schlanky
Trail Wise!
Lead singer, driver of the Winnebago
Posts: 452 
|
Post by schlanky on Oct 2, 2015 9:06:03 GMT -8
If weather cooperates for the days I have off, I'm looking at doing the loop that starts at Bandy Creek and follows Fall Branch to John Muir Trail to Laurel Fork over to West Entrance and back to Bandy.
I've never hiked any of this. My experience at BSF has been that some places are very well marked and some aren't marked at all. Has anyone done all/part of this loop lately? Looks like there are numerous creek crossings and trail junctions. Just wondering if junctions are generally well-marked and how rough the water crossings are.
|
|
|
|
Post by markweth on Oct 4, 2015 18:09:19 GMT -8
I hiked part of this loop in November 2012; from what I recall it was from the Blackhouse Branch (?) junction back to the Middle Creek (?) trailhead. Perhaps a 5-mile section?
At that time the junctions were well-marked/obvious and we didn't have any trouble with navigation. It can be a monotonous trail at times but has a timeless and enchantment to it that serve as a great counterbalance to the lack of scenic diversity. We camped in a nice grove of pines that was a great spot . . . no trash or fire rings and the sound of the creek in the background. Had a real untraveled and "wild" feel to it . . . seemed almost out of a Cormac McCarthy description of the southern Appalachians from "The Orchard Keeper".
The creek crossings weren't really "rough" by any means, but were frequent and almost all required boots to be taken off and Crocs to be put on. Depending on what time of year you're planning to hike this can be a deal-breaker. When we hiked it the temperatures were pleasant enough to leave the boots on and just hike in the Crocs for some of the sections with frequent creek crossings.
Have a good hike . . . it's a charming trail. Let me know of you have any other questions about the BSF, there is actually a really nice loop you can do that uses part of the Laurel Fork Trail and passes by Slave Falls, Needle Arch, Twin Arches, Charit Creeek Lodge, and then on to Laurel Creek and back to the trailhead.
|
|
|
|
Post by ashepabst on Oct 5, 2015 6:13:20 GMT -8
hey Schlanky, I'd meant to check my notes on Laurel Fork over the weekend but it slipped my mind.
I've done upper Laurel Fork as a loop with Fork Ridge from Sawmill, and lower Laurel Fork as a loop with Station Camp, via Jack's Ridge (from Bandy Creek). I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed Laurel Fork. the lower section was a bit more scenic, but the upper end was more remote feeling and lesser used, I'd say. I agree with Markweth's assessment... very pretty trail, but no particular sights that stand out in my head except for very pretty creek and hemlock grove scenery. if you're looking for an awesome Cumberland canyon creekside campsite you wont be disappointed.
I don't think you'll have navigation issues, on that stretch of trail anyway. I do recall seeing the trail sign for West Entrance as well as the nearby intersection with Salt Pine Tr, so I don't think you'll have trouble with that intersection. and if you do miss it, you'll have the Salt Pine intersection as a marker that you've gone too far. your biggest issue will be the numerous creek crossings which often leads to misleading volunteer trails. it might slow ya down a bit, but I doubt it'll throw ya too bad. it gets enough use that you'll recognize when you're off track.
the water's probably on the high end right now, but as dry as it's been over the past two months I seriously doubt it'll stay high for very long. Laurel Fork's not a deep creek usually, and the lowest crossing is bridged.
as a side note, if you do consider using Jack's Ridge as a bail out point, I had a little trouble find my way around there... there's a maze of bike trails, horse trails, "multiple use" trails coming out of Bandy Creek. I figured it out without wasting too much time but just a heads up. also, a lot of those trails are a mixture of gravel, sand, poop, and all manners of abhorrent walking trail conditions.
you going at the end of the month by chance? I'm thinkin about taking off the last week of Oct for a trip. give me a holler if you wanna meet up.
|
|
schlanky
Trail Wise!
Lead singer, driver of the Winnebago
Posts: 452
|
Post by schlanky on Oct 5, 2015 9:54:59 GMT -8
Thanks very much for the helpful info, markweth & ashe. My day with the most creek crossings will be low-mileage day, and it sounds like I'll need the extra time.
You have a message waiting from me, ashepabst.
|
|
|
|
Post by ashepabst on Oct 12, 2015 7:42:54 GMT -8
how'd it go? did you get rained out?
|
|
schlanky
Trail Wise!
Lead singer, driver of the Winnebago
Posts: 452
|
Post by schlanky on Oct 14, 2015 9:24:00 GMT -8
I got rained out at BSF. Forecast for morning I was to get there was heavy thunderstorms with high winds and potential for hail. I decided with that many creek crossings to save it for another time.
Plan B was a return to St. Joseph Peninsula in Florida, but I found out they have a red tide going on down there. I learned that in high enough concentrations, red tides can give people cold-like symptoms and they're generally unpleasant to be around. In Mexico Beach just across from the tip of the peninsula, they'd taken high readings a couple of days before I was to leave. Park people advised that if you have a reaction to it, go inside for a while and to take a shower---not an option in the backcountry, so I scrapped that one.
So I returned to Frozen Head in Tennessee. North Bird Mtn was the only trail there I hadn't done, so I decided to give it a go. I'll try to get a trip report up later this week.
|
|
