A truly classic Smoky Mountain adventure that has been undertaken by the Club “officially” nine times since 1941 and well regarded with a mystique as the fortress heart of Greenbrier. The 1958 SMHC Handbook has an eloquent description of the vicinity: “The paths to the altar are virgin streams. The waters as wild as I, child of the mountain and cool as rain, the song of the mountains they sing and play o’er the mossy rocks on the steep, steep slopes pristine.” This rugged trail-less climb was standard fare for Charlie Klabunde, who ranks foremost among the Club’s all-time advocates for off-trail hiking and always in accord with Ernie Dickerman’s dictum, “If you’re on a trail, you’re not on a hike.” For many years Charlie Klabunde was the Club’s Search Team Coordinator. We will begin our ascent into this wild and woolly country by hopping up Laurel Branch, flanked with thickets of rhododendron and massive rock formations, until reaching its upper split and venturing boldly up the right fork. Approaching the fortress wall, we will be rewarded with a challenging climb up the slick tangles of the sheer rock escarpment and a liberating release to the mossy boulder fields of the upper mountain territory. There we will search for the skeletal frame remains of the Beechcraft Staggerwing airplane that has been scattered about the mountaintop since 1944. Our descent route entails a rhodo-dense spur ridge sometimes following a capricious bear trail that ebbs and flows without regard for the desires of human linearity; eventually finding a way to enchanting Kalanu Prong and its towering trees where we can intercept the well-worn False Gap Prong manway to ease us gently towards our exit. This will be a robust, strenuous hike of around six to seven miles depending on the vagaries of the route and the exploratory notions of the group. Bring a flashlight, canteen, and – if you want to play it safe – food for a week. Rated very difficult.

Leaders: Kindel Page and Todd Long

To register, contact the leaders directly. You can find contact information in the May 2024 newsletter writeup for this hike.