PCA WILDERNESS TRAIL REGION

Most Important Drive 03 – Roan Mountain Tōge Run Date: 08/22/2020 – Weather permitting* Route length: 70 miles – 2:00 hours + lunch** Meeting Point: Carter County Visitor Center (500 Veterans Memorial Hwy, Elizabethton, TN) Meeting Time: 9:30 am Organizer: Leandro Nascimento (423-440-0805) RSVP at: https://wtrpca.org/

*In case of inclement weather, the drive will move to the following day (8/23), same time and place. ** At the end of the drive we will stop at a covered large picnic area with multiple tables, enough to safe social distancing. Pack your lunch / snacks. There are at least 3 good restaurants in the .8 miles range that you can grab food and come eat with us (or eat at the restaurant).

Event Summary Come to rip roarin' curves and TONS of scenery on this exciting drive through the roads

of TN and NC around Roan Mountain. Roan Mountain is few miles ahead of our meeting point, once we get there, we will drive

through Tiger Creek Road, which is 11 miles of twisties, sweepers, good surface and very little traffic with huge trees on both sides of the road making a nice canopy.

After Tiger Creek, we will drive towards TN-173 W and then TN-107 E, both roads are very curvy with many switch backs and very few straights. TN-107 E will become NC-226 S when we cross the state line. On NC-226 S, we will make a 15 minutes stop at Hopson Express (Gas Station & Convenience Store) and 1 mile further, we will take a left on Fork Mountain Rd, a fun shortcut to reach NC-261 N (which will become TN-143 N from the state line). These two roads combined are as good as any of the named roads (The Snake, The Devil's Whip, The Rattler, etc.). The advantage compared to those other named roads is not being pushed as in a motorcycle tourist road so there is a lot less traffic.

As you reach the top of the mountain, near Carvers Gap, we will enjoy fantastic views from the overlook at the top of Roan Mountain.

I drove this route this past Sunday (7/26) and all roads along this route have received recent repaves, road quality is excellent. Do watch for gravel if there were a storm on the day before and drive safely to avoid runoffs.

PCA WILDERNESS TRAIL REGION

Route Details

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/AmAjqhvFZ3o9UUC36

• 9:30 – Meet at Carter County Visitor Center, 500 Veterans Memorial Hwy, Elizabethton, TN. If you do not recognize this place, you may have driven by before and have seen the locomotive below on display:

They are not open on weekends, but there is a restroom on at the Elizabethton next door and at the Food City across the street. If you need Gas, there is an Exxon at the intersection and the Food City Gas n’ Go. Everyone (driver and passenger) must sign the PCA liability waiver AND the COVID waiver (If you attended the event in July you don’t have to sign the COVID waiver but still need to sign the PCA liability waiver).

• 9:45 – Drivers meeting.

• 10:00 – Drive start

• Leaving the Parking Lot, we will turn LEFT on US-19 E / US-321 S towards Hampton and Roan Mountain and drive for 10 miles. If anyone gets stuck in traffic, there will be plenty of time to catch up. We will be driving on the right lane until we have the group together.

• We will turn RIGHT on Tiger Creek Rd. For reference, this is 1.4 miles passing the Dollar

General in Hampton and .7 mile after TN-173 W.

• CONTINUE on Tiger Creek Rd, which will become Ripshin Mountain Rd for 11 miles. Stay on the main road all the time until we have reached the US-19 E again.

• Then turn LEFT on US-19 E N and drive 4.7 miles towards back to the direction where we came from.

PCA WILDERNESS TRAIL REGION

• Turn LEFT on TN-173 W (which is only .7 mile after where we entered at Tiger Creek Rd). The TN-173 W is also called Simerly Creek Rd. We will drive for 6.5 miles until TN-173 reaches its end on a T intersection.

• Turn LEFT on TN-107 E and drive for 4.6 miles. This road will become NC-226 S when we cross the state line.

• CONTINUE on NC-226 S for 6.7 miles until we reach our first stop.

• We will STOP at Hopson Express (9619 N 226 HWY, Bakersville, NC) which is a Gas Station, Convenience Store and makes a good stop to regroup, drink some water and use the restroom.

• CONTINUE on NC-226 S for 1.1 miles after we leave the Gas Station.

