Tellico Ride April 12-15

[YellowjeepCj]

Rtaylor and I are going to ride at Tellico April 12-15th. We are staying at the Tellico cabins on the allen gap side. We will probably do the easy trails on Thursday and Friday and the tough stuff on Saturday. Junior Dean and his nephew from Clemson will be meeting us there on Friday and Saturday. Anyone else is welcome.

[Gubni]

:lol: cya there

http://www.4x4grace.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=5939

[Bluegill]

We've got a big group (20+) coming to Harlan from itsajeep.org that weekend and we're (Grace) hosting them, been planned for several months. Alot of Wranglers & XJ's will be there, even a few CJ's, FSJ's, and a Disco too.

[NC_James]

I might bring the Yota again, depends on me getting off work.

[webbinator]

Really hate we won't be able to make this one. Just can't get it to work out logistically or financially this time. Got honeydos to take care of that week. :P Maybe next trip. Keep that big jeep on it's wheels Rob.

[Rtaylor]

Really hate we won't be able to make this one. Just can't get it to work out logistically or financially this time. Got honeydos to take care of that week. :P Maybe next trip. Keep that big jeep on it's wheels Rob.

I hope to have at least a couple of them on the ground at all times...

[Gubni]

I won't be there. My friends weren't ready, so postphoned until the 27 -29th.

[Rtaylor]

We came, we saw, we conquered.... NOT! :roll:

We got to the trail head at about 4:00PM on Thursday afternoon and Flint and I took our wives for a short ride on trails 1, 4, and 5. Within an hour, I had got bored and managed to lay my Jeep on it's side while trying to get a poser shot (my wife was not in the Jeep ...). Stupid me!!!! :banghead: Luckily, the only damage that I received was a small ding in the hood/cowl, the driver's side mirror popped off and I got a small tear in the driver's side window. I also broke off my gear shift handle when the Jeep went over! I hung onto it so tightly that it broke the weld when the Jeep landed on it's side. I had to drive out using a pair of Channel Lock pliers to shift between third and fouth gear, while shifting in and out of low range on the transfer case. It worked to get it out but was no fun at all...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p925b288f7aa1509ffa61f4b7753f076f/e9e3409a.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p9d0d3c6ae691dd95f9c45393e99b33a5/e9e33f24.jpg

Tellico Pics Here!!! (http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2093259304)

On Friday, Flint and his wife Beverly, Junior, Kenny, Mark, and I and my wife Neesie rode several of the intermediate trails. I tried Guardrail, and gave up after a few runs at it. Kenny tried Helicopter Pad and almost rolled it. I made it up Hellicopter Pad without pulling a cable.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pcece4b6bbd47bee72d85fc7e1d2407b9/e9e34b90.jpg

On Saturday, Flint, Junior, Scott, Kenny, and I went and watched several Rockwell equipped rigs ASSAULT Slickrock. Those guys are insane!!! We didn't try it, and I really wish that we had... I did try my hand at Peckerwood and made it through lower Peckerwood with out having to pull cable. I did receive a small tear on the back corner of the soft top. Upper Peckerwood was a different story. I chose a bad line (I'm not sure that there is a good line), and wound up with my front tires in the air and the truck slipping to the right. I called for a cable and Flint and Junior strapped my winch to a tree and winched me up. Problem was that the tree was at a 45 degree angle to the direction that I was heading and it pulled me into the roots on the left bank of the chute. The soft top was completely destroyed... :cry:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p5d77cc00307335311e155103fa8573b6/e9e341fe.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p8cddfd8c7d6f492286f752991ade4b68/e9e340c9.jpg

As soon as I cleared Peckerwood it started storming. I had to sit in the rain for about 25 minutes waiting on the other guys to come back around to the intersection of trail 8 and 4. By this time I was ready to go back to the cabin so I did; and everyone else followed...

My opinion of Tellico is that most of the trails are good for intermediately built rigs, but were not much of a challenge for my Jeep. The obstacles that are a real challenge for me are so dangerous that if you make a mistake you can destroy your rig, or worse yet, get yourself killed. I prefer Harlan...

