Full Size Jeep Network

NC Mountain Roads Ride
Saturday, October 26 & Sunday, October 27

We're headed back to ride in the NC Mountains with the Waggy... who's coming with us?

This ride is for anyone who wants to go Full Size cruising on the curvy mountain roads.
We plan to drive about 65 miles on a combination of gravel forest roads and paved 2-lane roads each day. We plan to stop and enjoy the beautiful scenery several times a day, and have a picnic lunch along the way. Hopefully there will be some fall leaves to look at... don't know if they'll be on the trees or on the ground this year.

Road Trip Plan
Saturday 9am: Meet at the Paddy's Creek Area of Lake James State Park
Drive on gravel to Linville Falls, a little bit of pavement, then a bunch more gravel to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and then to camp at Price Park Campground (for those of you who don't camp, there are hotels in Blowing Rock) You are responsible for your camp/hotel reservation; see map for suggestions.

Sunday 9am: Meet at camp
Drive on pavement through Blowing Rock, then a bunch of gravel with some paved patches, then check out the Wilsons Creek Gorge, maybe have time to run the one trail at the Brown Mountain OHV park, then more gravel, pavement, gravel, pavement back to Lake James.

Click this link for a google map of the route and details about potential stops along the way. http://goo.gl/maps/eXdFm

Sounds like a great trip! I'd love to go... Unfortunately I dont think the big green beast will be road worthy by then keep us updated though. Maybe ill get it going in time

Darn, I'd love to join but my new Wag won't be running and easy by then. Please keep me posted on future events in the area? Maybe I'll stop by and check out the other fsj's Saturday am.

Jim

Here's the fall leaves forecast and weekly color report
http://biology.appstate.edu/fall-colors

It's gonna be cold!! Who's ready??

Yall should have hit up Jake and Jackie in advance since you are going to be up in their area.

Man, its going to be really pretty up there. I went through some of the SC mountains the other day and the leaves were starting to change. Pictures are a must after this trip good luck and have fun!

Soooo, how was it?

Day 1
Saturday, October 26

Our designated meeting spot was Lake James State Park. The drive in was very pretty as the road elevation took us in and out of the fog




We parked at the Paddy's Creek Area parking lot to meet up and discuss logistics of our drive. A nice LJ drove by, and actually followed us out of the park for a bit. http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/laja ... arkmap.pdf



As we chatted, the fog lifted.






We found our first gravel on Old 105 where the road was a little rough, so we stopped to air down a bit. The fall leaves were pretty here.

We passed many bear hunters early this morning, but didn't see any bears.

Our first overlook on Old 105 provided views of Lake James. We took a lot of pictures here.
Three dual-sport riders had the same idea, so they stopped too. As it turns out, they were Jeep fans as well. They admired our vehicles and we talked Jeeps and motorcycles for a bit.
These riders were from Missouri! They trailered their bikes to Asheville and were riding mountain roads each day for a week. We told them about Brown Mountain and some of the forest roads that we planned to ride, which they would also enjoy.






Our next overlook provided views of the southern end of the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area.

We stopped at the Wisemans View overlook for a short hike to see the Linville River Gorge, Hawksbill Mountain, and Table Rock. After our hike we enjoyed a picnic in the sunny parking lot.








We took a very short drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway to get us to our next gravel section. We skipped the Linville Gorge visitors center as the parking lot was overflowing with tourists.

We took Forest road 464/Old Mortimer Rd/Pineola Rd to Edgemont and then 981/Roseboro Rd towards Linville. As we gained elevation the fall leaf colors changed.






The end of 981 intersects with the Blue Ridge Parkway. We went south on the parkway to the Flat Rocks Area (MP 308.2) where we went on a very short hike to see the exposed bedrock, the town of Linville, and Grandfather Mountain. http://highcountryhost.com/flat-rock-trail/

It snowed in this area on Thursday night (I think) and there was still a little bit on the ground.


After our hike, we got back on the Parkway and headed north crossing the Linn Cove Viaduct (MP 304). We stopped at the Julian Price Campground (MP 295) to set up our tent before the sun set. Then we all headed into to Blowing Rock for dinner, and Rod and Joan stayed in a house in Town (MP 291.9).

Who's j truck is that? I saw it in Asheville about 6 months ago and waved, then I remembered I was in my dads vw jetta

Day 2
Sunday, October 27

The campground was closing for the season today at noon, so there weren't many other people camping over night. And it was fairly chilly so I think that kept the crowds away as well.


Price Lake was beautiful this morning


We met Rod and Joan in Blowing Rock, fueled up the Jeeps and got some coffee. Then we were on our way south, down Globe Road, Anthony Creek Road, and NC 90 to Mortimer. Most of these roads were gravel. We saw a few wild turkeys along the way.

From Mortimer, we went south on Brown Mountain Beach Road along Wilsons Creek. The Wilsons Creek visitor center wasn't open yet. We stopped a few times along the stream to see the clear water. Rufus even waded in the shallow spots.

We stopped at the Craig Mountain Farm to buy trail passes for the Brown Mountain OHV park and a sweet brownie for lunch, then headed into the trail system. This was Joan's first, middle, and probably last trail ride... but she handled it well.
Rufus would have preferred the trees hang over the trail more as he didn't get many chances to bite the leaves.











We had lunch at one of the campsites along the entrance road before we parted ways.
Apparently the trick to starting Rod's truck is to open the hood...


On our way home on I-40 we noticed a strong vibration produced by the trailer. As it turns out we had a tire going down. Some bands had broken and caused the tire to be lopsided and a small hole appeared as well. All of this vibration caused the wheel bearing to come loose, so we tightened it down too. Glad we caught it before it blew apart!
We parked behind Grannys Country Kitchen and made the pit stop just before sunset.

Very nice!

Pictures are wonderful, just like being there.

I would love to take the trip.

Thanks for sharing!

WH

nc wagoneer wrote:Who's j truck is that? I saw it in Asheville about 6 months ago and waved, then I remembered I was in my dads vw jetta

That's Rod2

That's a very nice looking J truck!

Looks like a very cool trip you guys had!

(oh and always check the wheel bearings AMHIK).