed to drink. I'm not saying that people don't do it and get away with it but it is against the rules. I stay at a campsite that I drink with the owner and have a ball but leave the beer at camp when we wheel.

01-27-2006, 10:02 AM	#1
MOABE Trail Guide Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,703	KICKED OFF BARNWELL MOUNTAIN AND TOWED GILMER 1-21-06 RUN Thought you might be interested in the events that have led up to my withdrawal from the park that I have used so often. I have finally had all I can stand of the onsite management. I had a group of 15 in 5 jeeps attend the Toyota event last weekend, January 20, 21.if you don’t recall, I am the gentleman that spoke with you in regards to the various gate fees being charged at the mountain and the fact that I had to constantly listen to the manager, Lawton, tell his stories of enforcement every time I went to check in or out of the trails. Half my group showed up Friday around 2 pm, we got a hotel but went to the mountain to regroup and do some trail clean up. I signed the log in sheet and headed out, as it turned out, there were too many rigs at old camp were we normally stay so we sent the campers in our group to the campsite just past clydes ravin. They set up their camps and we did some trails I had a husband wife joining us later to ride along and see what this thing was all about. As we sat around the latern about 9:30pm we got a call from the front of the park that the couple had showed up and needed directions. As you know, its just easier to go get them, then have them call you from the back of the mountain after one wrong turn. We headed up and to our surprise it was 2 couples. We had four jeeps go for the pick up and the wives agreed to let the 2 husbands ride back to camp in the jeeps as they followed. At this time it is about 10:30 pm and yes, we are aware of the deadline to wheel, but I told the guys we would hop off the road for one short run up the first part of twister. I pulled out of the top of twister back to the main road and headed back to camp with the other jeep. The rest of my group shows up with the night patrol fast on their heels with his red light blasting. The patrolman rushes up to camp asking who was out on the trails. At this time I was sitting in a camp chair with a beer in hand, I played dumb and asked him which jeep was he looking for. He then moved into my face, and mind you im 5’9” and weigh about 175lbs, and said he’s not here to hear my mouth, and he will kick the entire camp out for DRINKING ON THE TRAIL. I raised my voice and told him “we weren’t drinking on the trail, you see the cooler right there. At this point he calls Lawton on the radio and tells him that he has trouble at this camp with drinking and night wheeling. Yes, we were on the twister at 10:30 and shouldn’t have been, but for this guy to throw DRINKING into the mix was just to add drama to the situation. The patrolman left and came back with Lawton, Lawton said drinking will get you kicked off the mountain, and this is were I told him that his son, the patrolman, had embellished a little. We apologized for night wheeling and told him it wont happen again and Lawton said he wasn’t going to stand for any trouble on the mountain, he then said he has 4 people within 10 minutes of the mountain to come take care of any trouble that he has. We assumed this meant law enforcement. The rest of the night went fine, Saturday we started early. We picked up 2 more jeeps and had a straggler from Cajun run with us, so a total of 7 jeeps running. It was getting dark so we wanted to try the last front trail that we could so we hit Houston creek, this trail took some time, we had 1 lean over and on the way out I pushed my front d-shaft into the side of my t-case. Baseball size hole in the case, and broken u-joint. So we pulled the the d-shaft and winched up. We had 6 more to get up since I was in the lead. We gathered up at the top across from the main road and the rv electrical camping at the winch pole. As we pulled the last rig out I got a call from family in tyler so I noticed the time 9:45 pm. I said I was broken and everyone agreed we were done, the Cajuns split off to their camp and we headed out onto the main road torwards clydes campsite, as I got to the bottom near twister I saw no jeeps behind me, I turned around to fin that my 2nd jeep had tore the valve stem on the way out of Houston and needed a spare. I pulled up with lights on his tire and got out the highlift and my spare to put on his jeep, right then the patrol truck pulls up into the middle of our work area with his red light going. At this time it is about 10 minutes after 10 AND WE ARE HIGHLIFTED UP ON THE MAIN TRAIL BETWEEN THE BERMS OF HOUSTON CREEK AND THE RV SITE? The patrolman gets out shouting that he told us Friday night to stay off the trails after 10 and this time we needed to leave. I pointed out the obvious tire issue and the fact the we were on the main trail, and the fact that it was 10:10p, and I told him that we past a landcruiser disabled on the trail that could appreciate his help more than harassing