Georgia Trail Riders Forum
MEMBERS DISCUSSION AREA => General Discussion => Topic started by: BigJerm on October 07, 2008, 01:16:24 PM
-
So Megan would like to take a day trip somewhere the weekend after Vegas to go look at the fall colors, take pictures, ect. I am looking for some good suggestions. We will be in the Wrangler, don’t really care to get much into wheeling here, more just looking for some back mountain gravel roads, maybe some over looks off the random highways in the mountains, maybe some walking trails, that kinda thing. I think the drive up to Lake Conasauga (sp) would be the best bet but she doesn’t want to drive that far. SO looking for suggestions. Extra points if you can toss in somewhere that has a some nice shallow, clear, creek crossings… She loves those for some reason.
Here is a reference for distance:
Apartment to lake: 2 hours. 114 miles
Apartment to Amicalola State Park: 1 hour, 15 minutes. 68 miles
Apartment to Helen: 1 hour, 35 minutes. 90 miles
Thanks fellas! ;D
-
I would head up to Helen. I was there last year when the leaves were changing and it was awesome. I'm not sure of the exact place we went but I know it was some kind of state park.
-
Cheaha State Park, highest point in Alabama. My family went there last year, and it's pretty cool. AWESOME colors. My dad and I agree that it's way more convenient than the Norh Georgia mountains for folks in Atlanta cause it's really close to I-20.
http://www.alapark.com/cheaharesort/
-
Jerm, I got the hookup. I can send you a few places near helen and dahlonega that are choice!
-
Hey, Helen is a great choice. Anna Ruby falls is right there, which would make great pictures with the leaves falling. Plus if its still October, Helen is the place for a brew. Stop by the Amish bakery trailer on the way into town. They have the best cheese straws.
If you go to amicolola then go to Burts.
Either way is a win.
-
Jeremy, my spots may be too far, but I'd head up to the Smokeys and into Cades Cove, it's awesome:
http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm (http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm)
or.....
Travel West from Murphy NC to Hiawassee Dam (Don't miss the Hiawassee Damn School) , over the Hiawassee Dam, and take the gravel road to the left, and keep staying left until you crooss a creek to a fork, and head right. Takes you up on the mountain where there is a powerline crossing and SPECTACULAR views of the lake and mountains. Continue on to a paved road (10 miles?) and left back towards Duck Town, TN.
-
Hey, Helen is a great choice. Anna Ruby falls is right there, which would make great pictures with the leaves falling. Plus if its still October, Helen is the place for a brew. Stop by the Amish bakery trailer on the way into town. They have the best cheese straws.
If you go to amicolola then go to Burts.
Either way is a win.
We're finishing our pumkin roll from Burts, Yummmmmmmmmmm.
-
Cades Cove is so worth the ride. x1000
But you will not make it back in a day unless you like to drive.
Make sure you have plenty of room on your memory card if you go there.
and Doug nln
-
Jeremy, my spots may be too far, but I'd head up to the Smokeys and into Cades Cove, it's awesome:
http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm (http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm)
or.....
Travel West from Murphy NC to Hiawassee Dam (Don't miss the Hiawassee Damn School) , over the Hiawassee Dam, and take the gravel road to the left, and keep staying left until you crooss a creek to a fork, and head right. Takes you up on the mountain where there is a powerline crossing and SPECTACULAR views of the lake and mountains. Continue on to a paved road (10 miles?) and left back towards Duck Town, TN.
Yep, its hard to beat the Smokey's.
-
Cades Cove is so worth the ride. x1000
But you will not make it back in a day unless you like to drive.
Make sure you have plenty of room on your memory card if you go there.
and Doug nln
If you were here, I'd offer you a slice. A thin slice. ;D
-
I WANNA RAFT THE OCONEE SOON!!!!
My buddy Fisher is training to be a guide and come spring I can get me and a couple dudes rides for free.
-
Keep em' coming fellas. Sounds like so great spots. Ben what are the spots you are talking of? Something tells me we will end up at Helen though.
-
I WANNA RAFT THE OCONEE SOON!!!!
My buddy Fisher is training to be a guide and come spring I can get me and a couple dudes rides for free.
Oconee or Ocoee?
-
I WANNA RAFT THE OCONEE SOON!!!!
