Bone Valley - GSMNP

““I had considered heading over on Thursday, but driving up tail of the dragon at night with a canoe on top just doesn't sound like a lot of fun. I'll get there after noon on Friday.”

it really isn't that bad.”

“I like the tail of the dragon, cause it lets me check personally on whether my tail lights work or not while I'm driving”

“I most likely will sleep in Knoxville thursday night, and drive to the "boat launch" EARLY Friday morning.


LOLz.. trollz. (jellofog is a "yes" now apparently.)
last edited: 8/14/09 1:43:06 PM”

“Of course he is, you can't be in two places at once!!


Who will have extra boat space back Sunday?
or who is taking the boat shuttle back sunday?

I'm hiking in from Clingman's Friday
Basecamp/dayhike bone valley Saturday
Out via Fontana Lake Sunday

I'll call and reserve my oneway monday if noone has room. I will be traveling lite ~25lbs”

“HELLO??

Towndawg? Karo? other canoeist?!!

TD you still have my #?”

“I think I screwed up my knee this weekend. I'm now a maybe.”

“I can tote some of your weight and share gear if that helps. Water Filter/Stove/pot/Fuel/Whiskey.

I can carry your tent poles and some food too”

“opie.. naw.. lost a celly.. so lost lal my contacts.. but my cell number is on my facebook.”

“DK who is going with me yet, no confirmed plans. I don't mind, but me and TD and you would be toooo much for a poor canoe!”

“If no one takes me up on the other half of my canoe, I'll share a canoe with ya. That way I don't have to haul one all the way over there. E-mail me at:
karofisher@bellsouth.net
I also have a spare flyrod if someone wants to borrow it. You just have to carry it in and out and keep up with it. TD used it before. I think he has one now.”

“Nevermind about the flyrod, it is spoken for now.”

“I may be heading out on Sunday as well. I'l let you know about space.”

“I just need a space for the way out. Take my gear, and throw me a rope....lol”

“WARNING - If you travel across the water, there is a bear crossing in the bay leading to Hazel Creek. The shuttle boat operator stopped the boat at one to let a bear swim past. His comment was, "Guess we better stop at this Bear Crossing!" We watched as the bear gained a shore and climbed up. The bear was small, about 100 pounds.

Black Bears are good swimmers.”

“Thanks Paul for the warning. The bears are having a bumper crop this year, so I hear.”

“Last time I went to Hazel Ck. (2 years ago) I saw the southbound end of a northbound bear leaving our campsite which was #84. Didn't see another the whole weekend.”

“Last time I went to Hazel Ck. (2 years ago) I saw the southbound end of a northbound bear leaving our campsite which was #84. Didn't see another the whole weekend.”

“Pete and Repete were sitting on a log.....”

“Alot has transpired today as far as plans. Rick Lausten and I were the only ones to make this trip last time and he and I are hauling over a canoe. He tried to get a login on here but was unsucessful. Cindy Kinnard (Flamegirl) has contacted me and wants to join this trip. She and her husband Dale are going to follow us over and we will haul their gear across the lake and they will kayak. There is one other person that is a maybe. Who else wants to stay at #83 the entire weekend on my reservation? Remember Towndawg has #83 for Saturday only unless someone wants to call and extend the nights. First one to contact me gets it.”

“I need Friday night on your Reservation, I'll be there Saturday also on TD's”

“Ok opie, someone may still want to leave out on Sunday.”

“Am I the only one coming down off Clingmans???”

“i was planning on sat/sun at 83.. not sure about friday but then i am not really sure about the whole thing yet.. i guess i'll make the final decision next week. we'll see what the water transport choices are..”

“The last time I stayed at CS#86, I looked up from my campfire and saw a bear under my tarp. He was checking out my bedroll.

I was hiking down the Lake Shore Trail from CS#98. On that hike I saw six other bears.”

“If my daughter does not come along, I will be coming in from Clingmans, and doing the original itinerary.

Right now, she is waiting on her class schedule to see if she is going to have a class on Friday. Also what days will her boyfriend have to work over the holiday weekend.

So to answer your question, Opie -- right now? I know I am going, I just don't have my final route confirmed.

