Fiery Gizzard March 21-23

“Sorry. As I said I wasn't sure as to what I info needed to supply. As of this moment we will meet @ 7:00 AM in the North Lake Shopping Plaza Kroger . The Trip is a two nighter starting @ the Grundy Forest Day loop & ending @ the same. Routes to be determined by the folks on the trip. I reckon we could start there, Camp @ Ravens Point, hike to Foster Falls where we camp again. From there we do the kick in the pants hike back to the Grundy loop trailhead on day 2.
Feel free to call or email me: Brian Jackson @ Briangiej@comcast.net or 615.874.9684
Ciao,
Brian (Currahee)”

“Everyone please post to THIS thread about the trip, it IS linked to the trip page.

Sounds like you guys will meet in Nashville @ 7 AM and drive down to Fiery Gizzard Friday morning, camp Fri. and Sat. nights and come out Sun.

What time do you intend to be at the trailhead Friday? If bitpusher or I come, we will not meet you in Nashville. ;)
I will be coming from the south (If I make it, may be on a private trip with my nephews).
What do you call a "kick in the pants" hike?”

“Arrive @ the Grundy Day loop around 9:15-9:30. The kick in the pants hike is the 13 miles out, half of which consists of loose slippery rocks thru the gorge at least it is for me. Feel free to email or call me for more info that I should post. Hope to see you there,
Brian”

“Yes that would be silly for us to meet them in Nashville. SS, stop in Huntsville on the way up, that way only one of us has to drive from there.

Lessee, I know I have a Fiery Gizzard map around here somewhere...ah, there it is!

<rustle rustle>
OK, first day to Raven Pt., 4.5 miles, okay.

Next Day, Raven Pt. to Foster Falls, about 8 miles, okay.

Last Day, about 12 miles back the way we came. Could make for a long day, but WTF.”

“We could take all top trails on the way out, except for the very last. Might make the last day easier.”

“That it would.”

“that last gorge (Laurel Gorge) on the way to Small Wilds campsite is a butt kicker. It is 2/10th miles down into the gorge and only 1/10th back out of the gorge but that 1/10th of a mile is at a 70°-75° angle.

The only thing about staying at Ravens Point is that you can't have a fire there.”

“Why not just set up a shuttle and make it a two day trip?
You gotta drag your feet quite a bit to not walk the full length in one day.”

“good idea walkindude...

i definately would like to camp some place where we can have a fire”

“Yeah, Laurel Gorge is damn near hand over hand, but it's a short trek. Last time I was there, we did it just before it was completely dark. Not fun. That's the last time I take a newbie who 'knows what she's doing', LOL.”

“Hey FG, glad to see your going on the RRG trip.

Are you talking about the trip that we wee both on last yr when some of the folks barely got out while it was dark.

walkindude, a shuttle would work best. Hike to Small Wilds and then have a short hike out the next day.”

“Yeah, Ewker, that's the one. I got roped into taking that girl who was supposed to be in 'good shape', lol. Mother Goose and I practically had to drag her down the trail. Might have had something to do with the fact that she was suckin' on a cigarette every other breath.”

“i definately would like to camp some place where we can have a fiery gizzard"
bbinkley
10:38:19 PM
03/03/03

watch for the gizzard stones
they explode in the fiery heaty”

“I would prefer a fairly short day Sunday, as I have a 9 hour drive home.
I need to be out of the woods by 12 or 1.
A shuttle sounds great.
In general, I don't like backtracking.”

“Hey SS, we can work out a shuttle if need be. I'm not a big fan of backtracking either.”

“i think we'll shuttle then”

“FG, I know you had fun trying to get her up that gorge. Did you get behind her and push....lol”

“What campsites do you all want to use? While Ravens Point has great views, there are no fires allowed as Ewker pointed out. Small Wilds & ??”

“currahee, give me a call I just sent you an email with my work number”

“We could do Raven Pt. first night and Small Wilds second night, hike out to Foster Falls and shuttle from there.

Or we could go all the way to Small Wilds the first day, then to Father Adamz the second day, and have some "car-camping" style fun the last night, then shuttle on Sunday.”

“I still a maybe, so don't tailor the trip for me.
I promised my best hiking buddies (3 of my nephews) a trip on one of the Spring Break weekends. I need to see what weekend they can hike.”

“Hey, I'm not looking forward to 13 miles on the last day myself.”

“A nights worth of car camping fun sounds good to me. i haven't done that in a long time and I know Mrs. Currahee doesn't care to hike 13 miles on her last day (she's still tentative).”

