This ride is being put together in honor of cherokee980's current project. Im not sure if you have been following his build thread but he is converting his YJ into a TJ. Jokingly I suggested we get together and wheel when he was finished but he liked the idea. So now I am trying to put it all together. We are looking at meeting up sometime during mid summer. It will depend on when he manages to get his project done. So at this point the date it TBA. First and foremost we need to decide on where we want to do the ride at. It is going to take place somewhere in Kentucky. I have a poll up so please vote for the place you would like to meet up at. Or, if you've got any suggestions for me please let me know. I have never wheeled in KY so I will just pout up the places that look best to me. Shortly after we decide where we are going I will start looking at tentative dates. So check the thread often and give me your input because this is the first time I have ever put one of these together!

UPDATE 3-13-08 Trip Information: Its taking place on Aug. 21-24 at Black Mountain in Harlan, KY. The park is free so there is no entry fee's or anything. I encourage everyone to get an ORV sticker even though I dont think they are required there. Web site listed further down in thread.

Don't know anything about the wheeling spots in Kentucky. I've heard of Turkey Bay so I'll vote for that one. Any of these areas that are not mud pits?

Like I said, I've never really been anywhere around there either. But I have heard lots of good stuff about the spots in KY. I do know that most them actually are a lot mroe than just mud. My bad though. I will post a few links so that people can see what each place is like. I personally voted for Black Mountain because it is a free park with camping and its huge (6000+ acres). There are all levels of trails too. From stocker up to custom crawlers. Here are a few links so you guys can vote with a little more knowledge of these places.
http://www.harlancountytrails.com/blackmountain.php
http://www.hillznhollarz.com/
http://www.bigrockoffroadpark.com/articles/home.asp
http://www.paddysbluff.com/
http://www.lbl.org/OHVTrails.html
Also as some extra information. I goofed. The ORV park of kentucky is actually Big Rock Offroad Park. I will try to change the poll but vote accordingly.

I saw som pics from black mountain in and the place looks great!!

Thanks for the vote! Got some information to report as well. Paddys Bluff will only be open for 5 specific weekends for the 2008 season, not sure why but thats the deal. So if we were to end up going there our date would basically already be set for us. Because the only weekend they are open for in mid summer before college classes go back into session is in August. For the sake of working around others schedules it may not be the best place to go.

Count me in, I am going to vote for Black Mountain. Let me see if I cannot round up some of the other GA boys.

My suggestion also would be make this a 3 day event...Friday, Saturday, and Sunday..hell throw Thursday in there as well.

Looks like I would have to drive for about 5-6 hours to get there, so 3 days it is.

I planned on making this at least a 3 day event for sure. A long weekend would probably be best since most people will have long drives. Personally its an 8 hour trip for me to get to Black Mountain (503 miles). So I will probably go even a little earlier and have Thursday to relax and do some light wheelin like you said. Until others showed up on Friday. But we will worry about how all that will work later any way.

318 miles for me = 6 hours loaded with gear.

It'd be a little over seven for me. Not sure if I could swing that one but I'd give it a try.

I definately want to get some wheelin' in with some WF folks.

If I am going six, you can go 7...we can meet up in Chattanooga and caravan from there.

I like Black Mountain. As was stated, it's free, and a lot of land to wheel on. That's a 395 mile / 7 hr trip for me as well!! I may even "trailer queen" my junk up there! Let's do this!!! Sounds like a blast! (3 or 4 day would be best!!)

That'll take me waaay out of the way... I'd just meet you there if I can go.

i might be able to do it. i'm new to the jeep scene, but i'd love to do a trip like that. i have an 04 tj with a 2" bb and 31" tires. are there any trails at black mountain that my jeep can go on?

it's about 592 miles and 10-1/2 hours from where i live. me and the wifey usually go to the townend/gatlinburg area in the summer. we might stay somewhere around there. sounds like it would be a lot of fun.

Bring it! My junk is stock!!!

That thing in that configuration alone can make your ass swallow the foam on your seat more than a few times in a session. I'd say you're fine.

I run the same set up.

AKA: Pucker Factor

Depending on the timing of everything, I would love to make a trip to Black Moutain!

Once we figure out where everyone would like to meet at, we will start the new poll to decide on when we all want to go!!

Can I come?

Bring it!

i voted for black mountain sounds like a deal and everyone else liked it thats an 8 hr 526 mile trip for me

Id go to any black mountain is actually the furthest from me.

tiny, haha, no need to ask. If you want to come all you had to say was your in! That goes for everyone. No need to ask if you can come along, of course you can!

So it looks like black mountain is about 6-8 hours for most people going. But it also looks like thats where most people would like to go. So I will try to give a little information about the park if you havent read about it on the link already. For starters the park consists of over 6,000 acres (dayham!) of property to wheel on, which equals out to a little over 200 miles of trails. For anyone who is worried they arent built up enough for a place like this let me just clear it up a bit. They have trails that are tailored to people with rigs that are completley stock all the way up to ones made for rock buggys and custom crawlers only. So plenty diverse, and all the trails are marked by their difficulty so you know what your going into. Lastly, there is no daily admission or charges of any type to wheel there. You also do not need ORV stickers or anything like that. It also has primitive camping on site which is also free. But they are close to cabins and the such if you prefer. There are two trail heads to the park and they are open every day all year around. That being said, if this were our location it looks like the only charges for most would be gas and food. Just thought I'd shed some light on the info they have.

the wife and i talked about the trip last night over a few drinks. it's amazing how plans come together with a drink or two...cough cough. she said she would love to do it, so if the timing works out we are probably going to do it.

This is great!! It looks like I am going to get to meet a few of you knuckleheads!!!

Sweet, so it looks like we are buiding some steam as to getting this thing together...lets not let this fall.

Really looking forward to meeting you folks.

I'm not a lock yet... But I'm going to try like hell.

I have ridden black mountain on 4 wheeler a few times. Harlan county is beautiful in the spring when the red buds and dogwoods bloom. You can ride all day and never hit teh same trail twice. LBL or Turkey Bay as you guys call it is great for mud and stockers but may be no real challenge for you experienced crawlers. Also, it is eat up with guys in buggies who come flying over hills without lookin.. My vote will be for Black Mountain. Are we talkin bout a straight weekend onjly trip? or longer?

Hillz and Hollerz is only like 30 minutes from me and I didnt even know it existed. I may go check it out and let you guys know how it is.

I think we are talking abot a 3 day, 4 day get together.