us. He informed me that it was not his job to help the landcruiser, his job was to keep people off the trails. He said I see you are drinking as well, referring to the bottle of wine that my wife and her new girlfriend had opened up to enjoy while we played in the dirt with this tire change. To set the scene I had 3 wives sitting on my rollbar with lights going facing the disabled jeep as myself and 6 others tried to change this tire. It was a sight to behold. The patrolman headed back to the office to get Lawton. We all got a cup of wine and laughed about how asinine this fellow was. In short order, Lawton and his son showed back up. Lawton came straight up to me and said he was sick of my attitude and that I needed to leave, as I tried to talk to Lawton, his son kept shouting over his shoulder, I then told him to get his fat *** back into his truck and do some good by finding that Toyota. He then informed me that he was a wrestler and knew hand to hand combat and that he just wished that I would put a finger on him. At this point I told Lawton that I wasn’t here to fight with him and that I had a hotel and we were done for the night. Lawton was still talking when I got into my jeep and took the group back to camp to get the cars to go to the hotel. Me my wife and the 2 other couples loaded up into the 2 cars and headed for the hotel. The jeeps would be loaded on the 3 jeep trailer in the morning, broken d-shaft t-case and all. As it turns out after we had left, Lawton his son and his 3 buddies from the local sheriffs office went back out to the camp sight and made everyone, including the 4 people who had never met our group, get out of their tents so that they could search for the smart mouth punk that insulted his son. I was sound asleep in the hotel, as Lawton and his group harassed the camp for the next 2 hours. After my group told Lawton that I was in a hotel, and not camping, Lawton’s son said he would tow my jeep. My group said there was no need, we are leaving in the morning and the guy is in town asleep. To make a long story even longer, I showed up around 8am to help load my jeep and it wasn’t there. I was informed that it was towed so I headed to the office. After counting to 10 and doing some deep breathing I went into the office and asked Lawton were my jeep was, he said he was busy and that he would get to me when he could. I told him I have wife, 2 couples, a truck and trailer waiting to head back to Dallas and he is holding us all up. I asked for the tow company and I would just chalk it up to a lesson learned after passing me over twice he mumbled that he didn’t have time to look up the number. I then asked “what is the name” , Lawton said Albright tow. I said Albright towing? He then said “Albright garage, its in Gilmer” I asked for the number, and he said “call information” so off I headed my wife and my friend and his wife in 1 car, the other couple in their car, my friend with 2 jeeps on his 3 jeep trailer, and one more truck and trailer outfit. As you know everything in Gilmer is closed on Sunday. But after stopping at the local gas station the clerk knew of Albrights which was in the opposite direction. We turned the caravan around and ended up at some shop slash mobile home slash salvage yard. I got out knocked, called the number on the sign knocked again then walked around towards the back. As I approached the back garage, something that looks like it started out as a German Shepard starting running for me, luckily he had a chain on. After checking my shorts I went back to the front to call the number on the sign. As I got to the front the owner was opening the door, I asked about about the jeep and he knew nothing, he then called his brother, the other Albright, at home in his sleep. He knew nothing about the jeep and wasn’t happy with the early phone call. At this point I have my wife call Lawton and ask where the damn jeep is, obviously I was in no mood to talk to the man. My wife tells Lawton the Albrights know nothing of the jeep Lawton tells my wife to “just sit tight and when I can get around to it I will get you the number” We hang up and call the sheriff to report the jeep stolen. The sheriff gets our information and calls Lawton. The sheriff calls us back at 10:30 am and tells us Lawton had it towed to Johnny’s (not sure of this name) outside of town and not Albright’s. we get the caravan rounded up and head towards Mt. Pleasant to the towing company. Lawton had told this gentleman that he had me arrested for drinking and need the jeep towed, I told the guy what had happened and he said that sounds about right. “that old man has done this several times before” As we sat around the breakfast table in Pittsburg we kept laughing about how financially damaging it would have been for that park if that German Shepard mix had bitten me??? Thanks for the memories they really left an impression on the 20 people involved. Attached Thumbnails __________________ I AM ONLY HALF THE MAN I USED TO BE, WHICH STILLL MAKES ME TWICE THE MAN THAT YOU GEEKS ARE NOW... Last edited by Jeepin Jason; 01-30-2006 at 09:50 AM.

