Our club, Central North Carolina 4x4 Club, recently went on a trail ride to Black Mountain Off Road Park. This is typically referred to as Harlan, KY. We created a write-up of the trip. Our club likes to wheel the best places in the US. We make sure everyone gets to, through and back home. This trip was a testament to that.
The complete report of the trip in detail can be found on our club website.
Trip Write-up on our website:
http://www.cnc4x4.org/traildust/harlan_160305/harlan_1603.htm
More pictures of the event:
http://s1301.photobucket.com/user/cnc4x4photos/library/2016%2003%20Harlan%20KY?sort=3&page=1
http://www.blackmountainoffroad.com/
http://www.http://www.cnc4x4.org/
http://www.facebook.com/CNC4x4
Thank you,
Scott Roberts
CNC 4x4 Club Public Relations
Viewing entries in
parks
2016 UNF March Trail Revamp was a
huge success!
Over the two last day weekend, a total of 224 volunteers came together as one 4WD family to complete projects on our Uwharrie OHV trail system with heavy concentration on our Daniel trail.
Preparation for this work weekend began in December. Once we were notified that we had been granted the generous funds from Southern and OMIX, we immediately began putting plans into action. Darin Touw spent the better part of three months riding trails, measuring, planning, determining re-routes, analyzing terrain and plotting GPS coordinates. He worked closely with Terry Savery, USFS Recreation Specialist and Joel Hardison, Zone Archeologist, flagging areas for guard rail installation and mulching. The three of them met dozens of times to plan, organize directives and produce mapping for the teams and determine material needs.
224 volunteers came together as one 4WD family to complete projects on our Uwharrie OHV trail system
My job was to promote the event to all clubs, contact vendors and prospect sponsors via phone, email and letters to ask that they supply promotion materials to reward our volunteers. Countless numbers of hours were dedicated to this task. My posts on Facebook reached over 17,000 people in the NC, SC and VA states. I also spent a great deal of time lining up donors to cover costs of equipment. We were rewarded by receiving approximately $3500 in new tool donations from individuals and clubs for the work weekend and will continue to utilize these items for each volunteer workday in the future (this amount is not included within the figure reported for the USFS contribution). We received pole saws, augers, shovels, rakes, post hole diggers, rock bars, sockets, loppers, shears, gas cans, gloves, safety glasses, pick axes, sledge hammers, etc.
Chris Brower, our treasurer, was tasked with receiving donation checks and issuing receipts and managing our funds. He also served as our chef during the event, planning and preparing dinner for all volunteers on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday. We received many compliments on his cooking and there were no leftovers!
Several weeks prior to the big event, Darin, along with several clubs, spent their weekends moving materials to the proposed job sites with the goal of having as much in place as possible to maximize work hours on the weekend.
Volunteers from the following clubs, as well as individuals, came from North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia: C.O.R.E, Mud N' Blood, Jeepers United, Triad Jeep Club, Land Rover Experience, Carolina Trail Blazers, CNC4x4, Carolina Broncos, CROC, LKN Jeepstyle, CB4x4, Olde North State Cruisers, Nomad Jeeps, Black Sheep Jeep NC, Mid Carolina Jeepers, Jeep TJ, NAXJA, True Patriot Inc., 4WP, 7 Slot Jeepers, Wicked Jeeps and Banana Slap.
We began the day with a sign-in followed by safety briefings then gave our donated gifts to our volunteers via raffle. Thanks to our generous sponsors; Warn, Teraflex, Metal tech 4x4, Texas Roadhouse, Dick's Sporting Goods, Tread Lightly, Interco Tire, Land Rover Experience, UROTC, NC4x4, Morris 4x4, Canuck's Cruisers, True Patriot, 3M, CROC, Nomad Jeeps, Marc Holbert, NAXJA, Mud N' Blood, USFS, and Food Lion, we gave away almost $4,000 in incentive gifts. Our volunteers were very surprised at the level of support and were very motivated by the drawing.
