East of the Mississippi FWC owners chime in

[longhorn1]

As of Lunch time yesterday I'm now a Proud east of the Big Muddy owner of a slightly used 2012 eagle shell! Hope to see you folks this summer at the rally.

Welcome and enjoy your new camper.

 

[100acrehuphalump]

LUKE, I AM NOT YOUR FATHER. COME OVER TO THE EAST SIDE. Now the near anxiety sets in...in two days I will have my Archaeopteryx, I mean Hawk.
Tweaking a little...I have to drive into two big cities on this trip Philadelphia and Washington DC. Scary for a country boy like me!
Ooooooooo aaaaaaaaaa eeeeeerrrrrkkkkkk ggggeeeekkkkk

 

[Happyjax]

Hope I did this right....

 

[billharr]

Me at my Hawk are east of the Missippisi now. Headed for John Tanner SP Georgia.

 

[100acrehuphalump]

Hope I did this right....

Thanks I needed a great laugh!

 

[100acrehuphalump]

Me at my Hawk are east of the Missippisi now. Headed for John Tanner SP Georgia.

How's the Jell-o, I mean humidity?

 

[Squatch]

Hey All,
I'm hoping someone can do a little Recon in Shenandoah NP to see if there is a suitable place for an eastern rally.

The following youtube videos are good examples of the rally seen for those who have never been to a rally.

Here is a link to Shenandoah National Park map.
http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/upload/whole_park.pdf

Big Meadows Campground, in the middle of the park, claims to have group sites but I can’t find them on the campground map.

The following campgrounds have group sites which are worth checking out. It might work out well to reserve individual sites and one groupsite for a central hangout area
http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/upload/loft_mtn_camp_combined.pdf
http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/upload/mathews_arm_camp_combined.pdf

There is also a private group site called Dundo Group Campsite just south of Loft mountain which I believe has been converted into a picnic ground only. I’ll call the park and find out if that’s a possibility.

If anyone knows of or is driving through the park please pass along any info.
Dan maybe you can do a bit of scouting on your way home with your new camper in March ?
I may have an opportunity in April. The sooner we nail this down the more likely reservations will be available.
Keep Hope Alive
Thanks All

DanT in that area George Washington National Forest might be a better location. At least as long as folks don't mind getting the tires dirty and risking a pinstripe or 2 on their trucks. GW is the other side of the valley. One can do a whole day in low range and the scenery is awesome. Mostly rough narrow forest service roads and uninmproved camping.

The trick in National Forests is to arrange this as a meeting of friends camping. Just friends using the internet to get together. Not an official event of any sort. No fees, no banner, come as you are and on your own. Once you get into making casual camping trips into proper events then you have to get into permitting and insurance and all that.

Once I get my rig up and running I can post a time when I'll be heading down and folks can meet up and join me if they like.
There is a beautiful lake for canoeing or yakking, Fishing requires a VA freshwater license, a NPS permit and a trout stamp.


Typical road/trail in the forest.


In this pic you can see the lake from the top of the mountain. The ridge in the far distance is Skyline drive. This is one of the spots we like to camp.


There is a small primative campground with vault toilets. 1st come basis.


George Washington & Jefferson National Forests - Hone Quarry Campground

This place is really pretty vast and connect to both Danial Boone National forest and Jefferson National For

 

[Jollyrogers]

Squatch, I'm game after May. I have been scrounging GWNF and JNF for dispersed camping spots. That one looks promising, $5 fee though? I was planning on Oronoco Campground as a start. We go to Uhwharrie NF in NC, but usually a lot of people there on weekends... which makes it undesirable for us.

 

[100acrehuphalump]

Great idea Squatch, I like a chill gathering of like minded individuals better than a big commercial event. Although I will still probably attend the one in August at the Mid Atlantic Overland Expo.

 

[DanT]

Squatch, I need a time and coordinates. I'd love to check it out with you sometime.
Thats the kind of place thats not easy to find on the east coast. Does the lake have a name?
How far off of paved roads do you have to travel to get to the lake?
Looks more like a jeep trail then a dirt road, how do you deal with someone coming the other way, is it full size truck appropriate ?
Any maps that you know of?
Thanks

 

[Squatch]

We only camp in the campground during winter when having a toilet is kinda nice. $5 is quite reasonable. There is a sweet trout stream behind the campsites.

