Attempting the Wilderness Trail in Cohutta

[The Lazy Destroyer]

Haven't really been on the bike in a good bit and felt a little adventurous. I was originally going to just poke around some roads on the NW side, maybe get onto 136 or 53. Found myself looking up some roads a bit further north, the NatGeo map said it was an Improved Road (light-duty paved or gravel) and I figure that's good enough for me.

It looks like hard packed gravel, as surprisingly enough Google's StreetView car was able to manage it:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/StreetView/793018170_wnfFC-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/StreetView/793018170_wnfFC-O.jpg)

I can only imagine some tiny eco-car trying to maneuver their way through some Georgia backroads like this. I've seen metro-area neighborhoods that don't have StreetView yet so I can only think they were lost when they managed into some of these areas?!

Take the map with me just in case:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01110/793002641_ySJ63-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01110/793002641_ySJ63-X2.jpg)

Double check Google Maps:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01111/793002898_Np6rZ-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01111/793002898_Np6rZ-X2.jpg)

And we're off!

After a quick gas stop in Ellijay I make my way to County Road 64:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01115/792985302_ha238-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01115/792985302_ha238-X2.jpg)

I make a detour onto Zion Hill Rd, after a few curves the yellow line stops, which is usually a good sign to proceed with caution:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01116/792985561_ngiLm-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01116/792985561_ngiLm-X2.jpg)

After a few miles of rough (and narrow) pavement, it gets more interesting:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01119/792986308_k4nai-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01119/792986308_k4nai-X2.jpg)

Notice a little bit of snow still left on the ground. I'm starting to get a little nervous about the condition of what lies ahead of me.

Insert overly dramatic music:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01120/792986547_nMMUk-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01120/792986547_nMMUk-X2.jpg)

When it comes to stuff like this, it never seems like a bad idea until you actually get there. Then this great idea really starts to make you question your sanity. It didn't look too bad and the only thing I figured I should worry about is any oncoming traffic, as the road was pretty tight.

Continuing on, it starts with packed dirt with some gravel. Not terribly bad. But after a few turns ahead the bike really starts dancing with me and spinning up the rear tire in some spots. I stop and put my feet down, and then realize that I'm riding in some pretty slick mud. I hadn't quite noticed it but looking back you could see the bright sheen from where I came:


http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01123/792987251_tzFiR-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01123/792987251_tzFiR-X2.jpg)

I thought about going forward but the problem is that Zion Hill is a dead end mountain road. Which tells me that more than likely the road won't be improving. I'm pretty sure if this gets a chance to dry out it will be much more bearable, so I figure today just isn't the best day for a ride like this and turn around.

[The Lazy Destroyer]

I take the opportunity to take a quick break on a nice bridge I came upon earlier:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01129/792988713_v7ysy-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01129/792988713_v7ysy-X2.jpg)

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01125/792987764_DbEjG-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01125/792987764_DbEjG-X2.jpg)

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01127/792988228_BAHti-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01127/792988228_BAHti-X2.jpg)

Further down the road:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01133/792989359_akSL9-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01133/792989359_akSL9-X2.jpg)

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01138/792990485_fDxfs-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01138/792990485_fDxfs-X2.jpg)

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01141/792991160_N7eoc-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01141/792991160_N7eoc-X2.jpg)

[The Lazy Destroyer]

Gates Chapel:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01142/792991413_PXmWk-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01142/792991413_PXmWk-X2.jpg)

Heading towards a road called Wilderness Trail:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01143/792991677_UbHQo-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01143/792991677_UbHQo-X2.jpg)

On the way up I came upon a large amount of cars (15 or so) parked on the side of the road. There were quite a few bicyclists hanging around, but not the usual road bikes I'm used to around The Loop and other roads. Still wearing the fancy gear, these guys/girls were all on mountain bikes, and are looking a good bit dirty. I give them a wave as I ride by.

Couldn't resist taking a picture here:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01145/792992168_weL6y-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01145/792992168_weL6y-X2.jpg)

I come up to a fork in the road and I have to double check my GPS. Just like on Zion, I get to another dirt road with a bit more gravel than I had expected. At this point I can't back down and figure why the hell not?!

