Is there a group camp site at Windrock?
Third Annual Southeast 70 Series Meet & Greet
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I know there are guys that plan to camp but I don't know if they will be able to cluster together.
elkaholic
Left turn ...freakin wipers!
There is a group site and an event area, but our price of admission does not give us the budget to book them. Perhaps in future events ....
WanderinWhitlows
Official IH8MUD street taco inspector
You guys and your toys....
I have a 3 year old Samsung camera phone that we can use as a backup. I can stand on my roof rack to get aerial shots.
Don't sweat it, my LG flip phone will fill in the gaps.
Kidding, will have some GoPro's, a steady cam, and a drone as well.
9 days to go ...... 
A group of us will be departing South Georgia fairly early on Thursday (September 21) and at that time I'll publish my cell number for those that might require last minute information throughout the weekend.
A group of us will be departing South Georgia fairly early on Thursday (September 21) and at that time I'll publish my cell number for those that might require last minute information throughout the weekend.
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Ladies and Gentleman, To quote the local farmers "we are now in the short rows" so if you haven't already done so it's time to clear your calendars, make those last minute repairs and fuel up.
The "meat & taters" of the event:
Friday's Ride
This ride will require every person to have a Windrock permit and one person per rig (preferably the driver) to have a WMA permit. Please see my earlier posts. We can purchase the Windrock permits on site. I highly recommend purchasing the WMA permit online prior to the ride. When you purchase it, you can specify the effective date.
This ride will be more of an expedition quality with great viewsheds and natural settings. On my last trip, I jumped a 4x4 elk here and we will be in the area at the beginning of bugling season.
The ride Friday will cover a variety of terrain and road / trail conditions from pavement to hardpack clay (that will be very slippery if we have any liquid sunshine) to gravel roads to abandoned coal haul roads (which can be rough - I smashed my tailpipe and tweaked my rear bumper on one of these last year). Depending upon my quick review on Thursday, we will either leave the Windrock parking lot and go up trail 2 or go back to Oliver Springs and enter the park on Big Mountain road. Our first big destination will be the overlook at Windrock Fields (aka Top of Windrock). We will then make our way down G39 and out to TN Hwy 116. On Hwy 116 we will pass the old coal cleaning plant at Moore's Camp and enter Royal Blue WMA just past the old Rosedale School. We will then climb the mountain, driving through old surface mine areas, passing a current logging job ad pausing to gawk the the 4 shafts of a recently closed deep coal mine. By this time, it will likely be lunch time. The trail will continue on a two track that will come out on Patterson Cemetery Road. If we have time, we will pause at the cemetery and marvel at the toughness of life in these mountains more than 100 years ago. The trail will continue with a nice crossing of Ligas Fork and we'll emerge on TN Hwy 116 again.
We'll hang a right and climb the backbone ridge on 116 and re-enter Windrock Park. Depending upon time, we will have several choices at this time. One of the more interesting ones is a out and bac run to a WWII radar base that has recently become accessible again now that mining has ceased. This base was installed to protect the Manhattan Project sites in Oak Ridge and while the radar is gone, the old block buildings are still there and the site is used for radio and TV broadcast transmitters. The recent mining areas will allow for some great views and a few challenges. The goal will be to return to the Windrock Parking lot by ~5 - 6 PM having covered between 40 and 70 miles of dirt, depending upon conditions and our pace.
Saturday's Ride
The Saturday ride will have a bit more challenge, but similar views. For those that want a similar ride to Friday, I can provide a suggested route. Likewise, for those that want more challenge, I can also make suggestions.
My goal for the Saturday ride is to focus more on trail riding. We will likely cover trails 2, 4, 83, 39, 11, 8 (maybe), 13 (maybe) and others. The layout of Windrock is such that we can combine trails to make loops through and around the mountains at varying elevations. Those of us w/o roof racks, may make a loop that will approximate last year's Saturday ride. the reason for the loops and trail focus on Saturday is that we have our catered dinner and raffle Saturday night and we will need to be able to have a few of the organizers peel off mid afternoon to prep ... plus it is frowned upon to return from the trails at 9PM for a 5:30 cocktail hour
(not that I've ever done that before)
Assuming that Irma does not clobber me this weekend, I will work next weekl to post some Google Earth files for those that would like to see the routes.