[pplblazerdude]

Looks like fun.

[Dino1967]

Looks like fun.x2 and cool pictures gonna have to go there when blue is done :wink:

[Jeep07]

My opinion of Tellico is that most of the trails are good for intermediately built rigs, but were not much of a challenge for my Jeep. The obstacles that are a real challenge for me are so dangerous that if you make a mistake you can destroy your rig, or worse yet, get yourself killed. I prefer Harlan...


Sounds like my rig would enjoy tellico then. I'm not a death wheeler and consider my rig intermediate.

Good pics, thanks for sharing.

[Bluegill]

My opinion of Tellico is that most of the trails are good for intermediately built rigs, but were not much of a challenge for my Jeep. The obstacles that are a real challenge for me are so dangerous that if you make a mistake you can destroy your rig, or worse yet, get yourself killed. I prefer Harlan...


Sounds like my rig would enjoy tellico then. I'm not a death wheeler and consider my rig intermediate.

Good pics, thanks for sharing.

x2 - or at least my FSJ WILL be intermediate when I get it done :lol: Sorry to hear you had so much trouble Rob.

[Simo]

My opinion of Tellico is that most of the trails are good for intermediately built rigs, but were not much of a challenge for my Jeep. The obstacles that are a real challenge for me are so dangerous that if you make a mistake you can destroy your rig, or worse yet, get yourself killed. I prefer Harlan...

The thing about Tellico, like most east coast trails, is the weather conditions. Dry, every trail there can be completed on 36s - but if its sloppy then even the bipasses are impossible.

[Rtaylor]

My opinion of Tellico is that most of the trails are good for intermediately built rigs, but were not much of a challenge for my Jeep. The obstacles that are a real challenge for me are so dangerous that if you make a mistake you can destroy your rig, or worse yet, get yourself killed. I prefer Harlan...


Sounds like my rig would enjoy tellico then. I'm not a death wheeler and consider my rig intermediate.

Good pics, thanks for sharing.

x2 - or at least my FSJ WILL be intermediate when I get it done :lol: Sorry to hear you had so much trouble Rob.

We were there for three days and I only had two incidents. I have broke more in the first five minutes on other rides.... I had a great time. I had been concerned that I may have mechanical issues, but did not. In spite of what my signature says, I do have an issue with the skinny pedal. I pounded it pretty hard and everything held together. All in all, it was a great weekend! The nice thing is that I have a good understanding of my rig's limits. I tried things that I would never have even considered in my other rigs. I wasn't 100% successful, but I learned a lot.

Next time.... :twisted:

[duke_lover_13]

Looks fun to me!!!

[Gubni]

(my wife was not in the Jeep ...). Stupid me!!!! :banghead:

Maybe next time? Just playin pal.

You review is very interesting. Did you do guardrail and schoolbus?

[Rtaylor]

(my wife was not in the Jeep ...). Stupid me!!!! :banghead:

Maybe next time? Just playin pal.

You review is very interesting. Did you do guardrail and schoolbus?

I was the only one in our group to try Guardrail. I did not make it. I need to watch someone go up it and understand what is the right line. Click on the link to the pics and you will see it. We never made it to Schoolbus. We ran out of time...

[r1ng3l78]

so you did two obstacles and decided you know the whole place is beneath you?

[TiredIronGRB]

so you did two obstacles and decided you know the whole place is beneath you?

How do you get that from what he posted :?: :?

[HotRodYJ]

They spent three days there so I'm sure he got a pretty good feel for most of it. Actually I've always heard the same thing anout Tellico although I've never been there myself. I've always heard you ride alot on just plain old trails to get to each obsticle. Nothing really in between to wheel on.

[Gubni]

so you did two obstacles and decided you know the whole place is beneath you?

How do you get that from what he posted :?: :?