After the drawing, we broke the large crowd into teams: Rock, Brush, Straw, Signs, Loading, Railing, Gate Keepers, Photographers, Barn, and Trash. They were given a second safety briefing and a preprinted list of goals and directions along with maps marked with specific locations for each team. After equipment check out, it was off to the trails!
Our loading team consisted of two experienced volunteers, operating skid steers which were rentals donated by OMIX-ADA and Marc Holbert of Jeepers United.
An estimated 100,000 tons of rock was applied to OHV trails by our volunteers with shovels and rakes, with the goal of increasing traction, slowing erosion, controlling drainage, and protecting sensitive areas.
The addition of the rock has made a positive impact on the longevity of this trail system. During the application alone, it greatly helped our loaded vehicles navigate slick clay areas, providing the traction necessary to climb steep areas without excessive wheel spin. Rock armoring was completed on Daniel, Wolf Den, Dickey Bell, Rocky Mountain Loop and the clay shoot on Dutch John trails. This took the better part of two days with crews working from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. each day. The second half of rock will be applied via contractor to areas that our volunteers were unable to reach with excess material being stored to utilize during the trail season.
Our mulch team applied 125 bales of straw, spread over sensitive areas on Daniel to promote seeding and growth of ground cover which will help slow erosion. This was completed on Daniel and Dickey Bell beginning at the newly installed guard railing, working backwards about 15 ft., hand raked at approximately 1.5 inches in depth.
Our railing teams were dispatched to Daniel, Dickey Bell and Wolf Den where they installed over 1 mile of guard railing to protect sensitive vegetation, block off illegal bypasses, barrier the trails and serve as protection in drop off areas. Many of the areas protected by new barriers are areas that were in danger of being re-routed or closed. For the immediate future, they will remain open because of this project.
Our Sign team consisted of about 20 vehicles which installed numbered trail markers, no camping signs, no vehicle signs on all trails.
Our brush team navigated steep terrain areas to cut vegetation away from signs, limbed all trees that may come in contact with on trail vehicles, and took care of downed trees and debris from winter storms.
Our trash team also collected over 100 bags of garbage from off trail areas. This was a very ambitious project with more than enough work planned for the expected number of volunteers. We are very excited to report that our volunteers more than just met our expectations, they far exceeded what we thought we could accomplish. Our 4WD family came together, working hard to support the sport and the environment that we love. Together through volunteer hours, donated equipment and sponsorship we were able to add $51,975.81 towards the maintenance of our trails from this single weekend project! Southern’s generous donation of the rock, has made a direct impact on our ability to enjoy this beautiful resource, and has aided in the protection some of our most beloved trails for future enjoyment. We appreciate your investment in Uwharrie and in us, the enthusiasts, who depend on each other and on great associations such as yours to keep us wheeling!
Please visit www.facebook.com/friendsofuwharrie for additional photographs.
Thank you for your continued support,
Robin Touw
Friends of Uwharrie, Media/Admin
Uwharrie National Forest
Volunteer Work Day this coming weekend
Saturday & Sunday, March 19 & 20th, 9 AM
If you can make the time to help out this weekend come join fellow SFWDA members and prospects at the Uwharrie National Forest our upcoming Volunteer Work Day led by District Recreation Staff Supervisor; Theresa Stevens Savery (Terry).
This Saturday & Sunday, March 19 & 20th we’ll be doing a lot of work and the more help we get the more we can complete. We’re going to have several teams doing signs, armoring trails with rock, brushing back the trails, picking up trash, installing guardrail & spreading straw.
We’ll be meeting on Saturday and Sunday at the Badin Lake Group Camp at 9 am. We’ll need everyone that is going to be volunteering to sign in at this location. We will have a map and the direction for the different teams typed up for everyone to hand out when we meet up on Saturday & Sunday. If you’re planning to take your vehicles onto the trails then you must meet us at the Badin Lake Group Camp at 9 am and get signed in and to get a special pass so we know who’s volunteering & can be on the trails.
