Upper Tellico ORV Area
Trail #9 - Mistletoe Connector
Rick Russell Video Trip

By Flatlander

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Rick Russell videos one of his trailside interviews about the obstacles ahead with trail leader Dave Enlow of the Tarheel 4WD Center.   Dave explained that the "Slickrock" obstacle is normally so difficult that his club has a plaque with the names of all the members who made it without winching.   Even the trail up to the obstacles appeared that it would be challenging and body damage threatening.  But it was as drier on the day we were than anyone could remember and we had little trouble until we got the the main obstacles.  The group took a lunch break and gave the main obstacles a good looking over before proceeding.

The terrain leading up to the "Slickrock" obstacle is steep and eroded leaving many huge boulders.  This section of the trail changes based on how the runoff from the heavy rains in the area moves things around.  There seemed to be two lines for our group to choose from.  The line to the left appeared to be easier but was more threatening to the sheet metal.  The line to the right had fewer tall jagged boulders along the sides of the trail but the main obstacle there was taller and more difficult to negotiate.  Despite the dry conditions winches whined.

The line to the left was easier but it still took several tries and good spotters for most of our group to work their way through.  Our trail leaders, Dave and Wayne (on the left) managed to get through without assistance on the firs try

Rick gave the right side of the trail a try.  He was almost over as his tires started to spin but the obstacle wouldn't yield.  I got over this obstacle only after a few rocks were placed in just the right spots.  Only Sam with his huge swampers made it up this side cleanly.
Next was the famed "Slickrock" obstacle itself.  It didn't look as steep as I'd feared, but remembering its reputation, I used as much momentum as I could anyway.   But on this dry day, "Slickrock" proved to be easier than the obstacles leading up to it.  No one had any problem with it and the last few 4X4s in our group crawled it.  No one could remember ever seeing it so dry.  I hate to think of trying it with water running down the obstacle and mud caked on the tires - as it it usually done.

Flatlander uses some momentum to make sure the 4X4NOW TJ makes it up "Slickrock"

A view from the top gives a better impression of "Slickrock's" steepness as Fred Perry of the Clemson 4 Wheel Center comes up

The day was not without breakdowns.  Sam's CJ had a pulley come lose and it kept throwing his serpentine belt.  Rick sets up his Premier Power Welder as Kenneth Shupe of Foothills 4X4 welds the pulley on to get the CJ back to civilization.

Kenneth pointed out a "shortcut" the group used on the way back.  This drop-off will definitely get your attention as you stand on your nose.  On the way back, some of the obstacles on tail #5 were even more interesting and challenging than on the way in - especially for an open axle 4X4 were caught up with and were following.

However, we met relatively few other OHVs on these trails which was surprising for such a popular area.  For the most part it seemed as though we had the whole area to ourselves.

The next day we were scheduled to start on Trail #2 - Tipton Knob.

Upper Tellico ORV Home Page
Trail #9 - Mistletoe Connector | Trail #2 - Tipton Knob | Trail #11 - Chestnut Mountain

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