Snowbird, Nov 5th and 6th, 2011

I'm headed back to Snowbird November 5th and 6th. I'll be camping at Crawford's Campground and Cabin Rentals . Snowbird is only about 15 minutes from Crawford's. I'll probably arrive Friday early evening and wheel all day Sat at Snowbird. Might wheel Sunday too at Snowbird if there is interest.

Cost for Snowbird is $25/person/day (that is per person, not per vehicle) and the $ is payable to the member who brings you in on their membership. We will work with you on very young children. I think this is a good deal as individual memberships cost $1,000. There is limited room available as each member can only take 5 guests. Spots are let out on a first come, first serve basis. If you say you are going to show then PLEASE show up. If you don't show then you are keeping someone else from being able to go.

Below is a list of people who have already indicated they want to go. If you are on the list please let me know which days you want to wheel.

Currently signed up
Southeast Overland, Steve, x1, Wheeling Sat and Sun, 1 BBQ plate
LR Max, Max, x1, Wheeling Sat, 1 BBQ plate
97TJGuzzy, Brooks, x2, Wheeling Sat
Slippery Surgeon, Dustin, x1, Wheeling Sat and Sun, 1 BBQ plate
FJC5, Jake, x2, Wheeling Sat, 2 BBQ plates
XX Black-out, Nick, x2, Wheeling Fri and Sat
ScottFJ, Scott, x2 , Wheeling Sat, 2 BBQ plates
DanKunz, Dan x 2, Wheeling Sat, 2 BBQ plates
Lrgrnr, Larry x 1, Wheeling Fri, Sat and Sun, 1 BBQ plate
jimbo, Jim x 2, Wheeling Sat, 1 BBQ plate
jandrews, John x1, Wheeling Sat and Sun, 1 BBQ plate
Larry x 2 (Brooks friend), Wheeling Sat
Jimmy x 2 (Brooks friend), Wheeling Sat
XJSavage x 1, Wheeling Sat and Sun

THE CAP ON PEOPLE IS 25 FOR EITHER DAY - if we hit this # I'll work to try and increase the cap but no guarantees
Total signed up Fri = 4
Total signed up Sat = 22
Total signed up Sun = 5

Also, this is not a 'Southeast Overland' event, its just some people wheeling together. Neither I, or Southeast Overland LLC, or any members of Snowbird or anyone attending are responsible if you damage your vehicle, flop your junk, hurt yourself, get a splinter, etc.I'm just letting everyone know about an opportunity to see an awesome place.

Thanks!

I would be wheeling Saturday only. two days for me and the wife would be $100

Gotcha.

What and where is Snowbird? Maybe someone can take a moment and add it to the Trail Info section.

I'll try to take care of that. I'm currently mapping the place - but it is going to take awhile.

Their website is www.snowbirdanglers.com. It is a privately owned, 3,600 acre property near Crawford's Campground and the old Tellico trail system north of Murphy SC. Over 50 miles of trail from easy to buggy stuff.

I updated the 'Attending' list and also had a good question come in via PM. Snowbird is appx 3,600 acres of private land open to wheeling by members and their guests. It is located north of Murphy NC near Crawford's Campground and adjacent to the old Tellico trail system. Trails at Snowbird range from mild to wild, mostly mild to moderate trails.

Thanks!

In! Will only be wheeling on Saturday. Currently just coming by myself but if that changes, I will let you know.

I assume everyone is just tent camping?

Also what was the terrain like up there? Got any pics? The TSLs for the rover are awesome, but the drive up there and back will be craptacular.

thats my plan

I'll put you down for Saturday and 1 person. We are filling up quickly so please let me know ASAP if you want to bring anyone else and if you want to wheel Sunday.

Everyone (as far as I know) will be camping at Crawford's. One buddy of mine who hasn't committed yet is probably getting a cabin for his family.

Unless it is ultra wet and nasty you will probably be OK on ATs. I have a trail that I would definitely consider a 'treat' from what I've been told that I want to go down. I'm told it's many miles of rocks, 33's needed. We will see what the vehicles look like (capability) before we head down that trail.

I put a few pics up HERE from the last trip. I haven't finished a complete write-up yet.

Thanks!

If I'm understanding correctly each guest is actually paying the member and not the park? Are these prices just set by each member for what they want to charge their guest?

That is correct. You cannot get into the park unless you are with a member. Non-members cannot just go to the park and pay to ride. $25 is the going rate that members charge to try and partially offset the cost of their membership.

Partially offsetting their membership would actually be paying it off in just 4 wheeling days with 5 guests. Thats a huge profit for rest of the year.

Good plan. Go ahead and get yourself a membership and make that profit. :smile:

Sorry I mistyped. it would 8 wheeling days at 5 people each day.

It is a good plan. I just don't think 5 wheeling friends would keep paying once the 1000 bucks was paid off.

As a businessman, when you figure in your vehicle costs, personnel costs and time, time both on-site and off-site, and having to front $1,000, charging $25 per guests and escorting all day = no profit possible. Now it's not all about profit and I enjoy going to Snowbird so that is a big plus. I've been there both of the past weekends and had a blast.

Now, if someone started offering multi-day guided trips with instruction in driving, spotting, recovery, gear lashing...

If I had a friend who went enough with me to really help pay off my membership then I wouldn't accept any money once my membership was paid off and heck even before it was paid off if someone had paid a good bit I wouldn't let them pay anymore. On the flip side if I had a friend who was a member who offered to take me and I knew he paid $1,000 for his membership I'd insist that he take my $25.

:cheers:

I just updated the head count as we had 4 more people commit. We are now at 13 total people out of 15 current spots. We can probably get another 5 spots but those are not guaranteed yet. I'll keep everyone updated.

Thanks!

Not trying to argue with anyone, there's just two sides to everything. I understand there is obviously a business side aspect of it for some people and for others its just a personal membership. Yeah I wouldn't charge my friends either after the initial investment was paid off.

I would like to commit a spot for this trip, but its the same week I get back from our honeymoon. It would have to be a last minute decision if there was an empty spot.

I think we are on the same page here. $1,000 is expensive to wheel especially if you have to drive aways to get there, but if you are local and use the hunting, fishing, camping, wheeling, hiking, biking, and cabin then $1,000 really isn't much when it is spread out over all the things you can do.

Our spots fill up quick but the last trip we ended up with two open spots out of 15. Last minute we had 1 spot and then someone didn't show. Let me know as soon as you can and there will hopefully be a spot for ya. Last time there were a couple of wives on the trip too.

I'm planning on going back in Feb, and Upstate Cruisers (LandCruisers) might be going in December. If UC does go in December then I'm sure you'd be welcome to go if you don't mind rubbing elbows with a bunch of LandCruisers.

Put me in for a spot.