Free camping has been set up for volunteers from Friday, March 18th to Sunday, March 20th at Badin Lake Group Camp at all 3 campsites. If you want to come in and set up on the Friday night so you won’t be late on Saturday morning that is ok. Please coordinate with any folks that are already set up and try to minimize the amount of space you take up so we can maximize how many campers and vehicles can get into the group camp. Please be respectful of all of the volunteers and their families that will be camping there and don’t get too rowdy at the campground. Thanks a lot.
The different type teams are listed below with the general tools they will need for their task that you could bring. If you’ve already been assigned a team by Darin then please bring what is listed for your team and what he has already asked you to bring. If you haven’t been assigned a team yet but have several of the types of tools listed below please bring an assortment of these tools so you’d be prepared for whichever team you’re on.
Straw team: Rakes, gloves, scissors or small knife, wear long sleeves and pants, sunglasses or safety glasses, a bandana, & closed toe shoes (no sandals or flip flops).
Rock team: Shovels, buckets, trailers or pick-up trucks that can go on the trails, gloves, heavy duty rakes, sunglasses or safety glasses, & closed toe shoes or work boots (no sandals or flip flops).
Railing team: Sledge Hammers, Post Hole Diggers, Gloves, 1 1/4half inch drive sockets, 1 1/8 half inch drive sockets, Rock bars, shovels, ear plugs, Pneumatic Drill, sunglasses or safety glasses, & closed toe shoes or work boots (no sandals or flip flops).
Brush team: Pole Saws, Hand loppers, Brush cutters, pruners, gloves, sunglasses or safety glasses, bug spray, after bite ointment, ethanol free fuel/oil/bar oil, wear long sleeves & pants, & closed toe shoes or work boots (no sandals or flip flops).
Sign team: Hammers, small step stool/ladders, pruners or loppers to clear around signs, sunglasses or safety glasses & closed toe shoes or work boots (no sandals or flip flops).
Trash team: Gloves, trash pick-up tools & closed toe shoes or work boots (no sandals or flip flops).
Loading team: Heavy equipment, fuel, safety gear, gloves, sunglasses or safety glasses.
Barn team: Skill saw, drill, Phillips drill bit, 1 1/4 in wood screws, 3 door hinges, 4 4x6 sheets of plywood, Phillips head screwdrivers, chisel, shims.
Bring water and food for during the day on Saturday & Sunday when you’re out on the trails. If you’re bringing kids out with you please make sure to have appropriate shoes for them & if you have work gloves for your kids already please bring them. Make sure they’re dressed appropriately for being out all day on the trails picking up trash, cutting brush, etc. for whatever team they are on.
Thanks a lot everyone.
MS Forest Resources / Watershed Management
National Forest Service
789 NC Hwy 24/27 East
Troy, NC 27371
www.fs.fed.us
Beasley Knob - "Spring Cleaning"
Volunteer Work Day
March 19th, 2016 Beasley Knob OHV Park, Blairsville, GA
Hosted by the Georgia Bounty Runners in a continuing 22 year effort to fulfill our volunteer work hour requirements for our commitment to the RTP funds. These funds have been used at Beasly to add miles of trails all while fixing and repairing the existing trails. Beasley Knob OHV Park is the only full size vehicle OHV area in the National Forest in the state of Georgia.
We will work togther in several groups to survey the trails, and then begin clearing brush and sapplings along the trails. Some attention to the Pay Stations will be adressed too. The overall goal is to freshen up the park and trail sytems essentially preparing the park for the upcoming riding season.
Who?
Everyone who can make the drive is requested to join and share our support. There are already about 40 GBR members signed up but many more are needed.
What to bring?
If you have a shovel, and/or any brush clearing hand tools (shears or lopers) bring them along. No power tools or chanisaws please. Forest service reps will be on hand to supervise and use chainsaws when neccasary.
Pack a trail lunch for everyong in your group.
Why?
We are obligated as recipients of the RTP grant funds which are used to
What is RTP?
Recreational Trails Program. A state based grant with Federal funding from gas tax revenues. The Beasley project was awarded $500,000 in RTP funds with a pledge to matching volunteer commitments.
When & Where?