My buddy Fisher is training to be a guide and come spring I can get me and a couple dudes rides for free.
Oconee or Ocoee?
Ocoee, my B nln
I freakin live on the Oconee and can't get it right
-
A buddy of mine also suggested Ledford Mills BandB. And go on a tour of the JD distillery. Horse and buggy ride, waterfall. The works.
-
I know a few good places where people won't be around. Forestry roads, and gravel roads. Some that cars can't get too. I can't give away all my secrets though. I took Will and Mike back on one of the gravel forestry roads one time. Nobody to bug you out there! Up around suches is GORGEOUS as well. Also from cleveland to Blairsville. But I like the roads less traveled.
-
Cade's Cove outside Of Gatlinburg. We're going in a week or 2. Bunch of friends taking our girls up there for the day. A lot of scenery and a great place to hang out. 2 hour drive for me in NW GA.
-
We will be in Murphy on Oct.17 for a week or 2 ----Just 2 OFs enjoying life. The colors should be great by then. (I hope)---- This might be my last trip. Cancer treatments start Oct. 29. UGH. Hope to meet some of you up there.
Walt
Have a great and safe day.
-
Better hit Tellico! Last time to see that place!
-
Cade's Cove outside Of Gatlinburg. We're going in a week or 2. Bunch of friends taking our girls up there for the day. A lot of scenery and a great place to hang out. 2 hour drive for me in NW GA.
Go to Huck Finn's or Calhoun's for the best food up there.
-
I think I might be headed to G burg this weekend. I need to get away.
-
Alright so went up this weekend around the Amicolla area. Rode some forest roads, got a little lost, passed the Ranger out post, but all in all had a great time. Really we spent most of the time just driving, picking random roads and talking. It amazes me after almost 4 years we can still hold a conversation for hours while driving around.
Anyways here are the few we got:
http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i189/JermTib05/Mountain/
My fav:
(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i189/JermTib05/Mountain/DSC_0013.jpg)
-
Alright so went up this weekend around the Amicolla area. Rode some forest roads, got a little lost, passed the Ranger out post, but all in all had a great time. Really we spent most of the time just driving, picking random roads and talking. It amazes me after almost 4 years we can still hold a conversation for hours while driving around.
Anyways here are the few we got:
http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i189/JermTib05/Mountain/
My fav:
(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i189/JermTib05/Mountain/DSC_0013.jpg)
Cool pic's. By the way, we are going on 21 years in November and we still take long rides just cruising random roads.
-
Cool pics. :)
-
go to chicago on nov 4th for the election night, sure to be plenty of color up there :)
-
We went up to Cataloochee and camped over the weekend, Jeremy.
Sightseeing is my specialty, Jeremy --- ;D holler next time you just want to tool around there.
This is in Cataloochee (34 degrees out...):
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/billpearlman/100_1051.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/billpearlman/100_0448.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/billpearlman/100_1050.jpg)
-
Nice pictures Bill. It was a spur of the moment trip really... Megan had plans Sunday that fell through so off we went!
-
Awesome pics guys! Hilldweller I am SSSSSSOOOOOOO JEALOUS!!! Jerm, where were you at on the rock face? Near the ranger station near Dahlonega? That really looks familiar. If it is I will take you around up there. I know a ton of old forestry roads and fun trails!!
-
Awesome pics guys! Hilldweller I am SSSSSSOOOOOOO JEALOUS!!! Jerm, where were you at on the rock face? Near the ranger station near Dahlonega? That really looks familiar. If it is I will take you around up there. I know a ton of old forestry roads and fun trails!!
We are going to have to go one weekend man. I saw lots of roads and old road beds up there but with no map I didnt want to veer off. Here is the route we took:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Nimblewill+Church+Rd&daddr=Appalachian+Blue+Ridge+Rd+to:Winding+Stair+Gap+Rd+to:34.691098,-84.257069&hl=en&geocode=Fd8uDwId5fP7-g%3BFYrREAIdzLj8-g%3BFV-DEAId7NP7-g%3B&mra=mi&mrcr=2&mrsp=3&sz=14&sll=34.685381,-84.239044&sspn=0.035007,0.054932&ie=UTF8&ll=34.622473,-84.156303&spn=0.140132,0.219727&z=12
Original plan was to return to our starting spot but the "navigator" aka Megan, told me right instead of straight. The rock face is right around marker B on the map.