• Turn LEFT on Fork Mountain Rd and drive 4.2 miles on this road. This road will end on a T intersection where we will turn left.

• Turn LEFT on NC-261 N and drive for 9.2 miles. This road will become TN-143 N when we cross the state line.

• CONTINUE on TN-143 N and drive for 12.5 miles

• Turn RIGHT on Stratton St and drive 500 ft to reach our final destination. This street is 1.8 miles passing the Roan Mountain Gritsmill Visitor Center and a little before reaching the US-19 E

This is the end of our PCA drive, but not the end of a great morning. We will have a big covered picnic area (it is really big; it fits 50 people) that will allow us social distancing and have lunch and laughs. If you packed your food, we will eat there. If you didn’t bring food, there are 3 well rated and recommended restaurants within the .8 mile range. You can grab a TOGO meal and come back to eat with us (or eat at the restaurant if you want) and if you feel that you had enough take a left on US-19 E to head back to Elizabethton, Johnson City, Bristol, Kingsport, etc.

PCA WILDERNESS TRAIL REGION

Picnic Tables

Food Options

Restaurants: Puerto Nuevo Fresh Mex & Seafood, Highlander BBQ and Bob’s Dairyland

PCA WILDERNESS TRAIL REGION

Bring your WalkieTalkie, we will use channel 5.0. We will not have loaners this time due to Coronavirus precautions. If you are looking to buy a WalkieTalkie / FRS 2-way radio, here are some options you will find on Amazon:

• Motorola T100TP Talkabout Radio, 3 Pack • Motorola Talkabout T6250 GMRS • Motorola T200TP Talkabout • Motorola T600 Talkabout Radio • Midland - GXT1000VP4 • Retevis RT16

This is our second drive after the pandemic restrictions, and we would like to everyone

feel safe and comfortable driving with us. Please, be respectful to everyone’s choices of social distancing during this event. Check some of the COVID-19 rules more below.

COVID-19 RULES Wilderness Trail Region is ruled by Porsche Club of America, aka PCA National. In order to have authorization to this event and an insurance certificate issued, the following rules are applied to this event:

1) You will have to sign the COMMUNICABLE DISEASE EXPOSURE AND INFECTION ASSUMPTION OF RISK, HOLD HARMLESS, RELEASE, WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT.

We will have copies to you to sign, but if you want to make this event as contactless as

possible to you, bring your own copy signed (must print with colors). Here is a link to read it in advance, or print the form if you want to bring your own copy: https://emailer3.pca.org/UploadFiles/PCACommunicableDiseaseWaiver202005281.pdf If you drove with us in July to The Snake, you already signed this waiver and you don’t have to sign it again until May 2021.

2) You will have to sign the regular waiver that you used sign on every PCA moving event and you can’t bring your own copy signed as this has to be signed in presence of a witness. Bring your own pen if you want to make it as contactless as possible to you and we will bring the form printed to you to sign.

PCA WILDERNESS TRAIL REGION

3) You will have to comply with PCA Event Participant Guidelines. Here is a link to the PCA

guidelines:

https://emailer3.pca.org/UploadFiles/PCACOVID19MemberSafetyguidelines20200527logo21.pdf Here is what in PCA’s guidelines: In all things PCA does, first and foremost is the health and safety of our members, employees, sponsors and communities. Federal, State/Provincial and Local guidelines and restrictions supersede these guidelines where there is conflict or ambiguity. Take Steps to Protect Yourself and Others: • Stay home when you are sick (request a refund). • Stay home if you have been in contact with someone in the last two weeks who has been sick. • Bring your own personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and disinfectant. • Practice social distancing of at least 6 feet between non-cohabitating attendees. • Wear your face mask when in the presence of others. • Physical contact is discouraged. Refrain from shaking hands, fist-bumps and hugs. • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially before eating and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. • Refrain from touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue into the trash. • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. • Use best judgement and common sense regarding your fellow members’ good health. Region Leadership including the Event Chair have the authority to require you to leave if you cannot comply with these community protection measures. Note that, the use of face mask is “encouraged” but not mandatory by PCA. You must observe any local, state or federal law regard the use of face mask. We, the organizers, will be taking other precautions to make this event safe to everyone.

PCA WILDERNESS TRAIL REGION

MAP

PCA WILDERNESS TRAIL REGION

CHEAT SHEET