Author Topic: Hey TN_Junk (Read 2812 times)

victorcharlie · « **on:** July 25, 2008, 01:32:17 PM »

How was the vacation/camping trip?

Where did you go, and what did you see?

tn_junk · « **Reply #1 on:** July 26, 2008, 03:11:59 AM »

Haven't left yet.
Planning on leaving October 1st. Will hopefully be gone a full year.
Right now it looks like a couple weeks in East Tennessee, a couple weeks in Florida and to either New Mexico, Arizona or Nevada for the brunt of the winter. Then maybe up to Washington/Oregon for Spring/Summer next year.
Will try to keep in touch.

alan

victorcharlie · « **Reply #2 on:** July 26, 2008, 05:16:24 AM »

Oh, I thought you had a couple of weeks off, and now your leaving the state?

weasel · « **Reply #3 on:** July 26, 2008, 10:14:46 AM »

Look us up if/when you're in Nevada, our area is nice in the summer, spring, or fall. Wife will feed you til you pop also.

tn_junk · « **Reply #4 on:** July 26, 2008, 12:30:22 PM »

Quote from: victorcharlie on July 26, 2008, 05:16:24 AM

Oh, I thought you had a couple of weeks off, and now your leaving the state?

Yep.
Things changed pretty quick. The state is laying off/buying out a buinch of folks and I am taking my opt out.
Been wanting to do some serious camping all my life, and will never get the chance again. At my age, If I don't do it now, ain't never gonna do it.

alan

tn_junk · « **Reply #5 on:** July 26, 2008, 12:32:01 PM »

Quote from: weasel on July 26, 2008, 10:14:46 AM

Look us up if/when you're in Nevada, our area is nice in the summer, spring, or fall. Wife will feed you til you pop also.

What part of Nevada are ya'll in?

alan

weasel · « **Reply #6 on:** July 26, 2008, 03:36:48 PM »

Ely, east central part of the state, a few campgrounds close by, some good places to fish, if you do that and the whole state is one big shooting range.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #7 on:** July 26, 2008, 04:19:31 PM »

I'd love to show you a few good places to camp over in Polk county.....

tn_junk · « **Reply #8 on:** July 28, 2008, 03:51:31 AM »

Quote from: victorcharlie on July 26, 2008, 04:19:31 PM

I'd love to show you a few good places to camp over in Polk county.....

Any of these available for long term camping? CHEAP!

alan

oldyardog · « **Reply #9 on:** July 28, 2008, 06:29:49 AM »

You can camp free and get other perks at some state parks if you volunteer to work some. I was going to spend 6 weeks in South Dakota camping and work 15 8hr days outside. Wife got sick so couldn't go. Check out the state parks in the areas you want to visit. I think the national park system also has a volunteer system. Generally you get free campsite and big discount on everything else.Work includes anything needed in the park. You generally sign up for what you want to do. Also a lot of federal land you can camp on free at least you could 10 yrs ago.

Oldyardog

victorcharlie · « **Reply #10 on:** July 28, 2008, 11:53:07 AM »

Quote from: tn_junk on July 28, 2008, 03:51:31 AM

Quote from: victorcharlie on July 26, 2008, 04:19:31 PM
I'd love to show you a few good places to camp over in Polk county.....

Any of these available for long term camping? CHEAP!

alan

Yes, in the Cherokee National forest you have to occupy the camp at least once in 24 hours, and move every 14 days.

I'm not talking campgrounds with showers and electricity, but there are a few with tables and a head.....for free.

There are lots of good primitive camping sites available...

There are also lots of campgrounds that require a fee as well.......showers etc.....geared more for trailers......

How do you like to camp? Do you have a gps?

oldyardog · « **Reply #11 on:** July 28, 2008, 02:51:39 PM »

We camped for years with tents on motorcycles. Still do some but we now use a van if it is more than a week end. The wife is wanting a dry place off the ground in her old age. I will admit that a week in a wet tent sucks. If we had made it to South Dakota this year we would have taken the van, 3 room tent, and dinning fly. I can get real comfortable in that set up for an extended stay.
Long periods of rain will run us off before cold, heat or bugs. We generally use one of the 3man tents we have for a weekend trip. I use a 2man if I go solo. Anything smaller is for the grandkids.

I had a Garman GPS that went blue screen about a month ago. I am looking for a good deal on a hand held now.

Oldyardog

tn_junk · « **Reply #12 on:** July 29, 2008, 04:48:35 AM »

I have a Garmin GPS. Don't know how to use it.
Also have a really quality 140 year old compass. Back when they really made stuff. Solid Brass.
Had it for about 45 years now, and was, in my day, VERY good at using it along with a map. Spent a summer trekking (that's what the yuppies call it now) across North and South Dakota down thru Montana, Wyoming and Colorado when I was a teenager.
Guess I will try and figure the GPS out here soon.

alan

weasel · « **Reply #13 on:** July 29, 2008, 12:27:01 PM »

If I could use all the features on my GPS or cell phone, (correctly) flying the space shuttle would be duck soup.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #14 on:** July 30, 2008, 03:03:23 PM »

Quote from: tn_junk on July 29, 2008, 04:48:35 AM

I have a Garmin GPS. Don't know how to use it.
Also have a really quality 140 year old compass. Back when they really made stuff. Solid Brass.
Had it for about 45 years now, and was, in my day, VERY good at using it along with a map. Spent a summer trekking (that's what the yuppies call it now) across North and South Dakota down thru Montana, Wyoming and Colorado when I was a teenager.
Guess I will try and figure the GPS out here soon.

alan

Okay, I was going to send you UTM co-ordinates of some camping spots but maybe that isn't such a good idea?

tn_junk · « **Reply #15 on:** July 30, 2008, 03:11:30 PM »

Quote

Okay, I was going to send you UTM co-ordinates of some camping spots but maybe that isn't such a good idea?

