I *did* do some preliminary scouting using google maps so I would be aware of some of the roads in the area I would be in -- (heh) provided they were marked, which is rarely the "norm" on forest roads!
I left without a clue that this would be my route, but in retrospect, I formulated one. Here it is ...
http://goo.gl/maps/Y84NS
So if you're following along with the map, TN-32 is an absolute blast -- and with fresh asphalt! Zoom in and see how it wiggles! ; )
I had been on it before, but it's been years. I was with Isaac on the big Magna (yeah, *that* many years!!). We knew it was going to turn to gravel but had no idea how long, but we were both curious enough to find out.
Anyhow, it doesn't turn to gravel until after you get across the state line. Sadly, the road was wet in the shaded hollows, so I kept a real sane pace through those tasty twisties. I never slipped but it was only about 40-50* up at that elevation and I was not confident that I *wouldn't* find icy conditions.
As mentioned above, shortly after crossing the NC state line it went to gravel. However, it was hard packed, easy to navigate, gravel. At one point, I saw an old building down in the hollow and wanted to play with the camera. However, it was a significant drop-off and I didn't feel like hiking down just to have to hike back up, just for the sake of photography. I guess I'm not a dedicated artist. ; )
So I took a couple pics from above and moved on. This one seemed to be the one that come out best ...
and here is a shot of the bike waiting for me to come back to it ...
I continued on along this, now, hard-packed dirt road. There were many little "trails" leading off the "beaten-path" that looked intriguing, but being alone, I decided against this since my first single-track adventure turned out poorly and *now* I have no phone if I do indeed find myself in trouble.
I then saw a sign for Cataloochee. I have heard of this but never been. Time to change that!
Cataloochee (area C on the map, if following along) is an old early 1900's pioneer-type live-off-the land settlement that has since become a government-owned, protected area. Not only that but they have decided to try and repopulate the area with elk -- which used to roam the area but haven't for a long time.
It was a pretty neat place. I have never been even *near* as close to elk (that weren't in an enclosure) as this ...
They are beautiful animals. And, as you can see, they are not too bothered by humans. I was able to get as close as 10 feet from them. I probably *could* have gotten closer but didn't want to make them uncomfortable.
Here is a shot of a huge barn that was built by one of the early settlers ...
And here is a few more elk from a pasture further up the road ...
From there, I headed on. With a late departure, and waaaayyy much more camera time than I had expected to spend, the sun was getting low, and I needed to think about headed homewards.
I knew where I was (remember I said I had been on the road before with Isaac?), even though I had never been to Cataloochee before. I could backtrack and see if I remembered how to get to I-40 but I saw a sign and followed it instead. Again, it's getting late in the day.
I got to 40 and stayed on it ... for about 15 miles or so. That is when I saw the Harmon's Den exit. I recall seeing a road named Harmon's Den when perusing Google maps earlier that day. Hmmm .... I haven't got "lost" yet and that was the day's objective, so I got off 40 and decided to see if I could get myself lost.
All the while thinking "this is a bad idea" but I just ... wanted .... to! So I stayed the course to ???? and the road quickly turned into a Forest Service road and began climbing .. and climbing. Soon I was looking at I-40 from some 2000' above.
The road kept going on and on and the sun kept getting lower and lower. Uh-Oh. I'm about lost now as I don't really know where I am. I have a sense of direction and with the sun's position that helped. I was headed in the right general direction, but daylight was no longer on my side.
Then it got *more* interesting. The road I was on "T" 'd and to the right (which was where I thought I needed to go) was a gated road with enough wheel tracks around the gate that made me think. (If you're following along on the map link, I could not find it on Google). After doing some careful thought, I went right, after all, this is *where* I need to be heading ... I think?? ... HEY! I'm lost!
After about 5 miles or so, the road is much less traveled. It is now strewn with leaves, the road is barely visible and the substrate seems to be pretty much ... MUD! I'm alone, it's getting dark, I have no phone, SHIT!
(sigh) I turned around and headed back.
So I went the other direction of that "T". It quickly turned into a dead end. Well, I guess I got lost, so mission accomplished. Once again, I turned around and re-traced steps.
There *had* been a road earlier that went downhill, but I passed it as the road signage indicated the road I was on went straight, not downwards. Now, left with no other options but to backtrack entirely, I took this new road that again, went in the direction I *think* I needed to go.
And it did! It wound up where I thought it would and I was home a half hour later and there was still some residual daylight remaining. Happy, but sore!
I found some places I would like to explore further. Now, I just got to find the time and someone locally that has a DS bike and is crazy enough to take some of these single-track offshoots to check out.
