Smokey Mountain 500

Once again, I've completed the Smokey Mountain 500, a track over the Chatahoochee and Smoky Mountains in GA, TN and NC that was designed by members on Adventure Rider.

This year I did the ride solo on my 2002 Kawasaki KL-250 (Super Sherpa).

Also, this year I did the ride to coincide with the Hooch Dual Sport Rally out of Two Wheels of Suches in Suches, GA. Overall, five days of riding in the mountains.

I set up base camp at Two Wheels and headed out during the morning of June 9, a Wednesday. Choosing the clockwise route. The Green Track, it was about 180 miles over to Telico Plains. 

In Telico Plains I stayed in a cabin at Cherohala Mountain Trails Campground, which is the recommended camping location.

Thursday morning I rolled out of CMTC on the shortest of the three day trek, the Yellow Track, over to Stecoah, NC; only about 130 miles, and I was in Robbinsville by 3PM. 

As discussed in my last post, Super Sherpa on the Dragon, I bypassed the last 10 or so miles to the recommended lodging location, Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge, and added 17 miles up to the Deals Gap Resort to spend some time playing around on the Tail of the Dragon. As further discussed in that post, I also have opted out of the recommended lodging and now stay at the Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort in Robbinsville.

Friday, back to Suches on the Red Track was the longest day at 200 miles, which actually includes about 20 or so miles off the Track to get to food and fuel. 

Overall, the Smokey Mountain 500 is fairly tame dual sport/adventure ride, generally suitable to all sizes of adventure class motorcycles. While there are a couple challenges on the track, it's mostly up and down the mountains on decent gravel surfaces; lots of switchback action, some water crossings and a little of that awful red clay.

One of the challenging sections of the track is the Witt Road Water Crossings on the yellow track (Tellico Plains to Stecoah). The track in this area goes back and forth across a river four times. Two of those crossings can be challenging, the other two are not. 

Below is the map location and some video of the four crossings that I took last week. 

Yeah, that fourth crossing almost got me. Essentially there was a fall off slope to the right that caused me to slip into those logs and literally come to a complete stop in the river. Fortunately I didn't tumble over and also fortunately the Sherpa kept running so I could recover.

The other challenging section is an extremely rough and rocky section of the Red Track known as Charlies Creek Road and HighTower Road. This section just gets worse and worse every time I ride the section. Last week the washouts had turned extreme and the "tread-clogging" red clay was wet and deep. On a bright note I ran into a rod crew near the end starting what looked to be a long process of dumping grave.

This particularly challenging section of the red track starts on a long, but clear and shallow river crossing through the Tallulah River. Here's a look at the map location and my ride through the track last week.

The total track of the SM500 was about 510 and then, once back in Suches, I added another 225 on the two day Hooch Dual Sport Rally. 

This trip is becoming a tradition. Until next year!

Super Sherpa on the Dragon

I completed the Smokey Mountain 500 Adventure ride last week on my 2002 Model Year Kawasaki KL250 Super Sherpa. The SM500 is a popular adventure ride that was developed by a group of members on Adventure Rider. I've ridden it a number of times now.

The loop generally requires three days and has three lodging points:

• Two Wheels of Suches, Suches, GA
• Cherohala Mountain Trails Campgrounds, Tellico Plains, TN
• Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge, Stecoah, NC

Rather than the Iron Horse layover, this year I spent the night at the Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort, home of the famous Tail of the Dragon. It's only 24 miles from Iron Horse and 17 miles of the SM500 track.  Beings so close, I really feel the need to roll over and ride the Dragon and, of course, get my Killboy Photo.

Killboy ... what a great biz idea. Sitting on the side of a road in Tennessee taking pictures of people riding by on motorcycles. Then, charging them $8 a shot. Brilliant! Wish I'd thought of it!

Anyway, one other reason to stay in Deals Gap rather than Iron Horse on the Smokey Mountain 500. That is, Iron Horse has gotten too expensive for the day tripper. I've been staying at Iron Horse for years, usually in one of their cabins (they have tent camping, too) and imo IH is the gold standard in Motorcycle Lodges. It's a great place with lots of amenities that (i) undoubtedly drive up costs and (ii) make for an outstanding base for group rides and events in the area. Unfortunately, just riding through needing only a bed to lay your head, there are cheaper options. In fact, there are cheaper options than Deals Gap, but, as mentioned, I enjoy playing around on the Dragon.

Those riding the SM500 that wish a similar experience should consider my bypass when tracking the loop clockwise from Tellico Plains. Why clockwise? Because the SM500 Yellow Track from Tellico Plains to Stecoah is the shortest track at 134 miles and you can roll out of the Cherohalla Mountain Trails at 8AM and onto the Dragon by 3PM. Lots 'o time to play around.

Here's the bypass:

At Waypoint 1021 where Yellow Creek Road terminates at NC28 (aka Moonshiner28) go left (instead of right) leaving the remainder of the Yellow Track to the next morning. Headed north-west, NC28 terminates into US129, right at the Deals Gap Resort in 17 miles.

You have two options the next day. I do the second.

• First, just backtrack to Waypoint 1021 and finish the Yellow Track at Iron Horse; then start the Red Track.
• Second, backtrack to Waypoint 1021 and cut the Yellow Track off at Waypoint 3364. At Waypoint 3364, begin the Red Track heading South-West on NC143.