My opinion of Tellico is that most of the trails are good for intermediately built rigs, but were not much of a challenge for my Jeep. The obstacles that are a real challenge for me are so dangerous that if you make a mistake you can destroy your rig, or worse yet, get yourself killed. I prefer Harlan...

I feel the same about Harlan. 90% of the trails "I've seen" were 2wd trails designed for sight seeing. Then you have the cliff hangers where you might get yourself killed and the rock buggy trails. I'm so looking forward to going back and riding the new trails I've heard George talk about.

[BillM]

Shawn, if you drove something that isn't 15' wide then you might not be on so many cliff hanger trails... :lol: :lol: :lol:

Just razzin ya buddy.

[Rtaylor]

so you did two obstacles and decided you know the whole place is beneath you?

I said that we rode for three days. During that time, we rode almost every trail. We did not do every obstacle, but did look at almost everything.

I don't understand why you would jump to the conclusion that I "know the whole place is beneath me". I simply said that there seems to be two levels of obstacles; the intermediate, and the super hard/dangerous.

[TiredIronGRB]

I feel the same about Harlan. 90% of the trails "I've seen" were 2wd trails designed for sight seeing. Then you have the cliff hangers where you might get yourself killed and the rock buggy trails. I'm so looking forward to going back and riding the new trails I've heard George talk about.

There's still nothing there to challenge you Shawn, it would be a waste of your time.

[BillM]

He could run Mason Jar and Crawford's Cry. Not sure he could turn the Bronco in Lower Damnation to turn up the hill. I haven't really looked at it.

[Jazzman31]

You have to remember he has the EB Project now, once finished, Harlan would be a great place to go, Shawn you would have a lot of fun. The fullsize might have a little problems, but the EB would be able to run every trail there.

[BillM]

I forgot all about that EB. Thanks for the reminder.

[Gubni]

Yeah, I built the EB just for the easy trails. I know there's plenty of buggy trails there that are beyond my FSBs ability.

[HANO]

So I take it you went down 11 all the way to 3 and back to 4? You guys would have loved coming down 12.

I've done most of the trails there, except peckerwood and lower 2, as I went while they were still closed this year (actually peckerwood had the guardrail down on Saturday, but we continued on with our initial route, since technically it wasn't suppose to be open till the 1st).

Being on 35's and locked front and rear, I feel you can do pretty much all the trails there. While having the same difficulty as someone on 39.5s +/- on some obstacles like guardrail (the far right side works for me), slick rock (left side easiest), peckerwood, helicopter pad (which takes a good amount of tire spin to even make headway), and as always lower 2.


JR

[HANO]

Looked at your pics, you guys did stay on 11 to 3....... 3 is pretty tame all the way to 4.


Rtaylor love the rig, it does have "attitude" !

[Bluegill]

I feel the same about Harlan. 90% of the trails "I've seen" were 2wd trails designed for sight seeing. Then you have the cliff hangers where you might get yourself killed and the rock buggy trails. I'm so looking forward to going back and riding the new trails I've heard George talk about.

Shawn, ask Simo about Harlan - he wheeled his "slightly modified" (hehehe) daily driver thru places where a guys with over 10 grand of mods in their Jeeps were afraid to try it. :wink: I learned alot about Harlan this past weekend, mainly because I didn't ride with the bunny group Friday. 8)

I give it :thumbleft: :thumbright:
:smokin:

[Rtaylor]

So I take it you went down 11 all the way to 3 and back to 4? You guys would have loved coming down 12.

I've done most of the trails there, except peckerwood and lower 2, as I went while they were still closed this year (actually peckerwood had the guardrail down on Saturday, but we continued on with our initial route, since technically it wasn't suppose to be open till the 1st).