Meet at the Beasley Knob OHV Parking area, Blairsville, GA; Satterfield entrance and be ready to head out by 9 AM (EDT).
Trailers?
If you haul in your rig then its suggested to park near town in Blairsville at the Park & Ride then commute to the trail head so we squeeze everyone inside the parking lots.
For complete details on Beasley Knob OHV Park, including a trail map, check the USFS's page;
http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/conf/recarea/?recid=10533
Directions:
Beginning on US 76/Highway 515 in front of the Blairsville Post Office, go east for 0.7 mile. Turn right onto Windy Hill Road, a paved road. At 0.7 mile when Windy Hill curves sharply to the left, go straight onto a gravel road. After 0.1 mile, turn left onto a narrow gravel road, Forest Service Road #851. Continue 0.8 mile to the OHV trail system parking lot.
Facebook Event Page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/439445689581745/
Access over 300 miles of undeveloped shoreline, 200 miles of paved roads, 500 miles of trails, 100 + miles of OHV trails, and 170,000 acres of forests and open lands.
SFWDA Spring 2016 Meet and Ride
Hosted by Stones River Jeep Club
Turkey Bay OHV Area,
Land Between the Lakes,
Golden Pond, KY
* UPDATE ALERT * THIS EVENT IS NOW RESCHEDULED TO APRIL 2, 2016. *
Same time, location, etc. Remaining details below.
Join us at Turkey Bay OHV Area, near the shores of beautiful Kentucky Lake on Saturday, April 2, 2016 for the first SFWDA Meet & Ride of 2016. The Stones River Jeep Club, Murfreesboro, TN will host this event and provide guided Trail rides throughout the park.
Located in western Kentucky and Tennessee between Kentucky and Barkley Lakes.
Turkey Bay Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area provides designated trails for OHV riding and Self-Service Camping. Centrally located, Turkey Bay offers a variety of topography and trails for everyone.
The area consists of approximately 100 miles of primary, secondary, and tertiary trails for many different levels of OHV ridin, .and is managed by the USFS. There is a $20 (1-3 day) usage fee collected by the USFS upon arrival to the park.
Turkey Bay OHV Area
Turkey Bay Trail System offers 100+ miles for every type of OHV.
SEASON - Year Round
HOURS - Sunrise to Sunset
ADMISSION - One to Three-Day Permit is $20. Annual permit is $75.
GPS - N 36 45' 00.0" / W 88 04' 19.0"
PHYSICAL ADDRESS -
80 Turkey Creek Road
Golden Pond, KY 42211TRAILHEAD LOCATION - 2.3 miles / 5 minutes south of the Visitor's Center on the Trace.
Free Registration!
Register online today, free for all SFWDA members (Separate $20 entry fee includes up to 3 days of LBL Park access.) for a full day of fun to meet your association, the Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, and explore the beautiful LBL trails. On-site check in will open at 8:00 AM CST. Our SFWDA meeting will begin promptly at 9:00 AM CST. Trail rides will begin at 10:00 AM CST.
Coming to Turkey Bay? Consider an Overnight Stay!
You could pitch a tent at Turkey Bay in the camping area. In addition to the trails, Turkey Bay OHV permits camping at designated areas near the lake along road 167. An added perk of the campsites is the ability to wake up and ride directly to the trails, as the sites offer chemical toilets, unloading ramps, and drinking water. But if you need some additional amenities, consider from a variety of lodging options located just outside Land Between The Lakes and a few minutes from Turkey Bay. https://www.explorekentuckylake.com/lbl/ohv.htm
We will be collecting supplies for the community to be distributed through this local organization.
It's for Charity!
We initiated a charitable component to our Meet & Ride events last year and our charity for this event will be The Journey Home, a Christian Outreach Center for the homeless and at-risk individuals and families in Rutherford County, TN. For more information please check this link: www.lovegodservepeople.org/. Each attendee is asked to donate one item to support this outreach effort. Suggestions: Caned / Boxed food (none-perishable food item); or all sizes of clothing (slightly used is OK). Highest need is for socks, under garments, shoes and diapers. Please join us and support The Journey Home.
