Smokies Late Fall

“This trip will be the weekend after Thanksgiving. I'd like to hike Fri, Sat, and head out Sun. I will put together a route a little later. For now, I just want to get it on my calender.

If anyone is interested in hiking that weekend (11/30 - 12/2), and you have a route in mind, let me know. I'm easy on this. There aren't many places in GSMNP I don't want to see. I can drive down Thursday night or Friday morning as well.”

“I will be out of vacation days by then if your were going the 23,24,25 of November I would be there.
last edited: 8/03/07 7:08:30 AM”

“Sorry for the confusion, it's the following weekend 11/30 - 12/2.”

“That is late fall. I hope to get to Hazel Creek in late October.”

“Well, looking at my calender I saw that winter starts right before Christmas.

But I really think of that as winter I guess.

My wife and I are going down the weekend of October 13 and 14 to stay at the same chalet we stayed in after our wedding. I will get my "fall" Smokies fix in then hopefully. My wife is not that into backpacking, but she's ok with semi-long dayhikes.
last edited: 8/03/07 8:51:50 AM”

“On Hazel Creek I can use a Cart. I don't expect to be able to carry a backpack by then, because of the computer in my shoulder and the associated wires to my heart.

I may not even be able to drive by then. I'm just hoping. I need some of those great fall colors for a little uplift.
last edited: 8/03/07 9:03:31 AM”

“There are some maybes signed up. I will put together a route over the weekend. I will draw the route out on my NG Topo! program and build the elevation profile as well. I don't think I can post pics here yet, but I will gladly email copies to anyone interested.

If any of you maybes have any suggestions as to what part of the park to hike, please speak up soon. I've spent a lot of time down on the Cosby side, so I'll probably choose something away from there.”

“There's a nice 20-something mile loop from Fontana Lake.”

“I have as a rule saved at least seven nights/ eight days for an early winter long walk. I will plan around your route. I have walked Goshen Prong down from Newfoundgap via Double Springs but thats it so a southern AT jaunt down to Fontana is new for me. Thanks for the route effort.”

“I would love to join you guys ductape!! Doesn't matter to me where in the Smokies..I love it all. :)”

“I mapped out a rough route starting and ending at Fontana Dam over the weekend. I need to take another look at it though, because the mileage from my map program wasn't matching what was on my actual map.

I'd also like to look at something more in the middle of the park. When hiking the AT through there, I seem to remember thinking the section from Spence Field to Newfound Gap would have been awesome if the fog wasn't so thick. Anyone interested in doing the AT from Fontana to NFG? It's probably 30 something miles, so it might be some longer days. I did the whole Smokies section in 4 days, so it would be nice to see it again at a slower pace.”

“So I was a little off on my mileage for the AT from Fontana to NFG. It looks like about 42 miles.

Mileage would break out:

Fontana to Russell Field - 14.9 miles
Russell Field to Siler's Bald - 14.7 miles
Siler's Bald to NFG - 12.5 miles

What does everyone think? I'm open to other ideas besides the two I mentioned.”

“You folks are capable of hiking many more miles in a day than I can. Consequently, there is no way I could plan a good trip for you.

However, I feel that a trip should have a definite objective other than just to hike. Objectives might include: at least one overnight at a new location, another overnight at the highest shelter in the Park, another overnight at the highest tent site in the Park, doing the maximum number of creek crossings, doing a difficult creek crossing, visiting springs from which you can drink w/o treating the water, a great location for viewing fall colors or Spring Flowers, a good location for viewing bears, a good location for getting late summer berries, hiking a steep trail, a hike designed for losing weight, ... . You could even work on your idea of doing a hike somewhere in the middle of the Park.

Good luck and have fun.”

“The trail up the AT from Fontana to Derrick Knob is dry right now. No water at Mollies ridge, Spence Field, or Russel Field. You'll need to go up Eagle Creek trail from Fontana and get water enough to get you to the next water. Silers Bald is low but I hear there is a trickle.”

“Will it still be that way in the beginning of December?”

“Very likely. No rain should be expected before the snows arrive. And the winter snows are very dry!








http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/weather.htm
LOL.”

“Hazel creek from proctor is a great trip.”

“Autumn
September through mid-November: Clear skies and cooler weather signal the onset of the fall color season. Warm days alternate with cool nights. Daytime highs are usually in the 70s and 80s during September, falling to the 50s and 60s in early November. The first frosts often occur in late September. By November, the lows are usually near freezing. This is the driest period of the year with only occasional rain showers. In the higher elevations, snow is a possibility by November.

Winter
Mid-November through February: Winter in the Smokies is generally moderate, but extremes in weather do occur, especially with an increase in elevation. It is not unusual to have warm temperatures in the low elevations and snow in the higher areas. About half the days in the winter have high temperatures of 50 degrees or more. Highs occasionally even reach the 70s. Most nights have lows at or below freezing. But lows of -20°F. are possible at high elevations. In the low elevations, snows of 1" or more occur 1-5 times a year. Snow falls more frequently in the higher mountains and up to two feet can fall during a storm. January and February are the months when one is most likely to find snow in the mountains.”

