Okay guys and gals...are we going to ride or what???

[Kudzu]

:lol: :lol: LOL got your attention.

We have several choices for riding on the 18 Mt. Aenta is open and th Senic City Club will be willing to lead us around...we can go soouth to LA(Lower Alabama) to Gardendale but I was holding off on that till April they are having a big ride I would like for some of us to attend...

Tellico is always a choice but I hope to go there in March..not with the regular JU crowd with the group from FL.

Wes, do you think we could do anything in Mounteagle???

I have some feelers out for some different areas..one in North AL around Huntsville...also Have an area in Gadsden about 30 miles from my place if any are interested we can hit that.

You guys are alway welcome at Monteagle. Just give me a call at the shop and I will make sure to take care of you. I would be more than happy to take some of you into stagecoach and Wes knows lost of the easier stuff. The toll free # at the shop is 866-248-8638.

[Carpenter]

I guess Dan beat me to it. I can arrange for us to ride in Monteagle or someone can give Dan a call, he knows the trials much better than I do. We can find something there to ride that will please everyone and it won't be miles and miles of rocky trial to get to one obstacle. We could ride between the interstates, the good parts of Coppenger Cove, or if everyone is able and feeling adverturous we can go down into stagecoach. Aetna might be a good ride too depending on how much rain we see between now and then. The peanut butter bowl is fun but that mud is like concrete. I'm interested in Gardendale but I'll go where ever the group wants to go. I'm still riding somewhere on the 18th so let's get something together soon.

OK,it's clearly evident that I suck at being the "events coordinator",hell,I can't even remember my user name/password to post under my original name. I just don't know of all these good places to ride and how to get in touch with the right people like you guys do :( . Anyone else wanna give it a shot? Anyway,I'm up for anywhere. I'm just sick to death of mud! The last 3-4 trips out have been in the mud,and I'm lusting after a nice,dry trail ride :lol:

call me

[Carpenter]

[quote:116226ec4e="GA Mike"]OK,it's clearly evident that I suck at being the "events coordinator",hell,I can't even remember my user name/password to post under my original name. I just don't know of all these good places to ride and how to get in touch with the right people like you guys do :( . Anyone else wanna give it a shot? Anyway,I'm up for anywhere. I'm just sick to death of mud! The last 3-4 trips out have been in the mud,and I'm lusting after a nice,dry trail ride :lol:[/quote:116226ec4e]

If you're sick of mud then you don't want to go to Aetna, mucho mud there. Like I said, I'm up for whatever. Let's just set a place now that the date is set and stick to it. Are there only three of us going?

[Kudzu]

:lol: :lol:
You don't suck Mike I have just been doing it longer...You'll get the hang of it and i will give up some info on the whos and wheres...

I guess we could do Monteagle. It seems that we had more than 3 people interested in going,though. Whoever's going,speak up now!

On a side note.....
I was cruising the Southern Jeeps web site and there was a recent post about Mnt Aetna being off limits now. I've never been there,so I don't know the validity of the story. They said a land developement company had bought the land,then another said Tennessee Offroad had purchased it. You hear anything like that? Or is it just bunk info?

Tennessee Off Road has not purchased it

[Kudzu]

Not sure if its off limits i do know that they closed the rail road entrance that we used the last time...Yeah lland development is the big thing there...Tht is why the entrance from Raccoon Campground was closed...

last time I was down there we went in by the trooper station but I have heard rumors that all of the entrances are off limits

[Carpenter]

Well, it sounds like Aetna isn't a possiblity. At least until someone finds out for sure wether or not it's open. I had heard it wasn't but that was a while ago and Sports in the Rough has since put a large ride on there so who knows. Seeing as Jan. 18th is fast approaching why don't we just settle on Montealge and save somewhere else for the next trip? If Dan can be talked into showing us around we can cover alot of ground and see some pretty good trails in one day. Sound like a good idea?

hey guys i would like to know by monday. I'm sure my jeep will be limping when I get back from windrock this weekend so that would give me a couple of days to put it back together for the 18th.

[quote:efc3473106="Carpenter"]Well, it sounds like Aetna isn't a possiblity. At least until someone finds out for sure wether or not it's open. I had heard it wasn't but that was a while ago and Sports in the Rough has since put a large ride on there so who knows. Seeing as Jan. 18th is fast approaching why don't we just settle on Montealge and save somewhere else for the next trip? If Dan can be talked into showing us around we can cover alot of ground and see some pretty good trails in one day. Sound like a good idea?[/quote:efc3473106]
Sounds like a plan! Monteagle it is. I've never been there,so,I'll need some directions of some sort.Looks like I'll be on I-24 coming out of Georgia. I'll be lost after that :D. Any good hotels to stay at close by? I don't know if I'll be up for driving all that distance to and from (and trail-riding too)in one day :roll: .

