Piny Rier Trip Report

“The trip started late -as usual with my crew. We had 7 committed to go 3 ended up going.
The players-
Josh Man
Noodles
Chris
The Scene-
Bowater Pocket Wilderness near Spring City ,Tennessee
We were to start out from Smyrna at 7:00am lost almost two hours to delay with kid getting to school or daycare- flash flooding had closed the schools and last minute details held us up-
Anyway we hit the road for almost a 2 1/2 hour ride to the trail head that was as good as could be expected.
Parked 1 vehicle at Piney River Picnic area off Shut In Gap Road and another a Newby Branch Forest Camp also off Shut IN about 5 1/2 miles up the road. The area is very heavily forested by the Bowater Lumber Company-from the bottom of the hill-we passed a moonscape of clear cut.
Atthe second park area-which is not marked well by the way-we started to walk. The weather was perfect-about 40 degrees no wind and clear high skies without a cloud.
About a mile into the hike we had to cross a road & bridge-the bridge was under 12 or so inches of water-no biggie but cost us some more time.
Made our way down the path about 3 more miles and decided to camp at a place called Big Cove-as the light had started to fade.
Had a big fire and slept under the stars.
We packed up Saturday morning and walked a BIG 1 MILE-to the site we had planned on-
The site is wonderful and right on the Piney-
campers have set the fire ring up to resemble Stonhenge a ring of rock chairs with backs.
Camp was set again and we had another great night-
It was colder here-but only about 30 at the lowest.
We cooked in the rack-had an easy morning-packed again and headed for the trail-
This portion of the trail has the good stuff-
Oh we are sill only 5 or so miles in-
lots of bridges and cascades the river in usually about 40 feet wide-
This weekend it was closer to 60'-
We saw 3 kayakers on the water.
The highlight is the 100' suspension bridge. It is amazing and must be seen. There is another campsite here and a wonderful swimming hole in the summer.
Okay-we are 4.2 miles from the truck at this point-
elevation change is only 700' but most of it comes in the next 2 miles-mixed hardwoods abound-this is also the wetter side of the trail.Lots of overhangs-the trails has lots of loose stones and has some area that have step sides and narrow trails
It was a bit slick and wet but there was only one "hairy spot" a big boulder crossing about 2.5 mile from the east sde of the trail.
I would not even try in the dark or if it was icy- the bottom of the hill is several hundred feet down a 45 degree hill-
From thereit was a breeze-
This is my favorite trail-in spring
wid flowers abound .
I would be wary of snakes in warmer weather.
The person I respect more as a hiker than anyone I know came in for a day hike-He will spend as many 30 weekends a year in or around the GSMNP-he proclaimed it
"a damn pretty spot"
He and the Mrs. an a friend walked the the whole trail in a day.
Well-
got to get the kids to bed -
they liked the rocks I brought them-”

“Sounds like Fun times! I camped at Big Cove once. It is a beautiful spot. I gotta get back out there. It's been a few years since I've been out there. Did Mac go with ya?”

“Yeah-That is Noodles-
we had not been back in about years-Hiwassee has marked the trail real well-there are several more "campsites" one at Big Bridge that looks sweet too.
The Forest campsite is where we stayed with the chairs-
probaly room for people around the fire.
There are 3-4 more fire rings close to the big one.”

“I am sorry I could not have joined ya, JoshMan -- but we talked on the phone.. you know my reasons.

Maybe next time, k?”

“I never have been back on that trail where the actual campsites are. Is that the "Forest Camp"?”

“WD-
The older map shows a campsite on a spur trail near the Forest Camp-this one is about a mile from Big Cove.We stumble on it years ago before everything was marked.From the big bridge side-the loop is on your left and goes down toward the river.You can't miss it.
Anytime Town Dawg-”