Hidden treasures of Dahlonega, Georgia

[Dr.Grand]

There is always a certain level of caution when you decide to embark on a trip of any sort. Regardless of the severity of the trip, there is always an element of uncertainty. The what ifs of a trip like this can boggle a mind and overwhelm the senses.

Today is my birthday. Me and my best friend have long wanted to explore the areas around the famous gold miners town of Dahlonega, Georgia (more on this later within the thread). Well what better way to celebrate my 19th birthday than to go and do that. With no definite route established, we have decided to just wing it, starting on one unpaved road and going from there, trying to piece together intersection by intersection where we can go, and what connects to where. We will rely on what our maps show, and what is listed on the Garmin, where I will plot points of interest on the way.

Now where do the what ifs of a trip come into play here? Well firstly we are exploring a portion of the state that is infamous for it's deep woods distilleries (this portion stretches from Dawsonville to Ellijay), and then there was the weather forecast. Tornado watches and other possible storms, not exactly in our favor.



The forecast called for the adverse weather to be out of our area by 9am. Perfect! This gives us some great weather to explore in, but a clean vehicle may not be such an option. Here's hoping that we find something interesting in our travels.

 

[ripper1600]

Sounds like a fun time and a cool trip I would not mind driving that way to go explore.

 

[Foy]

Not for long

Appears to be a narrow band of fast-moving storms. Perhaps 2 hours from start to finish. Grab a cup of coffee away from falling trees and enjoy it. I'd take a bow saw or a chain saw and straps to cut/pull blowdowns off of the trail, but otherwise have at it.

Foy

 

[Dr.Grand]

Vehicles and Crew

A total of three of us ventured out today. They are as follows:
Robbie Warren - Navigator and Survivalist
Sean Toutom - Photographer
Me - Mechanic and Off-Road Guru

The vehicles today consisted of my heavily modified 2003 Jeep WJ Grand Cherokee and a stock 2011 Jeep Wrangler JKU, both of which performed near flawlessly in all conditions. Both were loaded with any recovery items we felt were necessary. These items included but are not limited to hi-lift jacks, multiple chains, rope, and cable, and a winch in the front of mine.

 

[Dr.Grand]

Please note, all photos at this time are photographed by me on my iPhone 5s. Sean will send me his set after editing them

Part 1: Pringles, Dust, and Waterfalls

The day began at 9:00 for Sean and I. If you're Robbie, chances are you will show up fashionably late in another persons JKU :coffeedrink:

Our meeting location was a gas station just outside of Dahlonega, where we briefly discussed a possible route while enjoying a breakfast of pork crackling, Code Red Mountain Dew, Pringles, and grape Poweraid.


The first ten mile stretch was all paved. We wound our way through a couple of towns who had been lost in time, and finally turned off the pavement about fifteen minutes into our journey. Despite last nights downpour, this portion of the track was surprisingly dusty, with a few water filled potholes here and there.


Pretty soon the terrain changed drastically. It went from level and mostly loose dirt, to hard packed soil and rock. The gradient also changed drastically (not properly shown in the picture) indicating that we were beginning to reach more mountainous terrain.


Eventually we came across a small side trail and we took it. It was narrow and overgrown. It was obvious that nobody had been down this path in quite some time. This could be good or bad news for us. Guess we will have to just press on and find out. It wasn't long that we heard the sound of a stream, only amplified. We parked the Jeeps in a moderately cleared out area that looks as if it has been set aside for camping, and set out on foot. We came across a creek that wound wondrously throughout the mountain side (so we assume).


Robbie motioned us further up the stream. As we walked more towards his location the sound of rushing water became apparent. It was a waterfall. Standing next to it the mist in the air was a refreshing and welcomed surprise.



[URL=http://s243.photobucket.com/

 

[Dr.Grand]

Part 2: Narrow Tracks, Cigars, and Mountain Lakes

We headed north, with no real set destination in mind. We found a road that was labeled on my GPS and we followed it for about fourty-five minutes. Not once did we see anywhere to turn off. The road was the same the whole time. Hard compact rock, with the occasional muddy pothole and an occasional washout.