-
Dude! You should have called me! That is one of my "stompin" grounds. I camp up there all the time! So did you get to go up on hawk mtn? Awesome flat spot on top and then a fun little trail to the tip top and great views! Man! I wish I would have known you were goin. For sure let's hookup and ride up there. I can show you a few good spots to camp and nobody would ever know you were there.
-
well lets set up a day and go I am all for exploring!
O and somehow, after our wrong turn, we ended up in Elijay... :o But the whole trip only took 1/2 a tank of gas so that was nice. Sure gonna be hard for me to ever get bigger tires and lose that MPG
-
wenever man! I am down for a camp trip soon anyway. I usually do a winter camp trip for 3-4 days. I know a spot where you hear nothing but what you are supoosed to hear and 99% of vehicles will never make it to the spot either. ;D
-
wenever man! I am down for a camp trip soon anyway. I usually do a winter camp trip for 3-4 days. I know a spot where you hear nothing but what you are supoosed to hear and 99% of vehicles will never make it to the spot either. ;D
Sounds like my kind of spot. If you dont have 4x4 you wont make it.
-
That's right man!!
-
wenever man! I am down for a camp trip soon anyway. I usually do a winter camp trip for 3-4 days. I know a spot where you hear nothing but what you are supoosed to hear and 99% of vehicles will never make it to the spot either. ;D
Could I get my trailer to it?
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/billpearlman/100_0559.jpg)
We're going camping over Thanksgiving --- either at Cades Cove or Smokemont.
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19541
Everybody here is welcome, of course.
-
Yeah, you would be fine! Now turning around once there is a completley different issue. Trail is just a bit wider than the Jeep is!
-
Yeah, you would be fine! Now turning around once there is a completley different issue. Trail is just a bit wider than the Jeep is!
You gotta tell me where it is then; I'll scope it this weekend.
-
Google camp Merril near Dahlonega. It is a Ranger training base in the mountains. If you come up to the station turn right and head up to the 4 way. Turn left and come to the next intersection and keep left. Hawk Mtn road is on the right about a mile or so. The trails are all over up there.
-
Google camp Merril near Dahlonega. It is a Ranger training base in the mountains. If you come up to the station turn right and head up to the 4 way. Turn left and come to the next intersection and keep left. Hawk Mtn road is on the right about a mile or so. The trails are all over up there.
Okay; I know that area pretty well. I have a couple of Ranger friends that drop in from time to time (literally).
We camp close to there off 77a. I think Merril's road is fs-15.
We'll probably go that way on Saturday; the rain should be gone but everything should be pretty slippery still. Good fun.
Anybody want to come out for a drive and scout campsites?
-
Mn, I wish! My daughters 5th bday is saturday. Want to go next weekend?
-
no go for me too.... paper to write for me
-
I'm getting the new 4.56 gears installed on Thursday; what's the break-in procedure? How easy do I have to be on them for how long?
I think I have to baby them for a couple of hundred miles before I trailer up to Smokey Mnt Nat'l Park for Thanksgiving...
Then again, the FS roads are babying them, right?
-
From what I know the benchmark seems to be 500 miles... The break-in requires a lot of short driving, not getting things real hot, ect, but someone can actually tell how it is going to be done.
-
I'm getting the new 4.56 gears installed on Thursday; what's the break-in procedure? How easy do I have to be on them for how long?
I think I have to baby them for a couple of hundred miles before I trailer up to Smokey Mnt Nat'l Park for Thanksgiving...
Then again, the FS roads are babying them, right?
Every ,manufacturer is a little different.
I only use Yukon Gears now, and they say:
New Gear Break-In
All new gear sets require a break-in period to prevent overheating damage. Any overloading
or overheating will break down the gear oil, which will cause the ring and pinion to fail.
This can be determined by inspection and will void the gears’ warranty.
Please follow these guidelines to insure proper break-in.
Avoid heavy acceleration during the break-in process.
Drive the vehicle lightly for the first 15 to 20 miles and stop. Let the differential cool
before proceeding.
Avoid heavy acceleration for the first 100 miles.
Drive the vehicle at least 500 miles before towing to retain the gears’ warranty.
When towing for the first time, drive for a very short distances (less than 15 miles) with
the full load and stop. Let the differential cool for about 20 minutes before proceeding.
