Pre Running Trails at Royal Blue Takeover

JACKAL

JACKAL

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Spent the last 2 1/2 days pre running trails for the 2018 Pioneer Takeover. Was showing some former coworkers around who traveled from IL and have never been in any kind of mountains. In all covered over 250 miles with 123 of them today alone 76 yesterday and 54 on Thursday afternoon.

Trail conditions are not too bad especially compared to the ruts we had in 2017, but it can change with one big rain and there are a few exceptions. I fully ran the following Thursday and Friday; 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 35, & 37. All are in decent shape except where noted below.

Trail 7 is in bad shape in parts, stopped me dead in my tracks bottoming out, it branches off Trail 8 and goes to 10, recommend staying on trail 8 all the way.

Trail 9 is the most challenging trails for rock ledges going up, it has increased in difficulty be forwarned if attempting it, can be dangerous due to off camber incline.

Trail 26 still has a large landslide making it impassable, some hotshot in RZR Turbo though he could blast up n over, met him with a huge stick trying to straighten up his control arms, bent all 4 in the back.

Trail 29 has one rock ledge that can be an issue to climb, no issues to decend it.

@Windrock1000 have you ever seen elk around Caryville Flats overlook? Ran into this nice 5x5 can't believe he still had his antlers. He moved and acted like an older bull, let us approach within 50 yards then got up and slowly walked away.

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Some more pictures on the trails.

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RZR with SMV sign love it!
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Friend showed up with his Defender HD10 XT ran with us TH & FR, we stop to east at Mexican restaurant off Trail 12. He goes to put it in gear pop goes the rear differential right in the parking lot.
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Rain, fog, & hail today made for some cold Yankees that showed up in a RZR with no windshield . Warming up at Coal Creek Smokehouse in Rocky Top , TN 40 miles from RRB Campground .
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elkaholic

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@JACKAL great pics of the 5x5. I have seen bull elk and sign as far South as the overlook at the “Top of Windrock”. Actually got one to respond to a call there in September. Have also seen them and sign in the area of the flats.

Judging by sign, there were at least 3 decent bulls that had worked the more recently closed surface mine further out the ridge past the old radar base (sooty for the vague description, don’t have the map in front of me).


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JACKAL

JACKAL

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@JACKAL great pics of the 5x5. I have seen bull elk and sign as far South as the overlook at the “Top of Windrock”. Actually got one to respond to a call there in September. Have also seen them and sign in the area of the flats.

Judging by sign, there were at least 3 decent bulls that had worked the more recently closed surface mine further out the ridge past the old radar base (sooty for the vague description, don’t have the map in front of me).


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Thanks, the farthest South I had ever seen one prior to this was 18 months ago about 3 miles north out of Windrock and he was a very large bull just walking down the road as a small group of us where working our way toward Windrock. I think I put up pictures of him in the 2016 Overland Adventure thread.

It's always nice to these these animals so close to home.
Here is the pics from that one 18 months ago...

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elkaholic

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I don’t know. Every time I tell folks there is a possibility of seeing elk .... I see everything but.

If I am piddling up there, I cannot get away from the critters.

I do hope to see some. The calf last July made my whole weekend


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magic2358

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I don’t know. Every time I tell folks there is a possibility of seeing elk .... I see everything but.

If I am piddling up there, I cannot get away from the critters.

I do hope to see some. The calf last July made my whole weekend


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There were a few bear sightings on the trails back in the fall
 
JACKAL

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There were a few bear sightings on the trails back in the fall
Yes they were on Trail 13 at one of the creek crossings, RRB resort had put up pictures shared from riders.
 
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Jzallen01

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Awesome! Can’t wait. Hoping someone cancels their rv site soon so I can bring my toy hauler instead of staying at the hotel.
 
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JACKAL

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With all the rain and heavy traffic last 2 weeks many sections are rutted deep especially Trail 20 and now Trail 10 in parts.

I will run them again next week and update the conditions on a map.
 
swsebek

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On the pooolaris atv forum they say it is a disaster.
 
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@JACKAL
Are these trail reports being done off your LE? Modded '16? 500?
Trying to judge how much my machine will follow you.
And whether I want to be "that guy" that slows down the ride on Thursday.
 
JACKAL

JACKAL

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@JACKAL
Are these trail reports being done off your LE? Modded '16? 500?
Trying to judge how much my machine will follow you.
And whether I want to be "that guy" that slows down the ride on Thursday.

So far stock P1K LE but knowing what a P500 can do. PS my P5 only has tires, no lift etc.
 
Choogsbro

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With all the rain and heavy traffic last 2 weeks many sections are rutted deep especially Trail 20 and now Trail 10 in parts.

I will run them again next week and update the conditions on a map.

How deep is the creek at the start of 13 ?
 

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