“Since we are shuttling, do you all want to make this a Sat-Sun overnighter? It may make it easier for more people to come if they don't have to try and schedule off for that Friday. Bitpusher & Stovestomper, would it still be worth it for you to drive that far?”

“I'm going to camp there friday night. If I'm going to drive out there, i'm going to camp more than 1 night. If everyone else wants to meet on saturday morning or late friday night, that's fine by me. either way, I'll be there on friday night.”

“Binks, you know the area don't you?
Is there a easy camp to get to Friday night at night?
Maybe backpack Sat. and camp backcountry Sat. night, with 4 or 5 miles Sun morning?
I don't know anything about the area and haven't found a map on the net yet.”

“It's no problem for me, it's only a couple of hours away. That sounds fine.”

“If go you in on the Foster Falls side you can camp at Small Wilds Friday night then hike to Ravens Point for Sat night then a 4-5 mile hike out Sun. morning. Small Wilds campsite is approx 2.2 miles from the trailhead at foster falls.
Also Father Adamz campsite is close by Foster Falls.

If you go in on the Grundy forest side there is a CCC campsite for Friday night (it is on the day loop), then hike to Small Wilds for Sat night then the short hike out and shuttle for Sun.

Looks like I can't come down till Sat morning so I could meet you guys at the trailhead on the Grundy Forest side or at Small Wilds Campsite from the Foster Falls side.


Stovestomper, email me you snail mail address and I will send you a map. I think I have extras, won't know till I get home tonight.”

“You have mail.”

“Have to work that weekend, but I may be able to make it down to meet ya'll and possibly provide shuttle service. Will send latest pics (last year) of Grundy Day loop. Dog Hole mine is as far as I have hiked, but wuold love to make this hike sometime. Don't have any more maps, but you can pick up some at the So. Cumberland State Park headquarters on your way to the trailhead. Last time we went there a ranger was on the trail because of some yellow jackets around a downed pine near Firey Gizzard Creek just below the CCC campsite. If you hike the trail to the left from the trailhead (like I usually do) and go under the rockhouse and by the giant hemlock you will avoid the nest of yellow jackets. They shouldn't be too bad this time of year anyway. Good luck and happy hiking!”

“Father Adams campsite is over at Foster Falls side. Just about 1/2 mile walk in. Plenty of firewood at sites 7 and 8.”

“I have a map for Fiery Gizzard and one for Savage Gulf that will go out in the mail tomorrow.”

“I figure I'll put down as a maybe since it's only an hour away. I may show up Saturday night.
Besides, It's worth going just to hit the Pizza Hut at Monteagle afterwards. Can't break tradition.”

“Perhaps I can offend some church lady again...”

“Perhaps I can offend some church lady again..."
bitpusher
08:11:16 AM
03/05/03

are you going to tell us how”

“lol...Ewker you were there! Remember, at the Pizza Hut after the September Sipsey trip?”

“I was thinking you meant the Pizza Hut in Monteagle.

Yeah I do remember how the place emptied after we all sat down. That lady almost died trying to eat while the smell of us overtook the place...lol”

“Looks like I'm a go for this trip. My stinking nephews are "otherwise occupied" that weekend. ;)”

“Woohoo! Let's hear it for "stinking nephews"!”

“Yea, and after I called them "my best hiking buddies". Ha Ha”

“It's so sad when they grow up and want to chase tail instead of going backpacking...”

“18, 17, & 16. ALL their thinking is done with the wrong head. ;)”

“LIKE YOURS ISN"T. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO REFER TO SEVERAL OF YOUR POSTS?”

“Now Binks, only SOME on my thinking is with the wrong head.
I DO go backpacking ever now and then instead of chaseing women.”

“Hey, but isn't it great when you can do both simultaneously?”

“Nothin like a grubby grubbin to offend the locals, I like.”

“Hey everyone-
What would you guys think about having someone tag along? I am new to this forum, but I've been to the Gizzard several times. I need a new hiking partner, and I thought it would be kinda nice to meet up with some like minded individuals from the area (my home is in Chattanooga, but I'm in school at Auburn- that week is Spring Break). Lemme know what you think.
Thanks”

“Sure, but don't be a stranger here. Post a few more times on threads that interest you, and get a feel for the board and the people on it.”

“As long as you don't act like that guy from "Happy Days" and you aren't under 18.”

“I act nothing like the guy from Happy Days, and I'll be 22 in a couple of weeks.
Thanks again.”