Choccolocco Mountain 3-8-19

[McCracken]

So when deciding where to go on our next trip we all came to the consensus that we wanted something new. Some place we've never been but wanted go. Enter Choccolocco Mountain.

Located in Jacksonville, AL about 5 hours away from all of us is a mountainous terrain that I didn't know existed. When I think of Alabama I think more of a flat, humid hell then what we encountered. I believe I can speak for us all when I say we were all pleasantly surprised by the offerings. However, it almost didn't happen. The night before we were all looking at the weather trying to figure out what to do.

After digging through every weather app and website on the internet we decided to chance it and make the run south. It only seemed to improve as time went on. Guess we'll find out when we get there... It's hard not to forget that literally days prior had tornados that killed 23 people.

 

[McCracken]

During the 5 hour trudge, it rained, it pissed, it poured. My shitbox was not happy When we stopped at a rest stop I realized I better unhook the battery in case the water made some of my electronics short out. When I popped the hood I noticed my air filter was soaked This was a great idea... Anyway, miracles happen every day. As soon as we hit the Alabama line it stopped and some bright light came from the sky. Optimism +1

We arrived to find plush accommodations at the University Inn.

We all met at the park and started unloading. That's when we broke out the first wrench. Looks like my driver side wheel bearings decided to loosen up. You know because loose is fast.

Got that fixed and it's time to roll out. @Jody Treadway , @Luth Man , @woodrow , @Kap10merica , @shagy9888 , @Loganwayne and myself hit the trails with Jody leading. @Stuntman Autoworks planned to meet us there later that night since he had to work.

 

[McCracken]

Jody lead the way since he had been there before.

I'll try and keep the words few and let the pics do the talking. First up, Tee Pee. No trash talk but when you have capable rigs you don't stop much for pics.



Next we hit the Playground. Good trail, lots of lines. I have more pics from that area on the next day.

This also where we made some make shift jumper cables. Seems everyone in the group forgot theirs

Next, we tried our luck on Boat Ramp

 

[McCracken]

Boat Ramp is cool and it's one of those obstacles where a full blown $150k buggy can't touch it but then a clapped out Toyota on 33s will walk it. She's a fickle pickle and chooses who she loves. It's got a thin layer of algae that denies more than it gives passage too. Will the recent rains it had more flow than usual all but sealing the deal for us.

And here's the attempts

I'll load mine later

After that we headed over to Hell's Revenge. The last time I was on a trail named Hell's Revenge I caved my entire driver's side in.

 

[CasterTroy]

Got that fixed and it's time to roll out. @Jody Treadway , @Luth Man , @woodrow , @Kap10merica , @shagy9888 , @Loganwayne and myself hit the trails with Jody leading. @Stuntman Autoworks planned to meet us there later that night since he had to work.

Just FYI buncha X's

 

[McCracken]

grrrrr. I'll fix it.

I'm at work so I'm having to jump back and forth between computers and phones to try and upload everything.

 

[77GreenMachine]

Yup. Seeing the same Xs myself.

Can’t wait till you fix them, and when I get home I’m watching the vids! I will be there next month.

 

[CasterTroy]

I will be there next month.

@ncsutj will make it up boat ramp (just sayin )

 

[Chris_Keziah]

@ncsutj will make it up boat ramp (just sayin )

Confident in that, he has developed a UPS Red NDA style of driving here lately

 

[McCracken]

All I can tell you is good luck. It's a bitch. Plus, to spoil the story we had two guys go up and get sideways. Then a Samurai showed up by himself and flopped it. We ended up winching him back over.

 

[CasterTroy]

All I can tell you is good luck. It's a bitch.

When Chris and I discussed the 2019 schedule he was amazed at the videos of Boat ramp, and how full on bouncers would sit and spin, or get 1/2 way and then hook to land exactly perpendicular to the direction, and then some TJ on 35's would walk right up it.

I watched several videos and I too was amazed/intrigued. Without a doubt the 13 years worth of rain we've had in the last 6 months has left a film on those rocks that might not have been there in the prior trips where said smaller rigs were able to walk it. Plus, you guys going during a mini-flood didn't help

 

[McCracken]

Last thing before calling it a day was roll into Hell's Revenge. Last time I hit a trail called Hell's Revenge I crushed in my entire driver's side panel. We'll see how this goes.

