Black Balsam Camping trip 8/26-8/28

[dohcdelsol93]

got the ok from the ranger station supervisor, the FS road that starts near the pot toilets opens Aug 15th for hunting season and closes at the end of hunting season. During this time vehicle traffic is a GO!!!

I'm leaving work early that friday at noon and meeting Gimpy in pickens since he's along the way.

It's about 2 hrs cruiser drive time from downtown greenville.

Should be a pretty good little trail up there with plenty of camping space if we get there early (hince the noon departer from g-vegas)

Don't have room for too many rigs (maybe someone who's been there before can chim in on what the cut off should be)

as of now its

1)me
2)gimpy
3)jimbo

anyone interested is free to join us. I'll have my 3 yr old with me.
Gabe, you bringing one of your many children?

 

[dohcdelsol93]

will someone with a camera come along to take pics of my rig

 

[the gimpey one]

lol i plan on bringing a camera.

 

[the gimpey one]

is this the rd we drive up to balsam?

 

[Southeast Overland]

is this the rd we drive up to balsam?

Can you attach a slightly smaller pic?

 

[dbenke]

It's right off fo the BRP, about 1 1/2 miles to the parking area/ gate.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

The are 3 or 4 camping areas spread out along the trail.... all of them are in the 3 to 4 vehicle size range, except for the huge one at the end of the trail it is roughly the size of a football field and you could get 20 to 30 rigs in there easy but I imagine the FS would not be keen on that


Here is last years thread when we camped at Black Balsam, lots of good pics of the camp and trail in on the last two pages, you guys are in for a treat it is an awesome area great views and tons of hiking trails.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/sc-upstate-cruisers/413144-parkway-cruzzz-oct-16-2010-a-4.html

 

[3pits]

whats the itinerary?

 

[the gimpey one]

whats the itinerary?

the guys are meeting me at my house in pickens around lunch or sometime after. We can make it up there in an hour to an hour and a half. Especially since the dent has the 2f still. Once we get there set up camp and drink/relax. As for all day saturday i imagine explore the surrounding area. I have never hiked before but am game for anything.

 

[dohcdelsol93]

definately hiking a bit!

mainly relaxing!

 

[the gimpey one]

gonna watch josh's son run him ragged!

 

[dbenke]

You should go on up to the top to shining rock, If you take the FS road, (bear left0 it's not too steep and a nice clImb. Views for milles. It's the largest quartz out-cropping in the world...visible from space....Pretty cool.
We're heading there in Sept to do some backpacking. We'll be camping on the top.

 

[BMThiker]

Can you attach a slightly smaller pic?

Click, click, click. I tried clicking on it to make it bigger and thought something was wrong with my mouse! LOL!

 

[dohcdelsol93]

my kid will probably run me into the ground.

 

[the gimpey one]

dunno if i am going to bring anyone or not.

 

[dohcdelsol93]

my daughter really wants to go but the wife doesn't want her to attend unless she comes along. I'm thinking the FS road + a 40 might put her in premature labor.

I was hoping to bring the daughter and leave the 3 yr old at home.

 

[the gimpey one]

we need to watch the weather. May have a tropical storm hitting this weekend. I do not care to get washed off the mountain.

 

[3pits]

I am going to be in greenville around 8 am Sunday and have the day to hang out,, I was thinking of coming up if you guys will be driving any FS roads..

 

[dohcdelsol93]

there are no FS roads in greenville that i know of or i would already have hit them up!!! I do know of a few places in the greenville area to ride but they are more mud holes than trails (i prefer trails)

I don't know much about the black balsma area but if there are any roads up there that some one knows about and doesn't mind sharing/showing them to us (via pm if on the board) i'd love to have a group trip out while there other than just the drive to/from the camp site.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

there are no FS roads in greenville that i know of or i would already have hit them up!!! I do know of a few places in the greenville area to ride but they are more mud holes than trails (i prefer trails)

I don't know much about the black balsma area but if there are any roads up there that some one knows about and doesn't mind sharing/showing them to us (via pm if on the board) i'd love to have a group trip out while there other than just the drive to/from the camp site.

There are quite a few FS roads in the national forest around Black Balsam, but nothing that requires 4wd..... your next option for real 4wd is Hurricane Creek off of I-40 at MM8, it is prob. a 1hour drive from Black Balsam. Cullowhee is only about 30 minutes away, but obviously 95% of the trails have been closed there