For those that would like GPS maps of the area, please PM me and I'll point you to a gentleman that sells a comprehensive GPS map of the area (yes there is a free one out there, but it has maybe 25% of the trails on it).
Friday's Ride
This ride will require every person to have a Windrock permit and one person per rig (preferably the driver) to have a WMA permit. Please see my earlier posts. We can purchase the Windrock permits on site. I highly recommend purchasing the WMA permit online prior to the ride. When you purchase it, you can specify the effective date.
This ride will be more of an expedition quality with great viewsheds and natural settings. On my last trip, I jumped a 4x4 elk here and we will be in the area at the beginning of bugling season.
The ride Friday will cover a variety of terrain and road / trail conditions from pavement to hardpack clay (that will be very slippery if we have any liquid sunshine) to gravel roads to abandoned coal haul roads (which can be rough - I smashed my tailpipe and tweaked my rear bumper on one of these last year). Depending upon my quick review on Thursday, we will either leave the Windrock parking lot and go up trail 2 or go back to Oliver Springs and enter the park on Big Mountain road. Our first big destination will be the overlook at Windrock Fields (aka Top of Windrock). We will then make our way down G39 and out to TN Hwy 116. On Hwy 116 we will pass the old coal cleaning plant at Moore's Camp and enter Royal Blue WMA just past the old Rosedale School. We will then climb the mountain, driving through old surface mine areas, passing a current logging job ad pausing to gawk the the 4 shafts of a recently closed deep coal mine. By this time, it will likely be lunch time. The trail will continue on a two track that will come out on Patterson Cemetery Road. If we have time, we will pause at the cemetery and marvel at the toughness of life in these mountains more than 100 years ago. The trail will continue with a nice crossing of Ligas Fork and we'll emerge on TN Hwy 116 again.
We'll hang a right and climb the backbone ridge on 116 and re-enter Windrock Park. Depending upon time, we will have several choices at this time. One of the more interesting ones is a out and bac run to a WWII radar base that has recently become accessible again now that mining has ceased. This base was installed to protect the Manhattan Project sites in Oak Ridge and while the radar is gone, the old block buildings are still there and the site is used for radio and TV broadcast transmitters. The recent mining areas will allow for some great views and a few challenges. The goal will be to return to the Windrock Parking lot by ~5 - 6 PM having covered between 40 and 70 miles of dirt, depending upon conditions and our pace.
Saturday's Ride
The Saturday ride will have a bit more challenge, but similar views. For those that want a similar ride to Friday, I can provide a suggested route. Likewise, for those that want more challenge, I can also make suggestions.
My goal for the Saturday ride is to focus more on trail riding. We will likely cover trails 2, 4, 83, 39, 11, 8 (maybe), 13 (maybe) and others. The layout of Windrock is such that we can combine trails to make loops through and around the mountains at varying elevations. Those of us w/o roof racks, may make a loop that will approximate last year's Saturday ride. the reason for the loops and trail focus on Saturday is that we have our catered dinner and raffle Saturday night and we will need to be able to have a few of the organizers peel off mid afternoon to prep ... plus it is frowned upon to return from the trails at 9PM for a 5:30 cocktail hour
(not that I've ever done that before)Assuming that Irma does not clobber me this weekend, I will work next weekl to post some Google Earth files for those that would like to see the routes.
For those that would like GPS maps of the area, please PM me and I'll point you to a gentleman that sells a comprehensive GPS map of the area (yes there is a free one out there, but it has maybe 25% of the trails on it).
Just a quick howdy - I'll see you all there. I'm driving home the week before from Ozark, MO in a gorgeous new 1988 BJ73. Some guy named Steve Jackson imports these things from South Africa through a Nigerian holding company - they have Land Rover engines and are titled as Tacomas but he says the EPA and the DOT don't pay any attention. 
