Hiking Thread

#201
#201
kiddiedoc said:
Hiked Mt. Cammerer today via the Low Gap trail to the AT starting at Cosby Campground. It's a fantastic hike, with some nice creek and falls scenery at the onset. 3 miles uphill to the AT ridge, then up and down to the spur trail that goes to the fire lookout tower built in 1928. The views from the tower and surrounding rocks are unrivaled.

I had not heard of this hike until recently mentioned on VN, but I would recommend it above just about all others for the panoramic views. 11 miles round trip, the first 3 are the most strenuous.
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Many years ago I took that hike... and agree it is a very nice hike. Once at the fire tower, I thought about a short cut down, and that was over the side. There looked like some type of trail dropping down and my mind told me to go for it, as it was surely a shortcut. Well, that was a disaster, and I climbed back up out that that tangled mess and stayed on the main trail back down. Good memories.
 
#202
#202
Finally got these transferred to my computer. A few good ones
 

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#207
#207
Recommendations for a solid 4-5 hour hike in or around Chattanooga the weekend after next? I'll be staying in Apisin and looking to spend a day either running or hiking the trails, and another day riding my road bike.
 
#208
#208
kiddiedoc said:
We are going to try to hit GB in June, as well, hopefully via Parsons Branch if the road is open.
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Even if the road is closed, there is a slightly longer trail up to GB starting further toward Cades Cove.

Another great view is from the Shuckstack Tower (check if its still there) from the AT at the southern end of the park.
 
#209
#209
kiddiedoc said:
Hiked Mt. Cammerer today via the Low Gap trail to the AT starting at Cosby Campground. It's a fantastic hike, with some nice creek and falls scenery at the onset. 3 miles uphill to the AT ridge, then up and down to the spur trail that goes to the fire lookout tower built in 1928. The views from the tower and surrounding rocks are unrivaled.

I had not heard of this hike until recently mentioned on VN, but I would recommend it above just about all others for the panoramic views. 11 miles round trip, the first 3 are the most strenuous.
Click to expand...

Granted the round trip totals are vastly different but how does the 3 mile strenuous section compare to the uphill hike of the Chimneys.
 
#210
#210
VOLatile said:
Recommendations for a solid 4-5 hour hike in or around Chattanooga the weekend after next? I'll be staying in Apisin and looking to spend a day either running or hiking the trails, and another day riding my road bike.
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Uhh, not to be too helpful, but. . .

I'd take a look at Prentice-Cooper Forest on Suck Creek Mountain for a nice hike to Snooper's Rock or Rainbow Lake / Signal Point. The riverwalk could work, too.
 
#211
#211
Coug said:
Granted the round trip totals are vastly different but how does the 3 mile strenuous section compare to the uphill hike of the Chimneys.
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It's not as difficult.

The latter half of the Chimneys ascent gains nearly 1000 feet in one mile. The only hike around here that I can remember rivaling that is the final climb to Rocky Top, which is only about half a mile but very steep.
 
#212
#212
kiddiedoc said:
We are going to try to hit GB in June, as well, hopefully via Parsons Branch if the road is open.
Click to expand...

I'd like to go that route too so that I can spend as much time on top taking photos and enjoying the scenery. Is there a marker for the GBT along the PB road? I've only seen videos and it looks to be a narrow road without any places to park.
 
#213
#213
VolnJC said:
I'd like to go that route too so that I can spend as much time on top taking photos and enjoying the scenery. Is there a marker for the GBT along the PB road? I've only seen videos and it looks to be a narrow road without any places to park.
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"From the Townsend "Y" intersection, travel west on Laurel Creek Road towards Cades Cove. After driving 7.5 miles you'll reach Cades Cove, pass the main parking lot, and then enter the one-way loop road. 13.2 miles from Townsend the loop road makes a sharp turn to the left. At this junction, continue by driving straight onto Forge Creek Road. After driving another 2.2 miles you'll reach the one-way Parson Branch Road, which forks off to the right (you'll also pass the Gregory Ridge Trailhead located here). Turn right onto the Parsons Branch Road and drive 3.3 miles to reach the Gregory Bald Trailhead at Sams Gap.