We rounded a bend, and off to the left there was a narrow opening in the trees. Slowing down, we saw that it crossed a field. Getting out we looked around. No gates, no buildings, and not a single 'no trespassing' or 'private property' sign to be seen anywhere. We decided to go for it.


Now this track was a surface that was far different from all the others. It was a fine fine dirt, almost like a sand, and the rain from the previous night didn't help the already poor traction that we were experiencing. Robbie tried it first. Not enough momentum. Time to back up and get a run at it. There were two rutted out areas where it was obvious that people had been. How recent we don't know because mother nature had begun to reclaim it. Now it was my turn. I gained some momentum and hit it. The ruts kept me pretty much straight to where I needed to be, but at one point my tire hit one of the embankments and bounced up and over. I didn't think anything of it....at the time.

When we had passed through the field, it took is to another gravel road, which we followed for about five minutes. What we came across was a valley lake, fed off the watershed with the aid of a small man made dam. As it turns out, it was just downstream of a fish hatchery. Looks like somebody just found a new fishing spot.







It was such an unmolested type of natural beauty here. It was the quietest place this far on the trip, and the prettiest we had found. Perfect place to enjoy a nice mango cigar :ylsmoke:




Meeting once again at the vehicles, we had a choice to make. Should we continue to head north and follow the road, or do we back track and follow the road we had just turned on to the south? With the success that we had found from going north, we decided to keep with that theme, so north it was. As we began to drive however, I noticed a small grinding noise.....

 

[RememberTheFallen]

I know that lake! I will keep it quiet in case you want it to remain unknown. Unfortunately that place is pretty well known and used during trout season and the summer months. Still a nice place but not as serene. Pretty nice fishing in there. The stocked fingerlings are so numerous you have to reel hard the last several yards to keep them from hooking themselves on your hook.

Cool write up. Keep it coming!

 

[aCab]

Make me want to get out and explore soon!

 

[SIZZLE]

"I noticed a small grinding noise..... "

The suspense is killing me!

 

[VDBAZFJ]

Well?...

 

[Dr.Grand]

Sorry guys, been busy in the garage for a while.
Part 3: Slick Rock, Mountain Views, and Smoking Axles

After climbing out and taking a quick peek underneath the Grand, I couldn't see anywhere that the noise could actually be coming from. Drive shaft looked fine minus some leaking near the pinion seal. Nothing out of the ordinary there, so we pressed on. Nothing notable to post about until we arrived here.


There was a small parking area there, so we pulled in and stepped out. The sound of rushing water told us that there was a waterfall nearby, and a small walking trail down to the side appeared to be the way. It turned out to be a relatively short walking path that ended at the base of a waterfall.




The rocks were slick with moss but carefully we walked up towards the observation deck, and we found a way to actually walk out under the main waterfall.

Sean at work

Robbie likes to play mountain goat




After we left there the grinding noise became more and more frequent. We found a paved road, and it ended up to be the Georgia Scenic Byway.


We found a little scenic cutout, and we decided to pull off and take in the view.




It was here that Robbie pointed out something to me. Smoke was pouring out of my rear passenger brakes. I thought that it was a seized brake caliper, so I decided to drive if for a few minutes and see if the smoking began again. To my surprise, there was no more noise whatsoever.

Fast forward three days. I am driving through town and apply the brakes and I hear a pop, and the pedal goes to the floor. Fantastic! I pull off and call AAA. They tow it to my friends shop, and what we find was not what we wanted to see. Mud had worked its way into the wheel hub bearing and destroyed it. It got hot enough to change the color of the axle shaft and to warp it, mind you its a D60 chromoly. Hence why it was smoking.

 

[VDBAZFJ]

nice pics! Looks like a great adventure! Glad your truck waited till you got back to civilization to show its problem. Yikes!

 

[AndrewDM]

Nice report. I spend a lot of time in North Georgia and recognize the scenery. I really like those time lapse shots of the falls.
Good to hear the GC held out on the trail. Changing out bearings in the woods can be a bummer.

-Andy

 

[hedmisten]

Wow. Dana60 Chromoly shafts for 35s?! You sir, must wheel hard!