Smokies Campsite Questions

“in the Smokies? Some friends and I are planning to backpack in from Smokemont up Bradley Fork Trail>Chasteen Creek Trail>Enloe Creek. I remember what CS 50 and 47 are like on the far extremes of the trek, but I have never seen CS 48. My guess is that its a bit more lightly used than the other two and is near enough water. I have questions as to how level it is, and the general condition of the site. You know.. its it level, pretty, heavily used,, yada yada??
Hope someone has stayed there and can recall! Thanks in advance. Thinking of going about the 3rd weekend in Feb.”

“It's a nice site, but it does slope a bit in areas. My favorite area is under the hemlocks (or whatever type tree they are) with a nice soft bed of fallen round ended needles to put your tent on. The water is down to the left, with a nice pool for cooling off in when the weather is warm. Just watch out for the large crawfish. There are other areas down the hillside for tents as well, but many illegal fire rings. When we were last there a volunteer was breaking up several rings in the site. I like the place.”

“We started on Bradley Fork Trail (see map), passed by a small campground (number 50), and quickly decided that all the layers of clothing were too much after all, especially when you are hauling all that equipment with you. After we got more comfortable, we continued along Chasteen Creek Trail. We wanted to start out slowly and had decided to spent the night at campground 48, but we ended up completely passing it by on accident (some of the small campgrounds are not marked visibly). That winding part on the map right before hitting Hughes Ridge Trail was a killer climb, by the way. So when the trail split into two, we knew we went too far, but there was no way we were going to turn around and backtrack what had just taken us around an hour to climb. At first, I suggested to just camp right here and there, but Mario and Svetlana thought it would be better to find a designated campground. So we decided to take Enloe Creek Trail until we would get to campground 47, this time determined not to pass it by.

Turns out that two miles can take a long time with all these obstructions and before we knew it, it was getting dark. In fact, it got so dark, we had to stumble on using our flashlights. By that time, we were getting rather worried that we might have passed by campground 47 as well, but our worries were unfounded, and with a sigh of relief, we finally found a nice, wide-open campsite, right next to Enloe Creek Trail rushing by less than 20 yards away. We had hiked around 7.2 miles that day


That should give you an idea. Hey...let me know if you could use company on your backpacking trips.”

“Mario and Svetlana? Hmmm....”

“hahaha, that's funny!! I got it from here:
http://www.wolfv.com/t_smoky.html”

“danababy - It's a good site. Tell you about it a little later, I have to run an errand first.”

“danababy -

CS#48 is located about 2.3 miles uptrail from CS#50. You should be able to estimate your arrival time within 5-10 minutes. The trail will curve to your right and then complete the shorter part of a inverted "J" sweep back to the left. Then there is a long, staight, rocky stretch as the trail continues uphill at a good incline. At the bottom of the "J" water flows under the trail. At the end of the "J" there is a side trail to the left into the campsite area. This side trail splits. The left part goes down to a level area above the watershed(creek). There is a flat area there with space for 2-4 tents. There should be at least one, if not two fire rings there. Following the other trail split on higher ground, there will be fire rings and a spacious camping area. Most of it has a slope. But at the lower back side there are some level spots near a brushy border. One or two tents will fit there. There was a fire ring nearby and some logs last fall for sitting and eating near the fire. Behind this area is another creek. Either there or back near the main trail at the "J" are two easy spots for getting water. If you continue up through the sloping campground area, you will reach the main trail.

There should be plenty of firewood slightly uptrail on the right. From CS#48 the trail goes up about 1,300 feet in 1.6 miles to the Hughs Ridge Trail.

Enjoy your hike.”

“To Treebait, Gemini, and Nowslimmer! I will let you know how I get along. Gem, I have been wanting to talk to you about a trip to Grandfather Mtn. Would you consider going back? CS 48 sounds like the right combination for me!
My husband and another TT'er are trying to talk me out of a Winter trip. :( I will let ya know how it goes.”

“dana, if you want to go to grandfather let me know. I don't mind going back. I just want to get out. A couple nice campgrounds there, but only a few where you can build a fire. They are pretty stricked up there.”

