Bald Mt (VA) approach from other side

[James Morse]

F.S road 180 hooks to 179 at top of mt. Didn't make it that far, bummer, looks like I'd need a lift and bigger tires.

On the way there, Craig Creek.

Stopped here. Maybe hard to see in pic, but looked problematic. Could see where somebody bottomed on it. Other tracks showed other approach of going way right and straddling the ditch, looked like they had military-tread tires. Don't want to slide off the left, there's nothing there but a drop-off. Call me chicken, but being by myself with no cell service, I'd rather not chance it.

Got up this fine, you can see truck up there where I stopped. Short wheelbase is nice for having to turn around.

Still pretty, though, even though I didn't get as high as approaching from the other side.

Craig Creek Rec Area, cool rocks

Using the suction cups for low tie-downs, works surprisingly well. Can stash/unstash stuff in a few seconds and nothing flops around. Maybe not the ideal solution, but for $10 works pretty nice. For these little trips I just pack some food, table and chairs, and go, everything else I might want stays in the tool box or behind the seats in boxes that fit the space there and come even to the back of it. The more times I go the better and easier it gets to pack the few things I add to take. Vicky says if she complains "we never do anything" to her mom, her mom sends her back pictures she sent of the trips, lol.
Beautiful day. The Ranger is doing just what I got it for, except, I hate stopping at iffy places but I don't know if lift/bigger tires would help or how much. There are a ton of F.S. roads within an hour of here so I just keep trying different ones.

 

[00t444e]

Could have gone through all of that if you had MT tires and a rear locker.

 

[sgtsandman]

As with anything, there is a learning curve. I think you would have been able to get through that with the right line.

Not to say that being on the cautious side is a bad thing. When in doubt, better to turn around or find another way than get stuck with no way to get help except for a long walk.

 

[ericbphoto]

Better safe than sorry. Beautiful pictures.

 

[rubydist]

You always want someone else with you in a 2nd vehicle when you are doing those remote adventures.

 

[RobbieD]

Pretty country.

Nothing wrong with going just as far as you want to.

 

[James Morse]

Not sure about MT's. I wasn't willing to give up highway performance for them, otherwise I'd have gone there. I don't think the issue was so much grip (and I could air down and try that if it were) as clearance, taking a line that kept me away from the edge. I agree, probably I could have got up there but I guess the way I see it is if I'm something like 80% sure it's ok I do it but it doesn't take a real high guesstimate percentage for me to back down. In that particular place, my concern would be damaging something underneath, or, being stuck. Or taking what looks like a good line except what if you slide off the edge.
I suppose you could take rocks and dirt and fill in low places. Maybe.
Having another guy with me would make a lot of difference because even in worst case you get stuck you will have a ride then send a wrecker after it. Hopefully that never happens but I did mention to my passenger "you can have breakdowns and have to walk back" not to put too fine a point on it.
I don't have a winch but if I did I think I'd (a) put better hitch on the back, and maybe an aftermarket bumper (like AOR etc.), and (b) keep the winch in the tool box and have the mount to attach it to the hitch. Then later maybe I'd put a hitch in front then I could use it there. Just thinking what might be good for future upgrades.
I wouldn't mind having like 35" tires but then it's lots of mods.
I could get another set of wheels and put 31" MT's on them I suppose and swap them on sometimes.