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Post by indianabob on Nov 5, 2015 21:51:14 GMT -8
I am heading to the Smokys with some friends for our annual Thanksgiving weekend backcountry outing. We are planning on Alum Cave Bluff Trail to the Mt. Le Conte Shelter, then the Boulevard Trail to The AT and over to Charlie's Bunyan, back to Icewater Springs for the night and then out to Newfound Gap. We are familiar enough with the area to know that the route is in our wheelhouse, even of we encounter some ice.
Since in late November there is always a chance the Newfound Gap Road may be closed due to snow/ice, we need a back-up. We are considering the Gabes Mountain/Maddron Bald/Snake Den Ridge Loop. None of us have explored this part of the park and the route appears fairly rugged in places. On the plus side, we would go in though Cosby and could avoid the Black Friday Pigeon Forge /Gatlinburg Black Friday clusterf_ _ _. Any thoughts on this plan would be welcomed.
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FamilySherpa
Trail Wise!
Tangled up in Rhododendron
Posts: 1,791 
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Post by FamilySherpa on Nov 6, 2015 5:36:13 GMT -8
One thing that should be considered is they have been doing quite a bit of work on the Alum Cave bluff trail and while they are working on it, it is closed. They usually perform the work mid week so that it can be opened on the weekends, and its highly unlikely they'd be doing trail work on the week of thanksgiving, but its something to keep in mind.
I would avoid Pigeon Forge/Sevierville at all costs regardless of what trails you decide on.
The traffic on a normal weekend is terrible. Throw in peak holiday shopping at the outlets and I bet it will be outrageous.
I assume you'll need to be on I-75N to get back home, but I'd strongly consider an alternate route.
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Post by hikingtiger on Nov 6, 2015 7:31:26 GMT -8
You'll have road work to deal with on Newfound Gap Road as far as the Chimneys picnic area. Trail will be open. And like ulightbandit said, traffic will be horrible coming in on 66. We went up Oct 11-14 and came in through Townsend, up Wears Valley Rd, and into the park at Metcalf Bottoms. The only significant traffic issue was near the Sugarlands VC. From the park website: Follow road status at twitter.com/smokiesroadsnps•Newfound Gap Road (US-441) construction in 2015 - crews will be working on the road between Sugarlands Visitor Center and Chimneys Picnic Area. Work on the project will be suspended during the month of October due to high traffic volume in the park. Work will resume on November 2. At that time, motorists can expect daytime lane closures and brief delays. Motorists should slow down and use extra caution in work zones. •Alum Cave Trail will be closed May 4 through November 19 in 2015, excluding federal holidays, on Monday mornings at 7:00 a.m. through Thursday evenings at 5:30 p.m. weekly. The trail is also expected to be closed during the week in 2016 during the field season to complete phase 2. |
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Post by indianabob on Nov 6, 2015 13:30:43 GMT -8
Thanks.
We have used the Townsend/Metcalf Bottoms route into the park in past years and will do so this time as well. Our first Black Friday trip to the park, we went through Pigeon Forge/Sevierville and clearly did not think about it beforehand -MADNESS.
We were aware of the work on the Alum Caves Bluff Trail. It sounds like they are doing some strong work to preserve the area.
Thanks again.
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