Cullowhee Winter Fun Run Feb 23-25

[GXO]

That park is a good idea. The BP has a small lot, the park has a big un and lets us stock up at BP for fuel, etc one by one.

how about I just follow you Rick!

When/where you want to meet in ATL?

 

[little_joe]

Joe--

from I-40
exit 27 US 74
merge US 23 S US 74W
exit 85 US 23 bus ( 107 cullawhee WCU)
keep left and stay on US 23
LEFT on 107S
stay on 107 and pass by Western Carolina University
BP is less than 5 miles on your right

what day ya leavin? got room for my passenger?

I have plenty of space, let me know if you want me to pick someone up or just chauffeur on the trails.

I am leaving Friday, time TBD, I have the day off so I can leave whenever. Returning to the RTP area Sunday, time is open as well.

And BTW thank you and Marshall very much for the directions and maps!

<Edit>One issue: I smoke. I try to be courteous to passengers but I still smoke.</edit>

 

[BMThiker]

That park is a good idea. The BP has a small lot, the park has a big un and lets us stock up at BP for fuel, etc one by one.

how about I just follow you Rick!

When/where you want to meet in ATL?

How about the Mall of GA? That puts us right there at 985.

If we stop there for breakfast, then let's meet at 8:30. I think there is a Chik-fil-A. I don't know the restaurants that well up there, so I'm open to suggestions.

 

[GXO]

Mall of GA works for me. 8:30 works. Steen, if you don't have a vehicle I can make your house on the way to get you and your gear. Plenty of room.

Rick, there is an IHOP just west of 985. Would work well for a meeting place.

 

[steenh]

Don't jinx me! I need to drive... but just in case you know where I live and I appreciate not being left behind!

I can leave whenever you are ready... early bird. I'll be a pot of coffee in by the time you get here.

 

[BMThiker]

Mall of GA works for me. 8:30 works. Steen, if you don't have a vehicle I can make your house on the way to get you and your gear. Plenty of room.

Rick, there is an IHOP just west of 985. Would work well for a meeting place.

IHOP, UHOP, WE-ALL-HOP for pancakes!

 

[Trollhole]

I talked with JP about the trails Sat. He suggested the camping group do the trails up to the bald and camp Friday night. We (the Cabin group will get up Saturday morning and drive up to the bald via the easy route. Where we can have an early lunch. If we left the cabin around 9 we should be at the bald by at leat 11. Then those that wanted to camp could do so and do the trails and those that want to come back to the cabin could do so.

My thought for the camping group is to do a reverse of the last trip we did.
The cabin group would do the easy trail to the bald and then decide how whether we want to back track or go down the harder way.

Just so we all know that there is no trail in Cullowhee that doesn't have some small limps hanging out in the trail. There will be some east coast pinstriping. But nothing that couldn't be buffed out. The trails for the camping group will be harder and if you decided to take them realize that you might get some dings and dents. We had very few problems last time.

I'm planning on the cabin group staying out about 4 hrs round trip with about half of that being on gravel and dirt roads. Plan on packing a lunch for Sat on the bald. When we get back to the cabin I would like to take some vehicles and explore the trails above the Cabin.


I'll be riding with Chuck this coming weekend. We are hoping to get up to meet the camping group before they hit the trails on Friday and go over the trail maps and plan of action. Then we will go to the cabin and wait on the rest of the group.

 

[jfz80]

My personal preference would be for the camping group to head up Caney Fork trail at the end of caney fork rd. instead of up moses creek. i feel that the challenges proposed by moses creek are limited to ruts and slop whereas the climb up caney fork is more rocks, ruts, some three wheel action and small ledges ( ie the fun stuff) we could still head back down moses creek or the trail that lead back to the standing chimney and head over to bear camp from there. I got a couple maps to bring too, im sure it'll all pan out in the parking lot. cant wait!!!

 

[Trollhole]

This is basically what we are planning on doing. The cabin group will be taking Moses Creek to the bald where will meet the Camping group for an early lunch. Then we split off. I figured the camping group would basically do a reverse of the Fall ride. Going up Caney Fork to the bald Friday.

 

[Trollhole]

Directions to the cabin from what I can remember.


