Some people spend their weekends around the house being lazy and doing homework, but for some they are spent going deep in the mud in their Jeeps.

Off-roading or “mudding” as some call it, is increasingly becoming a popular pastime for WS students. Students travel in their trucks off to places like Manassas, Clifton, or Lorton to dive into the mud off the roads to have fun.

While this might not seem appealing to some people, the local off-roaders stress that it is an incredibly fun activity.

“[Mudding] feels so good,” said senior Scott Berger, “I love the release.”

This “release” is what makes this activity so appealing for mudders. It allows for an escape from the stresses of school and home, which is what everyone needs once in a while.

“It’s exhilarating,” said senior Brett Smith. “I feel free and have an open spirit.”

But having an open spirit isn’t the only thrill that off-roading supplies to participants. There are awesome thrills that the environment throws at them which lead to some epic stories.

Berger, who has many stories of his experiences, was driving along some power lines down a road one day when he entered five feet tall brush. Naturally, Berger’s hunger for adventure led him to keep going and suddenly crash into a creek almost six feet deep. Luckily, he was able to dig himself out.

Of course, the title of the activity implies some cleaning to be involved, and that is how the off-roaders spend the days when they aren’t driving around.

“There is a ton of repair needed,” said senior Dustin Richards. “Any part of the car could need repair or replacement the next day.”

Richards almost flipped while driving down a road one time, which obviously needed some cleaning and repairs the next day.

But this does not discourage these guys; the experience is all that they need.

One time, Smith was driving down a path when his truck got caught deep in car ruts that are imprinted into the road and couldn’t get out. Finally, he managed to rock his car (while driving) out of the ruts and hoisted his car out of the tracks, which briefly led to his truck having to be driven on two wheels.

“It’s moments like that that makes me love it,” said Smith.