Fierry Gizzard or Savage Gulf in Jan any one?

“I hope to goodness Bama wins against Auburn on 11/22 if OPIE and I wind up on 2 consecutive trips together. I'm not sure I can take 6 days of ribbing if we lose.”

“OPIE, I think you still beat me up that hill. It was nasty.”

“as we were goin up, SuperTroll was comin down (for water), and I begged him to tell me that the end was just up ahead...he laughed and said it was...he lied...the end was further up ahead than simply up ahead...

yeah...I wanna get back there and do it better. By Jan, I'll be back in hikin shape...right now, I'm still a bit stiff from Mammoth.”

“Stiff....Mammoth...

I don't want to hear those two words used in connection again, 'K?”

“but, I'm not surprised you would connect two innocent words...LOL.”

“Just keep it on the Mammoth thread...lol...

Hope you were able to sleep on that trip.”

“crazy mike moans?...lol Bitpusher..yea...but you didn't lie down on that coble uphill and think about setting up camp there”

“Nope, but I wandered around the campsite for a good 15 minutes, dazed and looking for a decent place to set up my tent. I was okay after dinner though.”

“MLK weekend might work afterall. Anyone else have strong feelings one way or the other.”

“Works for me...”

“I'm pretty open as far as dates. I'll have to take a day off regardless of which weekend is chosen, (I don't get MLK day) but you need to choose soon so I can reserve the chosen weekend with my Social Secretary (wife).”

“I do get MLK and glad of it!”

“It's sounding like MLK works for most everyone except HPM. It might help more folks to be able to make both trips if it is moved. Someone like chili, for example would have a hard time driving half way across the state to this trip and then the next weekend driving half way across the South to get to Ocala.

I'd hate for me to come in at the last second with a new trip and they decide they'll stay close to home this particular weekend and not make the big drive the next. I don't know if that's a possiblity for anyone, but it looks like it'll help more people if I move it away from HPM's trip. I talked myself into it.”

“That's cool.
Y'all have fun. I'll be on a Cumberland Island hike so it's not like I won't be hiking.

Next time.”

“MLK weekend...that Rocks!!! see ya there.”

“Are yall whining about the little hills at Savage Gulf? I've not seen anything there that was actually tough and I've done every trail in the park.
Fiery Gizzard is easy too. I little rocky in the Gulf but easy.

I'd give a rating of Moderate to both places.”

“Awwww, walkindude, ya old softie... ;-)”

“Actually, I agree with ya with the possible exception of the climb from the Connector Trail to Hobbs Cabin. That's a mite steep, and rocky to boot. It is a short climb, though...




So, you thinking of coming along???”

“I probally can. Is this a 2 or 3 day trip. If it's a 3 day I'll need to put in for Vacation.”

“Did you get my E-mail about Cumberland Island?”

“No. I have protected e-mail. Give me about 5 minutes and resend it.”

“Your e-mails will get through now. It's time for me to go beddy-bye. I'll read it when I wake up this afternoon. Cumberland Island sounds cool...”

“I was thinking in terms of a 3 day trip. FG, the loop you mentioned seemed to be a 3 day one. Is this correct?”

“ya probably don't remember, but that was my 2nd backpack trip with TT, and I was certainly NOT in the greatest trail shape for it. Since that time though...I've gotten my trail/river arse kicked in so many different ways that your probably right, now, it won't be a big deal...but in my mind, I need to go back and put that ghost to bed...all I can remember is that steep nasty rocky climb, where Bit and I struggled to get to the top.

I might not be in the league that you and CMB are, but I'm catchin up fast. See ya there dude.”

“Hey, DH. I did it in 3 days, taking my time. Starting from Stone Door instead of Greeter cuts off 5.5 miles, so it could easily be done in 2 days.”

“I don't have a problem with 3. Heck, it sounds like I could do it in 2 as is, but why hurry. This should be a fun, laid back trip.”

“OK GF, I resent it.”

“I just realized you must be Stikmon with some fuct up helloween name. I didn't recognize ya.”

“You thinking about going on this one WD?”

“It's only about an hour down the road so it's a good chance.”

“Put me in as a definite maybe. Don't know what my schedule will be but we get that holiday off.”

