October 2011 Event: Brown Mt. Ride

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GarnerFJ40

GarnerFJ40

10 Year 15 Year
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Mar 10, 2007
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199
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Location
Garner, NC
October 20-23, 2011

The Lights have evaded us for long enough. Multiple months have tried or patience on the elusive Brown Mountain lights, even Park Rangers have kicked us out of our campsite because they're trying to keep us from the truth!

We'll find a campsite worthy of our presence and use it as our basecamp as we visit Linville Falls, Table Rock, Forest Roads, and Brown Mountain OHV trails.

Keep checking back for more information and registration details...

 
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All, I'll start the discussion for this ride. There are 3 or so options as far as accommodations.

1. Stay at Linville
2. Stay at Lake James
3. Try out Mortimer Group camp

I'm leaning towards Mortimer, but the problem is it's first come first serve so we're not guaranteed a spot, but I've heard from people who have stayed there, that this is usually not a problem.

The other 2 are well known for their issues... I would like to actually get out of the campsite to take a look for the lights this year...

Who's in for this ride?
 
I'm interested. Does anyone want to "car pool" on this trip? I can meet in Raleigh or Greensboro... I will pay for half of fuel....let me know if anybody is interested.
 
Greg Juan Maria and I stayed at Brown Mtn camp the 1st time we went out there. I don't recall any group sites, but it may be worth checking out? It was a very nice NPS campground.

/me will not stay at Lake James SP again............
 
the lynville gorge place we stayed at was nice except the whole getting botted to group camp thing.

Why not just stay at the campsites that are on or near the trail system?
 
GarnerFJ40 said:
I'm game, the deciding factor is usually the bathroom/shower facilities...
Click to expand...

Well there is always the possibility of splitting into two groups but I do remember them having working toilets there they may have showers also.
 
Im gonna try to make this. Can the ole Stock FJ make it? Should atleast have some sliders by then.....
 
I went to Western Carolina and have personally seen "lights" not the Brown Mountian lights but somewhere else near Western on the Parkway, pretty awesome stuff....hopefully they will be out at BM.
 
For what its worth, Ive stayed at mortimer before and it was nice. Did not fill up last October untill late saturday. As well there is a nice parking area at the front with two larger walk in sites and a large covered picnic shelter that could be nice for group meals/activities. Working bathrooms and showers (2ea) and a good base camp to explore from.


As well there are roadside campsites along Craig Creek rd. No facilities, but there are two sites 50yrds apart that would fit 10 trucks b/w the two of them as long as we dont have any midnight lumberjacks among the group :D this is just a 10 min drive from Wilson ck visitors center and trading post for necessities as well as pristine swimming/fishing holes for all to enjoy.

there is a FSR that leads out of murphy place road, just past the southern end of wilson creek along Brown Mtn beach road. It is NOT worth exploring. It is simply a long gravel road that is very well maintained for being an Unmaintained road. It comes out in Maple grove on US 90 near mortimer.

The brown mountain OHV trails are actually labeled FR299 at the northern end and spit out at craigs creek road (gated though) This road continues across and climbs and climbs to a nice ridgeline with a limited # of roadside campsites.

There is also the Wilson creek lodge that I have not witnessed or stayed at but the internet makes it sound promising. As well on US 90 just east of mortimer there is a small lodge that looks like personal property but is labeled a lodge at the drive entrance. It looked nice if it was open/available.

If you keep heading up 90 past mortimer camp (not town of mortimer) you reach edgemont. Proceeding into edgemont and through I am not certain what awaits you, but looked interesting. Worth the drive to see Coffey's General store there. Might even be a good place to ask for options.
HOWEVER if you turn left here up Timber ridge rd you will be heading to roseborough road. Off the side of this road is FR 192 which is not difficult but finally is something a bit less maintained than graded gravel. As well this intersection is at a long time favorite primitive camp spot with plenty of room for vehicles but it fills up early. Excellent fishing and hiking along Lost Cove trail here. IT loops back into roseborough rd via the map but I did not witness the first entrance unless it was the gated rocky creek branch access we saw. :( if no loop it connects to a paved portion of 192 in BFE.

Further up Roseboro rd there is a fun but very short lil 4x4 loop just shy of rattlesnake cliffs sub'd.

another ten minutes and your on the parkway
 
Looks like Jason already gave you a bunch of good info.

I'm pretty familiar with the area. There is the USFS campsite you are talking about, several primitive campsites along Old NC 105 (follows western rim of the gorge) but you need a permit to camp in some of these (east side of 105 IIRC).

There is also a primitive campsite in Mortimer called Old Betsey's. Neat place, has a small cabin and Teepee, a field to camp in, and a stocked trout pond. You can reserve space there.

Not any real hard wheeling in the area but plenty of places to poke around and explore.
 
I am not that familiar with brown mtn area but I do know the linville gorge fairly well. The camp ground at the linville falls is very nice no showers but a well maintained bathroom. There is also the camp ground on price lake which is not far and ofers plenty of fishing. They also rent row boats and canoe's there on the lake.
If you don't mind roughing it there is Kesller memorial hwy ( gravel road ) that leads up into the gorge and has many camping spots along the rim that offer some great views.
I hope this helps, I hope to get a chance to meet up with you guys if not at URE then this one for sure.
 
There shouldn't be much cost on these rides really, especially the december one as the club pays for normal uwharrie camp sites with club dues.
 
So where is this place? If i looked at the correct map, it looks closer than URE from the burlington area. And from what jason said, doesnt seem like much wheeling... Got the bronco back up to par, and want to try her out.
 
Uwharrie is closer to you Ryan.

This is north of Morganton by about an hour to parking at the campsite. 2.5-3 hrs from you.
I-40 to 181 north in morganton, R brown mtn beach road.
 
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