Most excellent !!!Just a quick howdy - I'll see you all there. I'm driving home the week before from Ozark, MO in a gorgeous new 1988 BJ73. Some guy named Steve Jackson imports these things from South Africa through a Nigerian holding company - they have Land Rover engines and are titled as Tacomas but he says the EPA and the DOT don't pay any attention.
At your convenience, please let me know what day you plan to arrive.
Thanks
Sadly I can only come for Saturday. I'll be there all day though. What time should I plan on getting to the park that morning?
Well if you're going to show up for only one day, Saturday's the day. Most trail rides will start around 9:00am.
@elkaholic can chime in if the time needs to be tweaked. Look forward to meeting you.
Spare mounted and balanced. 255/85r16 cooper st maxx. If anyone is curious it's about a 32.5x10
Decided on these after speaking with @WanderinWhitlows. I'll be getting the other 4 as funds permit.
Decided on these after speaking with @WanderinWhitlows. I'll be getting the other 4 as funds permit.
Thanks guys, Here is the updated list. I'll continue to update the list as the responses arrive.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@Gun Runner 5 ..... HZJ77 ..... Thursday
@joekatana ..... HZJ73 ..... Thursday
@Tredwards ..... FZJ80 ..... Thursday
@GreaseMonkeyJP ..... HDJ77 ..... Thursday
@LDowney .... BJ70 .... Thursday / Friday
@elkaholic ..... BJ74 ..... Thursday
@Wharthog ..... HZJ75 (Ute) ..... Thursday
@divemedic ..... PZJ77 ..... Late Friday / Saturday
@AndrewHadji ..... HZJ75 ..... Thursday
@WanderinWhitlows ..... HZJ77 ..... Thursday
@The Eradicator ..... BJ73 ...... Friday
@Kentex Rick ..... FZJ80 ..... Thursday
@Beastiethe70 ..... BJ70 ..... Friday
Rob Smith ..... Odd Iron Off Road ..... Thursday
John Bailey ..... Mercedes Unimog ..... Thursday
@Marv5 ..... BJ74 ..... Thursday
@chrisspaulding ..... HDJ73 ..... Thursday
@jmlockwood ..... LX450 ...... Thursday
@jasonbraswell ..... FJ40 ..... Friday
@ufg8r ..... FJ60 ..... Friday
@Tennessee Jed ..... BJ73 ..... Saturday
@athensrep ..... HJ75 ..... Friday
22 Rigs To Date
***
Last Updated 9/15
----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@Gun Runner 5 ..... HZJ77 ..... Thursday
@joekatana ..... HZJ73 ..... Thursday
@Tredwards ..... FZJ80 ..... Thursday
@GreaseMonkeyJP ..... HDJ77 ..... Thursday
@LDowney .... BJ70 .... Thursday / Friday
@elkaholic ..... BJ74 ..... Thursday
@Wharthog ..... HZJ75 (Ute) ..... Thursday
@divemedic ..... PZJ77 ..... Late Friday / Saturday
@AndrewHadji ..... HZJ75 ..... Thursday
@WanderinWhitlows ..... HZJ77 ..... Thursday
@The Eradicator ..... BJ73 ...... Friday
@Kentex Rick ..... FZJ80 ..... Thursday
@Beastiethe70 ..... BJ70 ..... Friday
Rob Smith ..... Odd Iron Off Road ..... Thursday
John Bailey ..... Mercedes Unimog ..... Thursday
@Marv5 ..... BJ74 ..... Thursday
@chrisspaulding ..... HDJ73 ..... Thursday
@jmlockwood ..... LX450 ...... Thursday
@jasonbraswell ..... FJ40 ..... Friday
@ufg8r ..... FJ60 ..... Friday
@Tennessee Jed ..... BJ73 ..... Saturday
@athensrep ..... HJ75 ..... Friday
22 Rigs To Date
***
Last Updated 9/15
----------------------------------------------------------
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Purchasing your WMA permit ..... Step 1
Go Outdoors Tennessee
Go Outdoors Tennessee
Step 2 .... Select Online Licenses & Permits
Scroll down until you see "High Impact non resident 1 day" ....(038)
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