“I found a map online and am not following the route that FB and bit are talking about.

Here's my understanding

Friday: Great Stone Door to Collins West. Camp here Friday night.

Sat: Collins West to Stage Road. Camp at Stage Road Friday.

Sun. Stage Road to Savage Ranger station and shuttle back to Great Stone Door.

Is this correct? What would the mileage be each day and how long would it take to set up shuttles?”

“That is essentially correct, but the actual trails used would be thus:

Friday:
Stone Door to Connector to Collins Gulf, to the Collins West Campground. I think Father Goose said earlier that this is about 7.8 miles.

Saturday:
Collins Gulf trail to Stage Road Trail to Stage Road campground, about 5.5 miles.

Sunday:
Stage Road Trail to Savage Day Loop to Savage Station, about 7.7 miles.

Was that helpful?”

“I would love to do this hike..I'm really trying to adapt to the cold though..The Fiery Gizzard is my favorite...”

“Oops, left out a bit of the Big Creek Gulf trail that's taken between the Stone Door and the Connector Trail.”

“Saturday should be a breeze. On the map it doesn't look far from the start to finish. Any idea how long the shuttles will take?”

“A surprisingly long time, actually. I'd figure at 45min to an hour.”

“Wow, I guess we'll meet Friday morning at Savage, leave a few vehicles and head to Stone Door to start the hike then. Sunset is around 5. Allow maybe 6 hrs to hike and then 1 hr to shuttle and we'd need to meet at 10 at the latest. We should probably meet at 9 instead to allow for late shows, plenty of time to hike, and have some light to set up camp.

It appears from the sunset and sunrise times that this area is in CST. Is that correct?”

“
Friday:

0.9 miles from Stone Door Ranger Station to the Great Stone Door

0.9 miles on the Big Creek Gulf trail to Connector Trail (Connector goes left, BCG continues right)

3.2 miles on Connector Trail to Collins Gulf Trail

3.7 miles on CG to Collins West Camp

Saturday:

6.2 miles on CG to junction of CG, Stagecoach Historic Trail and South Rim Trail.

0.9 miles on South Rim Trail to Stage Road Camp.

Sunday:

4.8 miles on South Rim Trail to Savage Day Loop

1.2 miles on Savage Day Loop to Savage Ranger Station (most direct route, or you could do the whole Savage Loop including Rattlesnake Point, Savage Falls, and part of North Rim which would add another 3 miles.)”

“Yep it's CST.

I may go up Thursday evening and camp either at the Stone Door or Savage Station. Hate getting up early and driving to a hike, I always feel rushed.”

“That puts the mileage at
Fri: 8.7
Sat: 7.1
Sun: 6
Total: 21.8

Almost 9 miles and 6 hrs to do it in shouldn't be a problem. 1.5 mph should allow plenty of time for sight seeing, resting, and general goofing off.”

“longlost hiker has corrected my error for the Sunday hike. We will indeed spend most of the day on the South Rim trail, not the Stage Road trail.”

“I'll double check on the trip planner, but I should be able to leave here at 6 and be there by 9. It's about an hour from Chattanooga, correct?”

“I'd call ahead about campsite reservations. I was there this past weekend and all the campsites were full, I had to dayhike and then divert to Fall Creek Falls to car camp. :-(”

“Is this a reservations only area? Are the campsites similar to the ones in the Smokies, meaning designated campsites only?”

“The Savage Gulf literature notes that "Permits are required for overnight camping and must be obtained at the Savage or Stone Door Ranger Stations."


When I arrived there were signs posted at the trailheads that all campsites were full and no more permits were being issued...and there was not a Ranger to be found at either station. I'd definitely call ahead.

Savage Gulf Ranger Station:
(615) 779-3532
Stone Door Ranger Station:

(615) 692-3887”

“Of course, SG is almost certainly a lot more crowded in October than January”

“This time of the year and in the Summer the campsites fill up quicker.
Lucky for us, most people don't want anything to do with cold weather.
I've never had a problem getting a campsite in the winter.”

“I'm gonna put in for the Vacation time tommorrow for this trip.

Also, Packrat say's he'll be there too.”

“Is this Friday - Sunday
or
Saturday - Monday?

MLK day is on a Monday.”