Bone Valley - GSMNP

“What about cold beer?”

“i think whiskey was already called.”

“AH, but whiskey and cold beer are two very different things.”

“yes indeed but sometimes...




last edited: 4/15/09 11:43:59 AM”

“whiskey is easier than cold beer..

I bet HPM and I have the ultimate "cold beer" story though.

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/11929,-1.php

Millipede: “Orkg.” (Holding left hand up, gazing at it with a focused stare, the fingers turned upward, opened slightly with the thumb against the ring finger.)

Radagast: “What exactly is that, frontier gibberish?”

Millipede: “You do not understand. Orkg, orkg. I am Nordic!”

TownDawg: “Nordic? What did you say exactly?”

HumanPackMule and Madman take a few steps away, walking to the other side of the fire pit, as Millipede continues to attempt to communicate his point. “Orkg.” (Again holding left hand up, gazing at it with a focused stare, the fingers turned upward, opened slightly with the thumb against the ring finger.) “You college educated boys do not understand the song, the song of the woods, like we do.”

TownDawg and Uprocks both ask again, “Nordic?”

Millipede’s accent was a mixture of Irish Cockney, Norwegian ‘grunt’ and enough frontier gibberish to keep all of us entertained the entire night. “Orkg,” he would say, and then launch into a long passage of meaningless babble that was anyone’s guess what in the world he was saying. Every now and then, you could catch a word, but trying to piece that into some coherent concept – another matter entirely.

According to Millipede, the two guys who showed up with him were the best-unsigned singer songwriter, and the best car mechanic around. Maybe they were, and appearance can be deceiving as we all know, but try to picture one guy in soldier fatigues and another with a red do-rag over his head. Welcome to Ellijay. “Orkg. (Meaningless frontier gibberish followed some mention of Nashville or Nazis or Vegas, followed by more frontier gibberish.)”

“Boilermakers! YUM!”

“I don't think it is possible to have an "ultimate" beer story that somehow doesn't involve dayhiker, binks and/or stalker.”

“As memorable as that encounter was, I am inclined to agree with Counselor Bugkiller.”

“heh.. you may be right.. but as HPM mentioned.. it was pretty durned memorable.

did everyone get the email is sent out late this afternoon to all of the trip participants?”

“nope”

“I don't think that feature is working anymore on the trips page.

Oh well.. most of you know my cell phone number.. call if you want details of earlier today.
last edited: 4/15/09 6:15:42 PM”

“i got an e-mail that said you'd e-mail me later”

“opie -- you got mail.”

“maybe the 'maybes' don't get the emails? i didn't get one. i'll email you here in a sec.”

“Tuesday, August 4th, I plan to call GSMP backcountry reservations.

I will definitely reserve CS #82 for Friday night (Sept 4), and CS #83 for Saturday night (Sept 5). (possibly bogey Sunday night (Sept 6) at Double Spring Gap Shelter.) As far as I know, the maximum group size is 8 persons.

As a precaution, Monday, August 3rd I will request Thursday night (Sept 3) at Double Spring Gap Shelter for me, because I am considering a night hike (2.4mi) out to the shelter from the parking lot.

Is there anyone else who would like for me to add them a spot at Double Spring Gap Shelter Thursday night (Sept 3)?
last edited: 5/19/09 8:03:25 AM”

“it sure wouldn't hurt. put me down, just in case.”

“ya.. I do that sometime.. to avoid sleeping in my car.”

“Hidden room under the lookout tower at Clingman's dome?

Anyone checked it out lately?”

“it might be a storage room....built under the ramp...but i don't think there is a "structure" under it...isn't it chainlink fenced?”

“well I always heard rumors of the room.. and supposedly how they kept it unlocked.. but have no first hand evidence..

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1378767852052839307RoYVXV

There's a link to a pic of it.

Basically I'm weighing all my options for when I get to Clingmans Dome Thursday night.. I can reserve the shelter.. but didn't know how much space to reserve.”

“The dungeon?
You don't want to stay there. It'll work if you have no choice but I'd much rather bivy on the trail.”

“Thats kinda what I figured.. I just didn't know anything about it. I will prolly reserve the shelter for Thursday night..


last edited: 6/12/09 12:56:53 PM”

“I have not read all the above, but don't forget the new campsite of about one year on Lake View Trail or Lake Shore Trail about a mile or so before it reaches CS#86.”

