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Let's
go hiking!
WALTER
STATE
THE GREAT SMOKY
MOUNTAINS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Spring 2003
HIKING SCHEDULE BELOW
Walter State Community
College Hiking Schedule WSCC Outdoor Club is open to both
community members and students. The group is always mixed with
hikers from 9 to 70 years old -
- 71 different people have come so far this year !
There is no fee or requirements. Everyone is responsible to
bring their own food and drink; and provide for their own
transportation - we car pool when convenient and hike together for
safety. Enjoy our Great Smoky Mountains. We depart promptly
at 8 AM from Ingles on West
A.J. Highway, so it is best to be there before 8 AM. If you miss
us drive to the trailhead and meet us. We return between 2 and 4
PM depending upon the length of the hikes. We may depart at 9 AM
if the hike is a short one such as Big Creek. For persons living
in nearby counties, we stop at locations on the way to the
mountains and at trail heads. Call Gary Acquaviva at 585-6949 for
changes (sometimes we change our destination) and cancellations
due to inclement weather. Or, call if you want us to meet you.
Bring a friend, a camera and rain gear. Warning!! Yellow jackets
stir up easily. Do not poke your hiking sticks in small holes in
the ground or hit hollow logs. Once hikers were attacked and stung
several times.
To check the weather in the
GSMNP go to: NOAA
Weather
Spring Hiking 2003
Spring Hikes Below are the Trails Being Considered
April 13th Porters Flats and beyond.
This trail should show signs of spring wildflowers. We’ll
hike past Fern Creek Falls to the campground at Porters Flats and
the adventurous can continue on the lesser known trail up along
the creek, providing the water is low.
April 20th
Old Settlers Trail – West From Greenbrier to Copeland
Creek Trail
This is a moderate hike due to
the Copeland Creek Section where some climbing over fallen trees
will be required. Individuals may choose to hike different
distances. There are several ways we can do this hike to allow
some to hike more and some less.
There are several places to leaves cars on highways. We can
begin at Greenbrier and hike along the Little River trail to OST
and then go down Copeland Creek. For details on Old Settlers Trail
go to http://www.gsmnp.com/pages/oldsettlers.html
. This is an easy to
moderate hike
April
27th Grapeyard Ridge Trail via Injun Creek Trail
This
is an easy hike with several creek crossings along Grapeyard Ridge
Trail. We will hike to one old cemetery along the way and continue
on until lunch time, eat and then return. Weather permitting this
should be a casual hike.
May
3rd Treemont Sam's
Creek:
This hike is
in the quiet region of the Great Smoky Mountains. This is an
adventurous hike up an old trail. Our destination is wilderness.
The adventurous may try to reach Derricks Knob Shelter on the AT.
Others may return the same day. Total distance 8 miles. Moderate
May
10th Old Settlers Trail – East from Albright Grove to
Mc Carters Old Barn
This trail is
one of the most interesting in the GSMNP. It climbs up and down
valleys where early settlers once lived.
The remains of their home sites, McCarter’s barn,
cemeteries and stonewalls will be seen. For details you may go to http://www.rodsguide.com/oldsettlers.html
I have a lengthy trail description and photographs on this site.
There are several choices for this hike. Some may hike 5, 8
or 10 or more miles. Easy
to moderate
May17th
Mt Cammerer Lookout: Spectacular view – don’t forget your
camera!
The
spring wildflowers should be coming out and a trip to the top of
Mt. Cammerer at 5000’ is timely and it offers spectacular views
of the eastern Smoky Mountains. Bring your camera! It is 2.5 miles
up to Low Gap and then another 2.5 on the Appalachian Trail -
along the ridges to the Lookout. There we will rest and have
lunch. Strenuous but worth
it even if you only do it once. For a map and more details see
http://www.rodsguide.com/ then go to hiking and then Mt. Cammerer trail.
May
24thst Abrams Falls (from the trail less traveled)
This is the
most visited waterfall in the GSMNP during the tourist season. So, we will do it from the trail less traveled.
We will hike in on the western trail, from Abrams Creek
Ranger Station. The
trail is less rocky than most and it parallels the creek, which is
forty fee wide and wider at some points.
Last year we stopped to swim at Little Bottoms Campground.
If the weather is warm bring something to swim along. Long,
but easy.
May 31st
Ramsey Cascades Waterfalls:
This is one of
the most visited waterfalls in the GSMNP and it is best we see it
before the tourists arrive. Often
in the summer months over 100 hikers will visit this trail each
Saturday and Sunday. It
is two hours walk up to the falls, where we will stop, relax, take
photographs and eat lunch. The
walk back down is about 1.5 hours, or 8 miles round trip. But well
worth the effort. Strenuous.
*********************THIS
ENDS SPRING 2003 Schedule *******************
Grotto Falls
Departure time 8 AM
This is an easy
to moderate 3.5 miles from Cherokee Orchard Road to Grotto Falls.
