Turkey Day AT Hike

“i want to get back to the smokies at least one time this year. i think this sounds like a really great trip”

“Hi Crash Bang this should be an excellent hik, and I would love to have someone else to hike it with. I love the smokies and am looking forward to turkey and stuffing up on the ridgeline. Rock on..”

“how many permits are you getting?”

“im a strong maybe on this trip. if i go ill meet you at the campsite on the second night. let me know if there is a deadline for getting in on this trip”

“I haven't gotten any permits. As of today it looks like this trip may have to be modified. I may switch it to the Elkmont loop up to CS 30 and down through Husky Gap. I will firm up plans towards the end of the month.”

“If you all stick with the original plan, and stay at Double Spring Thursday night, I can meet up as I am staying either at Double Spring or Siler's Bald Thursday night, then going to hit Hazel Creek trail...”

“I'll be in the park for Turkey Day and I'd love to meet up with another group. The current route sounds good.”

“Sounds great but I might have to meet up with you at Double Spring Gap since I would be coming from Fl. Any body else coming from the deep south?”

“Rockjockpro~~~ Have you made any modifications to your plan? I'm interested in this one but may have to join you on Friday. Let me know about any changes to the original plan. Thanks!”

“Hi All-
The original plan of the post has been scrapped in favor of the Elkmont loop. Below is the new itinerary. It would be great to meet some fellow TTers.

Thurs-travel to Elkmont and head out on the Jakes Creek trail out and back. (6.6 miles) set up camp. I will be reserving one campsite. It has room for two tents.

Friday-Little River trail to Campsite #30 (6.2 miles)

Saturday- CS#30 to Rough Creek Trl to Sugarland Mtn trl to CS#21 (7.9 miles)

Sunday-CS#21 to Huskey Gap Trl to Cucumber Gap trl to Elkmont (5.8 miles)

Hope to hike with some of you the entire trip or along parts, most campsites are an easy day hike from numerous places.

Rock On”

“I will have to look at this.

I might try to get a space at Mt Collins for Friday night and then down to 21 on Sat.”

“ill take a look at the route and let you know”

“I'll read up on the route in the little brown book, but I think I may do something closer to the old route.”

“...the Foothills Trail?”

“rock, have you made reservations for this trip yet. If so how many did you make.

Thursday your day hiking Jakes Creek and camping at Elkmont. What time are you planning on leaving Friday morning?”

“From what I can see on the GSMNP web site Elkmont will be first-come first serve as the reservation season ended 10/31. Also the other campsites #30 and #21 are not rationed sites.

I will hopefully break camp by 9am and have everything ready to go by NLT 10am I figure this puts me at CS 30 around 1pm. I can break earlier or later though I just figured as long as I make it into CS 30 by 3:30 I will have ample time to set camp and chill before it starts to get dark.”

“I am pretty sure I will show up for this trip. I won't get to Elkmont until evening though.”

“Cool
I am easy to spot, I drive a yellow Dodge 1500. I couldn't hide if I tried!”

“

Is this you?”

“bump for trekkngirl”

“couldn't tell ya TD the pic didn't make it through”

“rockjockpro: http://www.freewebs.com/letsrock/theearlyyears.jpg”

“Thanks Ewker...looks like a cool trip..can I go rockjockpro???”

“t-girl, you can drive to my place and leave your car there. Are you working today..if so call me later on or this weekend”

“Ewker,I am working today...I'll call you tonight.”

“The more the merrier looking forward to meeting ya'll”

“What's the elevation gain and loss on this?

Giving a vague consideration to this. Have to see how many hours away this is for me. As I recall, Big South Fork is maybe 10.

Did manage to find the trails on the park trail map, but have no clue where are campsites are.

Don't worry about all this now.... just pondering......”

“come on down lizs, you will have a good trip. Fly into Nashville and I can pick you up at the airport”

“He told me to come on down and then took it back and then edited it.

phhhht!!!! >8-O”

“lol..naw just a double post”

“lol...

well it's over a 15-hour drive. And I don't think I can fly anywhere. Would be sky high this close to Thanksgiving.

Someday I'll get back to the Smokies....... just not now. :-(”

“Trail head Jakes creek is at 2500' Jakes Gap is at 4000'
Little River TH is at ~2100' and CS #30 is at 4500'
Probably over the course of the weekend we will gain/lose 4500'

Check out localhikes.com for more info”

“rockjockpro, looking at the brown book for the Smokies the elevation gain from Little River TH to CS#30 is only 1200' over 6.25 miles. The book says it is an easy wide trail with 3 river crossings near the end. That is a rarity in the Smokies.”

“Hi all. I have been watching the posts and hoping the week would pan out for me to join up. Things are looking good for now. Do I understand correctly that you will spend Turkey Day night at Elkmont then head out Friday morning?”

“looks like i will be hiking with smokinghotgirl for the holidays. we'll be thinkin of y'all”

“based on early weather reports it is gonna be cold with a chance of snow
highs upper 30's
lows in the upper teens”

“where are you getting weather reports?”

“and at what elevation is that for?”

“The kids are coming down for the holiday and I need to finish painting the new digs. Looks like I am out for a holiday hike. At best, I will get to take the kids up to New Found Gap for a day hike.”

“CB, the forecast was for Gatlinburg. It has changed today with higher temps (mid to upper 40's), snow still in forecast for Friday
last edited: 11/21/05 7:47:00 AM”

“Freezing Rain and Snow mix forecasted for Townsend on Tuesday night. I would only imagine it would be a little worse above 2000 feet.”

“I am major league bummed today as it looks like I will not be able to go on this most excellent trip. Saturday I had an accident and have a laceration on my ankle and achilles tendon that took 22 sutures. I am on crutches and will be for the next 10 days so the Doc said no hiking or camping. So instead i will be stuck in my house doing nothing, I am so frustrated I have been planning on this for over 2 months. I hope you guys still have an excelelnt time and hopefully we can hook up on some future hike. Again I am horribly sorry to set this all up and then not be able to join you.
:(
Rock”

“sorry to hear that Rock. There is always next time. Sit back and get well”

“Woohooo!! Have fun, y'all! I will be kicking up some snow on the AT to Siler's Bald! Weeeee!”

“The fence finally went down at Silars at some point this summer.

Just a few more shelters and they will all be off. One of the trail maintenance people said they are trying to get them down one or two a year.”

“since rockjockpro is out just curious who all is still going”

“i better find my tentpole for my hilleberg by thursday or ill be roughing it in my 3-season tent”

“thats all I am taking. I have a 4 season teepee style shelter but it takes up a lot of room which there isn't in most campsites in the Smokies”

“Rock..that's terrible..get well soon'
I am out of this one too. :(”