Smoky mountains trip

[imboden013]

Just got back from a 1600 mile trip to smoky mountains around Gatlinburg Tn. Wife’s 24 hybrid handle the mountains just fine. I was really impressed with the ACC in the mountains followed my brother-in-law from Gatlinburg to Cades Cove and over to Cherokee NC with out touching the gas or brakes, just let the ACC do the work. Only had 2 minor issues the whole 10 days in smokies. Auto-dimming headlights sometimes didn’t want to work and FWD lost traction a few times going up drive to our rented cabin a few times. Brother-in-laws 2wd F150 had some trouble also until we we figured out to use slippery mode slippery mode didn’t seem to help
The maverick. Drive was steep close to 20% incline , narrow and curve just as you started the steepest portion. First time up was the hairiest as it was at night. When you got to top of drive there was only about 15-20 feet to stop Turning around to go back down drive was equally fun

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[Tony Pandy]

GSMNP is our family favorite place to spend time. We will be there in 3 weeks and camping in Elkmont Campground. Unfortunately, I have not had the time to setup our 25 Lariat HEV as a TOAD so won't be taking it on this trip (doing the rental car thing once there).

The Maverick and even stock F150 etc are not rock climbers with stock OEM tires. More aggressive tread would make a difference in off road but with trade offs.

Couple of off roads I like to do are: Parsons Branch and Rich Mountain Road from Cades Cove Loop. Balsam Mountainroad from the NC side Balsam Mountain Campground/ Heintooga Picnic area. (Note: all of these listed above are 1 way roads ) out of the 3 Listed the Parsons branch road is the most challenging due to limited maintenance and washouts from time to time. I have done the Parsons branch in a rental a few years ago just after the Park service reopened the road after years of closure and work. The rental was a compact car and no issues.

Looking forward to see how my AWD Maverick will do on these roads. Then there's the Tail of the Dragon (Paved) I love. Problem no one will go with me anymore on the tail as I get them car sick.

 

[ychuck46]

We live in TN and just got back from spending last week in Sevierville. Went up to Gatlinburg for some moonshine tastings and purchased some additions to the "library". In any given year one distillery could be better than others, especially with newer flavors. This year Sugarlands Distillery was best for us. To each their own. And now is the time to go before they have the crush of people coming in for the later Oct-early Nov fall foliage viewing.

 

[FischAutoTechGarten]

I was in Sevierville last Tuesday (Sept 30) to visit a friend in a nursing home there (paralyzed in an auto accident 6 years ago). It was part of my Roanoke VA to Green Valley AZ Movin' Mamá trip last week.

Always shocked by the traffic there, no matter the time of year or time of day.

 

[Tony Pandy]

I was in Sevierville last Tuesday (Sept 30) to visit a friend in a nursing home there (paralyzed in an auto accident 6 years ago). It was part of my Roanoke VA to Green Valley AZ Movin' Mamá trip last week.

Always shocked by the traffic there, no matter the time of year or time of day.

We avoid the Burg, PF, Sevierville as much as possible as we spend our time in the park. I have learned a few back ways to avoid most of the traffic jams but still can's avoid the major 441. It's really bad when there are rod runs etc. and over the years it seems there is a car show of some type almost every weekend. Been going to the Smoky Mountains since the early 1960's and so much change I hate. Still We love the Mountains and accept change.

 

[ychuck46]

and over the years it seems there is a car show of some type almost every weekend.

Last week and this past weekend was the Slammedenuff show. Not sure if you saw but they had to cancel Sunday due to all the problems they had Saturday night with the largely younger group for that particular show. Wouldn't be surprised if they don't allow them back next year. I think they'll stick to the 3-4 Jeep shows per season, the F100/150 shows, Corvette shows and the like, which get an older audience. And don't try going there during the two Rod Runs. They are the biggest shows they get and the Parkway will take hours to traverse, if you can even make it through.