Due to FURTHER potential Winter weather related closures, please check our Facebook and web page for updates on the event.
For more details about camping, nearby lodging, maps, and more travel accommodations check out the LBL travelers resource page for Turkey Bay.
http://www.landbetweenthelakes.com/attractions/turkey-bay-ohv-area/
For Specifics on Park Rules & Regulations, hours of operation, camping opportunities, and much more from the USFS about LBL.
http://www.landbetweenthelakes.us/seendo/trails/turkey-bay/
Browse through some web sourced images below from the LBL park, it's trails, and incorporated amenities......
Free PDF Map Download provided by our USFS
We highly encourage all person attending to download, print, and complete the Turkey Bay OHV Area Liability Waiver Form and have $20 cash ready before arriving to expedite the check in process for everyone.
Direct Link to Registration
http://www.sfwda.org/event-calendar#id=120&wid=201&cid=1044
A number of SFWDA members had a very open dialogue today with the Recreational team from the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest to discuss current RTP projects, plans for 2016 and facilitate the introductions of Jay Bird, Past President SFWDA and GBR, as our Georgia Co-Trails Representative; and Ken Sutz, long standing SFWDA and GBR member, as our Georgia Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Representative. As a critical OHV Stakeholder, we want to thank both Jay Bird and Ken Sutz for volunteering for these critical roles as Dave Logan moves on with new professional commitments with Omix-ADA (Rugged Ridge), one of our supporting SFWDA Business Members.
Dave Logan is retiring after a long term as Georgia RTP Representative
We also want to thank Dave Logan for his volunteer commitments since 2008 in representing the Georgia Bounty Runners and our association, SFWDA, in both of these roles. Dave has also been critical in the development of our SFWDA Educational Video series over the last few years and will continue to serve as a resource and adviser. Thank you Dave Logan for your service.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/conf/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5427592&width=full
The OHIO RIVER FOUR WHEELERS off-road club, based in Cincinnati, OH performed trail repairs to a severe washout on Old Fincastle Road, part of the Daniel Boone Back Country Byway, on Saturday August 8th.
The team assembled at 7:30 a.m. just south of Cincinnati, OH and caravan down to the Natural Bridge area of Red River Gorge. We were on location at the work-site by 10:00. After reviewing the damaged area with the team we broke up into smaller groups to begin preparation of materials and the area to be repaired.
Concrete and pressure treated lumber were prepared a week before to act as foundation piers for a retaining wall. The retaining wall allowed us to fill the washout with locally collected rocks to act as a water break which would diffuse the rush of water into this area, yet allow it to drain through. We attached horizontal lumber ties to the vertical lumber piers with galvanized bolts. These allowed us to tie the retaining wall into the surrounding hillside for support.
Approximately 8-10 tons of local field stone was collected and dropped into the washout behind our fabricated retaining wall.
We built a water bar across the trail at approximately 60 degrees from parallel, and then a second water bar in parallel with the trail into a natural drainage channel that empties out behind our retaining wall. We felt these modifications would divert water from the damaged area and work naturally with the path water tends to take in this section.
In a couple of years time the pressure treated lumber will gray down and take on a natural look with its surroundings. The ties off the piers have been anchored into the surrounding hillside with 4 foot long pieces of ½” re-bar.
The loose field-stone acts as a break to rushing water, which will allow it to pass through the retaining wall without building so much pressure as to challenge the integrity of the retaining wall. We expect silt from water runoff to fill in some of the gaps in our field-stone and settle our water bars into place.
We feel this is a sustainable repair and should last for many years.
Three months later
* Update - After three months trail repair is still in good shape and it looks like the water is running in the direction that it was directed toward. Water bars have settle in good into the ground.
Come join SFWDA at Choccolocco Mountain; everyone's invited to our 2015 SFWDA Fall MEET & RIDE!
