here's the pics (http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/?start=all) from our tellico trip...

first thing we did was go to beasley knob...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0659.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0663.jpg

lots of slick clay-filled hill climbs... not very many good picture spots.

day #2 at tellico... it rained a lot. i only got one picture and i got cold and wet taking it. we came down the ledge on trail 7. i admit i had to winch down it. too steep and slippery to do it without the safety line.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0673.jpg

day #3 at tellico. we worked our way up trail 4 to criss cross and snake our way back to #7 to go UP the ledge this time. we actually planned on going to slickrock, but heard there was a line 30 jeeps long and changed our plans.

here's some self video of the river crossing... some of shawn's relatives came up with some atvs to ride with us that day. you can see them in front of me trying to go up the slippery rocks.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/Videos/th_MVI_0679.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/Videos/?action=view&current=MVI_0679.flv)


along the way we ran into travis (yellowxj) and his wife and a few of his friends. one of the xj's he was with was having a little trouble and died on the trail.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/Videos/th_MVI_0678.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/Videos/?action=view&current=MVI_0678.flv)


just as we get to the bottom of the ledge...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0680.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0681.jpg

we find out that one the people on atv's with us lost control and hurt themselves pretty bad. time to get out of the woods and go to the hospital. we decided the quickest way out was to go up the ledge rather than try to fight the line that had formed behind us.

i blew up the tube of my front driveshaft getting my front tires up on it and winched the rest of the way up and drove the rest of way out of the woods in 2wd. scary.

shawn pulled cable too but ended up not really needing it and pretty much just crawled right up it.

we were kind of in a hurry though so i didn't get out and take pics of any of that.

day #4 we took a break.

day #5 had big plans. the plan was to hit guard rail, helicopter pad, schoolbus, slick rock and trail 2 all in our last day to wheel there.

we made good time, got to guard rail... there was still ice on the ground everywhere.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0682.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0686.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0692.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0694.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0695.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0697.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0698.jpg

try and try and try, but it was just too cold wet and slippery to get up it.

we both had to bypass it.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0703.jpg

next up helicopter pad.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0704.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0706.jpg

after a couple different tries, and some bad spotting from me shawn found the right line and got up it easily.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/Videos/th_MVI_0709.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/Videos/?action=view&current=MVI_0709.flv)

my turn...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0710.jpg
it was pretty slick. frozen mud all over everything.
i slipped off rocks and got hung up on my un shaven 14 bolt on more than one occasion.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/Videos/th_MVI_0712.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/Videos/?action=view&current=MVI_0712.flv)

eventually i got to this point

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0721.jpg
but it was just too slick and i couldn't get any further.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/Videos/th_MVI_0714.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/Videos/?action=view&current=MVI_0714.flv)

shortly after the video my steering started to get mad at me. stock pump and box, welded front 60, 38s... :lol: it wasn't happy.

in spite of my severly diminished power steering we made it down school bus with no problems, but it was too mucky and slick to get out and take pics...

on to slick rock!

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0724.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0725.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0730.jpg

shawn did a nice wheel stand in the middle of it....

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/Videos/th_MVI_0727.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/Videos/?action=view&current=MVI_0727.flv)

and with a lot of throttle, 4 wheel steer, and big tires he made it up with only a little smoke from the burning rubber.

my turn again...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0734.jpg

needed a little help from the winch again on he lower part of slick rock...
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0738.jpg
and then my frustation had hit it's peak... first off, by this point my power steering was almost completely gone, then for the second time that day my driveshaft had pulled apart.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/ctsartist/Tellico/Tellico-last%20ride/IMG_0739.jpg

so i crawled under it and fixed it again. the splines were starting to twist and there was a very large dent in the new driveshaft we just made at blue ridge 4x4, thank you travis, so it took some coaxing from a LFH. i eventually made it to the top with a little more winching and a lot of smoke from my tires, but there are no pictures of it.

my jeep was pretty much spent with no power steering and severely weakened front driveshaft so i needed to winch at both of the next 2 obstacles after slick rock and then limped the rest of the way back to the cabin just as it got dark. we never got to do trail 2.

all in all it was fun trip. but i had a lot of hiccups and frustrations with my completely untested jeep. but i guess since all of my problems were expected i shouldn't be disappointed... still though... :dunno:

who knows if the trails will ever be open again...

nice pics - we hit it the week before. We hit lower 2 around 3am and everyone made it up on their own power. We had 2 guys attempt the last ledge. One blew up a Dana 44 CTM and the other made it up. It was pretty nasty.

In the morning, we went straight to Peckerwood. I got the front end up and just about got the rear up. Before I knew it I was on my lid. Broke the motor mounts and the power steering bracket. Limped it back to camp and I was done for the day.

