| Author | Message | ||
     Barrett Edwards (Tinmann) New Member Username: Tinmann Post Number: 11 Registered: 05-2003 |
Can anyone let me know what trails in Uwharrie to stay away from in a stock D1. ??? I have ran the trails before in my Fj40's but it's been a couple of years. Thanks D-Webers | ||
| BW (Bwallace35) Member Username: Bwallace35 Post Number: 79 Registered: 07-2002 |
Barrett, I've tackled every trail in Uwharrie when my D2 was stock. I had no problems. A spotter made things easy in a couple of spots but the Uwharrie is generally over-rated in my opinion. Of course, trail conditions do change- the times I rode- it was dry. | ||
| Barrett Edwards (Tinmann) New Member Username: Tinmann Post Number: 12 Registered: 05-2003 |
Thanks BW. I love the response time on this board...6:18am on a Saturday///CHEERS | ||
| Max Thomason (Lrmax) Senior Member Username: Lrmax Post Number: 267 Registered: 11-2002 |
Barret, I used to frequent Uwharrie national forest on a regular basis. Go check out http://www.carolinarovers.org/Safari2003/index.html. There is tons of info. IMO, with a stock truck, avoid Daniel. Dutch John is fun, but I would recommend that with a spotter and a second truck. Slab pile and saw mill are straight up fun. Dickey bell also would require a spotter. Wolfs den is a warm up and in general, fun. It is fairly easy and shouldn't cause much problems. Lastly, STAY AWAY from Kodak Rock. Do not go there. I would not take a stock truck up there. Pop off the running boards and the front air dam. This will help out a lot. Now, the trails lately have been wet. A significant number of miles of trail have dried up and are easily passable by stock truck. But some lartge mudholes have formed which will cause you trouble. This report is accurate as of this summer. I was up there a lot during the summer. I did run Falls Dam on October 18th going down it. It is not passable (by stock truck) going up. There is a VERY large mudhole that you would basically have to winch through it. It is not stock-truck friendly. I did run Wolfs Den and it was pretty dry. I also ran slab pile. The most difficult section of slab pile is a massive hill climb (going westward). It could cause some traction problems. Also, this hill blimb will probably eat your air dam so watch out. So, thats what I think about Uwharrie. I think I'm going to be going up there on Wednesday Nov. 26th. I'm getting a new locker in the rear so I think I'm going to test it out. Max T. | ||
| Jeff Conrad (Jwconrad) Member Username: Jwconrad Post Number: 81 Registered: 02-2002 |
Barrett, Uwharrie is extremely dependent on the weather if it is dry you can negoiate most if not all of the trails in a stock D1. Almost all of the trails have go arounds for the difficult spots. If it is wet, trucks with lockers and MTs struggle on the harder trails. Max gives you pretty good run down of trails. Have a spotter and another truck and you should be fine. CROC is planning a trip in Dec if you would like to tag along with us. Watch our bb for details. Jeff | ||
| Kristopher March (Apexdisco) Member Username: Apexdisco Post Number: 226 Registered: 02-2002 |
We were out in Uwharrie on two separate weekends this month - camping and off-roading. Two weeks ago all the trails were complete mud and I couldn't make it up a lot of trails in my stock Disco. This past weekend was a dry and an absolute blast. 95% of the trails were dry and I made it up every trail we hit. I've heard mixed stories from others on the trail about maintenance during the winter months. Does it really happen? Some say no, and some say they bring out tractors to re-groom the trails? I've also heard that the spring just after they open is a sweet time to head out. | ||
| Kristopher March (Apexdisco) Member Username: Apexdisco Post Number: 243 Registered: 02-2002 |
Anyone? | ||
| Aaron Richardet (Draaronr) Senior Member Username: Draaronr Post Number: 349 Registered: 09-2002 |
I think that all the trails are maintained by volunteers. I know they close them in the winter to give them a break and also for the animals. I think since vegetation thins out in the winter, they are afraid too many people will stray from the trails. I have heard about tractors in the past but cannot vouch for it. I think there will be a Blowing Rock trip coming up. Greg Davis said there is one on the plans. | ||
| Jeff Conrad (Jwconrad) Member Username: Jwconrad Post Number: 83 Registered: 02-2002 |
Uwharrie is closed from 12/15 until the first week in April to prevent excessive erosion during the wet winter months. The USFS does do some trail repairs during that time but volunteers do most of the upkeep during the open season. Tractors have been used in the past to repair some of the trails and unfortunately the trails are not as difficult as they were several years ago. | ||
| Max Thomason (Lrmax) Senior Member Username: Lrmax Post Number: 279 Registered: 11-2002 |
Jeff, I was out there on December 15th, the LAST day Uwharrie was open. FWIW, it was fairly difficult and the other truck I was with (Brad Russells' disco) did have some trouble. The rocks are covered with dirt, when this dirt gets wet, you have ultra slick trails. A few of the hill climbs, Brad needed some help and it took a few tries. We started off by running Dickey Bell, north to south. The first hill climb was challenging for Brad due to his tire selection (Dunlop R/Ts, great tire, but full muds are very very good) but then the rest of the trail was pretty much downhill from there (literally). Next we did some of Rocky Mount. I almost flipped my 109 at one section. The ATVs have come through and dug out big holes that give full size rigs some issues. I misjudged the depth of one hole, and as a result my driver side rear wheel went 4 feet into the air and I saw a lot of tire tracks out of my passenger side window. It was close. Another hole not far beyond that one was about 5 feet deep with a slick, nasty, bottom. There was a bypass for that one but still it was a big hole. I'm glad I checked it before I dove in. I would have had "some problems", lol. The big hill beyond the turn off Dutch John on Slab pile is nearly impassable. FWIW, I am running 235/85/16 BFG MTs and a detroit rear locker. So we went for