Jody trying the V-notch in the very beginning of the trail. @woodrow also tried it.

Here's a couple vids

 

[77GreenMachine]

Man Boat Ramp looks fun! I want to be a keyboard hero and say I'll go next month and get a good run at it in 2nd gear on the rev limiter, but I know what video and pics do and its much worse than it looks!

How was the park to navigate? Spread out like Windrock or condensed like AOP? Any of y'all check out the bath houses?

 

[CasterTroy]

No trash talk but when you have capable rigs you don't stop much for pics.

Shame....cause your rig would be perfect for this

 

[McCracken]

Shame....cause your rig would be perfect for this

I actually thought about that. I don't think I can get down there though.

 

[McCracken]

Man Boat Ramp looks fun! I want to be a keyboard hero and say I'll go next month and get a good run at it in 2nd gear on the rev limiter, but I know what video and pics do and its much worse than it looks!

How was the park to navigate? Spread out like Windrock or condensed like AOP? Any of y'all check out the bath houses?

A lot like AOP. You mean the bathroom at the entrance? Yeah, I hit it up during one of our repair visits to the parking lot.

 

[77GreenMachine]

Glad to hear it's laid out like AOP! I love how you can be on some killer trails in 10 minutes, but easily run back to camp if needed.

I was wondering if the bath houses were pretty nice.

 

[Jody Treadway]

Two trails side by side that are very tough.
Chainsaw and Terminator will knock your Willie in your watch pocket.
Ask me how I know...
@woodrow broke on it, @Stuntman Autoworks broke on it, @McCracken gave it his all and I was going backwards somehow while turning 5000 rpm in 2nd gear. None of us cleared the first rock at the entrance.
@Kap10merica was the only one of us with any sense. He watched us and pointed and laughed.

 

[McCracken]

I'll update this thread in the morning with Day 2 action pics. Right now 3:45 am comes early.

 

[Stuntman Autoworks]

Terminator will knock your Willie in your watch pocket.
Ask me how I know...
@woodrow broke on it, @Stuntman Autoworks broke on it, @McCracken gave it his all and I was going backwards somehow while turning 5000 rpm in 2nd gear. None of us cleared the first rock at the entrance.
@Kap10merica was the only one of us with any sense. He watched us and pointed and laughed.

That was actually Chainsaw I believe.

 

[obullfish]

I'll update this thread in the morning with Day 2 action pics. Right now 3:45 am comes early.

MEOW

 

[McCracken]

So there we were deep within the jungles of north eastern Alabama. Jody and Tony had tried to get past V-notch without success so at this point we took the path more taken.

And the aftermath of that last run

If you watch close enough to Robby's run you'll see his passenger side window shatter.

We all crawled out the top and were on our way. Fun trail with lots of lines to choose from.

 

[McCracken]

So the next day brought a new set of adventures. Aaron rolled in late and decided to bed down at the park. We awoke right eyed and bushy tailed. The weather was still great. No rain but a little overcast. We roll out from the hotel to meet up with Aaron and receive this.

The rest of us show up and we get organized. I was wrong before. This is the day we packed our lunch.

We headed over to Boat Ramp to let Aaron give the Samurai a shot. I already knew this thing was going to make a lot of us look stupid but I was still interested to see how much. The peanut gallery lined up to watch. This is also the spot where we found out more about Logan's lifestyle choices.

and the video

 

[McCracken]

Before we left we noticed another Samurai heading around the corner....alone.... and making tracks towards Boat Ramp. We all thought we recognized him from somewhere but no one could put a finger on it. Meh, whatever. We waited at the bottom to watch his attempt. I think I can say things didn't go as planned.

and the rescue vid

 

[McCracken]

Onwards to the Backside trails. This a set of trails straight up the mountain. Pick your trail, pick your fate.

Jody and I chose the far left. Tony and Aaron chose the second because they're ballers and Robby chose the third. Here's a look at the second, and to me, the most challenging of the three.

It's a mix of old Tellico Schoolbus and Chocco rock. Sorry no video

Roby was working the bottom ledge over pretty good and after a few stabs he made it up

He seems pretty happy about it

Then he cleared the rest of the trail and we went to the top for a lunch break. We also found out these were high class trails. I'm a little embarrassed I didn't bring the Peter Vella.