Georgia Trail Riders Forum
OPEN RIDES & EVENTS => Trail Rides & Open Events (Everyone's invited) => Topic started by: Yeti on January 27, 2014, 07:54:40 PM
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Anyone up for a trip up Tray Mountain this Saturday (2/1/14)? Never been and would like to give it a shot. I noticed the Hwy 356 side calls it Chimney Mountain Rd and the Hwy 17 side calls it Tray Mountain. Do you drive the full circle from 356 to 17? I drive a 2014 unlimited Stock Sahara with sway bar disconnects. Think I would have any issues? Would be cool if someone who has driven the trail would like to show. I have noticed past post people meet at the church at 45 Bethel Rd. Anyone know how long it takes to make the ride?
Later,
Shane
//TJ//
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Unfortunately I can't join you, but you wont have any trouble with Tray mtn. A minivan could make it up there. Good ride though.
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Shane you won't have any problems doing Tray. We always start on the 365 side and go up. It should take you about a hour or so depending on how fast you take it. I'd suggest not very fast,get's kinda rutty close to the top and across the top in a couple of places very rutted out. If I'm here I'd like to go just not sure I'll be here
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I lead a group of 11 Jeeps last Saturday, up Chimney & down & over to Bell. I took us about 5 1/2 hours. But we were in no hurry.
You may have some trouble with clearance if you have stock size tires. Then again, you may not.
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You won't have any problems. The most fun route is the 356 side first. You are correct it is called chimney mountain from that side. You take the first left after you are on the forest service road. Theres a yellow warning sign telling you that it's a rough road. ( they have had a few "mini-vans" get crossed up. I've pulled a stock S-10 out a year ago. They would have gotten it out eventually but they were in my way blocking the road so I helped them out of my way. //LMAO//
You'll have fun. Hopefully someone will jump in and go with you. It's always best to go with someone. Even on a forest service ride. You never know.
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The fam and I may go if I can get my tire situation sorted out.
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I will have another Jeep with me. I guess we will be at the 45 Bethel Rd church at 10 am if anyone wants to meet up. Will be me, my wife and another couple in their jeep.
Shane
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You won't have any problems. The most fun route is the 356 side first. You are correct it is called chimney mountain from that side. You take the first left after you are on the forest service road. Theres a yellow warning sign telling you that it's a rough road. ( they have had a few "mini-vans" get crossed up. I've pulled a stock S-10 out a year ago. They would have gotten it out eventually but they were in my way blocking the road so I helped them out of my way. //LMAO//
You'll have fun. Hopefully someone will jump in and go with you. It's always best to go with someone. Even on a forest service ride. You never know.
I always see videos that say Tray Mountain/Bell Mountain. Does Tray go up Bell Mountain or is that another trail?
Shane
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I lead a group of 11 Jeeps last Saturday, up Chimney & down & over to Bell. I took us about 5 1/2 hours. But we were in no hurry.
You may have some trouble with clearance if you have stock size tires. Then again, you may not.
Quoted the wrong person on my last post. This is the one I meant to quote regarding Bell Mountain.
Shane
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They are often done together. Bell is in Hiawassee about 20 miles north of Tray. It only turns to a "trail" at the very end. Bell is all about the view.
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I always see videos that say Tray Mountain/Bell Mountain. Does Tray go up Bell Mountain or is that another trail?
Shane
No, they are entirely separate trails. Bell Mtn is in Haiwassee, but if you going up there it might be worth heading up Bell mountain, some great views from up there. You can check out the photos from January's ride.
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Anyone have directions to the road entrance for Bell Mountain? Might make a day out of it since Im driving the hour and half to get to Tray. //;D//
Shane
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Is Bell Mountain pretty straight forward, as far as the road. Don't know if the road splits somewhere and one sends you to a gulch and the other was a bypass type of deal. Sorry for all the questions, just don't want to go in blind since I have never been to either.
Thanks again,
Shane
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see PM
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Got it. Thanks
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as for tray it's pretty much straight forward. You can drive around the "bad" stuff or you can challenge yourself and drive through it. Lots of fun for stock jeeps.