Dutch John, and that big ass hill decent still scares the piss out of me. Its only the 15th time I've been down it, hehehe. It feels like you are going to go into the side embankments and there isn't anything you can do about it. The rest of the track was pretty good. Then a muddy ascent near the end halted Brads disco temporarily. I put the side of my truck into the muddy embankment there as well. Hehehe, there was mud on my door hinges. Wolfs Den is, as always, tame. Muddy, but tame. Last time I was on Falls Dam (Mid October), there was this massive hole about half way through it. It is nearly impassable when travelling westward on the track. A big bronco, 33s and rear locked got stuck real good on that section. He was winched off backwards. We were coming from the opposite direction and it required spotting to get through. Even so, my ARB bumper dug into the sides of the hole so it was REALLY close. This hole has been developing all year. It was interesting at the Uwharrie Safari and then it was concerning in July. At July, it was not stock-truck friendly. In fact, it was not slightly modified truck friendly. I think Aaron Owens mentioned that this particular hole had been taken care of. If so, then Falls Dam is once again a stock truckable trail. I've attempted Daniel on two seperate occasions, once in August coming from the east entrance. I couldn't get 100 yards into the trail. Aaron, sporting the 34" LTBs had issues there, but eventually got up. Then on Dec. 15th I attempted it from the west entrance and got into it a ways but once again was stopped my a big, muddy hill. Slab pile, except for that hill climb is other wise easy. Sawmill is easy too, but with one section where spotting is VERY good. I think the park closes down the trails so that they will "heal" up. I've heard of foot trails being closed for a few years because of the human activity has destroyed the area on and around the trail. I believe it is best for this to happen since the OHV area gets thrashed a lot. I'd hate to see it get totally destroyed to the point that I need 38s to get around in there. IMO, the ATVs seem to be doing a lot of the damage. Many areas around the trails have been fenced off b/c the ATVs go off the trail and tear up the land. Even after fences have been put up, they tear them down. During my last visit, many of the difficult sections were dug out by ATVs and you could tell b/c the holes were ATV width and there were ATV ruts that cause a lot of trouble for the bigger rigs. Lastly, most of the ATVers at the Uwharrie Forest are straight up stupid. During a work day, some ATV guys cut off the trail and tore up a ditch beside the road....I FRONT OF A PARK RANGER. Naturally, they got chewed up. Not having helmets, not having the proper pass, not staying on the trails, having alcohol in their cup holders, etc. Most of the work done in the Forest, as Jeff said, is done by volunteers. The rangers there have had a special off road trailer made to be used during these work days. The trails require constant maintenence so that they don't get so bad that they must be closed. Max T. Rant mode off | ||
| Kristopher March (Apexdisco) Member Username: Apexdisco Post Number: 249 Registered: 02-2002 |
Well said. I plan to attend some volunteer work days. Off-road and ATV owners need to pitch in with this. Just curious, are the 4-wheelers and dirtbikers required to pay $5 to ride? | ||
| Timothy A. Green (Tree_trimmer) Member Username: Tree_trimmer Post Number: 55 Registered: 02-2004 |
Just doing a little research and found this thread. I had hoped to take the family to Uwharrie today to ride some of the easy trails but am concerned about the trails being opened. I didn't know they closed the trails in the winter. Can anyone tell me if the trails are open today and would welcome any advice on easy trails, got some from the above link about the Safari. Thanks, Tim | ||
| Max Thomason (Lrmax) Senior Member Username: Lrmax Post Number: 308 Registered: 11-2002 |
Tim, Trails are closed until April. Hope you didn't find out the hard way. Max T. | ||
| Timothy A. Green (Tree_trimmer) Member Username: Tree_trimmer Post Number: 58 Registered: 02-2004 |
Thanks Max. No, I posted on the disco tech board also (even though its a no no) and found info on the Uwharrie web page. I saw the opening date of 4/1. Just aborted the trip and did the mall shopping thing. I'll get my kicks at the 04 Safari though. Thanks again, Tim | ||
| Aaron Richardet (Draaronr) Senior Member Username: Draaronr Post Number: 527 Registered: 09-2002 |
Tim I will be at Uwharrie again this year. Make sure you stop in and say hi. It is an event okay for family, so don't hesitate to bring them. | ||
| Timothy A. Green (Tree_trimmer) Member Username: Tree_trimmer Post Number: 59 Registered: 02-2004 |
Aaron, this will be my first time. I will probably be alone as my wife will be extremely busy at work that week. She also gets a little nervous when the pavement ends. I heard about last years safari too late to attend. I am also looking forward to joining CROC. I met a young lady on a trip last year and found out about the club. As it was July already I wanted to wait till the membership due break to join. Forgot to follow up. Anyway, hope to see you, and lots of other rover owners from my area. | ||
| Max Thomason (Lrmax) Senior Member Username: Lrmax Post Number: 310 Registered: 11-2002 |
Tim, I plan on coming up for the event as well. Yea, I had a lot of trouble with the womenfolk off road. You are going along and then they scream. Then I get all flustered b/c I think something bad is about to happen and I screw up. Then they yell more and then I screw up more. The cycle of screaming goes on until I stop and tell the to evacuate the truck (aka get the f#@k out of my rig). Click on my Profile, that is my 109 that I will have there. Come on by and say hello. Oh, and that big rock is at Uwharrie and it is a great place to get a pick of your rig, as I did (previous year went in nose first, then this year had to back onto it). Max T. | ||
| Timothy A. Green (Tree_trimmer) Member Username: Tree_trimmer Post Number: 61 Registered: 02-2004 |
Cool pic, only my disco has enough body damage already, no need to climb the rock. |
