US Southeast NC/SC Piedmont - Old NC 105 Ride

[Sasquatch SC]

We are going to be going from South to North on this 1. We will meet at 10 in a parking lot near Lake James (35.7594012, -81.8879321). From there we will hit Old NC 105. Here are some things on the route I took note of in the order we will encounter them.
(1) Offshoot Natl Forest Rd that goes off the right (35.7983501, -81.9271654). It runs around 2.9 miles & crosses Shoals Creek & Sandy Branch. Doesn’t appear to connect to anything. Just an out & back.
(2) Pinnacle Trailhead - hiking (35.8223084, -81.9303861)
(3) Offshoot road, unknown name off to the left (35.8370888, -81.9283557). The road has a few spaced out structures, but it goes for 4.3 miles & ends in a turn-around w/ a big adjacent clearing. Doesn’t appear to be agriculture & it’s too far away from anything for livestock.
(4) Pinchin Trailhead - hiking (35.8515156, -81.9176516)
(5) Rock Jock Trailhead - hiking (35.8582508, -81.9168433)
(6) Conley Cove Trailhead - hiking (35.8901637, -81.9062835
(7) Wiseman’s Scenic Overlook. We will have to branch off the trail to the right (35.9055355, -81.9103520)
(8) Babel Tower Trailhead - hiking (35.9185626, -81.9195500)
(9) Pine Gap Trail at Linville Gorge - hiking (35.9410424, -81.9319059)
(10) FINISHING LINE - Linville Falls Trailhead (35.9501905, -81.9335477) There is a big parking lot there.

If you’re car can get 200 miles of regular driving on a tank of gas you shouldn’t have to worry about jerry cans. This is a very light trail so I wouldn’t worry about carrying any serious recovery gear, but temper action w/ wisdom. I’m not carrying trax or snatch blocks - but I will be carrying a tow rope, tire repair kit, & an inflatable jack. I doubt low-range will need to be called upon.

 

View Rally Point

[Staticline40]

We are going to be going from South to North on this 1. We will meet at 10 in a parking lot near Lake James (35.7594012, -81.8879321). From there we will hit Old NC 105. Here are some things on the route I took note of in the order we will encounter them.
(1) Offshoot Natl Forest Rd that goes off the right (35.7983501, -81.9271654). It runs around 2.9 miles & crosses Shoals Creek & Sandy Branch. Doesn’t appear to connect to anything. Just an out & back.
(2) Pinnacle Trailhead - hiking (35.8223084, -81.9303861)
(3) Offshoot road, unknown name off to the left (35.8370888, -81.9283557). The road has a few spaced out structures, but it goes for 4.3 miles & ends in a turn-around w/ a big adjacent clearing. Doesn’t appear to be agriculture & it’s too far away from anything for livestock.
(4) Pinchin Trailhead - hiking (35.8515156, -81.9176516)
(5) Rock Jock Trailhead - hiking (35.8582508, -81.9168433)
(6) Conley Cove Trailhead - hiking (35.8901637, -81.9062835
(7) Wiseman’s Scenic Overlook. We will have to branch off the trail to the right (35.9055355, -81.9103520)
(8) Babel Tower Trailhead - hiking (35.9185626, -81.9195500)
(9) Pine Gap Trail at Linville Gorge - hiking (35.9410424, -81.9319059)
(10) FINISHING LINE - Linville Falls Trailhead (35.9501905, -81.9335477) There is a big parking lot there.

If you’re car can get 200 miles of regular driving on a tank of gas you shouldn’t have to worry about jerry cans. This is a very light trail so I wouldn’t worry about carrying any serious recovery gear, but temper action w/ wisdom. I’m not carrying trax or snatch blocks - but I will be carrying a tow rope, tire repair kit, & an inflatable jack. I doubt low-range will need to be called upon.

Are you planning on camping somewhere established or dispersed Saturday?

 

[JButtress]

Should be dispersed campsites along the Old NC 105 route

 

[Sasquatch SC]

We are going to be going from South to North on this 1. We will meet at 10 in a parking lot near Lake James (35.7594012, -81.8879321). From there we will hit Old NC 105. Here are some things on the route I took note of in the order we will encounter them.
(1) Offshoot Natl Forest Rd that goes off the right (35.7983501, -81.9271654). It runs around 2.9 miles & crosses Shoals Creek & Sandy Branch. Doesn’t appear to connect to anything. Just an out & back.
(2) Pinnacle Trailhead - hiking (35.8223084, -81.9303861)
(3) Offshoot road, unknown name off to the left (35.8370888, -81.9283557). The road has a few spaced out structures, but it goes for 4.3 miles & ends in a turn-around w/ a big adjacent clearing. Doesn’t appear to be agriculture & it’s too far away from anything for livestock.
(4) Pinchin Trailhead - hiking (35.8515156, -81.9176516)
(5) Rock Jock Trailhead - hiking (35.8582508, -81.9168433)
(6) Conley Cove Trailhead - hiking (35.8901637, -81.9062835
(7) Wiseman’s Scenic Overlook. We will have to branch off the trail to the right (35.9055355, -81.9103520)
(8) Babel Tower Trailhead - hiking (35.9185626, -81.9195500)
(9) Pine Gap Trail at Linville Gorge - hiking (35.9410424, -81.9319059)
(10) FINISHING LINE - Linville Falls Trailhead (35.9501905, -81.9335477) There is a big parking lot there.

If you’re car can get 200 miles of regular driving on a tank of gas you shouldn’t have to worry about jerry cans. This is a very light trail so I wouldn’t worry about carrying any serious recovery gear, but temper action w/ wisdom. I’m not carrying trax or snatch blocks - but I will be carrying a tow rope, tire repair kit, & an inflatable jack. I doubt low-range will need to be called upon.

