ROAD TRIP: Last minute notice, playing in the snow. Western NC.

[stumpXJ]

Just posting this up for anyone wanting to do a road trip with me. I am meeting some friends in Canton GA tomorrow (Saturday) morning, and then we are heading up towards western NC to find some snow to play in on the old mountain roads. We are meeting a few up there also (one has a Unimog ).

Probably just be a pack your lunch kind of a day trip. If anyone wants to go... POST UP!

~ James

 

[High2by]

Dang. I'm going to my grandma's for a Christmas dinner and you know you can't disappoint grandma.

That sounds like fun though.

 

[stumpXJ]

Actually this pretty close for you Chatanooga guys. We are actually meeting with the other folks near the TN/NC border near Tellico plains.

Here is the route I am taking, we could meet anywhere along the way.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sou...84.300671&sspn=0.062847,0.108833&ie=UTF8&z=13

 

[BruceB83]

You need to go further west. Go up 441 into Clayton, GA and keep going towards Cherokee. I think you need to go at least that far west to get to some good stuff. Now if you want some mild trails (in the dry anyways) to hit that will be accessible and legal, let me know. I know of a good place that I know is getting pounded in Cullowhee, NC. It's a little over 2 hours from you. I'm considering this myself.

 

[stumpXJ]

We have a plan. The guy I am going with knows the areas extremely well, the area I posted is just where we are meeting another group.

 

[BruceB83]

Where are you headed after the meeting point?

 

[Cnickgo]

You need to go further west. Go up 441 into Clayton, GA and keep going towards Cherokee. I think you need to go at least that far west to get to some good stuff. Now if you want some mild trails (in the dry anyways) to hit that will be accessible and legal, let me know. I know of a good place that I know is getting pounded in Cullowhee, NC. It's a little over 2 hours from you. I'm considering this myself.

Don't plan on Moses, the gate is closed for the winter.

 

[stumpXJ]

Where are you headed after the meeting point?

I have no ideA...LOL. That's why I am following these guys. This isn't a "wheeling" trip persey, just getting out on the FS roads and exploring.

If anyone wants to go we are meeting at the chevron on exit 14 off I575 @ 8:30am

 

[Swamprat]

tempting, i really want to get out with my jeep. im planning on being at the cheveron at 8:30ish unless i get lost.

 

[Team Willys]

Well how'd it go? I wanted to go today, but somebody had me changing tie rod ends and doing some other general repairs... lol. Oh well, maybe some other time.

 

[stumpXJ]

Met up with a couple folks, including Ian, aka Swamprat. Had a great time, will post pictures in a few.

~James

 

[ChuckstrPT]

can't wait to see the pics...haven't been on a snow run since I left Maine...that was fun...and in April...
If I didn't have to work (suck) I'd have been there....:wave1:

 

[stumpXJ]

Heres a few pics, and short video of me getting stuck in a giant hole that not surprisingly doesnt look so 'giant' in the pics.

Continued...

 

[Team Willys]

Thats awesome! So pretty! I just confirmed that I will be going up on Monday to ride some as well. Melkor and one of our buddies will be joining us.

 

[stumpXJ]

(All cross posted from ExPo.)

Video of the hole I slid into.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA775SniGRg

]

It wasn't just snow; it was snow over a layer of ice. All the trees were coated with it and were crashing down around us.
It was as beautiful as it was surreal.

And I almost forgot the bear we found on a dead end (no pun intended) that my gps led us to:

 

[Team Willys]

What the heck is (was) that???

 

[stumpXJ]

What do you mean? The last picture? It was a dead and eaten Bear!

all of our GPS's lead us down this 'road' that according the GPS kept on going, except there was a 300 foot cliff at the end of it. not sure what was up with that, but thats when we saw the bear carcass. There was a huge pile of bear fur a few feet away... somehting had a good dinner!

 

[Team Willys]

WOW! Wonder what killed and ate a bear...?!?!

You think there will still be a good bit of snow up there? Some friends of mine went up in a Bronco today and they said it was still snowing when they left. They said another 2 inches or so had fallen.

 

[stumpXJ]

Depends on where you go really. It was snowing in the upper elevations most of the day. I KNOW it will still be there on Tatham Gapl/trail of tears sections in the upper elevations. BE CAREFUL though. Its a LOT of ice, and its pretty scary sliding down a mountain with no control.... Thos pics of us in the bulk of the snow was about as far as we could go due to the trees that were falling around us. They were covered in inches of ice, and you could here them breaking all through the woods. kinda creepy....


I dont know what ate the bear, but those bones were picked clean! it may have died from natural causes and the other animals fed on it... no idea.

 

[Ghost]

Sweet! I wonder if Callantee got a nice dusting?