Being on 35's and locked front and rear, I feel you can do pretty much all the trails there. While having the same difficulty as someone on 39.5s +/- on some obstacles like guardrail (the far right side works for me), slick rock (left side easiest), peckerwood, helicopter pad (which takes a good amount of tire spin to even make headway), and as always lower 2.
JR

Stay away from the upper section of Peckerwood unless you take your top off... My wheelbase is 108" and I was standing straight up coming up the ledge (a shorter wheelbase vehicle would probably be at a huge disadvantage). Once I got vertical my front tires lost traction and I slid to the right. If I had stayed in it I would have rolled off the ledge on the right side and flipped it down the hill. My soft top was destroyed on the roots that protrude from the bank on the left side of the ledge while winching up. We found several sockets at the base of the ledge where someone had recently rolled their rig...

[SamuraiGuyTN]

I nearly drove up upper peckerwood with my samurai on 31's. BUUUUTT my trailor hitch dug into the ground. :roll: Ended up being winched up. I deffintly want to give it another go. 8)

[Rtaylor]

There over 400 photos posted on Kenny's web-site documenting this ride.

More Tellico Pics (http://www.myjeep4x4.com/tellico_april_2007.htm)

He has seperated them out by vehicle, and has a section with the Rockwell axled beasts that we saw on Slickrock. Here is one of the coolest rigs out there:
http://www.myjeep4x4.com/images/Fellow_Wheelers_72.JPG

[HANO]

Thats ummmmmm......definately not my style.............. :!:

For some of the places out there you need something that big and just plain ugly to beat on...

[Country Boy]

Different is COOL, & that's definately different 8) 8)

[webbinator]

Now that I've seen the photos, I REALLY hate that I didn't get to go on this trip. I've always had a blast at Tellico. Good photos guys.

[duke_lover_13]

Man.. I love that thing!!

[YellowjeepCj]

Tellico was a good trip. We arrived at the trails about 4 pm on Thursday April 12 and we took trail 1 to trail 4 to trail 5 back to one. This was a nice loop but not a lot of obstacles. Rtaylor did manage to lay his Jeep on its side by trying to pose on a large rock near the creek crossing on trail 5. It took us about 2.5 hours to make this loop including winching RT back on his wheels. RT broke the weld on the nut on the bottom of his gear shift lever for his NV4500 transmission. We were able to get chuck of Tellico Cabins to weld it back together that same evening for a small fee.

Friday we met Junior, Kenny and Mark at allen gap about 9:30 AM. We rode trail 1 to 4 to 11 and went to Guard rail and Helicopter pad. RT tried Guard Rail to no avail. The rest of us bypassed the rock face obstacle and traveled on the Helicopter Pad. Again RT tried the Helicopter Pad rock face obstacle as Did Kenny. Kenny nearly flipped but RT made the climb to the top. We met 4 members of the Carolina Trail Blazers coming down th pad. We had 3 members of the trick and traction club from Greenville SC behind us but they turnd around after viewing the helicopter pad and by-pass. The rest of our group and Kenny took the by pass at Helicopter Pad.

My observation at this point was that the trails were fairly easy until you encountered a major obstacle. The obstacle was a killer. Very tricky and technical a false move or mechanical failure could kill you or destory your rig.

Saturday we met the same group less Mark but add Scott another CJ rig. We traveled to the upper end of Slick Rock and walked down to the obstacle. This one looked like one could try it with the possibility of success. However, the upper ledge coming out of the Slick Rock was another killer obstacle. It was for sure a cable ride for most of us and we chose to go see Peckerwood instead and try to look at lower and upper 2 iif time would permit. We went to peckerwood on trail 7 and RT decided it was worth a try. He made the first ledge and winched over the seconded one where he destoryed his Best Top soft Top. The rest of the group met him at the intersection of trail 8 and 4. It started to pour the rain and we decided to head for the cabin rather than go check out trail 2.

I still have the impression that Tellico is a great place for moderately built rigs who want to enjoy the seenary and enjoy some family time. The real obstacles are serious wheeling. However, we watched a toy 4 runner on 31's with IFS drive up slick rock with about a one inch tug by his winch and he drove over the second ledge without assistance from the winch or anyone else. It was worth the experience of going there. I would go back much better equipped to know what to expect from the trail system.