4th Annual Black Mountain Fall Meet , with 2-1/2 days of rain, but still VERY fun!

I am likely out for this trip. Mom is fighting the cancer fight right now and don't have anyone to watch the kids or dogs.

 

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your mom.

 

I love white tail... @Sandman614 and I had a great time on it last year. There are so many good trails...lower/upper rock garden, railbed, killin time. Not to mention just walking stuff like little jager, mason jar, and damnation...It's the only park with an entire category of trail that I won't even think about attempting.

The campground on the ridge by Putney is great too if you go left. The one on the right is good for hiding from the wind if it is whipping especially. Both are accessible by 4x4 tow rig which is nice for me.



I'm not a fan of the Putney side at all either. The dairy hut campground creeps me out big time...

 

We camped on the point, the left circle, by/above that hill climb track looking thing.

 

I never considered the campgrounds outside of Evarts Trailhead (in town) as part of Black Mountain....They're there because of Black Mountain, but too "commercialized" and too little privacy for my taste. The one at the dairy hut reminds me of a cross between a KOA and a homeless camp.... Once you enter the park and go past the office, that area is pretty quiet and safe. That's where we met up on year one. Those campgrounds in town are mostly SxS and buggy groups whenever I've been there. Sort of a different crowd....

2 years ago we set up camp in the campground "on the right" going up Putney hill. I liked it but it is small in comparison to #3 ( on the left) with the group we had last year even #3 pretty much ran out of room. Looks like 16 to 20 vehicles this year. That may work in #2. At best count, 39 of last years 52 camped in #3. It was full. Year 2 in campground 2 was my favorite meet so far mainly due to better weather than last year. 36 hours of deluge rain can sorta dampen the fun a bit.....

I'm planning on arriving either wed night or thursday morning. Gonna try to occupy #3 and keep it for us. It's "first come first served". Year 2 a Jeep group beat us to #3 .

This year will be the 4th fall visit and my 6th overall visit to Black Mountain. Every since the first trip my ultimate goal has been to go as a group and travel back to Whitetail campground, stay the night, and spend day 2 working back to one of the 2 trailheads.

 

The campground you are talking about IS PUTNEY!!! Evarts is by the dairy hut.

 

I think the confusion occurs because "Putney" is "Harlan County Campground" ie "Harlan" to most people....instead of Putney... Evarts (the town) is actually closer to the town of Harlan than Harlan County Campground.

Harlan is a poor town. Evarts is one of the most poverty stricken towns in the US.

Go on past the entrance to Putney and you'll find Cumberland, Benham, and Lynch. You talk about poor.....

 

21 days until I roll out of the driveway! Time to start packing and staging "stuff". First time with the new tent. Better do a test run on that!

 

I'm dumb, you're right on that.

Planning to camp on the ridge next week when we are there. Hopefully it's still tow rig friendly for me.

 

By "Ridge" you talking campground #3? (Last turn on left up Putney hill)

If so....It's a damn interstate now....paved all the way specifically for tow rigs and RVs.

I'll be there thursday and try to lock down the entire campground.

 

Yeah the one on the left as you go up the hill. That's nice, it was always doable in 4x4 but never with a 2wd and a truck on the trailer.

 

I'll be there fending off jeep traffic.

 

Yup I missed the entrance one day rolling in at 4am after driving all night and w

Damn I remember when you had to leave the tow rigs by the shack that you check in at and damn near wheel to that spot.

 

3 weeks from now I'll be waking up at Harlan after first night there. Ready for it!

 

18 days until it begins!

 

Aaaaaand. 17!

 

Just updated the weather forecast for Harlan County for 25th thru 29th.

SO FAR....no rain forecast. Daytime temps mid to upper 60s. Nighttime lows mid 30s thru mid 40s. Full sun thru partly cloudy.

Best 2 days....Friday and Saturday.

PERFECT camping/bonfire weather!

Excellent trail riding weather.

YAS!

BTW....peak season for fall color.

 

Plans can change (and often do) but...Here's what we'll be doing.

Packing the truck on wed, Oct 24th.

Taking our dog to kennel on Thursday morning, 25th. Then heading south! We'll leave Mt Washington around 10am. Should roll into Harlan County Campground #3 (Putney) around 3:30-ish. Setting up camp, building fire and kicking back.

Up early Friday. Breakfast, followed by first trail ride. (TO Evarts store...past lower rock garden, then to lookouts for photo's and casual ride.) Back at campground by dinner time. Hoping to do a moonlight ride around 9-ish.



And to follow

Doc says I cant have too much likker. Didnt specify on other....

Up (when able) Saturday morning for group rides. Will divide into easy/medium/extreme trail groups in all likelyhood. I'm taking a group that will do some green some blue and as much red as we can find ( medium group) Hoping to roll out by 9/9:30 am.

Back to camp that night.....maybe a night ride if anyone is up to it...

Then break camp and head home on Sunday

Post estimated arrival date/time if you can....

 

Late Friday, gonna work a full week and then leave after I get home. Before 9PM, likely.

 

Be Saturday morningish if I get there at all. Truck will definitely not be ready for anything but easy. Outside chance sliders might be installed. Looking forward to meeting/chatting.