You know it gets good with a road name like this:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01146/792992464_7NasV-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01146/792992464_7NasV-X2.jpg)

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01147/792992744_rsVJe-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01147/792992744_rsVJe-X2.jpg)

As I get up the road and past the gravel it gets slick again, with the roads still a bit wet from previous weather I guess. The bike moves around but not nearly as bad as on Zion Hill Road. There are a bunch of mountain bikers heading down the road at a bit faster pace than me, and I start to think about the Stradas I'm running are still at my usual 40/40 psi. I'm thinking I'm a bit outgunned here. Not to mention outnumbered. After only a short distance, I had already passed some 10 or so mountain bikers heading the other direction and it's starting to get a little awkward.

I come upon these hints that maybe I should wait again until things dry up a bit:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01148/792993053_XvWAr-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01148/792993053_XvWAr-X2.jpg)

I don't think I'll get passed by any pedalers while heading up, but I'm pretty sure I'll get spanked going back downhill, so I figure I should save my embarrassment and turn around yet again.

It was looking a bit drier but I saw some guys really hauling the mail downhill like most mountain bikers do:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01149/792993364_qmHVm-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01149/792993364_qmHVm-X2.jpg)

I passed a group hanging out at the base of the unpaved section and I almost asked them how dry it got if I kept going up, but I figured I've probably had enough fun for one day.

[The Lazy Destroyer]

Taking a break to check the map, I snap a few more pics:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01150/792993665_FRfqP-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01150/792993665_FRfqP-X2.jpg)

Things were a bit muddy after all:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01152/792994249_rbRTS-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01152/792994249_rbRTS-X2.jpg)

And I just cleaned that header too, oh well:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01153/792994541_RQ54B-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01153/792994541_RQ54B-X2.jpg)

There was a spot where a creek met the road:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01155/792995102_9pCsR-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01155/792995102_9pCsR-X2.jpg)

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01162/792996913_zS6CG-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01162/792996913_zS6CG-X2.jpg)

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01163/792997171_KVNAv-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01163/792997171_KVNAv-X2.jpg)

I chatted with this nice couple walking up the road, picking up trash along the way:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01168/792998295_sHEfk-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01168/792998295_sHEfk-X2.jpg)

[The Lazy Destroyer]

Some more shots from the area:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01170/792998801_x4a3R-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01170/792998801_x4a3R-X2.jpg)

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01172/792999325_XAGdA-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01172/792999325_XAGdA-X2.jpg)

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01176/792999849_YswxD-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01176/792999849_YswxD-X2.jpg)

From here I head back to Ellijay and head back home down 515. Since my cell phone never has good coverage up here I stop at the scenic overlook on 515 to get a snack and to call Tiff to let her know I'm still alive.

Back home I check the bike, looks like mud all over. I need to invest in a pressure washer:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01180/793000903_tEMNg-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01180/793000903_tEMNg-X2.jpg)

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01181/793001131_bZi4Q-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01181/793001131_bZi4Q-X2.jpg)

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01179/793000634_UFigN-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/DSC01179/793000634_UFigN-X2.jpg)

Hopefully next time things will be a bit more dry!

All in all, not a bad day:

http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/SpotMap/793107774_hAYaw-M.jpg (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/SpotMap/793107774_hAYaw-O.jpg)

The entire gallery can be seen here (http://thelazydestroyer.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Wilderness-Road/11300439_mhxv3#793002641_ySJ63)

[I.P. Freely]

Time for a V-Strom in the garage. :lol:

[BlueLghtning]

Very cool Blake!

[ben c]

Nice pics.

[Goinfasterthanu]

you sir need a dual sport.. i ride usfs roads at 40 + all day.....

[FlyingFish]

Really enjoyed the pics and description of the ride. I've been meaning to get up in that direction myself. Thanks for the time you put into the post.

[Riceburner]

http://www.sherpaguides.com/georgia/mountains/blue_ridge/western/cohutta_wildernesslarge.gif

[Riceburner]

http://www.sherpaguides.com/georgia/mountains/blue_ridge/western/cohutta_wilderness.html#Access