Black Balsam Camping Trip

eventhough · 05-24-09, 07:31 AM

Who wants to go camping?

Chad (Delta21) has been kind enough to organize a camping trip to what sounds like a sweet little spot we haven't been to before.

What are the plans Chad?

steenh · 05-24-09, 07:57 AM

I do depending on when its scheduled.

informationjunky · 05-24-09, 12:49 PM

X2 on the date

Trollhole · 05-25-09, 06:41 AM

I'm in for a night or a whole day. Wife will be getting close by then.

eventhough · 05-25-09, 09:03 AM

More info coming shortly.

delta21 · 05-25-09, 10:26 AM

Expedition style Black Balsam UC Camping trip!
.
When: September 12th and 13th (Sat-Sun)

Where: we will Meet at Aunt Sue's @0900 then travel north on Hwy 178 to Rosman nC and to the Blue Ridge Parkway on Hwy 215.

Ivester gap road in a rough un-maintained road that is open seasonally in the fall, it does require 4wd and a high clearance vehicle (a stock 80 would possibly drag mud flaps and the rear bumper in a few spots) there is a pit toilet at the beginning of the road, after that the area is completely primitive so we will need to be self sufficient, you will need to provide you own food and camping equipment, a pot luck style dinner Saturday night would be fun to do if there is enough interest in something like that. There is a water spring close to where we will camp. The elevation is about 5500 feet so it gets chilly at night and the weather seems to play by its own rules up there also, so come prepared.

Chad

eventhough · 05-25-09, 11:52 AM

Thanks for doing this Chad? I'm hoping to run the road this coming weekend when I scout some new areas up in that area. I checked the FS map and we are OK for lift-off!

jleeFJ62 · 05-25-09, 02:54 PM

im in for this

dbenke · 05-25-09, 03:00 PM

we just hiked that road (or part of it on the way to shining rock), and I saw where there was wheeling after Aug. We didn,t hike that far on the road as the boys wanted to do the Art Loeb trail. How long is the trail. I would be interested in going back.

eventhough · 05-25-09, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbenke

we just hiked that road (or part of it on the way to shining rock), and I saw where there was wheeling after Aug. We didn,t hike that far on the road as the boys wanted to do the Art Loeb trail. How long is the trail. I would be interested in going back.

From looking at a fairly small scale map I est. 1.5-2 miles one way.

dbenke · 05-25-09, 04:03 PM

We hiked about a mile of it, but I couldn't tell if it went around the wilderness area or stopped when it got to it.
It must stop not far after we got off of it.

eventhough · 05-25-09, 04:08 PM

I think Chad said it stops pretty near a few nice camping spots in some pine trees where "shoes are optional."

eventhough · 05-25-09, 04:12 PM

EveryTrail

This is the best I can do so far about pics. There are a few in there that I *think* are the road.

Trollhole · 05-25-09, 05:35 PM

I think I have camped on or near that road. I remember the Black Balsom Rd there was a parking lot we left the vehicles From there I think we went down to Laurel Creek. Wish I would have know there was a road up there. This was probably 4 years ago.

BillWright · 05-25-09, 05:45 PM

I put it on my calendar. I'm in unless TEOTWAWKI occurs.
b

eventhough · 05-25-09, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollhole

I think I have camped on or near that road. I remember the Black Balsom Rd there was a parking lot we left the vehicles From there I think we went down to Laurel Creek. Wish I would have know there was a road up there. This was probably 4 years ago.

Kinda sounds like what Chad told me and what I've read online. I *think* there is a parking lot you stop at and most people hike in if the road is closed (1/2 of the year) or you can drive further up like I plan on doing this coming weekend.

dbenke · 05-25-09, 08:02 PM

Looks soooo famillar I remember iking it wishing I had the 62. Well past the parking lot anyway
Steve, I can't believe your'e going to Black Balsam this weekend and not to URE w/ us. This is going to be the biggest "anything" (meetings,wheeling, Hamom,etc) the LLC has had.

eventhough · 05-26-09, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbenke

Looks soooo famillar I remember iking it wishing I had the 62. Well past the parking lot anyway
Steve, I can't believe your'e going to Black Balsam this weekend and not to URE w/ us. This is going to be the biggest "anything" (meetings,wheeling, Hamom,etc) the LLC has had.

I wish I could make URE too but this is my anniversary weekend and the wife said she wanted to go camping with the Boys (our two dogs)...so to be able to live another day I have to make her happy!

dbenke · 05-26-09, 11:30 AM

DAMN WOMEN!!!! Oops, did I say that out loud

ClemsonCruiser · 05-27-09, 08:52 AM

Love the area and have been down the road a couple of times in the old 62 camping with the wife.... it is a truly beautiful area. I would love to join up for this one.