It begins on Cherokee Orchard Road, behind the Park Vista Hotel in
Gatlinburg. Some may choose to hike down past Baskin Creek Falls
to Roaring Fork Creek Road and hike on the road back to the cars.
The road is closed to traffic and very beautiful when snow covers
the earth. This second hike is about 5.7 miles total. Bring
a camera!
Alum
Cave Bluff and/or Mt. Le Conte Departure time 8 AM
Last year
5 brave persons hiked up to Le Conte, while clinging to hand rails
on the icy trail. But, the experience is worth it! Fortune favored
us as a trail angle named Ronnie on top, after eating lunch, and
he invited us to hike down Bull Head trail to his truck and take
our drivers back to their cars at the Alum Cave parking lot. So,
we chose not to hike down the icy trail. If hiking this trail in
the winter, I suggest taking crampons and hiking sticks to help
walking over ice. We need two cars so we can do what we did last
year. Bring a camera!
Baskins
Creek Falls Departure time 8 AM
Baskins
Creek Falls is a derivation of Bear Skins “Bar skins” to
Baskins. The hike began with fine small dry snow falling. Water
was gushing over Baskin Creek Falls and as we hiked to Roaring
Fork Creek Road the snow continued. We ate lunch in a log cabin
next to the road and then hiked up the road as the snow increased
- it was a beautiful hike along the road with hemlock boughs
covered with snow. We got back to the car at 1:30.
Cataloochee Divide Trail 9AM
Last March 10th 11 people went on this easy hike It was a
beautiful blue North Carolina Sky. It is about an hour and twenty
minutes to the trailhead that is not far from Maggie Valley. This
is an easy boundary trail that offers some great views into the
Cataloochee Valley and to North Carolina. Some may choose to hike
Asbury Trail from Mt. Sterling Gap down to Cataloochee. We will
hike until noon, eat lunch, relax and return. Feel free to hike at
your own pace. Last year I got behind the group, had a peaceful
hike and ate lunch alone in a field with a panoramic view of the
North Carolina mountains.
Spring Break Camping Trip to Joyce Kilmer – The Oldest
Forest in the Eastern USA. This trip depends on the weather.
The drive to Joyce Kilmer Forest is
unforgettable. If you cannot come on these dates get directions
and go another time. There is something for everyone. The choices
are (1) Come & see the old forest and drive back the same day
(2) Do #1 and camp at Horse Cove Campground Thursday night:
(3) Do #1 and day hike up Hangover
Mt. Friday; or, (3) Backpack up to Hangover Mt. to camp
overnight and return early Sunday.
We will leave around 1 PM Thursday and go to Horse Cove
Campground about 4:00 and select campsites, and then we will drive
to Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and hike a mile around the oldest
trees. Then we
will start our campfire and relax.
Friday morning those persons hiking up will drive around to
Big Fat Gap to start the 2.5 miles hike up the mountain. Moderate
to difficult without a pack, backpackers expect to take 2.5 – 3
hours to climb the mountain.
Big
Creek: Easy Get Acquainted Hike:
Big Creek is
off I-40 at the Waterville Exit. For a map and a few pictures I
took see: Http://www.rodsguide.com/big_creek.html
The hike begins at the parking area near at the end of the gravel
road. A foot trail begins behind the restrooms for the campground
and leads up to the old road. We will hike to Mouse Creek Falls,
Block House Rock, and Midnight Hole swimming pool for lunch and
for those who wish to swim. Easy
Sand
Cave and White Rocks
An easy hike
to a large cave opening in the Cumberland Mt. State Park and the
White Rocks offer a spectacular view. Easy.
Mt
Cammerer Lookout: Spectacular view – don’t forget your camera!
The autumn
colors should be coming out and a trip to the top of Mt. Cammerer
at 5000’ is timely and it offers spectacular views of the
eastern Smoky Mountains. Bring your camera! It is 2.5 miles up to
Low Gap and then another 2.5 on the Appalachian Trail - along the
ridges to the Lookout. There we will rest and have lunch. Strenuous
but worth it even if you only do it once. For a map and more
details see http://www.rodsguide.com/
then go to hiking and then
Mt. Cammerer.
The
Oldest Forest Eastern USA
The drive to
Joyce Kilmer Forest is often spectacular with autumn colors. If
you cannot come on these dates get directions and go another time.
There is something for everyone. The choices are (1) Come &
see the old forest and car camp Friday night:
(2) Do #1 and day hike up Hangover
Mt. Saturday - or meet us Saturday - and return; or, (3) Do
#1 and #2 and backpack up to Hangover Mt. to camp overnight and
return Sunday. We
will leave between 1:30 or 2:00 in the afternoon and go to Horse
Cove Campground about 4:00 and select campsites, and then we will
drive to Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and hike a mile around the
oldest trees. Then
we will start our campfire and relax.