When:
November 14, 9 AM CST
Where:
Choccolocco Mountain ORV Park 1312 Louise Dr. SW Jacksonville, AL 36265 33.807620, -85.736513 (Directions Below)
What:
* " Toys for Tots" Charity Toy Drive
* SFWDA News & Updates
* Trail Riding
This Fall the SFWDA Meet and Ride will be hosted by the Warner Robins Jeep Club at Choccolocco Mountain ORV Park in Jacksonville, Alabama. We are also collecting new unwrapped toys for the local Warner Robbins chapter of the USMC Toys for Tots charity. We wil be collecting toys in the morning. Choccolocco MTN is a large and fantastic park that has terrain available for every type of 4x4 from bone stock to heavily modified. From the infamous “Boat Ramp” to the tamer and scenic “Chicken Trail” this fantastic park truly has something for everyone.
The WRJC will be leading groups for those unfamiliar with the park. Their plan is to have guides for all difficulty levels from beginner to advance. Maps will also be available for those adventurous types that want to explore everything that Chocco has to offer.
The schedule for the day will be as follows.
(All Times Local)
- 8-9am Collection of Toys for Tots
- 8:30am Sign in and Registration (There is a fee to use the park and it is detailed below)
- 9:00am SFWDA Meeting
- 10:00am(ish) Trail Rides
- Noon (ish) Lunch (Trail Guides will bring everyone back to base for lunch)
- 1:00pm (ish) More Trail Rides!
Park Rate:
Event is free for everyone except for the park fees
One Day Riding Pass: $20 per driver $5 per passenger
Weekend Riding/Camping Pass: $30 per driver $10 per passenger (Weekend pass includes primitive camping)
Some simple rules:
1. Absolutely no Drinking and Driving. Period.
2. ALWAYS remember that we are a Family Based club and there are usually a lot of kids around.
3. All drivers must have a valid driver’s license
4. Tree Savers must be used at all winch points
5. Seat Belts must be worn at all times by every occupant of the vehicle
6. Stay on designated trails
Directions:
1. Once you are in Jacksonville turn East at the Sonic on Whites Gap Road
2. Take first left on Church Avenue SE
3. Take a right on Gardner Drive SE
4. At the Y stay right onto Louise Drive SE
5. Take the 2nd Right onto Forest Drive and climb the short hill.
6. At the top of the hill take a Right onto Forney RD
7. Park is just ahead on left
Links:
http://www.choccoloccomountain.com/
http://www.sfwda.org/
http://wrjeepclub.com/
http://www.jeepsontrails.com/off-road-park/choccolocco-mountain-orv-park-and-campgroundalabama/
TACKLE THE PARK TRAILS WITH CONFIDENCE ON YOUR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC PHONE OR TABLET ALL OVER GOLDEN MOUNTAIN PARK
CartoTracks & SFWDA are offering 100 free GPS Map downloads
to Dixie Run 29 Attendees
Limited Time Only * Act Now *
$9.99 Value
How it works you ask?
CartoTracks maps are designed so that you can download the map to a smartphone before loosing cell signal and then travel into an area where there might not be any cell signal and the app then utilizes just the GPS function of your phone to show you exactly where you are on our map! No more messing around with GPS units and trying to figure out what to do with all of that data and turn it into some kind of usable map....we've sorted all of that out for you. Just go and have fun!
How to Redeem:
If you have already registered for Dixie Run 29 the you should have just received an email with a promo code for a one time only use and is only valid for 2015 event attendees and is limited to the first 100 downloads.
Here's a link for more for more info: https://www.cartotracks.com/golden_mountain_park_map
https://www.cartotracks.com
CartoTracks continues to offer a 15% discount on GMP and all other park maps for each SFWDA Active Member by use of another promo code found in your
Member Discounts page.
This offering along with other membership discounts do require your SFWDA membership credentials to be viewed.
http://www.sfwda.org/memberdiscounts#cid=1044&did=104
If you have not yet registered, sign up today!
This past Saturday at a local GBR event Curtis Barhart was proudly awarded the United Four Wheel Drive Assoc. "Four Wheeler of the Year" award. Curtis was proudly nominated by SFWDA and considered among other dedicated and qualified applicants but Curtis was ultimately chosen to receive this great accolade for 2015.