Bone Valley - GSMNP

“Its also our wedding anniversary, but we have no plans and Donna will be glad to be rid of me after 7 weeks of layoff. Man if we don't get a new product, I can retire and go hiking alot. I wonder if I can find a way to get paid for it. Maybe some mag will need old farts to hike for them, or a gear co. will need someone to test their gear, free gear of course!”

“I just saw on the news (channel 2 Nashville) that a bat disease called white nose disease, has closed all caves in TN. On the video they showed Alum Cave and Boulevard trails closed. The park website does not mention this but does have alot of warnings and closures because of the bears. There is also a warning about the shuttle to Hazel Ck. It seems the bridge is closed which I assume is what they called the low water bridge. you have to detour around that and enter the Lakeshore trail about a half mile east of Hazel Ck. trail. I know this won't affect TD's plans but if I go I will take that route. Read about it here:
http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm”

“Russell and Mollies get closed just about every summer.

A lot will change in two months. Worst case scenario is that I get a boat shuttle over from one of the marina's.”

“Hold the boat for me Chili, I may come in your way if you'll have me”

“Consider it done.”

“I love when my husband makes plans and doesn't talk to me about it...hmmm...not really...”

“I told you about labor day weekend last week. We specifically discussed the hike in the Smokies.”

“yep that was the first i had heard of it...”

“Hey,, that was a full 60 days in advance!”

“yeah, just would have been nice if you let me in on it before you set it all up. I hope you have fun...”

“I didn't set it up...it's all towndawgs fault.”

“Come on along NGB, I'll bring an extra flyrod for you.”

“Thanks Karo, i'm not sure I will have the time off work. But really who gives a #&%!$ about that? I am sure I can find something to do around Coldwater..”

“You aren't gettng Labor Day off?”

“Hold the boat for me Chili, I may come in your way if you'll have me”

you know, i am starting to lean this way too.. hmm..”

“Yea NGB, Karo will let you work his fly!”

“LOLz.. I'm in for the 30+ miles.. I'm in the mood for a nice long walk..”

“34 or so including the last leg on the AT..

I'm considering returning via the dam making it 20+ some miles total (if i do the boat shuttle with others).. the reason is that i may have to get in the car and drive to UP of MI right after this trek... if i do come to gsmnp for the week then i may still be up for the original plan, td.”

“im definite want to, but maybe can do

it will depend on school and how much work i have to do for classes. itll be early in the semester, so fingers crossed that i can make it”

“Do you have an elevation profile for the hike? Curious about this so-called death march out. ;-)”

“i do.. shall post it either next day or two or next week. it's nothing really. ;) watch out. 8) hehe..”

“"Curious about this so-called death march out."

It's not a death march if you take two days, and we have several options for the overnight.

As for elevation, other than 4miles of hades from #83 to high rocks, it's all very uncharacteristically FLAT line walking.”

“That looks about right. It's a real haul.”

“Im glad I will be at the Memphis game this weekend...”

“Interesting off track.. just reading through the naratives.. I really didnt think it was all that bad.. you make it look horribly hard.. Which is fine.. I will just prepare for it.”

“You would rather be at a game instead of the Smokies???

I am looking at the dates and may be joining this trip.”

“It's a mother, TD. IMHO, it is an aggressive plan. That is why I am leaning toward getting a ferry across the lake and leaving the same way.”

“I'm with Chili. Jeezus christo, Just looking at that profile makes me wanna go lay on the couch.”

“LOLz.. watch it pour down rain that weekend.”

“All right.. QUESTION. If someone were to hi-jack this trip -- and go with the BOAT in, and BOAT out option.. what would be the itinerary.. ?..

See here's the deal. My DAUGHTER is thinking about coming along, and I'd hate to kill her on her first backpacking trip?”

“Yea, carrying in a shovel would suck too.”

“You would rather be at a game instead of the Smokies???

nemster

NO but I will probably have to work Monday...”

“Don't say that 4 letter word before a backpacking trip....geez.

How old is she?”

“and go with the BOAT in, and BOAT out option.. what would be the itinerary.. ?..


i'm thinking those from the boat could meet up on saturday morning-ish at BC 83. then back to the boat on sunday eve. to make it easier one could also camp friday night at BC 86 or BC 85.

TD, i was also thinking that with this many people one could possibly arrange a one way backpack from Clingmans to Ollie Cove or the other way around. What do you think?”

“If NGB has to work on Monday, I will be planning on going in Sat Morning and out Sunday.”

“The primary draw for me on this trip (other than the fine company) is hiking upper Hazel Creek and Bone Valley.

Welch ridge holds no fascination for me, done it many times. I was thinking of bugging out by way of the tunnel. I can tell you that it is indeed a hump. It ain't straight up but is sure as hell isn't flat.

What is the price on the boat ride? Last I hear it was like $75.
last edited: 7/15/09 7:34:20 AM”

“How is it in comparison to The Preist?”

“Fontana Boat Shuttle (828)498-2211 ext.227

post up if you find out as i would like to know too.”

“I'm not familiar with any of this other than Clingman's Dome (aka "the spaceship") - and I've been there. I take it the above profile is only part of the trip? I was thinking it would be a huge roughly all downhill hike from Clingman's. So apparently, at some point the hike climbs to Bone Valley? (I didn't really look closely at the topo map either.. but call me confused... which is nothing new. Was thinking "Bone Valley" would be in a valley, that's all. ;-P)”

“I concur with hpm. It isn't straight up but you will hate yourself about half way up. It is doable but doing it in conjubction with the remainder of this trip makes it way aggressive.

The shuttle was 75 bucks a couple years ago.”

“how many can we put on a boat?.. is that $75 split between all who ride?.. or each. (ouch)

liz -- the first elevation graphic disappeared.. there used to be two.

nemster -- noyb. ;)

offtrack -- and there is one more possibility.. we could just do a long one way.

hpm/chili -- I'm fascinated with long tough hikes for some reason.. A part of me REALLY wants to do all 34 miles... but I also know from what I see now, that if my daughter decides to come along, the long version of the trip is out. It would be her FIRST, and her LAST.
last edited: 7/15/09 9:30:30 AM”

“Ok. I was asking because I have two girls and one is wanting to do a hike sometime. I would consider taking her if there was another kid going.”

“Anywhere from Clingmans dome is downhill...and if you park up there, you gotta get back somehow..”

“IMHO, the two toughest hikes in the Park are from Lakeshore up to Clingmans or from Gatlinburg (scenic loop) up past Rainbow Falls to LeConte.

They are doable but you want to make sure you have legs and lungs in good condition before you start.”

“Lizs- Yes, you got it.”

“yeah, the first profile isn't showing up for some reason.. i can repost it later, if you guys want me too..

if you look at the topo, the hazel cr trail drops hard off the ridge at the north end. it looks rather steep but there is a waterfall at the bottom of that descent.

the high rocks from BV looks a bit tougher (more % grade) then swallow tail trail i did in april.. it was tough but the trail was in excellent condition which made it easier.. no idea about trail conditions on welch ridge approach though.

if the boat is $75 each and each way, that may be too steep for my wallet.. hmm.. maybe clingmans - fontana then. lol”

“nemster -- she is 22.



I can't see paying the boat. For me, and her, and both ways, and each. Geez.. $300 would almost buy half a canoe..

http://www.rei.com/product/785546


last edited: 7/15/09 10:46:31 AM”

“OFFTRACK - do an elevation profile for some other options.. what software does all that?.. can you call?.. Let explore the choices we have.”