“the dungeon...i bet that's where crazy mike is”

“I'm coming from the North, Nowslimmer..

Day One - Friday Sept 4th
Start at Double Spring Gap AT shelter. End at CS#82.
Mileage 8.8 --> 2.4 (parking lot to shelter) + 6.4 (Hazel Creek Trail).

Day Two - Saturday Sept 5th
Start at CS#82. Explore the area, take pictures and fish. End at CS#83.
Mileage 7.7 --> 3.1 (CS to CS) + 3.6 (Bone Valley roundtrip).

Day Three - Sunday Sept 6th
Start at CS#83. End AT.
Mileage 13.2 --> 1.8 (CS to junction) + 3.5 (junction to junction) + 1.2 (exploring high rocks) + 6.7 (eventually reaching the AT again)”

“yeah, the dungeon is a dump.. i'd maybe stay there in severe weather.. maybe..

get a final head count a week before you have to call in the res..”

“The dungeon is a great place when it is 36 and raining straight down.”

“I can't argue with that Chili.”

“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazel_Creek_(Great_Smoky_Mountains)

Calhoun House, built by George Higdon and purchased by Granville Calhoun in 1928[21] After 1944, park rangers used the Calhoun House as a bunkhouse, giving it the name "Hazel Creek Hilton." The house is located at the Hazel Creek trailhead, near Campsite 86.

Hall Cabin, built in 1892 by Jesse "Crate" Hall and his wife Tabitha Dills Hall, located at the end of the Bone Valley Trail. This cabin, made of poplar logs, is the most remote historical structure in the Great Smokies, being a 9-mile (14 km) hike from the ferry rendezvous. In the 1920s, the cabin was used by the Kress family as part of a hunting lodge. In 1976, the cabin was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. This "Hall Cabin" should not be confused with the "Hall Cabin" mentioned often by Kephart, which was a herder's shack atop the crest of the Smokies near Chestnut Bald (although both were built by Crate Hall).

The Ritter Mill Site consists of the ruins of the R.M. Ritter Lumber Company's saw mill, mill pond (now empty), and drying kilns, built around 1910. An unmarked manway leads from the Hazel Creek Trail to the sawmill site, where the walls of the sawmill still stand. The manway continues uphill to the site of "the Clubhouse," which was a lodge used by Ritter executives and dignitaries. The mill is located about a half-mile east of the Calhoun House.

The Adams-Westfeldt Mine Site, located along Little Fork of Sugar Fork, about two miles (3 km) above Campsite 84 (Medlin). Author Horace Kephart lived in a cabin at the mining site from 1904-1907.

Proctor Cemetery, located on a hill about a half-mile east of the Calhoun House in Possum Hollow. The cemetery is also the site of the cabin (no longer standing) of Moses and Patience Proctor, who were the first Euro-American settlers in the area in 1829.

Bone Valley Cemetery, located on a hill northwest of the junction of the Bone Valley Trail and Hazel Creek Trail. Several members of the Hall, Laney, and Cook families are buried here. The Bone Valley Baptist Church, built by Joshua Calhoun around 1880, was also located at the trail junction.”

“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazel_Creek_(Great_Smoky_Mountains)

Calhoun House, built by George Higdon and purchased by Granville Calhoun in 1928[21] After 1944, park rangers used the Calhoun House as a bunkhouse, giving it the name "Hazel Creek Hilton." The house is located at the Hazel Creek trailhead, near Campsite 86.

Hall Cabin, built in 1892 by Jesse "Crate" Hall and his wife Tabitha Dills Hall, located at the end of the Bone Valley Trail. This cabin, made of poplar logs, is the most remote historical structure in the Great Smokies, being a 9-mile (14 km) hike from the ferry rendezvous. In the 1920s, the cabin was used by the Kress family as part of a hunting lodge. In 1976, the cabin was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. This "Hall Cabin" should not be confused with the "Hall Cabin" mentioned often by Kephart, which was a herder's shack atop the crest of the Smokies near Chestnut Bald (although both were built by Crate Hall).

The Ritter Mill Site consists of the ruins of the R.M. Ritter Lumber Company's saw mill, mill pond (now empty), and drying kilns, built around 1910. An unmarked manway leads from the Hazel Creek Trail to the sawmill site, where the walls of the sawmill still stand. The manway continues uphill to the site of "the Clubhouse," which was a lodge used by Ritter executives and dignitaries. The mill is located about a half-mile east of the Calhoun House.