“we'll plan to hike to the summit if you want? Did you ever make it all the way up? If not.... then all the more reason to go!
I think that would be an awesomely fun trip. I've wanted to go there for a long time and my family isn't all that wild about. They don't care about alot of the things that rock my world. But.... thats life. Gotta hang with kindred spirits.”

“Dana, just let me know when would be a good time for you. Yes, I made it up to the top a couple weeks later I guess. No storm, nice weather and all. (first time ever for me on Grandfather to really have nice weather)

I can tell you that if you want to go during winter season then crampons would be great. I scrambeled up there once during icy conditions without crampons. Fun, if you like to slip and fall. LOL

anyway, I love the top of grandfather, it's really one of my favorite hikes once you pass all the tourists that you'll see the first one or two miles.

Reason why I'll do it over and over. For an overnighter there a bunch of other trails I have never hiked before, like the daniel boone trail.

well, we can talk about it via IM, email or phone.”

“Gemini, I have heard from more than one person that 1) Grandfather Mtn is awesome and 2) Don't ruin for myself the first trip there by going when it is icey and cold. Several folks besides you have said its not real safe and the winds get to whipping up there. Wind I can stand, but the ice is not too keen. I don't have crampons yet. I might be able to borrow some. Lets aim for March?
By then things will be better..... it may still be chilly and somewhat icey but not bad as now. We can work out the details via phone or IM..... whatever. :-) Its gonna be fun!”

“Danababy, March is a total crapshoot for weather around the Smokies. You can get anything.”

“The day I hiked to the top on profile trail I think that was about march or april. Bad move. The snow turned into slush, and I forgot my gaitors.

It's up to you. Just let me know. Grandfather is awesome if you catch if on a nice day. An adventure if you catch on a bad day.

You know me, I am game either way, just yell at me :)”

“I see all the talk about Grandfather and it made me think of Roan. Have yall hiked Roan? It's great. My wife and I hiked there last June. I was pretty neat to camp at Little Hump Mtn and look over about 30 miles of mtns and distinctly see Granfather Mtn towering above the rest.

Roan is continuous balds for the most part. We went in June and timed it for the rhododendron blooms. Perfect!”

“

"Wind I can stand, ..."
danababy

Strong winds can lift you. If you don't have wings with you, they will be issued when you land.”

“I have wings. and a halo. :-)
Didn't you know that?

Jeffers says if you look close you can see teeny bumps of horn emerging below the halo.

What does HE know anyhow?”

“new reservation system for campsites with extra info

copied from Whiteblaze.net:

From AP report:

GATLINBURG, Tenn. - Camping reservations for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and many other federally managed recreation areas are going online.
The new national recreation reservation system, which was scheduled to start Feb. 7, offers visitors a chance to book not just dates but specific campsites up to six months in advance.
Reservations can be made round the clock at http://www.Recreation.Gov and from 10 a.m.-midnight Eastern by phone toll-free at 877-444-6777.
The Web site also will offer maps and photos of the campgrounds, information on the amenities in the campgrounds and tips on nearby attractions.
"The feature most campers will probably like best is that they will be able to select a specific campsite rather than just choosing a date and having a site assigned to them upon arrival," said Smokies Assistant Superintendent Kevin FitzGerald.
DisplayAds ('Middle');
"Up to 80 percent of our visitors have been here before and often have a favorite site or campground loop that is 'home' to them," he said.
"The change will also allow those who like to camp with other friends or extended family groups to book sites right next to each other if they plan ahead and book early."
Cades Cove, Elkmont and Smokemont campgrounds offer individual sites under a reservation system from May 15-Oct. 31 each year. The park also has group campsites and picnic pavilions at seven locations.”

“Sweet. I have favorite campsites for sure. Thanks for posting.”

“Thanks for your post. It sounds like they may be improving things. The old reservation system has existed for years. They, also, started a limited reservation system at Cosby two or three years ago.”

“Do they still force you to subscribe to Backpacker mag when you use this service?”

“YIKES!!!!”

“i wonder if you can use this for the back country sites that are reservable or just the campground sites”

“this is how it works in Cali, you'll love it! some websites even have pis.”

“looks like it doesn't include the backcountry sites. thank goodness!”