 

[imboden013]

GSMNP is our family favorite place to spend time. We will be there in 3 weeks and camping in Elkmont Campground. Unfortunately, I have not had the time to setup our 25 Lariat HEV as a TOAD so won't be taking it on this trip (doing the rental car thing once there).

The Maverick and even stock F150 etc are not rock climbers with stock OEM tires. More aggressive tread would make a difference in off road but with trade offs.

Couple of off roads I like to do are: Parsons Branch and Rich Mountain Road from Cades Cove Loop. Balsam Mountainroad from the NC side Balsam Mountain Campground/ Heintooga Picnic area. (Note: all of these listed above are 1 way roads ) out of the 3 Listed the Parsons branch road is the most challenging due to limited maintenance and washouts from time to time. I have done the Parsons branch in a rental a few years ago just after the Park service reopened the road after years of closure and work. The rental was a compact car and no issues.

Looking forward to see how my AWD Maverick will do on these roads. Then there's the Tail of the Dragon (Paved) I love. Problem no one will go with me anymore on the tail as I get them car sick.

Did the tail two years ago in my 22 mav eco AWD. It did a good job of handling the curve. Just had one instance where I entered a curve too fast and it was still a bit damp from a brief shower. Got a a bit hairy for a moment there, wife nearly had an accident but all was good.

 

[imboden013]

Last week and this past weekend was the Slammedenuff show. Not sure if you saw but they had to cancel Sunday due to all the problems they had Saturday night with the largely younger group for that particular show. Wouldn't be surprised if they don't allow them back next year. I think they'll stick to the 3-4 Jeep shows per season, the F100/150 shows, Corvette shows and the like, which get an older audience. And don't try going there during the two Rod Runs. They are the biggest shows they get and the Parkway will take hours to traverse, if you can even make it through.

I take it slammedenuff is what they call those cars with the wheels all tilted in at top so tires run on the inside edge. Those were the most obnoxious bunch of drivers. They were running up and down the parkway from Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg all day long, super loud and driving side by side down the parkway. To top that off we had a bunch staying in a cabin just above our cabin, up and down the road until 2-3 in morning. Road was super step and narrow with 40-50 foot drop offs and they’d drive over in middle of road. I nearly ran into several of them.

 

[Jah.]

I was in Sevierville last Tuesday (Sept 30) to visit a friend in a nursing home there (paralyzed in an auto accident 6 years ago). It was part of my Roanoke VA to Green Valley AZ Movin' Mamá trip last week.

Always shocked by the traffic there, no matter the time of year or time of day.

Have been thru Sevierville multiple times and always traffic . It's a tourist area (Dollywood ,Smokey mountain national park and ECT ) . Shendoah and Blueridge Parkway amazing when limited traffic . can't count number of times on Motorcycles and other vehicles . great wildlife viewing . favorite campgrounds Pisgah on blueridge and Loft mountain on Shendoah . last picture of elk near entrance of smokey national park and entrance to blueridge Parkway near Cherokee , NC .

 

[710-oil-614]

Shoot...it's paved!! The road up to my mountain property is privately maintained, 1.5 cars wide, hasn't had gravel laid in years, its rutted out to all hell because of Helene....

Just gotta keep in the throttle and let her go to work! My Maverick has no issues (although the Tremor with AWD lock was a billy goat) but I could easily get my Civic up there and the wife's odyssey hasn't failed yet (although it's been close).

 

[FischAutoTechGarten]

Have been thru Sevierville multiple times and always traffic . It's a tourist area (Dollywood ,Smokey mountain national park and ECT ) . Shendoah and Blueridge Parkway amazing when limited traffic . can't count number of times on Motorcycles and other vehicles . great wildlife viewing . favorite campgrounds Pisgah on blueridge and Loft mountain on Shendoah . last picture of elk near entrance of smokey national park and entrance to blueridge Parkway near Cherokee , NC .

Haven't done the Blue Ridge parkwary for some time (maybe 2004 was the last time?). Just love it!

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