Repeat this procedure two more times (45 miles total) to fully break in the gears.
Change the oil after the first 500 miles. This will remove any metal particles and phosphoric
coating shed by the gear set during the gears’ break-in period.
These towing instructions may seem unnecessary to most people, but we have seen
many differentials damaged from being loaded before the gear set was fully broken-in.
-
When I had my rear done it was a short 50 mile drive. Park it, cool off and then just short drives for a week. Then all good.
-
When I had my rear done
LOL!
-
Looks like I'll throw 500 miles at it next weekend and change the gear oil before Thanksgiving...
-
I am all for a ride maybe the weekend after thanksgiving? Head up to dahlonega and hit some fire break trails. Anybody?
-
I am all for a ride maybe the weekend after thanksgiving? Head up to dahlonega and hit some fire break trails. Anybody?
I may be able to do that. Just shoot me a PM and the dates.
-
Will, I am not liking you right now. You better go to Tellico!
-
Everyday now, there is a truck that goes around campus sucking up leaves with about 6 guys up front blowing them off the sidewalk.
Knoxville is pretty nice looking right now with all the colors. I'm going up to Gatlinburg this weekend for a formal, I'll give a envy report on Sunday.
-
We went up to the FS roads NW of Dahlonega yesterday and tried to find camping spots. There a few really nice ones on FS-141 that I'll be using in the future --- on a river and good hiking around.
The colors are still there too:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/billpearlman/100_1351.jpg)
141 branches in two directions on the north side. Head west on a moist day and you're treated to some squirrelly mud/ruts and 4-lo action. Head east and you'll come out on Camp Merrill's helo pad. Yup. With a helo on it.
Boy, I was surprised; not doing that again....
-
Gatlinburg is great right now. Got some snow on the Jeep for the first time too. I'll post some pictures when I can.
-
Ohh pretty...
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k53/Sporer65/n607366059_1649205_1477.jpg)
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k53/Sporer65/n501509520_927684_960.jpg)
And my Jeep in the snow...
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k53/Sporer65/Jeep/n501509520_927677_9293.jpg)
-
Sweet! Mine has never seen snow either. I'm driving to it this winter if it doesn't come this far south. ;D
-
heres one for ya.... MINE HAS NEVER SEEN SNOW either.... as far as i know... bought it brand new in Hawaii and came here.... one would think it would have been cheaper to come here then buy one... my lucky 8 ball wasnt working back then... {btt}
if you drive up north to say Penn...Ohio... you can see some really cool colors... ::) :o ;D ;D
-
Nice pics Ben.
-
Well, if it snows this year I will take you guys up to the mountains for a snow trip. Lots of fun wheelin in the snow!
-
I plan on it myself. I got a friend who lives in Kennesaw with a nice TJ and if it snows we are driving up to Amicolla Falls for sure to “snow wheel” around the forest roads back there.
-
Well, if it snows this year I will take you guys up to the mountains for a snow trip. Lots of fun wheelin in the snow!
I passed a Rav4 and a couple of other pseudo-wheelers this day while "wheelin" in my Mini.... ;D ;D
Cherohala Skyway, almost no visibility. Fun stuff. I have a spare set of wheels for the Mini with Blizzaks on them.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/billpearlman/100_3351.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/billpearlman/100_3365.jpg)
-
I want to be there!
-
I'm not sure if that was the first time my Jeep saw snow. It's a 93 and made in Nov. of 92 so I don't know how much of the blizzard of 93 it saw. But this was the first time since I've had it that it has seen more then just frost and ice.
-
When we were in Canada in July, I watched the news and drove about 200 miles out of the way to take the logging roads into Montana; they had a pretty good snowstorm the night before. We did get low on fuel but found a provincial ranger station in the boonies equipped to sell gas and postcards...
Snowy gravel roads at 9000 feet are awesome.
-
When we were in Canada in July, I watched the news and drove about 200 miles out of the way to take the logging roads into Montana; they had a pretty good snowstorm the night before. We did get low on fuel but found a provincial ranger station in the boonies equipped to sell gas and postcards...
Snowy gravel roads at 9000 feet are awesome.
You've been in some great spots. I hope you've journaled it all and logged the photos, cause I think you'd have a very sellable book. My coffee table wants it.