Old URE Trail Maps

Sometime around 1994 I got sick of getting lost at URE, so I called the ranger in Troy about a map. They said for $5 they would send me one. I think the one posted by DRaider90 up above was what they sent me, minus the red and purple lines. At the time, very few of the trails were actually marked, so it was still easy to get lost.
 
Several of us old farts used to ride these trails on trail bikes. The old map dates to about 1970 and was put together by the hunting crowd. It was printed on yellow stock and was available at the local stores like Marvin Mullinix's store at the intersection of NC109 and River Rd. That's where my copy came from.

Most of the trails were logging roads and skidder paths, and most are still visible from the existing trails, but don't meet hydrology guidelines and will not likely ever be re-opened. There are several places along the existing trails where you can see the remains of the original trails before they were reworked or diverted to comply with the drainage and runoff regs. I was one of the people who walked behind the dozer as the "new" trails were being worked.

I've walked most of those that aren't dead-enders in the last few years and the memories of the good times on the bikes and in the old Land Cruiser are still fresh. Those were the days. And Kodak Rock isn't the rock that most people think it is. It was originally referred to as Pinion Rock after what it did to a front pinion on a D44 under a Jeepster Commando.
 
ghost said:
didnt 2offroad do that?
Click to expand...

I remember talk of it, but never heard abou ta completed version or being available or anything.

Shit if I still lived down there and had the right unit, I love to do this and make it available to everybody.
 
Thanks deezul, I knew you would have knowledge of this. Good to see you on here again!See there, I told you I knew somebody important! lorenzo816 you have just one of the Fathers!
 
correction..........that was supposed to have read " you have just met one of the Fathers"
 
Thanks for the information deezul. I must ask though if the Gold Mine Trail and Coal Mine Road 2 of the trails/roads that didn't meet hydrology guidelines? I know as far as gold mine is concerned there is conflicting information about either a rare wild flower or bald eagles nests being the reason for the trail closure.

You would just think with the closure of Tellico (if the fight to re-open the trails doesn't pan out), the next logical idea would be to expand other OHV Areas. And that leaves either re-opening old trails, or building new ones. In either case it makes sense considering the increased amount of use the current trails are getting. I remember back in 06 the Hill Climb on Dutch John wasn't dug out above my roof line. Now You can sit on the side of the trail and look down on the trucks coming up. New trails (or re-opened trails) with new obstacles etc spreads out the trail usage. Which does in turn require more maintenance, but I think it could be done.
 
DRaider90 said:
I must ask though if the Gold Mine Trail and Coal Mine Road 2 of the trails/roads that didn't meet hydrology guidelines? I know as far as gold mine is concerned there is conflicting information about either a rare wild flower or bald eagles nests being the reason for the trail closure.
Click to expand...

I thought I remember hearing that Gold Mine was closed due to runoff of muddy water/silt from the trail getting into the streams and people who live around there were complaining.
 
drkelly said:
I thought I remember hearing that Gold Mine was closed due to runoff of muddy water/silt from the trail getting into the streams and people who live around there were complaining.
Click to expand...

I find this irronic with the water crossing on Dickey Bell.
 
It wasn't a wild flower or an eagle. The eagles affected the old trails below the Falls Dam trail on the river side. The wild flowers affected opening the closed off section of forest road that you cross twice on Slab Pile as well as some others.

Gold Mine hill is a clay hill with few rocks and slick as hell when wet. In fact, it was damn near impossible to walk up it when it was wet, and if you jumped the berm on the right side, there was no recovering and preventing the rapid descent into the creek FAR below. Saw that happen on more than one occasion. But even more important than all that, the roadbed (if you could call it that) drains DIRECTLY into the creek at the bottom of it. A too-short culvert pipe was placed in the creek as a stopgap measure, but even with a CJ5, yer front wheels were starting the climb before the rears crossed the pipe, and the creek crossing is at an angle which requires a much longer culvert to be effective and still allow a turning vehicle to make the turn, so-o-o......that amounted to greasing a u-joint after it seized. No culvert pipe in the world would prevent the runoff from getting into the creek unless it stretched about a hundred yards above and maybe more below the crossing.

Anyway, it used to go through from the parking lot at the bottom of Daniel and joined Big Dickey Bell on the northern end near where it begins to climb. The Dickey Bell end of Gold Mine is actually a horse trail now. If you go in from the Dickey Bell end, the trail forks at the top of Gold Mine hill. Go right and you're headed down Gold Mine hill. Go left and it's the old trail that crosses Daniel in the switchbacks. A little ways before reaching Daniel, you'll look up the hill to your left toward the top of Daniel and you'll see the old Daniel hillclimb.

If anybody wants to explore any of the old trails on foot sometime, I'll be glad to show ya where they are and hike 'em with ya.
 
deezul said:
If anybody wants to explore any of the old trails on foot sometime, I'll be glad to show ya where they are and hike 'em with ya.
Click to expand...

I'm definitely interested. Let's make this happen.
 
If it's after Dec 15 we'll have to hike in, but I don't see a problem there. In fact, walking the current trails gives you a better idea of what and where the current problems are and some idea of maybe how to fix 'em. It would be a good idea to let the UNF staff know we're hiking behind the gates if it occurs after Dec 15. I'm sure we can handle that detail.

Too cold? 45-50 degrees is great hiking weather, but if the high for the day is 35 degrees, I'm with ya on the too cold, especially as the sun gets closer to the horizon and the temps drop.