The lake is about 2 miles off rt 33. Switzer lake. It's Harrisonburg's water supply.

The trails are tight. A full size will likely get a scratch or 2. Especially in the summer. If you are a stick to the pavement person probably not your place to drive.

The area I frequent is mostly in the Dry River Rangers District. There are topos. The rangers station in Harrisonburg sells them. But I'm sure they could be found online. The topo's are nice as they identify closed gates and trails. Some roads are only openb during hunting season. some have been closed due to trashing.

The dispersed camping is found by getting in the back country and saying I like this spot. Off limits places are usually marked.

JR I'll be in URE next month 22-26 at Arrowhead with my Isuzu group.

 

[DanT]

Thanks for the info,
I'm really not a fan of the pavement but right now I'm still a fan of my paint job. The truck is pretty new, the campers brand new, I have a desire to get it scratched up while exploring the back woods its just that the flesh isn't willing to tear up tight trails for a couple of more years.
Right now she's still to pretty, but I'm looking forward to her ugly years. It would be nice if we could say the same thing about women.

 

[Happyjax]

Yes it would be nice.....

 

[Stalking Light]

I'm guessing neither of you is married, or at least your spouses don't read this forum. It's not like men actually get more handsome as they age, although we like to think so.

I always like to get my first new truck scratches on the trail, not in a parking lot.

 

[JaSAn]

...
The area I frequent is mostly in the Dry River Rangers District. There are topos. The rangers station in Harrisonburg sells them. But I'm sure they could be found online. The topo's are nice as they identify closed gates and trails. Some roads are only openb during hunting season. some have been closed due to trashing.

FYI - All available topo's are downloadable:

http://store.usgs.gov/b2c_usgs/usgs/maplocator/(ctype=areaDetails&xcm=r3standardpitrex_prd&carea=%24ROOT&layout=6_1_61_48&uiarea=2)/.do

I hate paying $7 or $8 per map when I need many. I resize and print to fit in gallon ziploc bags.

 

[DanT]

"spouses don't read this forum"

 

[Happyjax]

I don't have the truck to put scratches and dents in yet but I have put a few on me. I kinda like to think of it as character

 

[Jollyrogers]

DanT in that area George Washington National Forest might be a better location. At least as long as folks don't mind getting the tires dirty and risking a pinstripe or 2 on their trucks. GW is the other side of the valley. One can do a whole day in low range and the scenery is awesome. Mostly rough narrow forest service roads and uninmproved camping.

The trick in National Forests is to arrange this as a meeting of friends camping. Just friends using the internet to get together. Not an official event of any sort. No fees, no banner, come as you are and on your own. Once you get into making casual camping trips into proper events then you have to get into permitting and insurance and all that.

Once I get my rig up and running I can post a time when I'll be heading down and folks can meet up and join me if they like.
There is a beautiful lake for canoeing or yakking, Fishing requires a VA freshwater license, a NPS permit and a trout stamp.


Typical road/trail in the forest.


In this pic you can see the lake from the top of the mountain. The ridge in the far distance is Skyline drive. This is one of the spots we like to camp.


There is a small primative campground with vault toilets. 1st come basis.


http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gwj/null/recarea/?recid=73759&actid=29

This place is really pretty vast and connect to both Danial Boone National forest and Jefferson National For

Squatch,
We camped at Hone Quarry on our way home after picking up our camper. Went back Memorial Day weekend and spent some time over by Todd Lake and then rode up Long Run Rd to some campsite up on a ridge somewhere near Hall Spring Rd. Give me a shout, I have our fishing licenses and camper ready to go.

 

[smlobx]

Hi my name is Eddie and I'm a FWC wanna be owner.

We've just started looking into possibly getting a Grandby for our F-350 CC in preparation for our upcoming retirement (can't get here soon enough!!).

We would love to join you guys if you would allow a tent camper amongst your midst. It would be a great opportunity to get to see them in person.

We live at Smith Mt. Lake just East of Roanoke, VA so anywhere off the Blue Ridge Parkway would be great for us.

What do you say?

 

[Jollyrogers]

I'm game. I want to explore around rt 60 through GWNF area soon...