Upper Tellico ORV

T2K
The Unofficial Unevent Of The Millenium

There is no better way to start then the infamous Rock Garden!

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Upper Tellico ORV trail, which borders North Carolina on the east and Tennessee on the west, is the east coast premier managed 4x4 trail system. Described as a high elevation basin formed by the Unicoi Mountains, it is 8,000 acres of rugged steep terrain. An unlikely spot for an event playfully named The Unofficial Unevent of the Millennium. Put together over the Internet by the Jeep-L list and word of mouth, this three day unevent was not traditionally sponsored. No set rules and no prearranged trail runs. Anything but uneventful, it was a colorful collection of Jeeps, full sized trucks and a few Land Rovers, getting together to wheel for the pure fun of it all.

Base camp for the group was on the North Carolina side at a campground just outside the town of Murphy, on the scenic Valley River. Not as primitive as we are used to, but we were sure the camaraderie that would follow each days run was worth the sounds of traffic and RV's, and we were right. My husband Brian, our retriever mix and I left North Florida in our 1994 Land Rover Defender 90 ( The Irish Rover), two days early to scope out a good camping spot and meet our friends Rick and James. Rick had invited us to the event and was driving down from Pennslysvania in his 1995 Jeep YJ, (Mud Puppy). Another Land Rover owner, James, who we had met while in Alaska, had expressed an interest in seeing how "You Yanks wheel". He and his Land Rover 110 were both from England. He made it quite clear that he was going to be a passenger and observer only. The early arrival would allow us the opportunity to do some of the moderate rated trails of Tellico before the radical ones were tackled with the group. James was waiting for us at the campground when we arrived and Rick with his father riding shotgun got there after dark. Introductions were made all around, camp was set up, BBQ eaten, and we all settled in to discuss the plan of action for tomorrow.

The next day we woke for an early breakfast and decided to do trails 4 and 5. Known to the rangers as the Fain Ford Trail and Tellico River Trail, they are rated easiest and moderate to difficult. It was a good forty-five minute drive from the campsite through winding paved roads and the community of Hanging Dog. The Tipton Creek trail leads into the Nantahala National Forest and the Tellico trail system. Labeled trail #1. It is a gravel road that ends at the staging area and begins the trail system. There is a $5.00 fee box posted here.

Our first obstacle was the stream crossing. Since it hadn't rained here in a while, crossing wasn't as difficult as it could have been. But navigating the boulders hidden under the water and exiting over the huge wet boulders on the other side turned out to be more challenging. The Defender, with a 1.5" lift 33"BFG MT's, and ARB lockers both ends, slipped and slid sidewards here and there but after finally engaging the ARB lockers made it out unscathed. You see Brian likes to try obstacles with open diffs to see what is necessary to conquer obstacles. Mud Puppy , a YJ with a 5" lift, 33" BFG MT's, Detroit locker rear, and True Trac front, used a bit more momentum but made it look easy.. No damage there.

Next was a moderate climb upward with very little room on either side of the vehicles. The left side was a steep drop off with a stream cascading from the mountain above, while the right side was rock wall lined with trees. Pivot Rock, as I like to call it, was the next obstacle to overcome. It proved to be a doosey. This set of Rocks were large slippery and pointy. Brian was determined to make it over and not go around the obstacle. Everytime he got o his line the D90 would slip to the left. The trail being slightly off camber. Clunk. Stuck. Both lockers engaged and all the vehicle would do is pivot right and left on this Pivot rock. Try and go forward and the truck spins left, try and go backwards ang it pivoted back right. He kinda had some fun with this feature. Finally he gets back off the Rock with some bodies lifting the front of the Rover. Well numerous attempts and different lines lead to the point were he was good and stuck. On top of a 3 foot set of boulders and sliding side ways every time he attempted to move. the decision to winch was made. This proved to be a tricky situation as well due to the steep ledge on the left side of the obstacle. Slowly we winched the truck forward changing the anchor point here and there to get the angle we were looking for to ensure the veicle didn't end up on its side. A few times the truck slid slightly sideways coming close to Falling off the ledge. It was getting painful to watch. But Brian had the patience of a saint and using the winch for a secure line he repositioned the tires over and over again to finally free the axles from the rock prison. Rick having helped with this rescue decided to pick the by-pass on the left along the edge of the ledge, between the crooked tree and the boulders. It is a tight fit. But he made it through without incident.

We started to get a little confused at this point as to where we were exactly because the rating of trail #4 was easiest, and if this was easy then we were in trouble. The rest of the trail proved to be negotiable with a few mud puddles on one side and flattop boulders on the other. Everyone was able to pick the proper lines and we happily putted along enjoying the lush green growth and small waterfalls along this trail. At the end was an intersection with two more trails, one led to the left, and one to the right. This is where we discovered the aweful truth! We were already on trail #5 and headed for trail #4. We had done the trails backwards! Yup we intended to go done trail 5 nt up it, which is the harder way to do it. We intended to ease into the trails since it had been a while since either Rick or myself had done any serious wheeling in a while. It showed in the amount of times I stalled my D90 too. So much for using Rick's GPS and our maps.We all got a good laugh out of it, and felt a bit better about the trail not being easiest, but difficult and done the hard way. Well it was late so we headed up trail #4 to end our first adventure in Tellico. Early by the standards set the rest of the unevent. Taking trail #4 out was nice. It was easily traversed with bumpy holes here and there that reminided one of diffucult speed bumps. A perfect ending and no vehicle damage. Life was good. We headed for BBQ and beers.

Going up Trail 5.

We woke the next morning to the sounds of a very full and busy campground. Most of the wheelers had arrived yesterday evening and more were arriving during breakfast. We hooked up with a group headed for Guard Rail and helicopter pad. Unfortunately, our drive shaft almost fell out and we had to spend the day finding lock tite, can you believe no one in the group had any? And repairing it at camp. We gave our blessing to Rick to go off and tackle Guard Rail with the group. He came back to camp that night with a big S.E. Grin on his face so I knew it was a good run. Here are some pictures.

Gaurd Rail

Campgrounds ..................Staging Area

The next day Rick acting as ambassador between the two Land Rovers and the Jeep community set us up with a group do to The infamous lower 2. Also known as the Rock Garden. Repaired and ready to go we headed out in convoy. It was nice size group only 6 vehicles. This trail is extreme and claims more vehicle parts than any other trail in Tellico. Well we didn't get far when the C.B. rang out hold up we have a problem! We pulled over on the side of Hwy 19 to help Donna Gardner, also known as Jeep Girl, fix a broken a Front axle U-joint on her TJ. Luckily her hubby Sheldon, the unoffical leader of this unofficial group, rushed to her aide. What a family affair! As with all 4-wheeling events, husbands wifes, children and doggies are mandatory! After a quick road fix, we headed to a gas station just outside of the Community of Hanging Dog to gas up. There we hooked up with members of C.O.R.E. A Carolina Off Road Extremests. Our numbers had unfortunetely inceased.

Here I am going up lower 2. The Rock Garden. This trail took 10 hours and was sick fun!