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| http://www.4x4Wire.com/4x4/trail/report/nc/gsmtr00/ | Short Cuts | ||||
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By: C. Andrew Zook - 6/2000 |
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---Upper Tellico OHVA----------------------------
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| Trail 5 | Bob Hazel - Lower 2 | Winching on upper trail 2 |
The Great Smoky Mountain Trail Ride (GSMTR) is held each year by the Southeast Toyota Land Cruiser Association (a chapter of the Toyota Land Cruiser Association - TLCA) at the Upper Tellico OHV Area located just inside the North Carolina border in the Nantahala National forest.
The event runs from Wednesday through Sunday and is the largest Toyota only event on the East Coast of the US. Although the name of the club refers to Toyota Land Cruisers, the event is open to Toyota trucks and 4Runners as well.
The trails at Tellico are rated for vehicles of all types, from stock to heavily modified. A word of caution is in order for anyone considering taking a stock vehicle to Tellico. The trails are anything but easy, and often the difficulty level marked on the trail is not entirely accurate. Many of the trails, which are marked "easy", are very difficult for an inexperienced driver in a stock vehicle.
The terrain at Tellico is typical of many trails in the East. The terrain is wooded and mountainous, and the trails are often wet from springs that spurt from the side of the mountain.
The obstacles on the hard trails are often made harder by springs that pour water over them, making them slick and very hard to get traction on. Low gearing will help at some spots, but other spots must be tackled with momentum and wheel-spin. The condition of the trails changes on an hourly basis. Oftentimes something that seemed easy in the morning is harder later on in the day because of water tracked up onto rocks.
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| McNabb Creek Campground - Base camp before the crowds |
This being my 4th year in attendance for the GSMTR, I knew what to expect. I had just finished putting a new engine into my truck and mounting everything on a new frame, and I was not even sure that I was going to make the 12-hour drive down to Tellico from my home in PA! Luckily, everything went relatively smooth on the trip down, with the exception of a flat tire on a trailer from another member of the group that I drove down with.
Of the 3 days that I was at the event, I only drove the trails one day. I was very tired from the long trip down and from the previous 2 weeks of nonstop work to finish my truck for the GSMTR. I took the first day off to get some much needed R&R, and to socialize with friends that I have made on previous trips.
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| On the trail - Nice black FJ40 |
The second day, I was out hitting the trails! The group that I rode with is the same group that I have ridden with every year since my first GSMTR. We headed up trail 5 (Tellico River Trail) and across the water crossing which for some reason seemed much easier than in previous years (must be that new Supra engine). From there, we cut across trail 3 (Bear Pen Trail) and over to watch some trucks go up 12 (School Bus Hill). We then headed up 11 (Chestnut Mountain Trail), to Helicopter pad to watch the more heavily modified trucks come up. After watching a few trucks, either on their own, or with the help of the winch, we continued back on down 12 (School Bus Hill), and back out 3 (Bear Pen Trail), 4 (Fain's Ford Road), and to 1 (Tipton Creek Road).
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| The creek crossing on 5 |
Trail 5 (Tellico River Trail) is labeled "More Difficult", and was easy except for a few spots on the way up the mountain. The river crossing looks intimidating at first, but is not too difficult and makes for some nice pictures.
The section of 3 (Bear Pen Trail) that we ran was very easy although the trail is also labeled "More Difficult". I am not sure what the rest of the trail is like beyond the section between 5 and 11.
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| My '84 at the top of 11 |
Trail 11 (Chestnut Mountain Trail) on the way up to Helicopter Pad was very steep, and with the exception of one obstacle at the top it was something that a slightly modified truck could tackle. The obstacle at the top proved to be a challenge for my truck as the gearing was just not low enough to pull me through. After a few tries I was able to get up it.
Going down trail 12 (School Bus Hill) was a little more exciting than I had imagined. The trail itself is very steep, and oftentimes I was in a somewhat controllable slide down. I don't think that I would have been able to make it up this trail without lower gearing, but I am positive that going up would be a little less intimidating than the trip down!
The rest of the trip out 3 and 4 was on easy, annoyingly bumpy terrain. When it is 7:00 and you are itching to get back to camp to grab a bite to eat, these trails will drive you nuts!
Somewhere along the way, I managed to wound something in my front axle. I was able to get back to camp without breaking, but I decided that rather than tear the axle apart on the trail, or at camp, I would just wait until I got home to look into the problem.
On Saturday, I drove up the access trail to watch the trucks come up lower trail 2 (Tipton Knob Trail). I had heard that there was a Unimog attempting this very difficult section of trail, and I figured that it would be a good place to get some pictures.
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| Bob Hazel clawing his way up lower 2 |
When I arrived, I was surprised to see a vehicle that I am sure many of you recognize. It was Bob Hazel from Sports in the Rough in his yellow Jeep – if that is what you call this thing! This truck was truly amazing! It walked right up most of the trail, but did have to winch up the one section. Seeing a truck like this makes me want to build a trail-only rig that I can go all out while building rather than try to keep it street legal.
A few other tricked out trail-only trucks made it up the rest of lower 2 without a problem. Next came the Unimog! This truck just looked out of place on this trail, and proved that it indeed was. One of the smaller obstacles that did not give any of the other trucks any trouble stopped the Mog in its tracks! The front locker would not engage, and the driver had to winch himself out. The winch mounted on the front did little to help the truck up the rock. Even with the winch cable doubled up, the Mog would not budge.
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| The Unimog stopped in its tracks! |
I stood there and watched for a while, and soon grew weary of watching how little progress had been made. I decided to head back to the trailhead to see if there was any action.
Within minutes of leaving the trail, it started to pour down rain. I drove back to camp and took shelter under a tarp and hung out talking 4x4s for the remainder of the day.
That evening the catered BBQ and the raffle were held. As usual, I did not win anything despite my $30 in raffle tickets, but at least my contributions will be put toward a good cause – buying more stuff for next year ;-).
I enjoyed myself as always, but for some reason it did not seem the same this year. Perhaps it was that many people chose to camp away from the main campground, leaving it somewhat empty and calm compared to other years, or maybe it was the rain.
I will definitely be back next year, and hopefully my truck will finally be ready to tackle the finest that Tellico has to offer! One thing is for sure, my driving skills need brushing up after a long winter of working on the truck!
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