Our latest adventure began in the southern part of the Cohutta Wilderness, at one of the most beautiful lakes in North Georgia—Lake Conasauga. The perfect place to start our next adventure overlanding the ocoee wilderness. This stunning spot served as the perfect meeting point for our Jeep crew. This time, our team included Stewart Jefferies in a white Gladiator on 35s, Michael Goode in a red JKU on 35s, and Chaz Parks in a white Gladiator on 40s. Our mission? To conduct a shakedown on the Road Rash Jeep after installing numerous overlanding upgrades. And what better way to test them than by tackling one of our favorite routes, the Big Frog Loop, for the third time? Every time we take on this loop, we uncover new territories and challenges, making each journey unique.
Setting Off from Lake Conasauga
With our crew assembled, we headed northwest on the Big Frog Loop toward the Tennessee border. Our first stop was a spot I found on Gaia Maps called Conasauga Snorkeling Hole. The name intrigued me, and I wanted to scout the area for a potential family day trip. The site did not disappoint. The snorkeling hole was stunning, surrounded by pristine nature, and exactly what I had hoped to find. I will definitely return to explore this area further on foot.
Overlanding The Ocoee Wilderness
Traditionally, the Big Frog Loop continues northeast as soon as you cross into Tennessee. However, we decided to take on a new challenge and head further west into the Ocoee Wilderness, a region none of us had explored before. What we found was truly special. The Ocoee Wilderness is relatively untraveled, with road closures at every turn pushing us deeper into the overgrown wilderness. The raw beauty of the landscape was complemented by sightings of wildlife in their natural habitat, including a family of black bears playing on a hillside. Witnessing such extraordinary scenes was humbling and added a unique touch to our adventure.
Overcoming Challenges and Setting Up Camp
Navigating our way out of the Ocoee Wilderness took longer than anticipated, but as the sun set, we finally made it to our campsite. With just enough light left, we set up camp and tested the new upgrades on the Road Rash Jeep. This included our new rooftop tent by Naturnest, a tankless hot water system by Camplux, an overlanding refrigerator by Setpower, and a 2000-watt power bank system by Generac.
Setting up the outdoor living space was a breeze with the 270-degree awning by Naturnest. After popping up the tent, I indulged in a hot shower, a luxury I never thought possible at a dispersed campsite. The feeling of warm water after a long day of off-roading was simply unbeatable.
A Night of Stories and Camaraderie
As the evening settled in, Michael treated us to some delicious pork butt on the grill. We spent the rest of the night around the campfire, sharing off-roading stories and reminiscing about past adventures. The camaraderie, the tales, and the laughter made for a perfect end to a challenging yet rewarding day.
