Tracy City trail ride
This weekend we attended the Damn Locals 4×4 club annual toy ride. We did not know what to expect but we loaded into Jennifer’s Jeep and took along a toy to donate. We had considered meeting the group leaving from Coalmont since we had heard about the weekend from their Facebook posts. However we passed the meeting point of the Damn Locals along the way and saw several interesting rigs about our size so we decide to just join in there.
No one jumped up to greet us but the people were welcoming enough when we approached them. We talked with a group of XJ’s and had made tentative arrangements to ride with them. However, a large group headed out and the XJ’s seemed to be waiting on someone who was still along way off. We dropped in at the end of a long line of various sized rigs including a stock TJ on street tires and several on Rockwells and huge boggers.
We dropped off the pavement near Pryor Ridge Church. We really had no idea where we were going or what lay in store for us. At various stopping points folks waved us around and we ended up in the middle of the pack. Directly behind us was another red XJ except his had leaf springs all around and full size Ford axles. There was another XJ behind him with tall control arm drop mounts. They were very friendly to us at the various stops.
We were directly behind a group of Toyotas that had come up form North Georgia. We could not see the front of the line. And since we did not have a CB radio, we had no communication with the group while moving.
We crossed a creek several times. There were several challenging rock ledges to cross and some mud holes so deep that we had to bypass.
Jennifer got hung once when she slipped sideways and hung her rear diff on a rock. Just a couple of stacked rocks and some side to side shaking got her moving again without any assistance from the others. They seemed to be willing to help but were nice enough to see if we could get ourselves out before offering to help.
We eventually stopped for lunch at the mouth of Peter Cave. We had elected to take the more challenging entrance down the creek bed. The Toyota in front of us lost a taillight that I returned to him when we stopped at the cave entrance.
We explored the cave which is large enough to drive a truck into. We had lunch and began to join some of the conversations going on around us. We learned some of the history of the area and plans for the future. I still had no feel for where I was and we had made too many turns to keep track of.
The group of Toyotas left to go their own way as did the two other XJ’s. We finally met our trail leader and tucked in near the front of the line. We also figured out who was running tail gunner so we knew when our group was all together at the stops.
We watched while some of the taller rigs played in a creek bed. We then ended up at a Church in the middle of no where. There is a small concrete block building marked Bryant’s Cove Baptist Church. I am not sure how the church folk get there because the way we went was very challenging. There seemed to be about a hundred rigs parked in the church yard.
After Janice and Jennifer made use of the church outhouse, we followed our leader up out of the cove. Our next stop was a huge mud hole. Actually it was several mud holes. The area appeared to be the intersection of at least three trails and there were rigs scattered in the trees as far as I could see. Every trail was blocked by something going on. It looked like a three ring circus.
A Full sized Ford had tried the deepest mud hole and may have popped bead on his huge tire. From the commentary and laughter, I think he had just re seated the bead using ether with the usual fire and excitement. I noticed his truck was held up by a bright pink Hi Lift.
The exit we wanted was blocked as far as I could see and our trial boss walked forward to clear a path. There was more commotion gong on down another trial with several full size pickups doing lots of tire spinning in the mud. The other group of XJ’s could be seen through the trees. They seemed to just be stuck in the traffic jam.
Eventually we had a path but not an easy one. Jennifer had twisted her ankle so she asked me to drive from that point. I had to negotiate a very deep mud hole with a step exit and then work between some trees with a scary off camber toward the creek below. I made it fine with both mirrors intact. Her Dick Cepeks gripped well, even though we had only aired down to 20 psi or so and never disconnected the sway bar.
A huge Toyota Land Cruiser was in front of us so we knew that if he fit we could too. The two of us ended up a bit ahead of the rest of the group as our trial leader had stayed behind to make sure people knew the way through the confusing set of bypasses. We stopped at the first wide spot which was a good ways up the trial. Once we had all lined back up again, dusk was settling in fast.
We arrived at a choice of exits from the cove. The trail we chose to follow the Land Cruiser on is called Parson’s. It is a step rocky climb. I slightly under estimated the difficulty from the bottom however. Next time I will air down and disconnect the sway bar.
The Land Cruiser was doing well with his spotter stacking a lot of rocks to get him through. I did pretty well as long as I kept moving. The trail was a lot like rail bed in Harlan except that it goes on forever. Like most it gets more challenging as it goes up.
For most of the trail I drove loaded with people as well. Janice, Caleb and Hunter were in the back seat and Jennifer in the front. With he ankle hurting I hated to ask to walk and spot much. Eventually I made a mistake and got hung on both diffs. I could not move forward or backwards. Everyone bailed out and as I was about to get out and see if I could jack it up and get a rock under a tire, one of the Other trail leaders showed up and began helping me work through. The Truck behind me had caught up by this point and gave me a slight tug backwards to get me off the rock. I was then able to take a different line and make it over the obstacle.
My guide stayed with me and helped me over the next difficult section. I was getting nervous because the trail was getting harder and the daylight was gong away. The Land Cruiser kept getting hung in front of me as well. I seemed to do fine until I would stop. Each time I stopped, I had trouble getting moving again. Also, the brakes had gotten spongy and at times non existent. That made backing up to take a different line very scary.
It was really getting dark when the Land Cruiser got hung on the last obstacle of the climb. My guide went forward to help them and I went up to watch. After a lot of rock stacking and maneuvering, they finally got out. Not before dislodging all the rock bridges they had built however.
I followed my spotter’s advice as best I could but I could not really get lined up like he wanted me to due to the scary lack of brakes in reverse. I was able to make it up the last rock in just two or three attempts however. I pulled to the side and popped the hood. The master cylinder chamber for the rear brakes was empty and had been sucking air. Jennifer asked around and got some brake fluid. Adding it brought the brakes up to full pedal immediately. For that I was very thankful.
I was congratulated on my climb by several in the dark. There were several groups mixed together at this point so I am not sure who was who. There were some big tube buggies that took the even more difficult upper climb in the dark. I ended up in the lead of my sub group and followed the winding trail through the trees to a wide spot where those who had not take Parson’s were waiting for us.
We regrouped and headed out of the woods. Back at the High School where we had met we said our goodbyes and headed home.
I hope to go back soon, but I will still have to have a guide. There are just too many side trails and loops for me to keep track of after just one ride along.