The Adams-Westfeldt Mine Site, located along Little Fork of Sugar Fork, about two miles (3 km) above Campsite 84 (Medlin). Author Horace Kephart lived in a cabin at the mining site from 1904-1907.

Proctor Cemetery, located on a hill about a half-mile east of the Calhoun House in Possum Hollow. The cemetery is also the site of the cabin (no longer standing) of Moses and Patience Proctor, who were the first Euro-American settlers in the area in 1829.

Bone Valley Cemetery, located on a hill northwest of the junction of the Bone Valley Trail and Hazel Creek Trail. Several members of the Hall, Laney, and Cook families are buried here. The Bone Valley Baptist Church, built by Joshua Calhoun around 1880, was also located at the trail junction.”

“I was the 9th person to confirm. If no one drops out, I can. Sounds like a great trip in the making.”

“Most of the time people do, Ed. Would love to cook and hang out with you that weekend.”

“Given the logistics, there shouldn't be a maximum group size. On the first day, we could have two groups in two different shelters.

We could meet at 82 the second day and on the third night 83 and 84 are virtually next to each other.
last edited: 6/22/09 8:59:40 AM”

“yes, two sets of reservations can be made that overlap this plan. i'm think of actually doing that if there is more interest then what is shown thus far.”

“Also, I am considering coming in from Fontana or by boat.”

“no kidding? that is a possibility that i am mulling over. i may be in the park the whole week after this hike.. i may make this a non circular trip.

it is also possible that life takes me too far away from the gsmnp and i may not be able to make it at all.. we shall see and i am sure we'll discuss when the time rolls around even closer.”

“I may go in this route myself. I want to do more flyfishing.”

“Btw 83 is a huge campsite but it does allow horses. There are many camp fire rings and flat areas to tent. Also the best bet to base a trip up Bone Valley Ck. I got the only fish to rise to my fly at the creeks junction with Hazel. These fish are very spooky and stealth and even camo or drab colors are required. If you are caught standing up in the middle of a stream the fish will definitely NOT bite.”

“I am looking around for a shorter fly rod to use up there. I say a 6 and a half footer the other day, but it was two piece. I am hoping I can find a 4 piece rod to pack in.”

“I got a fly fishing set this past Christmas. Will be nice to actually have my "own" equipment instead of begging "you know who".

(he posted two spots above this.)”

“i had a friend tell me to F a 200$ fly rod, he's caught more trout on a cheapy combo.”

“Opie, That really depends on what the rod is made from either fiberglass or graphite. But you can catch just as any fish with a cheaper rod, I can attest to that. I can also build one myself for one third to one half the cost of retail. And it will be something that I am more proud of.”

“for the climb out. We just did this trip. This is quite a climb, hiking up dry and wet creek beds, lots of rocks, not easy hiking. I will say, by the end of the day I was completely worn out! I have never been on a trip where I wondered if I could finish. I believe our total on that last day was around 15 miles give or take...all up! We started at CS82, hiked down to Cold Spring Gap and started up. Beautiful scenery!

Also, once you get up on the ridge, there's no water until you reach the AT.

Have fun!”

“i think td found a spring along the forney ridge.. a bit ways past the high rocks?”

“he couldn't find water if he had a faucet... ducks for cover,lol.”

“karo, remember TD couldn't find himself with a GPS, Map, compass, and NP trail signs.”

“Glad to hear you in a good mood. We are still thinking about you both. I didn't want to start a thread on here, waited on you to.”

“It will be difficult for me to make this trip. Not giving up yet, but if prosecutor wants to join in your group, I'll try to hike in from Hazel Ck. and make a reservation at Bone Valley campsite for Sat night at least.”

“I cope through humor....and making fun of TownDawg is easy, so I figured I'd start that way.”

“Greetings.

Stokely: From #82, we go to #83 with an "out and back" to the far side of Bone Valley. So we start closer to Cold Creek than you all did.

Also, we don't go all the way to the AT in one day. We take two days from CS#83. There's a piped spring about 2miles past high rocks.

Opie: LOLz.. I was never "lost" just wasn't sure where I was.

Karo: I hope you can make at least part of the trip.
last edited: 7/07/09 2:50:59 PM”