Two ways to do this. If your in G'ville I'd got the Asheville way

If your around Clemson Then I would go the Cashiers way.

Greenville

hwy 25 North to hwy 26

when you get to Asheville take I40 West exit 32b


At exit 32B, take ramp LEFT to I-40 West (18.4 mi)

At exit 27, take ramp RIGHT to US-74 West (1.4 mi)

Take ramp RIGHT to US-19 South / US-23 West / US-74 / Great Smoky Mountains Expy (20.6 mi)

Take exit 85 toward Cullowhee / US-23-Br / W Carolina Univ (1.8 mi)

Turn LEFT (east) onto SR-107 (6.5 mi)

Go past Western Carolina

Turn RIGHT (southwest) onto Speedwell Rd (1 mi)

There is some sort of baseball field on the right

Bear LEFT (south) onto Cullowhee Mountain Rd (2.8 mi)

Bear RIGHT ON DRIVEWAY(west)

This is where it gets tricky. The driveway off the house has no markers. I will make sure I have something out on the road to help you know where to turn.
Once you cross over the stream the road forks (stay right) house will be on the right about 50 yards up on the right.

If you get lost Call me @ 864-414-0563 or try the FRS radio channel 10



********************************************************************

Directions for Clemson area People


Hwy123/76 into Seneca

Take Right on Hwy 28 for about 15.2 miles

Take Right on Hwy 107 for about 41.4 miles

You will go through the town of Cashiers (cool town)

If your meeting the camping group the BP and Park will be on your left.

If your going to the cabin group keep going on hwy 107 for about 2.3 miles and take a left on speedwell rd

Then see directions from Speedwell Rd above.

If you get lost don't panic. Take your time. Go back and recheck where your last good postion was. If your camping and cannot get to the spot before they leave call Rick Carswell. He will determine if they can wait or that you just need to go to the house and come join the group Sat. Do not attempt to go on the trails alone to find them. Camping spots are not guaranteed, they may have to make adjustments friday night. You can get lost on these trails easily if you do not know the area. If you decide to go it alone the club will not come and look for you.

 

[Trollhole]

Study this map. and print out the directions above. Always carry a road map or maps of the roads you are traveling.

http://local.live.com/?v=2&sp=Point...y meet__~Point.pwghkz8242q3_BP Gas station___

 

[Trollhole]

Cabin group.


I will be buying forks, knives, paper plates, paper towels, coffee and Charcoal for the group. Be prepared to cook your own food. BYOB The house is furnished and has all the stuff to cook. Bring something to sleep on just incase there are not enough beds for everyone. Bring your own towels.

You can camp around the house if you want there is plenty of room. I will work on getting wood for the weekend for the inside of the house as well as outside.

 

[Trollhole]

I found a cool 3-d pic of the cabin and the trails behind it we will be exploring.

And this is roughly the land that my friend owns so we have a good chunk of private land we will be on. From my understanding this trail goes all the way over the mountain and about 3 or 4 miles on the other side.

 

[BMThiker]

Hey, Marshall I just installed the Beta 3D viewer for Windows Live and it is pretty cool. The downside is you cannot always print what you see. But you can scroll around the trails, rotate you view and change your horizon pitch angle. It looks like the imagery was from winter time because you can see all the trails.

Here's a screen cap:

 

[Trollhole]

Who in the cabin group besides me has GPS?

And does anyone know the coordinates of the Bald we always camp on?

Heather?

 

[BMThiker]

Marshall, comparing the image Heather posted up from the last trip with her GPS track overlayed with my Topo 5 software...

I'd peg our campsite at N35* 22.507' W83* 2.243'
That should be close enough to find it anyways.

 

[Trollhole]

Pecfect. Thanks Rick. I thought that was the spot but just wanted to make sure.

 

[Trollhole]

Pretty crazy.

From the campsite on the bald.

And the 3-d view. Pretty close. #1 is the cabin and #2 &#3 or the bp and park. The Campsite we stayed on the friday of the last trip is on the far right of the pic.

 

[GXO]

That is freakin crazy cool.

 

[BMThiker]

You know, I was just "eyeballing" the 3D view, but it looks like Marshall hit it pretty close to the mark after looking at photo. That is freakin crazy cool.