Sounds like a large and interesting group going... and I would not worry too much about bears - - Looks like our most interesting visitors will be the "trollz" on the attendance list.
last edited: 8/19/09 5:33:20 AM”

“Are you out there?”

“always”

“Cindy Kinnard, her husband Dale and Joyce her friend want to leave on Sunday. I can get their packs across the lake on Friday, but they are wondering how to get their stuff out on Sunday. Rick Lausten and I want to stay till Monday or we could shuttle ya'll across. Maybe the boat could take their packs and you back to Fontana. They might even be able to give you a hitch, I dunno just thinking of possibilities.”

“Update: I have the inflatable kayak, but the guy with a local canoe here at home is having second thoughts of dragging it all the way to east TN.

So I talked to Fontana Marina again this morning. Shuttles leave from the Marina to Hazel Creek dropoff three times a day (9:30am, 12:30pm and 3pm. and pickup from Hazel Creek three times a day (10am, 1pm, and 3:30). Price is $50 round trip.

However, they do not make a run over to Hazel Creek just to see if anyone is there waiting. So making a reservation would be a good idea, rather than "be hopeful."

The alternative is to rent a canoe at $50 a day, with an average commute time of 2.5hrs.

With that said, since my daughter has class until 12, and her boyfriend works until 2pm, my current plans are to get to Fontana marina before they close and just pay the money for a 20 minute ride over. (They agreed to run me at 4:30 if I can get there by then.)


So we will be arriving at Hazel Creek Friday evening and returning to Fontana Sunday afternoon.
last edited: 8/24/09 8:33:42 AM”

“and for what it's worth, my wife is convinced that this whole discussion is academic -- because we all know my daughter will change her mind at the last minute.. and decide she found something else she would rather do over the weekend.

;)”

“I figured your wife was saying that about all of us. And was starting to think she was jellofog. Cause all our discussions are academic”

“naw naw.. ;).. she just thinks Jordan will bail.. but she approved my menu for the weekend.. so I am still convinced she is going.”

“Here's the TownDawg kitchen plan. (and I should explain that I will be removing references to "cans" of this or that, and verifying quantities; e.g. 8 tortillas.)

Friday Dinner: Gnocchi with Sage Butter Parmesan and Bacon
1 package prepared gnocchi
½ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
2 individual packages butter
1 teaspoon dried sage
1 teaspoon garlic powder
3 tablespoons shelf stable bacon crumbles
¼ teaspoon black pepper

At home: Combine the Parmesan cheese, sage, garlic powder and black pepper in a zip-locking plastic bag. Carry the bacon in a second bag. You can re-package the gnocchi into a baggie if you’d like to save room in your pack. In camp: bring a pan of water to a boil. Add the gnocchi and cook for about 2 minutes. The gnocchi will float to the surface when it is done. Drain. Add the Parmesan and spices. Stir. Add the bacon and stir again. Serve!

Saturday Breakfast: Omelet made to order with hash browns

Cheddar cheese, bacon, tomato, spinach, mushroom, salsa, potatoes

Saturday Lunch: Chicken Quesadillas
1 (10 ounce) can of cream of chicken soup
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese, divided
1 teaspoon chopped jalapeño
8 Flour tortillas
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 cup sour cream

Mix soup, chicken, 1/2 cup cheddar, 1/2 cup Monterey Jack and jalapeño in a medium saucepan. Cook, stirring frequently, over medium heat until heated through, about 5 minutes. Divide chicken mixture among each tortilla, spreading to within 1/2 inch of edges. Moisten tortilla edges with water: fold over to enclose filling. Press tortilla edges together to seal. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat: add quesadillas. Cook until heated through, about 10 minutes. Top with remaining cheese. Serve with salsa and sour cream.

Saturday Dinner: Spinach Linguine with Salmon Lemon and Dill
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 tablespoon dried dill
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (optional)
12 ounces spinach linguine (or your choice of pasta)
1 6-ounce foil-packed salmon
2 tablespoons shelf stable grated Parmesan cheese

At home: combine the garlic powder, lemon zest, dill, black pepper and sun-dried tomatoes in a zip-locking plastic bag. Carry the linguine in a second bag. Combine the lemon juice and olive oil in a plastic screw top container. In camp: bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain if necessary, leaving the pasta fairly wet. Add the spices and sun-dried tomatoes and stir to combine. Add the salmon and toss well. Serve topped with the Parmesan cheese.

