GA Weekly Getting Outdoors

Looks like Lake Fraklin is still drained but not Lake Delanor.

 

I'm thinking about doing Charlie's and Popcorn creek today or tomorrow and possibly finding a brewery.

If I go today, I'll probably leave home around 10, which would put me there around 11:30am.

 

I was planning on doing this exact combination next Saturday to test out the new setup. Post up how Popcorn goes. It’s been a few years since I’ve been down it. Hopefully it’s not shared the same fate as Charlie’s.

 

looks like there are a couple jeepers + a few Toyotas going to popcorn, Charlie’s, and grassy gap this morning — someone mentioned it in a different group. You may have some company

 

I missed out on that group, but I did pass them on Charlie's Creek going the other way. I ran it the opposite direction from how we ran it a few years ago with @synaps3 , @BadgerBoy797 , @TRDridgerunner , @Seanb600 and a few others (can't remember all the usernames).

Charlie's was more fun than I anticipated. One slightly off-camber section toward the river. There are signs posted "No Offroading. Violators will be prosecuted" at both ends. I read on a Facebook group that as long as you are on the "road" and not going down any side shoots you are fine. I believe that to be accurate because I passed a Sheriff deputy on the trail. Both our windows were down and I waved at him as I passed. He waved back and didn't stop me, so in my mind that sort of confirms the "stay on the trail."

Popcorn, or what I think was popcorn, was a LOT more than I expected. I had to stop several times to check line and hope that I wasn't going to slide sideways due to some fairly deep ruts. I only stopped once to take a picture before one of them...which ended up being the easiest one. My back tire came slightly off the ground on that one. I posted some of those pictures on Instagram @OverlandOutdoor.

Had to go around this tree:


That first dip that I had to get out and check. This was after going down (rear tire in air):


I couldn't decide if I should straddle or go to the left and pray that I didn't slide in:


I went to the left and the Yokohama G003 All Terrains held nicely. Pictures never do it justice. This one was a little scary at the time because the road was slick. I don't think I would have rolled, but a solo recovery would have been...umm....fun.

Most of the muddy spots were just dirty water:


A couple low hanging branches like this:


Another rutted out section:


One section of actual mud, but it was short:



Lots of dirty water pools that looked like mud and some pretty tight sections. I'm kind of surprised, but I haven't noticed any new pinstriping.

 

Looks like fun. Where is this popcorn place? We were up in Clayton again today. We hiked around warwoman dell and the wildlife management area.

 

It's close to, but south of Charlie's Creek. Grassy Gap is another that you should probably have on your radar. I had forgotten about that one but saw a group of people did Charlie's, Popcorn and Grassy Gap.

I'm not sure that what I did was Popcorn Creek, but it was in the general area. It was pretty tight most of the way and not much room to pass anyone if someone were coming the other direction. I was very relieved that the only other motorized vehicle I saw was a dirtbike. I'll send you a PM with the road that I did.

 

Made it back up to Blue Hole Falls and High Shoals Falls on Saturday. My watch showed the hike at 3.01 miles. I was beyond impressed that my 2, 4 and 5 year olds made the hike with little complaining.

Blue Hole Falls


High Shoals Falls:



The river wasn't flowing quite as much as it was the last time I was there about 3 years ago, but still good to get out into nature.

The parking lot and Indian Grave Gap Rd were overflowing. Turning around with cars waiting to get passed the other cars parked meant that it was impossible to turn around. Ended up taking Indian Grave out to Trey Mountain and coming out near the tubing place. My wife was not thrilled at some of the ruts and washouts, but the Expedition did well through all of it. No pics of the Expedition.

 

Bump

 

It's almost camping season.

Also, if you haven't already seen it, we're gonna try to run Musterground on October 8 in memory of @Matic

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/matic-memorial-run.771082/

 

What's everyone getting up to this weekend? I got a group probably headed to Iron Mountain tomorrow, first time there so should be interesting.

 

Alright, guess everyone else is having a boring weekend

 

Nice. How'd the Rivian do?

 

Beat me to it!

 

Honestly, better than I expected. It was bone stock fresh off the lot (or however you get one), didn't even have a tag yet, and got through most every obstacle without issue. I though maybe battery life would be a problem, or the weight, or the stock ATs, or just the fact it was brand new and the guy wouldn't want to damage it so soon, but he hit everything in it except one big mudhole after watching me get stuck, and he got through most obstacles easier than the Jeep.

It also throws you off a bit - when we'd get to a hard obstacle/climb, everyone else is gunning the engine and bouncing around to get through it, and then Rivian comes up and it was basically silent and just made its way up the obstacle with minimal tire spin and getting unsettled. It's weird when you don't know if they are even pressing the gas pedal.

 

That's awesome, seems like they're proving to be great trucks. We saw one out on the trails at Windrock back in February.

I also saw a video of one auto leveling at camp and that just about sold me!

 

I bought some of their stock, so please go buy their truck. I'm current "in the hole" with that one....

 

Iron Mountain?

 

Yes sir

 

I thought that parking lot and trail looked familiar.