The reality is that there are too many old trails to hike in just one day, but just as a thought, this whole idea could develop into a cataloging effort that could lead to a meeting with the powers-that-be for proposals for re-opening some trails. The off-season would be the ideal time to do the exploring, weather and temps permitting.

I have some ideas for re-opening some trails that may just fall into the acceptable category, but I'm no expert. The second in charge at Uwharrie, Theresa Savery, is a hydrologist as I understand it, so there's the first hand at making any recommendations for recreational re-openings. We just need to look at all the places that might be acceptable and take those suggestions through the channels.

Practically speaking, I've found the UNF staff to be very receptive to legitimate suggestions from the volunteers regarding the OHV area (Art Lilly campground is a prime example), and everything that has been done in the past few years has come about that way.

It's all in doing the organized homework and documentation and taking it to the staff.

**An afterthought about the closing of Tellico and depending on URE for off road entertainment: Everyone knows that the Tellico streams are being monitored for turbidity and siltation from the runoff in both the OHV and non-OHV areas. The monitoring stations are definitely showing improving conditions since the trails have been closed. As long as that trend continues, there's little to no hope of ever re-opening the place as we once knew it, if at all. Unless the improving trend can be continued AND the trails re-worked to prevent the runoff from being a continuing problem, I wouldn't count on any re-opening of actual challenging trails, if any.

It becomes a question of should you spend the money on the re-working of the trails to stop the runoff problems or on the legal battle? There are no guarantees on either side. Doing a trail study during the off-season involving the volunteers and staff at URE before the problems arise would go a long way to preserving the privileges in the OHV area. Just a thought, and I'm willing to help.

Howzzat, Hot Dog Guy?
 
Thanks again Deezul for all the information, and clearing up a lot of stuff. If we can work out a date on here I will post up something along the lines of an official thread and we can hopefully get something going with this. Because the only way to get trails re-opened is to become informed on the issues that face re-opening them and making a proposal from that information. And we have someone here graciously offering to help, so add me to the list. :beer:

EDIT: Anyone have a GPS with the trail mapping feature that plans on going on this hike? Would make it easier for future trips if we had a GPS map of the old trails.
 
Never occurred to us that the old map hanging in the hallway would amount to anything productive. Will keep a check on any trips/outings/etc and would like to join in as well.
 
DRaider90 said:
EDIT: Anyone have a GPS with the trail mapping feature that plans on going on this hike? Would make it easier for future trips if we had a GPS map of the old trails.
Click to expand...

My father has two GPS units. I'll talk to him. I'm definitely interested in making this happen and actually prefer to hike in the cool weather.
 
Just about any handheld gps made in the last 5 years would work for this. As long as it has enough memory for logging and marking waypoints. Putting it all on a map is easy too.
 
deezul said:
If it's after Dec 15 we'll have to hike in, but I don't see a problem there. In fact, walking the current trails gives you a better idea of what and where the current problems are and some idea of maybe how to fix 'em. It would be a good idea to let the UNF staff know we're hiking behind the gates if it occurs after Dec 15. I'm sure we can handle that detail.
Too cold? 45-50 degrees is great hiking weather, but if the high for the day is 35 degrees, I'm with ya on the too cold, especially as the sun gets closer to the horizon and the temps drop.
The reality is that there are too many old trails to hike in just one day, but just as a thought, this whole idea could develop into a cataloging effort that could lead to a meeting with the powers-that-be for proposals for re-opening some trails. The off-season would be the ideal time to do the exploring, weather and temps permitting.
I have some ideas for re-opening some trails that may just fall into the acceptable category, but I'm no expert. The second in charge at Uwharrie, Theresa Savery, is a hydrologist as I understand it, so there's the first hand at making any recommendations for recreational re-openings. We just need to look at all the places that might be acceptable and take those suggestions through the channels.
Practically speaking, I've found the UNF staff to be very receptive to legitimate suggestions from the volunteers regarding the OHV area (Art Lilly campground is a prime example), and everything that has been done in the past few years has come about that way.
It's all in doing the organized homework and documentation and taking it to the staff.
**An afterthought about the closing of Tellico and depending on URE for off road entertainment: Everyone knows that the Tellico streams are being monitored for turbidity and siltation from the runoff in both the OHV and non-OHV areas. The monitoring stations are definitely showing improving conditions since the trails have been closed. As long as that trend continues, there's little to no hope of ever re-opening the place as we once knew it, if at all. Unless the improving trend can be continued AND the trails re-worked to prevent the runoff from being a continuing problem, I wouldn't count on any re-opening of actual challenging trails, if any.
It becomes a question of should you spend the money on the re-working of the trails to stop the runoff problems or on the legal battle? There are no guarantees on either side. Doing a trail study during the off-season involving the volunteers and staff at URE before the problems arise would go a long way to preserving the privileges in the OHV area. Just a thought, and I'm willing to help.
Howzzat, Hot Dog Guy?
Click to expand...
Awesome post right there! Thanks dude.
 
This sounds great...... :popcorn:
 
I have a saying, " I know a guuuy " heh heh. Deezul I thank you for helping everybody out. And maybe they're helping you too.LOL Some body showed me some trail use permits 0001. nuff said. call me. Deezul and myself both are Before J.S. Don't know what that is? Back Before Jerk Straps! Yeah, I'm showing a little gray, but the stories we could tell! Thanks again Deezul.
 
old....?

I have a child who has been known to tell people that my first off roader was a wood burner....

You gonna walk in the woods with us, Don? Or are you too old....and feeble....? :D
 
Back
Top