Saturday morning those persons hiking up will drive around
to Big Fat Gap to start the 2.5 miles hike up the mountain. Easy
to moderate
Roan
Mountain Appalachian Trail
Relax on this
trail as it climbs over grassy balds unobstructed by trees and
enjoy the panoramic views from above 6000’. We will hike at an
easy pace and find a spot for lunch with a fantastic view. Bring a
camera.
Easy to Moderate.
Porters Flats in the Greenbrier Region of the GSMNP
This trail begins at the end of the road
in Greenbrier. It follows an old roadbed until it crosses the
creek on a log bridge where it becomes a foot trail. It continues
past Fern Creek falls until it reaches campsite number 31 after
3.7 miles. This may be a turning around point for some. The
adventurous may continue on an unmarked trail into the wilderness.
Moderate
We will
reserve this date for a makeup of any hikes that were rained out.
********************************************************************************************
END FALL SCHEDULE BUT THERE WILL BE HIKES
DURING DECEMBER KEEP IN TOUCH.
*********************************************************************************************
Hiking in
a winter wonderland is a beautiful experience and one well worth
photographing. One goal this winter is to get a few beautiful
photographs of frozen, ice covered waterfalls. But, caution must
be taken when the road conditions worsen. The schedule may change
if we get a heavy snow. If your schedule will not allow you to
hike as long as we plan, please feel free to come along and hike
as far as you like. We will do several day hikes during the winter
months, so please keep in touch. Call 585-6949 for updates.
We will also hike those trails near Gatlinburg that we avoid
during the busy tourist season. Dress warm; bring extra clothing
and extra socks. A camera is a must for the winter scenery is
often spectacular. These will not be long hikes and they should be
interesting, so keep in touch and call 585-6949. For details on
Old Settlers Trail go to http://www.gsmnp.com/ and
click on hikes. This is an easy to moderate hike.
Big Creek
Midnight Swimming Hole
This is an easy
hike and less than 2 miles to Midnight Swimming Hole. Bring a
suit. We can also visit Block House Rock and Mouse Creek Falls
along the way. For details on the first half of Big Creek go to http://www.rodsguide.com/
and click
on hikes.
Sand Cave
Cumberland
Mountain State Park, Kentucky. This is easy, interesting hike and
not too long. It is an opening that goes back several hundred
yards with different colored sand in it.
Ramsay Cascades
Waterfalls
This is one of the
most photographed waterfalls in the park and it is a pleasant
4-mile hike through varied forest. The trail will pass three tall
tulip poplar trees over 400 years old. Again we should get to the
waterfall in time to sit, relax and eat lunch.
Roan Mountain
North Carolina
Hiking the
Appalachian Trail east from Roan Mountain offers unobstructed,
panoramic views in all directions as the trail goes through grassy
balds above 6000 feet. Also, the rhododendron may be in bloom, so
bring your cameras. This is a great trail to have a picnic on and
simply enjoy the views. Remember to bring your sunscreen on this
trip.
Mt Cammerer
Lookout
In the autumn the
colors are fantastic, in the spring wild flowers abound, in the
winter the hike to the top of Mt Cammerer offers spectacular views
of the eastern Smoky Mountains. Bring your camera to Mr. Cammerer.
It is 2.5 miles up to Low Gap and then another 2.5 miles on the
Appalachian Trail along the ridges to the lookout, where hikers
will rest and have lunch. The hike is a strenuous one. For a map
and more details, visit on-line at http://www.rodsguide.com/mt_cammerer.html
November
Alum Cave Bluff
Trail to Mt LeConte
This is a very
interesting hike. Last winter the group hiked in the snow and ice
to the top. But, at this time of year the views should be
spectacular.
Cold Mountain
North Carolina:
This is a
new trail for the group. This is a 5.2 mile hike to the top, with
a 2,700 foot elevation gain. We may hike up from state road 276 to
Shining Rock, then continue along Shining Rock Ledge through The
Narrows to Deep Gap and on up to Cold Mountain. Hikers be
prepared.
*****
Abrams Falls
This
is the most visited waterfall in the GSMNP during the tourist
season. So, we will hike the trail less traveled. We
will hike in on the western trail, from Abrams Creek Ranger
Station. The trail is less rocky than most. It parallels the
creek, which is very wide at some points. Last year we
stopped to swim near Little Bottoms Campground. So, if the
weather is warm bring shorts or a suit along to cool off in the
mountain waters. Departure 8 AM: Long, but easy.
http://www.gsmnp.com/
Mt Sterling
The autumn colors should be
coming out and a trip to the top of Mt. Sterling is timely. It is
a short 2.5 mile hike to the fire tower on top. Bring a camera! We
may leave at 9 AM. Moderate. n.
Mt Sterling
This trail was
ablaze with blooming rhododendron and mountain laurel last spring.
It is steep but short ? only 2.5 miles. We usually reach the fire
tower before noon, rest there and eat lunch. Depending on the
group we may return the same way or hike down Baxter Creek trail
to Big Creek campground.
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