Go ahead and send them. I'll figure the thing out.

Thanks

alan

victorcharlie · « **Reply #16 on:** August 03, 2008, 03:28:39 AM »

Lost Creek Campground.

Modern "outhouse", no water or electricity, picnic tables and located beside Big Lost Creek. No Fee.

16 S 730601 3893445 UTM CONUS NAD27 Datum.

Sylco creek campground.

Same situation, 16 S 718689 3878577 UTM CONUS NAD27 Datum.

My favorite, Big Creek area just north of Big Frog Wilderness area.

No facilities, no tables, no fee, no nothing but a great place to camp plenty of good clean cool water in Big Creek.

16 S 724336 3880959 UTM CONUS NAD27 Datum.

There are loads of very good free camping spaces in the Cherokee. The above are a few places you can set up while you explore the forest.

Quinn Springs on Hwy 30 has showers, water and electricity but is 12 bucks a night for tents and $20 for a spot with electricity.

Chilohowee campground is the same. You could probably grab a shower and avoid a fee if your quick.....

tn_junk · « **Reply #17 on:** August 03, 2008, 05:15:46 AM »

Appreciate the info.
Am in the stages of firming up my plans right now.
What is the weather like over there in November/December?

alan

victorcharlie · « **Reply #18 on:** August 03, 2008, 05:23:43 AM »

Hard to say, could be freezing, or could be mild.

My best guess would be cool to cold nights around freezing or just below and mild days.

That's also during the bear and hog season.

tn_junk · « **Reply #19 on:** August 03, 2008, 05:36:07 AM »

Quote from: victorcharlie on August 03, 2008, 05:23:43 AM

That's also during the bear and hog season.

Yep.
Exactly what I am planning.

alan

victorcharlie · « **Reply #20 on:** August 03, 2008, 01:43:17 PM »

Lots of people running dogs around the area....

If you can, get you a marine radio and listen.....

oldyardog · « **Reply #21 on:** August 04, 2008, 04:46:04 AM »

Victorcharlie, Do I understand your post to say that the hog hunters are using marine radios? You are saying VHF right? May I ask why? I have GMRS radios.

I am planing on camping in the area for hogs at that time.

Oldyardog

victorcharlie · « **Reply #22 on:** August 04, 2008, 11:38:28 AM »

Quote from: oldyardog on August 04, 2008, 04:46:04 AM

Victorcharlie, Do I understand your post to say that the hog hunters are using marine radios? You are saying VHF right? May I ask why? I have GMRS radios.

I am planing on camping in the area for hogs at that time.

Oldyardog

That's right. The range of frs/gmrs radios are very limited in the area. The terrain is very steep and rugged and as frs/gmrs is line of sight they don't have the range.

I'm not advocating transmitting on VHF marine frequencies as use other than intended would be illegal. However, a small rechargeable handheld that scans would allow you to listen to locals who frequent the area.

Also, the locals know every detail of the area and even though you can listen, if you don't have a map and/or understand the area their talking about it won't do you much good.

A really good high level map of the area south of the Smokey mountains through Georgia is the National Geographic Trails Illustrated #781, titled Cherokee National Forest, Tellico & Ocoee River. This is a 1:63,000 topo map with roads and trais. It covers from Tellico lake on the north through most of the Cohutta's in the south. It's already gridded for UTM. It shows gated logging roads as well as hiking trails.

I also suggest the 1:24000 quad angle maps of the area, about 6 total for the Cherokee in Polk County, and another 6 or so for Monroe County. These are available from the TVA map store and from the Cherokee National Forest head quarters at 2800 Ocoee street in Cleveland TN. The Forest service maps are a little better than the TVA maps because private property located inside the forest is shaded a different color from public land. Both have UTM reference on the side but I have mine gridded which when used with a gps allows me to pin point a location within about 20 meters.

I've managed to acquire all the topo's of the Cherokee from the Georgia state line up through Northern Monroe county, one or two at a time.

If you've not spent a lot of time in the area, the Cherokee is the second most diverse eco system in the world. Maps, compass, GPS, and a good UTM multi scale tool will keep you hunting rather than wandering looking for a specific area.

My wife and I often meet people turned around in the area with no clue where they are or how to get where their going. We ran into a yankee transplant this week end at lost creek who was wayyyy turned around.

oldyardog · « **Reply #23 on:** August 04, 2008, 12:53:11 PM »

Thank You Sir !!

Your information is most valuable to me. I may just pick up a scanner for the marine bands and a lot of maps.

Oldyardog