01-27-2006, 10:06 AM	#2
MOABE Trail Guide Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,703	i.a.r.a.d good thread on the matter http://www.texas4x4.org/showthread.p...ed=1#post84252 __________________ I AM ONLY HALF THE MAN I USED TO BE, WHICH STILLL MAKES ME TWICE THE MAN THAT YOU GEEKS ARE NOW... Last edited by MOABE; 01-27-2006 at 01:04 PM.

01-27-2006, 10:15 AM	#4
razorbackME Merf Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Posts: 11,469	wow...interesting read. I think. __________________ AWIB 4 LYFE UA Baja: It's a cross between Monster Garage and the Special Olympics. Number of bullshiit posts made by Dennis: 15,416 If voting could really make a difference, it would be illegal.

01-27-2006, 10:17 AM	#6
MOABE Trail Guide Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,703	looks like katemcy, clayton and hot springs will be my new hot spots __________________ I AM ONLY HALF THE MAN I USED TO BE, WHICH STILLL MAKES ME TWICE THE MAN THAT YOU GEEKS ARE NOW...

01-27-2006, 10:20 AM	#7
COXJ94 pics of yur bewbers Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Calgary, AB, Canada Posts: 2,998	Why does this Lawton guy sound like Farva? __________________

01-27-2006, 10:22 AM	#8
razorbackME Merf Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Location: Posts: 11,469	Moabe, just playing devil's advocate here (Obviously, the guy is an assshole, that's a given): 1. If you're supposed to be off the trail at 10, you don't start a trail at 9:30. That like having a 10 pm curfew at home and leaving at 9:45, knowing it takes a half an hour to get home. You KNOW there's a significant possibility that you'll still be on the trail after 10. Why take the risk when dealing with some assshole? 2. No alcohol on the trail means exactly that. By breaking those rules, you gave a total assshole a legit reason to give you a bunch of shiit. __________________ AWIB 4 LYFE UA Baja: It's a cross between Monster Garage and the Special Olympics. Number of bullshiit posts made by Dennis: 15,416 If voting could really make a difference, it would be illegal.

01-27-2006, 10:24 AM	#10
IntrepidXJ Trail Guide Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Grand Junction, CO Posts: 3,012	interesting. you broke the rules, and then gave the owners of the park attitude, and expected them not to watch you like a hawk the rest of the weekend? plus the fact that there was alcohol on the trails with you (that should have been left behind at the camp site). two wrongs do not make a right. __________________ Randy Langstraat .: myXJ.net \| adventureJK.com :.