[Carpenter]

Take I-24 to exit 134. Off that exit take a left, go about 1/2 mile and you'll see Jim Oliver's Smokehouse/Best Western on the left. Behind the Smokehouse is where we usually meet. How about we meet there on the 18th at say, 9:00 central time. Will that give everyone enough time to get there? If not we can push it back but we will be getting off the trials later. Right when you get off the exit there is a Budget Host Inn, that is your best bet on accomodations, much cheaper than the Best Western and the rooms are good enough. There is an excellent resturant right there called the Bluewater that has excellent food, cheap drinks and a pretty good night life. I'm sure I'll be staying over night to ride on Sunday so you won't be the only one in town. How well equipped is everyone? How challenging a trail would everyone like to ride?

Well,I'm decently equipped to handle moderate to hard stuff,but would like to keep it on the moderate side so I can still make it back home in one piece. Body damage is of no concern,I consider them badges of honor,I just don't want to be stranded in the cold,working on my junk when I could be enjoying the ride :roll:. Oh,yeah,thanks for the directions! 9:00 sounds good to me,central is an hour behind our time,right? :?

[Carpenter]

Funny thing is, once you give up caring about body damage things go down hill. It was barely over a year ago when I got my first real dent. Now there are very few places on my Jeep that aren't dented or scratched. We'll save the decision as to where we will ride until game day I guess. We'll just see who shows up, how they're equipped, what spares they have, and go somewhere that will make everyone happy. I'm happy riding whatever. There are moderatley difficult trails to ride, difficult trails to ride, easy trails to ride, easy trails with difficult obstacles to ride, you get the picture. So right now it's me, Heather and Kevin (which XJ?), GA Mike and possibly Greddy (xjaddiction). Anyone else? There will be a group of Rovers up there that weekend too but we can keep clear of them.

[2badxj's]

You can count me in. I have a '93 Sport w/ 5in. lift 32'' mud kings. Loc-Right in front Dana30 (upgraded with new axles & 760x u-joints).
Chry. 8 1/4 rear w/Detroit and Yukon 29spline shafts). I'm rigged out pretty well, but I have to drive home with it, so on a scale of 1-5, I would like a trail ride with a difficulty of 3-4. I've never been to Monteagle, but the place sounds great. I've been geting a lot of my offroad expierence in at the Superlift Offroad Park in Hot Springs, AR. And I hear from people from other areas, that the trails found there are underated, so the 3's there are more like 4's at other places. If we decide on holding a get-together there, I can do the guiding. I highly reccomend it to anyone.

[2badxj's]

Hey I'm going to post this ride on the Jeep Forum and maybe we can get some more people to come.

BIGWOODY where are you at. Are you coming?

[roXJeepr]

Due to other engagements (none of which involve the XJ :( ) I won't be able to make the trip on the 18th. And it figures since it's someplace I haven't been yet. Hope yall have fun!

[2badxj's]

Well it looks like I'll have to drive my stock '97 to the ride this time. The '93 wasn't quite finished when I went to pick it up the other day, and it won't be done till after the trail ride. If we decide to do the moe aggressive trails, I guess I'll sit it out or hitch a ride with one of you guys. Man I can't describe how bad this bites the big one. I knew that trading off the car for the '97 XJ would come in handy sooner or later though. So the good news is I'll still be able to attend.

[Carpenter]

People from the board that I know of showing up right now. Me, GA Mike, Kudzu, 2badxj's, and maybe Bigwoody. What about Danno? Anyone else who hasn't spoken up? There are also two XJ's from here in Nashville showing up, on XJ from Chattanooga, as well as possibly a couple YJ's and maybe one Fullsize. So far everyone except 2badxj's will be locked in at least one axle. Right now the plan is to ride in Stagecoach. It's basically a series of creekbeds of varying degrees of difficulty with steep trails shooting off at either end. If more people show up that aren't able to ride there then we may ride somewhere else but for now the plan is Stagecoach. Here are some pictures from the creekbeds to help you visualize.

[img:e83f83bf47]http://www.fototime.com/FBC06C2BCE47928/standard.jpg[/img:e83f83bf47]

[img:e83f83bf47]http://www.fototime.com/EE5FC13C8880B9E/standard.jpg[/img:e83f83bf47]

[2badxj's]

Man!!! After seeing those pictures, I hate it even more that I won't have the '93 to take along. Oh well I don't mind being a passenger/photographer/spotter (sob, sob) really I don't mind. Hey is it true you can learn from other peoples misery and mistkes. If so maybe this whole thing will be educational.

if wes is driving his i will have an open seat but it is cold.

