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• Off-Trail Hike: Wilson Falls

  • When
    09/18/2021
  • Location
    GSMNP

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  Purportedly the longest continuous cascades in the Smokies, Wilson Falls tumbles several hundred yards from the upper bounds of Meigs Post Prong. The falls are comprised of a majestic 400-foot upper cascades that rolls into a rugged sequence of middle tier siblings and then a fifty foot lower falls. Commencing in the spruce-fir vicinity of Mount Collins, we will descend an upper tributary of Sweet Creek and follow the lush valley to its confluence with Meigs Post Prong where we turn upstream for a brisk rock hop leading to the base of Wilson falls. After climbing the length of the cascades, we will arrive near our starting point on Mount Collins. Hike is rated difficult due to steep, rocky terrain and approximately four miles of slick creek scrambling. Contact trip leaders for meeting place and time.

  Pre-registration with the leader is required. Masks are now required for all those participating in carpools, shuttles or key swaps, regardless of vaccination status. You may also choose to drive your own vehicle to the trailhead.

  Leaders: Kindel Page 865-660-8549 kindeledhearts1985@gmail.com Todd Long 865-406-2421 toddmlong@gmail.com

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• Wednesday Hike: Elkmont Loop to CS23

  • When
    09/22/2021
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • Location
    Jakes Creek Trailhead, GSMNP

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  Jakes Creek/Cucumber Gap/Little River/Goshen Prong to Campsite 23 and return. 15.2 miles. Those who choose to shorten their hike have many options to do so. Please let the leader know before the start of the hike. Meet at Alcoa Food City at 8:00 or the Jakes Creek trailhead at 9:00. Drive 70 miles ($3.50).

  Pre-registration is required. Masks are now required for all those participating in carpools, shuttles or key swaps, regardless of vaccination status. You may also choose to drive your own vehicle to the trailhead.

  Leader: Michael Zielinski

  Pre-register with Ron Brandenburg, ronb86@comcast.net, or text 865-898-7602

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• Mount LeConte

  • When
    09/25/2021
  •  
    7:00 AM
  • Location
    Alum Cave Trailhead, GSMNP

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  We will start at Newfound Gap and hike to the Boulevard Trail with a stop at the Jump Off for those interested. From there we will take the Boulevard trail to Myrtle Point followed with a stop at the Cliff Tops. We will eat lunch on top of Mt. LeConte. Bring money for t-shirts, etc. at the LeConte store. After lunch we will head down Alum Cave to the parking lot. This is a shuttle hike which will require everyone to be willing to help shuttle. We will meet at Alum Cave trailhead at 7:00 am. This will allow us to avoid all the parking issues at the trailhead. From Alum Cave parking lot we will shuttle to Newfound Gap to start the hike. Number of hikers will be limited due to shuttle. For amap, profile or gpx, you can access it with this link.

  Hike is difficult. Distance by the end of the day will be 14 miles.

  Pre-registration with the leader is required. Masks are now required for all those participating in carpools, shuttles or key swaps, regardless of vaccination status. You may also choose to drive your own vehicle to the trailhead.

  Leader: Dale Potter, dalepotter55@gmail.com 865.773.8114

  
  

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• AT Family Hike: Davenport Gap and Shelter

  • When
    09/25/2021
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • Location
    Comcast, 5720 Asheville Hwy, Knoxville, TN

  Register

  The Appalachian Trail Conservancy and its 31 trail maintaining clubs invite families to take a hike on the AT on its 11th Annual Family Hiking Day. Held trail-wide on National Public Lands Day, Family Hiking Day is an opportunity to introduce children to America’s premier footpath and all the benefits that come from being active and spending time outdoors. We will start our out-and-back hike at Davenport Gap in the Big Creek area of the Smokies. The hike to the shelter is steep (600') but short (1-mile). At the shelter, the leaders will discuss its use and history related to the Appalachian Trail. Hike: 2 miles, rated moderate. We will meet at Comcast, 5720 Asheville Hwy, Knoxville, at 9 am to carpool to the trailhead. (120 miles x .05=$6.00 to driver).

  Pre-registration with the leader is required. Masks are now required for all those participating in carpools, shuttles or key swaps, regardless of vaccination status. You may also choose to drive your own vehicle to the trailhead.

  Leaders: Cindy Spangler, spangler@utk.edu, 865-776-1301
  Ellie Doughty, ellied@bellsouth.net

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• AT Work Trip

  • When
    10/02/2021
  •  
    8:45 AM
  • Location
    Newfound Gap Parking Area, GSMNP

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  Meet at Newfound Gap at 8:45 a.m. and we’ll be back at NFG at 4 p.m.

  This work trip will take place about 1.2 miles north of NFG. We will work to return the trail tread to its proper location, while improving water drainage on the trail. The work will require moving rocks and adding steps if needed. Participants will need to dress for the weather and bring work gloves, lunch, and beverage. Rock bars will be provided.