Are you planning on camping somewhere established or dispersed Saturday?

It's a choose your own adventure kind of trip. I think several of us are planning on camping though.

 

[GunDude]

So, is this the parking lot at Ranger Station, that is just past Paddy’s Creek campground?
I interested in going as I am camping at Paddy’s Creek campground in Lake James park this Friday night. Two weekend in a roll?

 

[Sasquatch SC]

So, is this the parking lot at Ranger Station, that is just past Paddy’s Creek campground?
I interested in going as I am camping at Paddy’s Creek campground in Lake James park this Friday night. Two weekend in a roll?

Yeah, its right up the street from Paddy's Creek Campground at Lake James. There is one called just "Paddy Creek Campground" nearby as well I'm pretty sure it's an overflow lot of some sort. I just randomly looked at spots near the bottom of the trail on a satellite view map and it looked promising.

 

[NC-Trooper]

If you need recovery gear in NC105 something has gone terribly wrong

 

[Sasquatch SC]

If you need recovery gear in NC105 something has gone terribly wrong

No kidding, but I was trying to be considerate because not every person who might come has ever been out on it. There’s no point someone loading up max trax, shovels, etc, etc on their rig if it isn’t needed. It will just kill their fuel economy & then they’ll have to strip it back off when they get home.

 

[UltimaSanctus]

Would it be frowned upon to invite a non-member on this trip? He has a '95 Honda Odyssey that, after new Geolanders, should have about 11" of ground clearance according to Google

 

[Staticline40]

Would it be frowned upon to invite a non-member on this trip? He has a '95 Honda Odyssey that, after new Geolanders, should have about 11" of ground clearance according to Google

No it wouldn't

 

[Sasquatch SC]

Would it be frowned upon to invite a non-member on this trip? He has a '95 Honda Odyssey that, after new Geolanders, should have about 11" of ground clearance according to Google

I can't imagine turning anyone away. The menagerie of vehicles on this trip is hilarious.

 

[glade8r]

I won't be able to make it this weekend. Was kindly reminded about a b-day party I have to go to.

 

[JasKolp]

I can't imagine turning anyone away. The menagerie of vehicles on this trip is hilarious.

Man you're right, we have quite the lineup on this trip.

 

[Sasquatch SC]

Man you're right, we have quite the lineup on this trip.

Usually these rides are dominated by the Jeep YJ’s, TJ’s, JK/JKU’s, JL/JLU’s, Taco’s & 4Runners.
**There is nothing wrong w/ that at all, it makes sense. They are made w/ the off-road drivers as their primary target market & that also bleeds over into the Overland subculture.***

However, based on the RSVP’s and plus one: we are going to have the usual suspects - but then a big group of the outliers. A Toyota RAV4, Toyota Tundra, Chevy Tahoe, Chevy Silverado, Subaru Outback, Mercedes ML320, & then a minivan riding on Yoko AT tires. I am really hoping some of the fire lanes will be open for exploring. A wide frame photo of a bunch of random & unique rigs in a cool location would be the epitome of this community. The one photo would highlight most of those core principles:
“Overlanding is for everyone”
“It doesn’t matter what you drive”
“A connection w/ nature is paramount”
“Help each other & engage in the smallest of interactions”

After a day of exploring, I am looking forward to enjoying the night at altitude and looking for the Brown Mountain Lights. I know they are mostly seen in the fall, but I’m still keeping my fingers crossed. I’ll be bringing some Gatorade, water, some soft drinks and beer & I will pack some burgers or something. I’m open to suggestions.

Does anyone know of any other trails nearby the main route that might be cool to check out? I’d like to squeeze every last drop I can out of this trip. Some more challenging short trails would be pretty cool.

 

[Thatsilver100]

Sounds like an awesome trip! Have always been interested in exploring the 105

 

[Sasquatch SC]

Sounds like an awesome trip! Have always been interested in exploring the 105

Then load it up and be at the south end near lake James on Saturday morning! We could definitely use a Series 100 among the collection of random vehicles!
No pavement, no worries, no excuses!

 

[Sasquatch SC]

Okay folks, tomorrow morning 10 am.
Coordinates for the meetup are 35.7594012, -81.8879321
General CB channel is 16 (I still don't know how affected my range is from the un-tuned antenna)
If anything comes up and you are having trouble finding us or are running late - you can call/text me at 803-645-6488
Weather at Lake James is showing no rain. Saturday 89°/67° & Sunday 90°/68° - however with every 1,000' of elevation gained the temperature change of -3.5°. From Lake James to Wiseman's View there is an elevation gain of around 2,250' so it'd be a change between -7° & -8°. That puts weather on top: Saturday 82°/60° & Sunday 83°/61°.
I'm ready to rock and make the next car wash worth it.

 

[JButtress]

I'll probably get to the parking lot around 9 or so

 

[Staticline40]

Okay folks, tomorrow morning 10 am.
Coordinates for the meetup are 35.7594012, -81.8879321
General CB channel is 16 (I still don't know how affected my range is from the un-tuned antenna)
If anything comes up and you are having trouble finding us or are running late - you can call/text me at 803-645-6488
Weather at Lake James is showing no rain. Saturday 89°/67° & Sunday 90°/68° - however with every 1,000' of elevation gained the temperature change of -3.5°. From Lake James to Wiseman's View there is an elevation gain of around 2,250' so it'd be a change between -7° & -8°. That puts weather on top: Saturday 82°/60° & Sunday 83°/61°.
I'm ready to rock and make the next car wash worth it.

I'll be there!

 

[JasKolp]

I'll be coming in from the middle of SC and I'm hoping to get there at 10. But if I'm not please wait for me!