The rollover is on video and I'll get it up as soon as the guy riding with us sends it to me. It sucks to think that I may never get my vengeance. The only comforting thing is that I've done every trail there. I hate it for the guys who are still building rigs and will never get a chance to ride those trails.

Good pics.I seen you guys coming through Blue Ridge.

Fains Ford
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100/bluetoy4x4/Tellico/nickspics010.jpg
Top of Slickrock
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100/bluetoy4x4/Tellico/nickspics012.jpg
Gabe lined up for slickrock
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100/bluetoy4x4/Tellico/nickspics015.jpg

SchoolBus
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100/bluetoy4x4/Tellico/nickspics028.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100/bluetoy4x4/Tellico/nickspics029.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100/bluetoy4x4/Tellico/nickspics026.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100/bluetoy4x4/Tellico/nickspics030.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100/bluetoy4x4/Tellico/nickspics031.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100/bluetoy4x4/Tellico/nickspics036.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100/bluetoy4x4/Tellico/nickspics040.jpg

Waiting on Schoolbus
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100/bluetoy4x4/Tellico/nickspics042.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100/bluetoy4x4/Tellico/nickspics049.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100/bluetoy4x4/Tellico/nickspics051.jpg
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100/bluetoy4x4/Tellico/nickspics047.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100/bluetoy4x4/Tellico/nickspics053.jpg

Our fearless pilots James and Gabe
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100/bluetoy4x4/Tellico/nickspics054.jpg

Tired cable-puller/pit-crew/navigator/keeper of cigs and beef jerky (me)
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100/bluetoy4x4/Tellico/nickspics055.jpg

Sunset in the Mtns
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x100/bluetoy4x4/Tellico/nickspics061.jpg

cool pics. spotted the 2 jeeps on trailer monday in georgia on I-75. the one on 49s is huge.

cool pics. spotted the 2 jeeps on trailer monday in georgia on I-75. the one on 49s is huge.

you might have seen us tuesday, but not monday
.. we was going to ride slickrock on saturday, but heard there were over 30 rigs waiting in line at the bottom to go up.. sunday we decided to sit out the rain, and make repairs then hit everything on monday.

Cool pictures. Even stopped by Beasley to check it out. I can't wait until April 1st, are ya'll planning on being there for that?

Your help is needed to SAVE TELLICO!!!

Plan to ride Tellico April 5th 2008 (Saturday)
We will meet in Murphy at the SAVE-A-LOT
parking lot.
Bring your off road vehicles.
If not licensed leave on trailer.
The press will be there.
We will parade through Murphy to show them
how much revenue will be lost if Tellico Closes.
Then a day of Wheelin!
RSVP if possible to: Helen Davis
tellicocabins@yahoo.com

Your help is needed to SAVE TELLICO!!!

Plan to ride Tellico April 5th 2008 (Saturday)
We will meet in Murphy at the SAVE-A-LOT
parking lot.
Bring your off road vehicles.
If not licensed leave on trailer.
The press will be there.
We will parade through Murphy to show them
how much revenue will be lost if Tellico Closes.
Then a day of Wheelin!
RSVP if possible to: Helen Davis
tellicocabins@yahoo.com

What trails exactly will be open come 4/5/08?

What trails exactly will be open come 4/5/08?

everything except 8, lower2, Slick Rock and Peckerwood...

It's not about how the ride will be. It'll be crowded and slow with moderate wheeling.

It's about being there to stand up for Tellico.

Awesome pics folks! I so wish I could have gotten up there before winter set in.

The only comforting thing is that I've done every trail there. I hate it for the guys who are still building rigs and will never get a chance to ride those trails.

Now, now...let's not give up hope! There are a lot of people that are dedictating a lot of time and money to getting those trails reopened.

Your help is needed to SAVE TELLICO!!!

Plan to ride Tellico April 5th 2008 (Saturday)
We will meet in Murphy at the SAVE-A-LOT
parking lot.
Bring your off road vehicles.
If not licensed leave on trailer.
The press will be there.
We will parade through Murphy to show them
how much revenue will be lost if Tellico Closes.
Then a day of Wheelin!
RSVP if possible to: Helen Davis
tellicocabins@yahoo.com

Thanks Helen! Damn how I wish I could be there for this one!!!! But the baby is due March 29th, so there's a good chance that I'll either be home with a days old infant or in the hospital. I'll look at the truck and send good vibes your way. Thanks for organizing this!

It's not about how the ride will be. It'll be crowded and slow with moderate wheeling.

It's about being there to stand up for Tellico.

That's the spirit!

you might have seen us tuesday, but not monday
.. we was going to ride slickrock on saturday, but heard there were over 30 rigs waiting in line at the bottom to go up.. sunday we decided to sit out the rain, and make repairs then hit everything on monday.


yeah my mistake it was tuesday. i was coming from florida heading back to michigan