  Pre-registration with the leaders is required. Masks are now required for all those participating in carpools, shuttles or key swaps, regardless of vaccination status. You may also choose to drive your own vehicle to the trailhead.

  Leaders: Mark and Janet Snyder, 865-448-1183, markandjanets@gmail.com

  
  

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• Wednesday Hike: Ramsey Cascades Out and Back

  • When
    10/06/2021
  •  
    9:15 AM
  • Location
    Ramsey Cascade Trailhead, GSMNP

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  With the access road closed for so long, it has been a while since we hiked to Ramsey Cascades. Hiking first along the Middle Prong, then Ramsey Prong, we have classic Smokies creek scenery, before we hike past a number of spectacular old-growth trees. The last mile or so is a challenging rocky climb, but the reward is the 90 ft. waterfall. Elevation gain 2200ft, 8 miles roundtrip, rated moderate.

  Meet at Comcast, Asheville Hwy at 8 am or at Ramsey Cascades trailhead at 9:15 am. Drive 85 miles RT {@ 0.05/mile = $4.25}. Leader: Diane Petrilla, petrillad@gmail.com, 931-224-5149.

  Pre-registration is required. Masks are now required for all those participating in carpools, shuttles or key swaps, regardless of vaccination status. You may also choose to drive your own vehicle to the trailhead.

  Preregister with Ron Brandenburg, ronb86@comcast.net or text 865-898-7602 or at smhclub.org.

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• Fiery Gizzard Trail, South Cumberland State Park

  • When
    10/09/2021
  •  
    6:30 AM
  • Location
    Lenoir City Cracker Barrel, 325 Fort Loudon Medical Center Drive, Lenoir City

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  The Fiery Gizzard loop trail in Grundy County, TN, is considered one of the most beautiful and diverse trails in the country, rated #25 in the USA by Backpacker Magazine. With Sycamore Falls, the Blue Hole, Ravens Point overlook, and more, the hike is visually stunning, but strenuous. It will be a long drive (about 2.5 hrs. one way) from the Knoxville area to Tracy City, TN. The hike is about an 11.4 mile loop; we will not hike all the way to Foster Falls, but turn around at Anderson Falls. Rated difficult. Meet at Lenoir City Cracker Barrel, 325 Fort Loudon Medical Center Drive, Lenoir City at 6:30am. 280 miles, RT {@.05/mile= $14.00}. Depending on our time, inclination, and availability of outdoor seating, some may want to stop in Chattanooga for dinner.

  Pre-registration with the leaders is required. Masks are now required for all those participating in carpools, shuttles or key swaps, regardless of vaccination status. You may also choose to drive your own vehicle to the trailhead.

  Leaders: Diane Petrilla, 931-224-5149, petrillad@gmail.com and Amanda Beal, amandaw455@gmail.com

  
  

  
  

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• Off-Trail Hike: The Spire

  • When
    10/16/2021

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  This off-trail adventure is the third annual installment of the ever-popular women-led hikes. This year the girls will lead us to The Spire, a rugged prominence rising sharply from the western end of the ridge that bisects the upper Water Camp Prong watershed just southeast of Anakeesta Knob. From its intercept with US 441, they will have everyone rock-hopping Walker Camp Prong a half mile upstream to the confluence of the stream’s left and right forks where they will direct us up a climb of a knife-edge ridge immediately west of The Spire. From this vantage point, we will be able to survey the vast watershed defined by the state-line divide, the Boulevard, and Anakeesta Ridge as well as the rugged steepness of The Spire. After descending the knife-edge, a hand-over-hand climb through sand myrtle and over exposed slate leads to the summit of The Spire with its exceptional panoramic views. The return may be either a continuation of the climb from The Spire to the AT on the state-line divide or a descent to Walker Camp Prong by way of a recovering landslide scar on the ridge’s north face. The hike is fairly short, but rated difficult in deference to the creek scrambling and strenuous ridge climbing.

  Pre-registration with the leaders is required. Masks are now required for all those participating in carpools, shuttles or key swaps, regardless of vaccination status. You may also choose to drive your own vehicle to the trailhead.

  Contact Cindy McJunkin, mcjfive@aol.com, 828-712-9646 to pre-register and obtain meeting location and time.

  Leaders: Kindel, Kamrin, Kinsey and Cindy

  
  

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• Shuckstack Fire Tower

  • When
    10/16/2021
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • Location
    Fontana Dam Visitors Center, Fontana Dam, NC 28733

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  This classic hike will begin at Fontana Dam. We will follow the AT northbound for 3.5 miles to the Shuckstack fire tower. Climbing the tower is optional, but the views from the top are some of the best in the park. We will return the way we came for a round trip hike of about 8 miles, rated moderate. Meet at 9am at the Fontana Dam visitors center.

