FamilySherpa
Trail Wise!
Tangled up in Rhododendron
Posts: 1,791
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Post by FamilySherpa on Apr 18, 2016 9:57:06 GMT -8
(I'm on a posting spree... my bad, guys... haha) I think I've figured out UL's suggested loop (highlighted in blue on my next post). After looking into it I'm not sure we could make the long trek to Cold Mountain... now we will only be able to camp for one night, with two days of hiking. This loop would definitely be over 20, I think. What do you think about taking Big East Fork to Greasy Cove, then merge on to Art Loeb and go to Shining Rock Gap, then take Old Butt trail back to the trailhead? You are probably right about Cold Mtn making this hard to do in an overnight. Old Butt or Shining Creek trail either way, although Old Butt trail is pretty rough and overgrown in some parts. Old Butt goes up & over the knob, while Shining Creek more or less goes on a steady decline the entire route. If you are worried about adding Cold Mtn, I might consider not doing Old Butt either. Regarding Old butt knob trail, it is actually past shining rock gap on the art loeb.
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Post by kevinumberger on Apr 18, 2016 13:18:17 GMT -8
i dont think Tim Homan's book is available online.....
check the library, if you are in this area...
i got mine at the asheville REI, just because i had dividends......
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FamilySherpa
Trail Wise!
Tangled up in Rhododendron
Posts: 1,791
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Post by FamilySherpa on Apr 19, 2016 4:31:21 GMT -8
Had never heard of Tim Homan. Googled and found his massive collection of trail guides. Thanks Kevin! This is the book I have always used for WNC. It is small, but has very good detail, and is readily available.
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Post by ropeandsummit on Apr 19, 2016 4:46:29 GMT -8
Awesome! I really appreciate that. I need to come up with a good plan soon, so I'm going to research that wilderness loop a little more! That's a bummer that Old Butt is overgrown
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FamilySherpa
Trail Wise!
Tangled up in Rhododendron
Posts: 1,791
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Post by FamilySherpa on Apr 19, 2016 5:04:03 GMT -8
Awesome! I really appreciate that. I need to come up with a good plan soon, so I'm going to research that wilderness loop a little more! That's a bummer that Old Butt is overgrown I don't know for sure that its overgrown. I haven't been on it in prob 3+ years. It just has a tendency to get overgrown because it doesnt get as much use as other trails. Volunteer trail crews could have cut it back.
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Post by ropeandsummit on Apr 19, 2016 5:38:38 GMT -8
I'll look into it, for sure.
I guess alternatively I could loop Big East Fork to Grassy Cove to Art Loeb to Shining Creek back to trailhead
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Post by kevinumberger on Apr 19, 2016 10:48:58 GMT -8
UL---
yeah.....i have that book on pisgah as well, but have found (and just by reading and not hiking as i have not done much in shining rock) that the map inside of homan's book----especially for the area around shining rock gap-----is a little better.....actually much better..,.
i use homan's books for the big frog area and joyce kilmer/slickrock area as well....
they are decent but somewhat outdated so one has to roll with how the trail changes....
but for the most part, they are the most definitive guides for those respective areas.....
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Post by ropeandsummit on May 2, 2016 9:53:51 GMT -8
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FamilySherpa
Trail Wise!
Tangled up in Rhododendron
Posts: 1,791
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Post by FamilySherpa on May 2, 2016 10:07:14 GMT -8
BBK to Cold Mtn is do-able in 2 long days, but there is very little water. There's a wet weather seepage near shining rock gap, but that's all i really know of.
I don't think old butt trail would be hard to follow, i just think you'll be pushing briers and brambles out of the way quite a bit. Maybe even negotiate some blow downs.
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Post by ropeandsummit on May 2, 2016 12:51:39 GMT -8
FamilySherpa What do you think would be the best use of our time out there? Most enjoyable (but challenging) trail for a 2 day hike? Really excited about seeing Shining Rock! I mentioned passing through a blueberry patch to my girlfriend and she was really stoked on it. Where would that be at? I know that passing through Flower Gap would also be pretty solid considering the time of year.
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FamilySherpa
Trail Wise!
Tangled up in Rhododendron
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Post by FamilySherpa on May 3, 2016 4:36:51 GMT -8
I would say the loop proposed at the start of the thread, less the cold mtn out/back, is the best use of your time. That way you get a little bit of everything.
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Post by ropeandsummit on May 4, 2016 11:57:02 GMT -8
FamilySherpa Sounds like a plan! And I guess we should forget going through blueberry patches... berries won't be ripe until August. We could do more than the estimated 12 miles or so in two days, but it will be safer doing the 12 because of the difficulty in following the trail. Now... assuming we take the loop you first mentioned in this thread, what crucial points along the trail do I need to be aware of? I've seen a few websites giving descriptions on which turns to take, but does the book you use reference all of them? I cannot afford to get lost out there! Thanks, man!
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Post by ropeandsummit on May 8, 2016 6:42:58 GMT -8
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FamilySherpa
Trail Wise!
Tangled up in Rhododendron
Posts: 1,791
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Post by FamilySherpa on May 9, 2016 12:19:56 GMT -8
FamilySherpa Sounds like a plan! And I guess we should forget going through blueberry patches... berries won't be ripe until August. We could do more than the estimated 12 miles or so in two days, but it will be safer doing the 12 because of the difficulty in following the trail. Now... assuming we take the loop you first mentioned in this thread, what crucial points along the trail do I need to be aware of? I've seen a few websites giving descriptions on which turns to take, but does the book you use reference all of them? I cannot afford to get lost out there! Thanks, man! Without being there with you, it would be impossible to guide you. Some highlights I can tell you: At the big east fork trailhead parking lot, the trail up big east fork is across the stream, so you have to walk up the road a little bit, the trailhead at the parking lot is for shining creek & old butt. There's a large campsite at the confluence of greasy fork & BEF. This is a good camping spot, and also is where the trailhead for Grassy cove is. Once at the top of grassy cove, this is where it gets tricky. Luckily, you'll be going clockwise, which is much easier. I guarantee you'll see several people who started on the parkway, hoping to make it to shining rock, but have wandered down onto grassy cove by accident. Do not be tempted to turn onto any unworn paths. The Art loeb is very well used in this area. Wide enough for 2 people side by side in most areas. The turn down shining creek trail is at some timbers that have been laid as a water bar, although they sort of look like steps. Not sure I can offer much more to help. I'm by no means an expert on the area. Hopefully someone else will chime in.
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Post by ropeandsummit on May 10, 2016 4:25:59 GMT -8
FamilySherpa Considering I've never been out there, your feedback is exactly what I was looking for! I'll have the Tim Homan book as well as some online printouts with feedback much like yours. I'm just really wanting to look out for the tricky spots. So hyped for this hike! Taking it easy only doing about 12 miles or so, but it's probably best that I don't do too much out there for my first visit. I'll probably hop back on here and let you know how it went! If anybody else has any feedback, I'm all ears.
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