Sunday Breakfast: Bagels with Bacon Chive Cream Cheese

1 bagel
1 tablespoon shelf stable bacon
1 teaspoon dried chives
1 teaspoon sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
2-3 ounces cream cheese

Sunday Lunch: Cous Cous with Chicken and Chickpeas
1 3-ounce can chicken
1/4 cup (cooked or canned) dehydrated chickpeas
1/4 cup cous cous
2 tablespoons dried tomatoes
1 tablespoons dried carrots
1 teaspoon tomato powder
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste

At home: combine everything except the chicken in a zip locking plastic bag. Carry the can of chicken separately. In camp: add enough water to cover. Stir. Set aside until couscous is cooked and the chicken and veggies are rehydrated. Add the chicken (do not drain) just before serving.
last edited: 8/25/09 5:59:42 AM”

“After studying that menu a little while, becomes this shopping list:

MEAT
Package of shelf stable bacon
3 pouches foil-packed chicken
2 pouches foil-packed salmon

PASTA
1 package prepared gnocchi
12 ounces spinach linguine (or your choice of pasta)
1/4 cup cous cous
4 tortillas
4 bagels

DAIRY
Investigate best way to bring eggs
8oz shredded cheddar cheese
8oz shredded Monterey Jack cheese
4oz shredded Parmesan cheese
Investigate best way to bring butter or margarine
Investigate best way to bring cream cheese
4 packages sour cream from local restaurant

VEGGIES
Investigate best way to bring cream of chicken soup
1 teaspoon chopped jalapeño
1/4 cup (cooked or canned) dehydrated chickpeas
1 tablespoons dried carrots
Fresh spinach (packed in newspaper?)
4 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes
mushroom
Investigate best way to bring potatoes
4 packages salsa from local restaurant
1 teaspoon lemon zest

SPICES (all pre-mixed into dry ingredients)
dried sage
garlic powder
black pepper
garlic powder
dried dill
dried chives
tomato powder ?
dried parsley
paprika
ground cumin
garlic powder

MISCELLANEOUS
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil”

“I would ask who your sherpa is. But I've seen you hike.”

“Wow”

“Well remember.. I'm supposedly feeding me, the daughter, and the boyfriend.. if they bail.. i will basically use the same menu.. but adjust quantities accordingly.

And trust me.. once I start packing out three different packs, I will make sure the boyfriend sherpa's some of this.. :)
last edited: 8/25/09 9:58:07 AM”

“the water needs to be salty for the balls to stay intact while boiling.”

“"the water needs to be salty for the balls to stay intact while boiling.”
offtrack
11:47:33 AM
8/25/09


This is going straight to the out of context thread!!! SCORE!!!!”

“Neener neener. ;P”

“Chef from South Park comes to mind.”

“offtrack is black?”

“You can ask for the butter in individual packets at KFC. Just ask for it at the drive thru. Last time they gave me a handfull. They also have the packets of honey, just remember we are in bear country and Yogi and Boo Boo just love them a pic-a-nic basket!”

“Thanks Karo.. yeah.. thats what i do.. I start checking fast food restaurants and stuff to see what I can find in individual packets.

offtrack -- I cooked Gnocchi when we went to BSF.. it was wonderful.. I had some nice blue Gorgonzola cheese to go with it too. :)

HPM -- me or offtrack?


last edited: 8/25/09 1:30:12 PM”

“i didn't say "sweaty". ;) :D”

“with TD bringing all that food, I'm hoping to earn the Yogi trail name!”

“LOLz.. Well if i know you OPIE, you won't exactly be eating ramen either..”

“Wanna bet, if I'm trying to get to 20lbs, in order to hike 14 miles in one day...wait, downhill, I'll go faster with a heavier pack!!!”

“Fresh eggs will stay fresh in their shells for a couple of days in moderate weather. One of those little egg carriers from Coleman would do the trick or if you cushion them in the original carton. You can even get them in a 6 pack carton if desired. Pack them between a couple of ziplocks with ice would be better. There is a thread on whiteblaze if I can find it, it'll give you something to read tomorrow.”