“Two years ago, the snow fell above 5500' in November and essentially stayed there until April.

Last year we had minimal snow cover.”

“I will not make this but will instead opt for Smokemount and a loop there. Thanks for the invite and enjoy yourselves.”

“I don't think things are going to improve on the AT as far as water goes until at least spring (assuming we get the usual snowfall).

I know for a fact the hike from Fontana to Russell is a butt kicker to do it in a day.

What about Lakeshore?

I am not sure I can take off that Friday, so I might be figuring a way to meet up on Friday night or Saturday in any event.

Another possibility is the Settlers Trail from Gatlinburg to Greenbrier.”

“I'm easy. I def. want to make it easy to meet up on Friday night or Saturday morning.”

“I thought you guys were hiking on Friday. If I could drive up Friday after work, I may still be able to work this trip in.”

“Starting that Thursday,I will take some time off for a couple days or so. I'm concerned about water and that is the reason for heading over to Smokemont. What is the determined route for this hike? I would try to meet and greet if only for a day. Iam looking at Cabin Flats,Enloe Creek,Chasteen Creek trails. It's the Yen and Yang of my personality. One second I am withdrawn and hidden and the next I am running thru the mountains screamimg SpongeBob Save Me. Have a great day.”

“I'd be able to make this trip if I can get to you guys easily on Friday night (think late). It's about a 6-7 hour drive from Columbus.

I'll keep an eye out and see what ya'll plan. I'll decided if I can make it from there. :)

Sounds like fun.”

“I'm considering it. I'm just waiting for the details to be sorted out. I do not know the area well enough to have any input.”

“Ok, so it sounds like a bunch want to come in on Friday night.

So how about we just make the hike begin Saturday morning? We can meet at one of the campgrounds on Friday night if that sounds good to everyone. That way, we can all get there when we get there.”

“Any more information on a route for this trip?”

“I've been avoidig the inevitable, but I won't be able to do this trip now. Sorry everyone. It will be a while before I can go hiking again. What we thought were simply expensive home repairs have turned into a fourth of what we paid for our house, and I can't even spend the money on gas to the trailhead. I will actually probably be looking for a second job to work on the weekends.”

“Sorry to hear that. Life happens sometimes.”

“There seems to be a lot of people interested in this trip. Could someone else take the lead on this one?”

“I have upcoming surgery on the 21st- unexpected and will be out of the loop for a month. Have a great one on me!”

“Is this trip still on or has it been cancelled?”

“I'm not sure if this trip is still on or not. I had somthing come up that weekend so I had to bail and it looks like a few others had too as well. I will be going to the Smokies the weekend before if anyone is interested.”

“Hey yall, My name is chitown my friends call me chi. I am originaly from Chicago but now live in Knoxville Tn. If we could pick a location near the Townsend - Elkmont area that would be the best for me. I have to work until 4:00 on friday but I can meet everyone at a predetermined campsite. I am stoked about this! I live 30 min and work 20 min from the Elkmont Townsend end of the park, and can never find anyone to go backpacking. Please let me know when and where to meet you all. Thanks Chi”

“This trip may be called off. Check out the Cumberland Gap trip in December. It's not to far from you.”

“Chili and I live in Knoxville and Townsend...If you are looking for hiking partners, let us know, we are almost always up for a good hike...”

“Sounds great. Are the two of you going on the Cumberland Gap trip? I would love to go backpacking with yall. I am not much into day hiking I would rather overnight it.”

“chitown - What part of Chicago are you from? Are you male or female? If female, please post a picture.

Watch the trips page for hikes in that area. Many such hikes take place and most of them are posted. You can even plan your own trip, post it and people will probably join with you.”

“Chili is the trip planner for the Cumberland Trail trip so yes we will be there. Its the Cumberland Trail..not Cumberland Gap btw...”

“I am a 35 year old male... I am from the Morgan Park area on the Southside of Chicago, and a Northwestern grad. Ya still want a pic? LOL”

“No on your picture. We should meet one of these days as I usually spend lots of time like months in GSMNP.

It appears that we were neighbors except for a time difference. I lived at 91st and Bell, just north of you. However, I went to South Shore Hi and was once accepted at NW's Dental School. I did not go there, but I did do some construction labor on some lakeside dormitories at NWU. In '77 I was west of you in Evergreen Park, before moving to Florida.

Good hiking to you.

BTW, "R U hitting on me? LOL" Not too likely. I am a 75 year old male, just about to test for a black belt in aikijutsu, defensive combat.
http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/12859,-1.php
last edited: 11/29/07 3:37:07 PM”

“I used to go shopping at evergreen plaza. I went to Mt.Carmel H.S. and played football for North Western. Now I am the proud owner of Chi-Town Construction. I was just in Tampa building a Petsmart last month. When ever you get a chance to go hiking in TN. let me know,I would be more than willing to join you. Good Hiking to you also. And happy hollidays.”

“Look up Chili for some good hiking up there.

Happy Holidays.”

“Chi, where was the Petsmart you were building at Montague and Hillsborough next to the new Target. I live a stones throw from there.

Jack Edgar
Tampa”