TW Harlan, KY Meet in Oct

I found a few pics from our Harlan trip a couple years ago. No good action shots but a sample of the views and what most of the easy trails look like....

 

Got real interested in this get together after I first read about it, decided to run over and check out Black Mountain, got a chance today.

Live in Southwest Virginia and it was only about a two hour drive, so on the spur of the moment I headed over today. Took over the FJ (just had detailed my Tacoma ) and covered some of the class 2 trails. While time did not permit me to wheel too much of it, I did get in a few miles of trails before dark. Even shot a bit of GoPro mounted on the hood.

I am going to to my best to come over for a couple of days during the meet, just one problem, wife's birthday is that weekend.

She has already said she is not going to spend her weekend bouncing around in my truck, now I just have to work out a way to go on my own without ending up in the doghouse!


Hope to meet some of you guys there.

 

So how was it? No details on trail conditions or anything? And what kinda wife is she??? That sounds like an awesome birthday weekend

 

Two things surprised me when I got over there, it was both very quiet and very dry. Our area had been having a lot of rain over the past couple of weeks, with numerous heavy thunderstorms, trail 10 was very dry, no mud at all.

Trail 10 runs out around 4 miles to the top of a ridge line, most all of it open with no canopy so plenty of sunshine to dry things up, dust was not really an issue. Conditions of the trail were quite a bit rougher than your average forest service road, nothing you would take the family all wheel drive mini van through, unless of course you are the guys from Top Gear.

Fair amount of decent sizes rocks, but nothing a stock Tacoma could not easily clear, just made for obvious slow going. For the most part, the trail I was on could be covered in a two wheel drive pre-runner, especially with a locker.

Now as to quiet, it was deserted and I mean deserted, basically saw nobody. Of course it was the end of the weekend and I did not even get over to trail head till almost 5 in the afternoon. (As I said, spur of the moment after church).

Went over to Putney trail head first, office locked up and not a soul in sight, no vehicles in parking lot or at any of the cabins. Rode about 1/2 a mile up the access road to where the trail starts and did run into two locals in a UTV. Talked to them about conditions and what was what.

Since I got over there so late and could not find anyone who worked there I was unable to get a permit, but more importantly a map of the trails and their classes. The two locals recommended that I not try to go through from the Putney to the Evarts side. Something about the trail being too steep for my vehicle, this did not really make sense, (2007 FJ 4x4 with Atrac and rear locker running BF Goodrich AT). Being alone and not really prepared, with little time before dark, I took their advice and did not try it. As a odd side note, I mentioned to them I was checking things out before coming over for the Tacoma meet in October, mentioned my other vehicle was a 4x4 Tacoma, at which they said I should have no trouble going through with it. Thinking they really did not get how capable a FJ is?

Back tracked down 119 to Harlan (8 miles or so) and took 38 (Trails are east of Harlan) 6 miles or so to Evarts, clearly marked signs to get you to the trail head.

Once again, office locked up and not a soul in sight. While stopped in parking lot to mount my GoPro, heard two ATVs go by, but for the rest of the day did not see or hear a soul.

I know most are looking to camp, but will pass along what is available. While Putney side has a nice open campground, not much of anything there as far as gas/stores or eating, for sure no motels.

Harlen of course has all of those things as well as some decent hotels, fast food, take your pick.

Evarts has campground both in the park and in town by the river, there were no motels or fast food that I saw. There are gas station/stores and I believe a drive in type grill.

While I only covered a small part of the park, the Class 2 truck trail I went out and back on was nothing a stock Tacoma would have any trouble with.

Last but not least, as to my wife, she is a pretty good one, been married 18 years, thinking about keeping her.

 

Hell yeah. That's the review I was wanting. Sounds like this should be a great all around park. That dude you talked to was an idiot. There are some variances in the fj and Tacoma but if he told you to turn around in the fj and said if you had your stock Tacoma you would do it no problem then he has no clue what Toyotas are capable of.

 

If its even the slightest bit slick, trail 45 up from Putney can be tough. Especially if they haven't graded it recently. It sees a lot of traffic, and a lot of water washes down it.

Trail 10 up from Evarts is by far the easier of the two trailheads. Seeing the people headed to this event, I would say you are much better off using trail 10.

Trail 45 does bring you right up in the middle fork playground, right by some of the tougher trails though.

 

We stayed in Evarts when we went and trail 10 is pretty simple from what I remember. There is a section which is pretty rocky and steep but there are a number of trails accessible from 10. I've never through putney but excited for either.

 

Here is a nice video showing the trail from Putney through to Evarts...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U0L3zqVhPc


Will try and get some of the video I shot with my GoPro uploaded when I get a chance.

 

I ain't scared, I'd hit that trail .............

 

There's not a chance in hell you would make it through Lions den. A second gen physically cant fit between some of the trees/boulders on that trail.

Here's a 87 4runner with a hybrid 8"-D60 front axle going through a couple of the squeezes:

 

And the other side of just one of the bends

 

I remember that time too. Lent him my impact to change that tar. I is the sexy one in orange

 

I'm not scared, but not stupid either.... I'll be shying away from this stuff I'm sure. Plus, the voice of reason (my wife) will be sitting bitch yapping my ear off if I try to do something completly outside my trucks element.

 

Dude ........ I got that!

Haha my trucks not a beater. Ive put a few big ugly dents in it (which I'm having fixed right now) and countless scratches that can't be buffed out but I sure don't plan on ever turning my truck into the beautiful work of art that the trucks in these pics are. That's what my 94 is for. I'm ridin shotgun through that shit!! Woohoo!

 

My Taco don't want no part of that!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQGh8MkpNOg

 

I am ready to skip August and September. Time for it to be October and get some wheelin done.

 

Go to Bed, Bath and Beyond. Walk through the door labeled BEYOND. You will then encounter a strange old man dressed like a scientist. He will direct you to a universal remote. There you will find the powers you seek to skip through time.

 

Been a busy few days, haven't been able to check this. Glad to hear you're going to join us, Jerry. I'll add you to the list!