To return to Townsend after your hike you'll have to continue along the one-way Parsons Branch Road, and then take Highway 129 and the Foothills Parkway. To avoid having to drive this route, you do have the option of hiking the Gregory Ridge Trail to Gregory Bald.

You should note that Parsons Branch Road is closed during the winter. You should also note that the Cades Cove Loop is closed to motor vehicles on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, until 10:00 a.m., from early May through late September each year."

- Great Smoky Mountains Trails - Hiking trail info for the Smokies
 
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#214
#214
Coug said:
Granted the round trip totals are vastly different but how does the 3 mile strenuous section compare to the uphill hike of the Chimneys.
Click to expand...

Speaking of the Chimneys - we came down the front one time. Figured we couldn't screw that up since we knew there was the creek at the bottom and eventually the road.

We scrambled down found the creek and crossed and started heading up. No road. Couldn't believe it. Kept going and we could hear the road around us but couldn't see it.

We finally figured out that we came up from the creek at exactly the point where the tunnel is and we crossed the road over the tunnel!
 
#215
#215
VOLatile said:
Recommendations for a solid 4-5 hour hike in or around Chattanooga the weekend after next? I'll be staying in Apisin and looking to spend a day either running or hiking the trails, and another day riding my road bike.
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You might find it to be to far away, but try Savage Gulf.
 
#216
#216
volinbham said:
Speaking of the Chimneys - we came down the front one time. Figured we couldn't screw that up since we knew there was the creek at the bottom and eventually the road.

We scrambled down found the creek and crossed and started heading up. No road. Couldn't believe it. Kept going and we could hear the road around us but couldn't see it.

We finally figured out that we came up from the creek at exactly the point where the tunnel is and we crossed the road over the tunnel!
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Oh man that sucks. Here's a Chimneys story for you. So some friends and I hike to the top. It was overcast that day but not bad. We spend some time at the peak, bust out some snacks and there are some other people up top as well. We start to see this fog rolling in and we're like ok cool. So this fog rolls in and it was dense and the odd thing was these strange flying bugs seemed to come in with it. To this day I don't know what that was about. They didn't bite, no big deal it was just weird. So it starts raining and we decide we should head back down. By the time we get down we are all drenched and sadly so was my car remote control which was an aftermarket auto starter/alarm combo with an lcd display. The alarm had been going off for the better part of 15 minutes and I couldn't disable it, this also stops the car from being started in the process. None of us had cell signal so I couldn't call the shop to find out how to kill it. There was a really nice man driving around with his younger son who offered to take me down the mountain until I could get cell service and figure out how to disable the alarm. It was a crazy day.
 
#217
#217
Aavoxx said:
You might find it to be to far away, but try Savage Gulf.
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I remember reading that a middle portion of Savage Gulf was going to close this past winter. Part of the trail goes through private property, and the owners weren't going to let the state use the land anymore.

I have no idea whether this actually happened or not, but it might be worth looking into if you were going to plan a through hike of the whole trail.
 
#218
#218
VolnJC said:
I'd like to go that route too so that I can spend as much time on top taking photos and enjoying the scenery. Is there a marker for the GBT along the PB road? I've only seen videos and it looks to be a narrow road without any places to park.
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Yes, there's a marker and a small parking lot. The road can get a little sketchy in places, but we made it fine in my wife's Hyundai Sonata.
 
#220
#220
jjay2518 said:
Yes, there's a marker and a small parking lot. The road can get a little sketchy in places, but we made it fine in my wife's Hyundai Sonata.
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Thanks..I'm definitely gonna go that route if the road is open in June..all I drive is Subarus...they go anywhere :)
 
#221
#221
VolnJC said:
Thanks..I'm definitely gonna go that route if the road is open in June..all I drive is Subarus...they go anywhere :)
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You might check to make sure the stream isn't up. That's a popular mild off-road/Jeep drive that has a number of water crossings. Usually, it's fine, though.
 
#224
#224
kiddiedoc said:
You might check to make sure the stream isn't up. That's a popular mild off-road/Jeep drive that has a number of water crossings. Usually, it's fine, though.
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Yeah, I will..you know if they are going to put up signs like this....
Parson.jpg


it's just gonna attract these guys even more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nuU54fkodY
 
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