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When you guys go to Tray, do you also hit Indian Grave and Corbin Creek?
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I'm interested in joining you
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I'm interested in joining you
Cool. We will be at the 45 Bethel Rd church at 10 am if anyone wants to meet up. See you in the parking lot. We will roll at 10am.
Shane
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I'm interested in joining you
I see your in Athens. You want to caravan up or just meet there? I will have another jeep with me too.
Shane
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Has anyone every hanged a right onto Corbin Creek off of Tray Mountain? Looks like a lot of creek crossings. Is it worth bothering with or just stay on Tray Mountain? Will be starting the ride on the 356 side.
Shane
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I haven't been. But if I was going I would definitely check Corbin out.
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Many times. It is closed seasonally a lot. Just a gravel road that comes out down towards hiawassee.
Sent off camber
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Yeah tray is the only road up there worth going on. All of the others are well maintained gravel roads, if there even open. As stated above several are closed for the season.
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I'd like to go. I'd also like to do Bell mtn. My buddy from another club told me when they went up bell it was closed.....had a cable across the road. This was before the last F.S. ride so I don't know where he was talking about
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You won't have any problems. The most fun route is the 356 side first. You are correct it is called chimney mountain from that side. You take the first left after you are on the forest service road. Theres a yellow warning sign telling you that it's a rough road. ( they have had a few "mini-vans" get crossed up. I've pulled a stock S-10 out a year ago. They would have gotten it out eventually but they were in my way blocking the road so I helped them out of my way. //LMAO//
You'll have fun. Hopefully someone will jump in and go with you. It's always best to go with someone. Even on a forest service ride. You never know.
The road you use to access it is Chimney Mountain. The road up the mountain that is not maintained and a fun ride is Trey Mountain Road. It goes to the top and back down towards Helen.
Indian Grave takes you down towards Hiawassee too... only a mile from where Corbin Creek comes out.
Sent off camber
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Yeah tray is the only road up there worth going on. All of the others are well maintained gravel roads, if there even open. As stated above several are closed for the season.
Is there a website somewhere to find out if Tray Mountain is closed?
Shane
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I've never seen Tray closed. The Appalachian Trail crosses at the top of the mtn so it's always open
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I've never seen Tray closed. The Appalachian Trail crosses at the top of the mtn so it's always open
Gotcha. Thanks
Shane
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I'm interested in joining you
I see your in Athens. You want to caravan up or just meet there? I will have another jeep with me too.
Shane
Are you in Athens?
Yeah I'm down to caravan. I need to see how much money I end up with at the end of the week for gas
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I'm interested in joining you
I see your in Athens. You want to caravan up or just meet there? I will have another jeep with me too.
Shane
Are you in Athens?
Yeah I'm down to caravan. I need to see how much money I end up with at the end of the week for gas
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I sent you a PM
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A buddy and I are going ride that way Saturday morning, where are you meeting up at?
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Bethel Rd at he church. Meeting there between 9:30 and 10am.
Shane
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Bethel Rd at he church. Meeting there between 9:30 and 10am.
Shane
Where's is Bethel Rd?
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Bethel Church rd. is off of 356 going out of Helen. Bethel church will be on your right if you come out of Helen. It's the same road Unicoi state park is on
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Ok, I've been to tray Mtn but wasn't sure about Bethel. Also I've been to Bell Mtn so that won't be a problem to get to, if all goes as planned we'll see you there.
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Just type 45 Bethel Rd in Google maps and you will see it. Its right at the base of Tray Mountain on the opposite side of the road on 356 side.
Hope to see you guys there.
Shane
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I'm going to try to make it. I've missed the last two or three rides
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This gonna be family friendly ride?
Not Stuck
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I'll have my 11 yr old son with me.
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Nice , I will try to make it.
Not Stuck
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Patrick all our rides are family friendly buddy. Now the the after ride time around the campfire at night not quite always so family friendly........ //cheers2//
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Roger that. Keep the kids from the camp fire, understood.
Not Stuck
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This gonna be family friendly ride?
Not Stuck
Absolutely
Shane
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I'm excited!