01-27-2006, 10:24 AM	#11
Steve95ZJ Desperate Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Pheonix, AZ but From Plano, Tx WEST SIDE! Posts: 3,318	don't think I'll be going to gilmer when I'm in Texas. and this is why I like Arizona, there is TONS of BLM land and Arizona Public land trust land to go wheelin on. The Rangers are all really cool. We were all out camping one time and the rangers and sheriffs office stopped by, none of us were 21, had plenty of beer with us, and didn't have a fire permit. The Ranger handed us a permit for the fire, sherriff didn't care we were drinking. They stayed for a few minutes and joked around with us and then just told us not to burn the Desert down and left. Then when some illegals started shooting at us in the morning OH ** did they get pissed! They were really cool and just let us be. Sounds like these OHV parks are run by people on power trips. __________________ http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19...Tj/29c2scd.jpg <--its me "The 33s of Fury **ES!" R.I.P. Murphy 1998-2005 128,858 beautiful miles. The handcuffs are tight because they're new. They'll stretch out after you wear them awhile. Dumbass Jeep Club: Jester The Jeep Gymnist. www.crossedupoffroad.com www.azwildcatoffroad.net Help Support Az Wildcat Off-Road: www.cafepress.com/wildcatoffroad Last edited by Steve95ZJ; 01-27-2006 at 10:31 AM.*

01-27-2006, 10:38 AM	#15
Itellyawhat king of google Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 13,867	You were wrong and broke the rules. Lawton and kindergarten cop were wrong to act they way they did. Should they have said something the first night, yes, they are suppose to be professionals since they run the OHV area but they were not. The second night was completely uncalled for IMO, yes you were out past 10pm, but due to mechanical issues, not like you went out knowingly that you were breaking the curfew. The wine on the trail, main or not should have stayed corked. With all that you said, it was uncalled for to tow your heep and then be an arse about it and not tell you where it was. His threats of being a wrestler and knowing hand to hand combat was uncalled for and unprofessional. You would think since he runs a business he would want to be more accomodating and more professional so that people would want to come spend their money and time, and volunteer time to help out cleaning up the trails as you mentioned you have done. You were wrong, but he should have handled the situation a lot better. __________________ "Blaming a gun for killing somebody is like blaming a pencil for bad spelling" - Larry the Cable Guy

01-27-2006, 10:43 AM	#17
Jfonz Trail Guide Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SLC Utah Posts: 1,977	Don't live in that area at all but I'll be sure not spend any of my adventures or promtional tour time there.... I dought I would ever have problems similar but just the coment of how its not my job to help... Sounds pretty stupid to me. I'm sure its not in his job description but is should be... I could understand the harasment if they found you on the trail with open containers in your car or hands, but sitting at camp and drinking, and then being accused of it and having the managment get after you is... well bad management. Of course if they own the mountain they have the right to do what ever they won't but all it takes is a few post like this on the internet to cause business to go down and for there reputation to be permantly tarnished. Now ever time someone does a search on the park this will come up. sucks for them.....

01-27-2006, 10:46 AM	#19
XJAndy label nerd Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Boone, North Carolina Posts: 9,371	you shouldn't have been drinking but if you break and have problems at 7 or 8pm it is very possible that you could still be on the trail untill 11 or 12. do they just expect you to leave you busted jeep on the trail over night. If they do I hope they will pay for anything that is stolen from it while you sleep. __________________ They say you are smart if you have your PHD, I say the real smart man is the one who figures out how to get paid to fish.

01-27-2006, 11:06 AM	#32
Barry Trail Guide Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Port Aransas, TX Posts: 607	Why is it that in nearly every confrontation booze is present? Duh. Next time, enjoy a friendly Hookha.

01-27-2006, 11:09 AM	#35
XJAndy label nerd Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Boone, North Carolina Posts: 9,371	I wasn't specific about where you were drinking but I was refering to the saturday night event. Drinking in camp shouldn't be a big deal. They probably have that rule for insurance reasons. If you hadn't been drinking on the road on saturday it might not have made suck a big stink. I know when we go to tellico you can't drink in the park so if you are camping in the park then you aren't suposed to drink. I'm not saying that people don't do it and get away with it but it is against the rules. I stay at a campsite that I drink with the owner and have a ball but leave the beer at camp when we wheel. __________________ They say you are smart if you have your PHD, I say the real smart man is the one who figures out how to get paid to fish.