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Post by fiddler1 on Apr 30, 2019 13:00:58 GMT -8
Here's a possibilityStart at the Tunnel to Nowhere. Hike the Goldmine Loop to get to Lower Forney Creek Campsite #74 as mentioned by ashepabstNext day to Jonas Creek #70 Following day up to #68. Note that there is a flat grassy area that acts as a lower #68. The kids will prefer the upper #68 where there's a cascade. Final day up to Andrews Bald and eventually up to Clingman's Dome. , that sounds great. kevinumberger, I agree downhill would be easier, probably the laziest backpack ever - all downhill! Looking at that area I got interested in a loop involving Clingman's Dome, Silers Bald, Forney Creek, and Andrews Bald. It's not all downhill (sigh!) but does avoid the expense and logistics of a shuttle, and keeps us up high on the AT for a day in hopes of catching some views and cooler temperatures. The biggest day would be between Silers Bald and campsite 70 (about 3000 feet and 6.7 miles) so we would go counter-clockwise to make that one a downhill. I wish there was a campsite halfway up that portion. The next two climbs to site 68 and the parking lot at Clingman's Dome are about 1900 feet each, so more manageable. Plus we are next to Forney Creek for most of the climb so when the kids get hot and grumpy we can all just go splash around for a while. Hey, I could even book two nights at site 68 to have a day off to play in the water and rest. Just worried about getting a parking spot at Clingman's Dome since we are always slower than we want to get gear and kids to the trailhead. I've also become less worried about the heat after looking at the average climate data for high elevation in June on the NPS website. Probably warm but not sweltering all day long. Hopefully we don't get a heat wave that week. |
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Post by hikingtiger on May 1, 2019 5:23:47 GMT -8
I always took that as a given, but it's worth mentioning. Yep. Seems obvious once you've done it, but there's a first time for everyone. |
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Post by kevinumberger on May 1, 2019 6:14:16 GMT -8
I could even book two nights at site 68 to have a day off to play in the water and rest. up there-----its more of a sit and wade in the stream as opposed to a swimming hole.... still can get wet----just not very deep and all that.... there's a really nice rock bench at the base of the falls to sit on though.... |
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Post by fiddler1 on May 1, 2019 17:34:57 GMT -8
up there-----its more of a sit and wade in the stream as opposed to a swimming hole.... still can get wet----just not very deep and all that.... there's a really nice rock bench at the base of the falls to sit on though.... Sounds lovely. I found pictures of the cascade, my kids are going to want to slide down that slick rock. Yikes! |
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Post by kevinumberger on May 2, 2019 2:05:29 GMT -8
I kinda would advise against that but that's just me.....
Years ago---I was sitting on the rock bench at the edge of the stream smoking a joint when I could hear and then see a Nalgene bottle come bouncing down the falls...
And then the owner of it come racing down the hill....
He had dropped it when he was trying to fill it up...
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Post by ashepabst on May 7, 2019 18:37:29 GMT -8
You guys should have pretty good timing with the azaleas and rhododendron. Definitely make the side trip to Andrews Bald, if you’re up for it
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Post by fiddler1 on May 7, 2019 19:21:24 GMT -8
You guys should have pretty good timing with the azaleas and rhododendron. Definitely make the side trip to Andrews Bald, if you’re up for it Thanks, I definitely plan on going out to Andrew's Bald. I'm wondering how bad the poison ivy will be out there? My son just managed to get it for the 2nd time this season and it is still cold here in Michigan. He can barely walk, huge blister under his foot!!! My wife is pretty susceptible as well... I hope to visit again during the Fall sometime. |
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Post by kevinumberger on May 8, 2019 11:04:21 GMT -8
I'm wondering how bad the poison ivy will be out there? My son just managed to get it for the 2nd time this season hard to say how bad it will be... the smokies does have poison ivy-----just gotta look for it... but bizarrely enough-----20 some years of hiking in the Park----never got it once... got it the first time in over 30 years from clearing my driveway in town.... |
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Post by fiddler1 on May 8, 2019 11:23:47 GMT -8
got it the first time in over 30 years from clearing my driveway in town.... Go figure! I think I should stop waffling, reserve the sites and hope for the best. I will treat any summer hiking woes with a healthy dose of calamine lotion, dips in the creek, and lots of extra M&M's in the gorp. Plus a flask of something good for the grownups. |
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Post by kevinumberger on May 8, 2019 16:46:43 GMT -8
thats a really good route----it will be quite enjoyable....
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null
Trail Wise!
Posts: 578 
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Post by null on May 9, 2019 5:58:56 GMT -8
I found pictures of the cascade Here's a photo of the cascade for anyone else who's interested  |
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Post by kevinumberger on May 9, 2019 15:55:28 GMT -8
also along that route-----if you want another side trip besides going out to andrews bald-----there's an old boiler used for the winch that would pull up logging railroad cars thats on a manway....
if you want directions---i can provide....
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Post by fiddler1 on May 9, 2019 18:40:35 GMT -8
also along that route-----if you want another side trip besides going out to andrews bald-----there's an old boiler used for the winch that would pull up logging railroad cars thats on a manway.... if you want directions---i can provide.... That sounds really interesting, I'd love to check it out! |
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Post by kevinumberger on May 9, 2019 18:54:51 GMT -8
coming up from 68, maybe a quarter mile before the intersection with forney ridge, look to the left and there should be what looks like an obvious path......and by looking at it---its where the old roadbed of the railroad tracks is....
follow this out for about a quarter mile or so----and you'll start seeing debris.....
at one point years ago----someone had carved and spraypainted an arrow to mark the manway, but not sure if that is still there or not......
up in that area, the trail parallels a hillside, and when that hill "runs out"----thats where the roadbed is at.........
have fun...
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Post by fiddler1 on May 9, 2019 19:04:35 GMT -8
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