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I'm excited!
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I just PMed you
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See everyone tomorrow morning between 9:30 and 10am for the ride. Looking forward to meeting everyone. We will be meeting at 40 Bethel Rd, Sautee Nacoochee, GA (Church Parking lot) which is up the road from Tray Mountain Rd.
Shane
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Ok guys I'll be there in the AM. Got the rig all ready to go
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Ok guys I'll be there in the AM. Got the rig all ready to go
Cool. See everyone in the AM. Look forward to meeting everyone.
Shane
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Anybody have a head count on this ride? Just curious
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I should be there by 9:45-10:00, a friend is also going in his Jeep.
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Had a great time today on Tray Mountain. You guys have some nice rigs, at least in the beginning. By the end of the trip everyone's vehicles were covered in red clay //SLAMIN//. I will get a couple of pics and videos posted in the trail pic section. Good to finally meet a couple of the club members. Cant wait till the next ride.
Shane
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Yeah thanks everyone it was a good time
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Carnage? Pictures?
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Carnage? Pictures?
Carnage? LOL!!! It was Tray Mountain. Will post some pics later.
Shane
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No carnage unless spilled coffee in the floor counts. Did get a bit muddy by the end of the road like Shane said.
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We had a great time riding with Uall today. Nice meeting everyone. It was a good little turnout. We went on one of the roughest FS roads I've been on yet. It was a good challenge for the stock Jk we only bumped the bottom of the jeep once!
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looks like it was a fun little ad hoc ride....very cool!
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Yes.....riding in the jeep.....good people to ride with...nice little trail......all good //SLAMIN//
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Had fun riding today. Good to meet you guys!
-Drake
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Thanks for letting us tag along, we enjoyed the ride and those are some great pics. Bell Mtn was a slippery mess so you didn't miss anything, Ken an I made it thru the V-notch but the H2 didn't fair so well on the bypass. I noticed my fuel cell started leaking (RCI cells are junk) so I turned around for that while Ken went down and winch the H2 off the tree and got him turned around. We purchased a bar of soap to rub on the leak and stopped that for the trip home. Hope to ride with you again some time soon.
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Yeah thanks to Ken for winching me out. Much appreciation there.
First thing I did today was get my winch operational
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Dude, what did you have to do to get your winch operational?
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Dude, what did you have to do to get your winch operational?
Unless his winch is different from mine all he had left to do was the easiest part, wire it up.
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Dude, what did you have to do to get your winch operational?
Unless his winch is different from mine all he had left to do was the easiest part, wire it up.
//LMAO// //LMAO//
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So, a 75lbs, >$500 front end ornament...nice!
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It was nice to meet you Bill and Kent,nice rigs.
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I got it Friday and had to fab up the mount for it. Didn't get to the wiring before Saturday morning.
I was under the impression a winch wouldn't be necessary for tray mtn.
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I got it Friday and had to fab up the mount for it. Didn't get to the wiring before Saturday morning.
I was under the impression a winch wouldn't be necessary for tray mtn.
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That makes sense. I would not have expected a winch to be required for any of that path ahead of the pictures I saw...and knowing how bad Bell could be when moist.
At least you got it nailed down now. I'd love to hit that area if you guys decide to do that same path.
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I got it Friday and had to fab up the mount for it. Didn't get to the wiring before Saturday morning.
I was under the impression a winch wouldn't be necessary for tray mtn.
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A winch is always necessary with a hummer. HAHAHA Jk. I had to winch also because I snapped my axle, so don't feel to bad.
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Well when he was pinned up against that tree at Bell Mtn, a winch was definitely needed.
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i went up to Tray today. As we are taking a break at the campsite at the top, a Saab filled with three laughing girls are passing us by, heading east the way we just came. I was in shock, guessing it wasn't as bad the rest of the way. I walked back down to see where they got stuck, they had gotten out and started walking down (back the way we had just come up, if you were to start Tray from the East trailhead), one of them with a rifle slung on her shoulder. Guess the bearded man standing next to his Jeep scared them? Anyway, I shouted to them that they should just back up and go back the way they came.
Was so weird.