Just and FYI although I haven't been down the Ivestor Gap road in several years it used to only be open Aug 1st thru Jan 1st..... that is if my memory severs me correctly. I could be way off or things might well have changed since the last time I rode down it but you might want to look into exactly when it is open

*edit I just read the trip is for Sept 12-13 so everything should be fine*

99UZJay · 05-27-09, 02:25 PM

When was the last time anyone went down the road? I did it last year, and it is washed out and the rocks are pretty sharp (almost cut a sidewall) + I got dressed down by a NPS ranger upon exit at the gate. If anyone has been since last fall, let me know.....

delta21 · 05-27-09, 02:51 PM

Last fall I was up there around Labor day, there were several vehicles using the road. There is a sign at the beginning of the road that states "not recommended for vehicular travel" But it does not say not to use it. It is on the map as a road and if the gate is open the road should be open to use at your own risk. I did say in the introduction that this is a rough un-maintained road that requires a high clearance vehicle. What did the ranger say to you?

Chad

99UZJay · 05-27-09, 02:57 PM

He said that the road was closed to vehicular traffic due to the wash and pedestrian traffic (you get funny looks from hikers) I asked why the gate was open, and he told me it was for horseback riders. He said to not go up there again, and I didn't argue, thanked him for the warning and not a ticket and went about my merry way. The vehicle I was in was my 3" lifted 60 with 33's and I still pegged my diff at least 4-5 times needing a spotter to get me around it.

BillWright · 05-27-09, 03:09 PM

Sounds like our kinda road to me.

I'd rather ask forgiveness than permission anyway. See what it got us at Cullowhee eh?
b

eventhough · 05-28-09, 07:26 AM

Here is what I know: According to the FS Road Map and the USFS Visitors Center just outside Breveard, Black Balsam Rd (FS 816) is open year round from the BRP to a parking area with a pit toiled where the road ends. I've been told though by several people that the road is only open appx August through end of December. The road is not very long (~1.2 miles) and unmaintained. I'm going to try and check it out tomorrow morning to see if it is open or not. If it is open to the end I'll camp there tomorrow night.

Camping areas are located about 1,000 feet off the road and parking areas which works out well b/c you are supposed to be about 1,000 feet or 1/4 miles off the road or parking area to camp.

From what I've seen on the 'official' FS Map and been told by the Visitor's Center everything is 'Go for Takeoff...' unless I hear otherwise.

ClemsonCruiser · 05-28-09, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eventhough

Here is what I know: According to the FS Road Map and the USFS Visitors Center just outside Breveard, Black Balsam Rd (FS 816) is open year round from the BRP to a parking area with a pit toiled where the road ends. I've been told though by several people that the road is only open appx August through end of December. The road is not very long (~1.2 miles) and unmaintained. I'm going to try and check it out tomorrow morning to see if it is open or not. If it is open to the end I'll camp there tomorrow night.

Camping areas are located about 1,000 feet off the road and parking areas which works out well b/c you are supposed to be about 1,000 feet or 1/4 miles off the road or parking area to camp.

From what I've seen on the 'official' FS Map and been told by the Visitor's Center everything is 'Go for Takeoff...' unless I hear otherwise.

Steve, the initial road off the parkway(BlackBalsam rd.) to the pit toilets is open year round; it is Ivestor Gap road which starts where the parking lot/pit toilets are that is opened seasonally.

hope that helps

eventhough · 05-28-09, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClemsonCruiser

Steve, the initial road off the parkway(BlackBalsam rd.) to the pit toilets is open year round; it is Ivestor Gap road which starts where the parking lot/pit toilets are that is opened seasonally.

hope that helps

Hmmm - I'm going to have to check it out. I've been told by a couple of parties that the road ends at the pit toilet...

dbenke · 05-28-09, 10:58 AM

We hiked part of it going to Shining Rock. It doesn't open until Aug 15 I think. But I know it was Aug.

99UZJay · 05-28-09, 11:19 AM

No it goes on from the toilets, trust me... I drove it last year in the fall, but it is washed out ~ .7-1mi in, cause I had to do an austin powers 88 point turn to get back out. Not to mention the looks from the hikers.

eventhough · 05-28-09, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 99UZJay

No it goes on from the toilets, trust me... I drove it last year in the fall, but it is washed out ~ .7-1mi in, cause I had to do an austin powers 88 point turn to get back out. Not to mention the looks from the hikers.

10-4 I'll look into it this weekend while I am up there.