  Pre-registration with the leader is required. Masks are now required for all those participating in carpools, shuttles or key swaps, regardless of vaccination status. You may also choose to drive your own vehicle to the trailhead.

  Leaders: Adam and Jack Beal, 865-384-4551, adam.s.beal@gmail.com

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• Wednesday Hike: Lost Creek State Natural Area to Virgin Falls

  • When
    10/20/2021
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • Location
    Lost Creek State Natural Area, Sparta, TN 38583

  Register

  We have hiked to Virgin Falls many times, but this alternate route starts at the western end of the state natural areas that includes Lost Creek Falls, Lost Creek Cave, and Virgin Falls. We will first hike a short distance to see Lost Creek Cave and Falls, then pick up the main trail which passes Rylander Falls and goes onto Virgin Falls. The cave is huge, the several waterfalls we will see are beautiful! 10 miles, Rated Moderate.

  Meet at Lowes in Harriman, 1800 Roane State Hwy at 7:30am or at Lost Creek State Natural area parking at 9am. Drive 150 miles RT {@ 0.05/mile = $7.50}. Leader: Diane Petrilla, petrillad@gmail.com, 931-224-5149.

  Pre-registration is required. Masks are now required for all those participating in carpools, shuttles or key swaps, regardless of vaccination status. You may also choose to drive your own vehicle to the trailhead.

  Preregister with Ron Brandenburg, ronb86@comcast.net or text 865-898-7602 or at smhclub.org.

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• Brushy Mountain

  • When
    10/24/2021
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • Location
    Porters Creek trailhead, Greenbrier, GSMNP

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  Brushy Mountain is a spectacular knob perched on the north slope of Mt LeConte and is a relatively open heath bald with nice views above the thick and brushy azalea, rhododendron and laurel covering. We should also expect some fall colors to add to the scenery.

  The hike begins at the Porters Creek trailhead and we will pass a few historic buildings including the “Hiking Club Cabin” and also a few remnants of older cabins before starting the climb up to Trillium Gap and over to the knob. We may also locate the Fittified Spring along the way. After a lunch break at the top we will return back by the same route.

  Meet at the Porters Creek trailhead at the end of Greenbrier Road at 9:00. Hike 12 miles RT with about 3000ft elevation gain. Rated difficult.

  Pre-registration with the leader is required. Masks are now required for all those participating in carpools, shuttles or key swaps, regardless of vaccination status. You may also choose to drive your own vehicle to the trailhead.

  Leader: Tim Bigelow, bigelowt2@mindspring.com, 865-607-6781

  
  

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• Easy Hike: New Trails at Sharps Ridge Veterans Memorial Park

  • When
    10/24/2021
  •  
    2:00 PM
  • Location
    Independence Trail trailhead, 121 Sharps Ridge Memorial Drive, Knoxville, TN

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  We will be walking some recently completed trails in Sharps Ridge Veterans Memorial Park. These new trails show off some of the best forestland in Knox County with many large trees, and a great diversity of understory plants. Fall colors should be putting on a show with vibrantly colored sourwood, black gum and maple trees. After a short walk down the road, we will start on the south slope with a short downhill on the Sharp Shin and Push Line trails to get to the Lincoln Trail. We will take the new section of the Lincoln trail to the north side of Sharps Ridge where we will connect to the Independence trail that will take us back to our starting point. This part of the hike on the new section of the Lincoln Trail and the Independence trail are entirely uphill. However, since they are adaptive mountain bike trails the grade is very gradual – 200ft elevation gain spread over nearly 3 miles.

  Hike: about 4 miles, rated easy. Meet at the Independence Trail trailhead, 121 Sharps Ridge Memorial Drive (near the West Picnic Shelter), 2:00pm.

  Pre-registration with the leader is required. Masks are now required for all those participating in carpools, shuttles or key swaps, regardless of vaccination status. You may also choose to drive your own vehicle to the trailhead.

  Leader: Mac Post, mpost3116@aol.com, 865-806-0980

  
  

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• Mount Cammerer

  • When
    10/30/2021
  •  
    8:45 AM
  • Location
    Cosby Campground Hiker Parking Area, GSMNP

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  We will hike the Low Gap Trail to the AT, then head northbound to the Mount Cammerer Trail and enjoy lunch at the lookout tower. Return will be via the same route for a total of 10.4 miles. Rated moderate.

  Meet at the Cosby Campground hiker parking lot at 8:45 AM and be ready to hike at 9:00 AM.

  Pre-registration with the leaders is required. Masks are now required for all those participating in carpools, shuttles or key swaps, regardless of vaccination status. You may also choose to drive your own vehicle to the trailhead.

  Leaders: Jeff and Angela Cooper, jeffcooper100@yahoo.com, 865-804-5065

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