[Kudzu]

:x :cry:
Man this really bits but the trans in the burban went out so We will not be able to make it...No spare tires for the rig and a 4cy on 32 SS is not fun for a 2 hour drive...LOL anyway need the cash to get the trans fixed for Attica...so I will se you all end of Feb or March...

Heather

Looks like it'll be fun!!!!!! See ya there! :D

[roXJeepr]

hey yall, looks like I'll be able to go after all. BUT, I'm unlocked both ends. Stagecoach? what kinda name is that? can't be all THAT!!! :twisted:

[Carpenter]

Dan is leading the ride so it's his call but I don't know if you need to go down into Stagecoach without lockers. If he says no I'm sure someone will have an open seat or you could jump in on a ride with another group. There will be a group of Rovers riding some easier stuff and another group is riding in Coppenger Cove. We'll figure something out. We can always ride something more tame on Sunday so you can wheel to. We'll do our best to accomodate everyone.

[2badxj's]

Hey, I was wondering if there is a web site that has more info on this area we intend to wheel. So far I have found 6 places to wheel in the area and only have concrete info on 2. Those being TELLICO and Superlift ORV in Hot Springs. I would like more info on Gardendale, AL/ Monteagle, TN/ Summerville, TN/ and Heflin, Al. I've heard that all these areas offer great wheelin' opportunities, but I have found little official info on any of them. Anyone with info in regards to cost, directions, or people to contact before going to these places, would be greatly appreciated.

[Kudzu]

Gardendale has a site...Will have to look it up but it is an event only or if your invited. I have contacts down there and can get us in when they have an opening....

Summerville,TN is a new one on me unless you mean Summertown and do a search for Whelin' in the Country that is what they call the park...

Helfin is I am not sure I know some guys down that way who know but have yet to be able to get with them to find out if it is private property..I do know some down there is and I have the contacts to get us on it but only as a group.

They are calling for snow in Monteagle on Friday. If there is snow on the ground No one without lockers will make it out of Stagecoach. If it is dry there is some stuff in there you can do but body damage is likely. I won't be up there until about 4:30 Sat morning so we will just have to make the call when everyone meets up that sat morning. I will only have one seat open and the high is only going to be 28. My rig has no heater top or windshield so if we have a manly person needing a seat they can ride with me.

Well,I don't know if I'll be able to make the ride or not. After wrenching all weekend revamping the cooling system on mine,I pulled it out of the garage and it hasn't started since. :cry: Everything is in order,it just won't turn over. I think the NSS is the culprit,as I've been having problems with it(having to put it in neutral to get it to start once in a while). Hope to have it up and running by the weekend,but if I don't make it,you guys have a blast!

[roXJeepr]

Aight!! I'll just wait then

[Raider]

Maybe I can help shed some light on Gardendale seeing as I live here and know the area pretty well.

First, let me say that Wes, Kudzu and Mike know me (could be a good thing) so they can vouch for me.

There is a relatively new ORV park in Mt. Olive, Al. It's the one where the last two (2) Superlift events were held. It's called Gray Rock ORV (http://www.grayrockorv.com) and is privately owned.

It is a "reservation only" type ORV park for liability and safety issues. It can be reserved for an event or for a group. It has over 2100 acres of land that has trails from mild to wild on it. This is one of the reasons why it's by reservation only. It's so darn big! That, and this way we know who and how many are there so no-one is unaccounted for!


Also, it's partialy due to the fact there was a Superlift attendee that left the grounds to go for "gas and munchies". He got into an accident, had no insurance, and long story short, the "injured parties" went after the property owner. So that is one of the reasons why ALL vehicles entering the park are required to be LICENCED and INSURED. Liability insurance is an inexpensive policy and should be a smart thing to have in our sport.

You can click on the link I provided to go to the web site to check the park out. I think you all would like it. It has something for just about everyone.

One of the main reasons for the park's existance is all the pressure on the trails around Gardendale. There's been a lot of property change hands, some legal actions, clear-cutting, and home and businesses springing up all around here.

So, the powers that be, decided to try to save a place for 4x4 enthusiasts to go enjoy their sport in a place designed for it.

Sounded good to me so I designed and built the web site to help get the word out. I hope I've been of some help. If not or if there are questions, feel free to email me at saw056@charter.net or use any of the numbers or email on the site.

Soooo........who's interested? I AM!!!!! I could try and set something up for say, late March or April. I'll get on it and start a new thread about it! :D

[Raider]

...Leah at the numbers listed on the site before anything. I won't swear but, I think March and most of April is already booked. Call to find out. :!: