While this is only the second year for the Kentucky Mountain Crawler's Southern Shine Crawl, they've got everything lined up for a long, successful run of awesome events.
Held about two hours from anywhere in Harlan, Kentucky, the event is three-fold. There's a competition featuring several challenges, including an obstacle course, a log pit, a tire crawl, a rockcrawl, and a massive mud pit. There's also a vendors row with many varied crafts and products on display. To top it off, the event is held at the Black Mountain Off-Road Adventure Park in Harlan. The park offers something for everyone and it features some of the most challenging hillclimbs we've seen, some seemingly impassable rockcrawling trails, and some easier, scenic trails for mild or stock Jeeps.
Before we went to this event, it had been such a long time since wheeling somewhere we were wanted that we had forgotten what it was like. We've gotten so used to peaceniks and greenies giving us the cold shoulder, thanks to those few irresponsible wheelers, that we had come to accept it as normal.
Well, it isn't normal for the town of Harlan, the Kentucky Mountain Crawlers, and it was really a blast from the past. People from surrounding towns come out to this event to see the competition, maybe get out in the park, and just enjoy a day or two of four-wheeling to support the event. We wish more towns were like this.
If you want to get away from it all and go somewhere you and your Jeep are wanted, check out the Kentucky Mountain Crawler's Southern Shine Crawl next year.