Big Creek/Walnut Bottoms Trip Report

“In my opinion this was a great trip.I met Miss Opie on Friday after she got off work and we were Smokey bound.We arrive at Big Creek campsite where Opie had reserved a site for us.Miss Opie and I wandered in the dark and finally found Opie fast asleep in his tent.NO WELCOME!! hmmmm.. NO FIRE!! hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Just kidding Opie.. ; ) We talked awhile and ate Kentucky Fried Chicken..yum..Then went to sleep to the rushing sound of the Big Creek.
We arose early for a long hard hike ahead.Found a hammock full of ductape and a tent with his friend Kenny at the site next to us..A pleasant surprise I must say.
We hiked together most of the day warming up quickly on the Chestnut Branch Trail.We then was on the Applachian Trail where we saw many through hikers.Not MileMonster and Double Nickles though. :( They were already gone through the Smokies by Sat.We went up to Mt.Cammerer and saw the great tower with a 380 degree view and soaring hawk in the wind.This is where I ate lunch.This is what makes backpacking a must for me.This was a 2500 feet elevation gain in about 4 miles. "OUCH!!"
Ductape and Kenny went to their destination and we started a descent to Walnut Bottoms.Total miles 10-11.
At Walnut Bottoms we had a "campfire" kinda and enjoyed talking about gear,trips and OTHER things. : )
Again went to sleep to the sound of the rushing creek.
Sunday arose early and hiked 5 miles to Big Creek campground and went to Mountain Moma's for lunch..Yes she does know you bonecrusher aka nowslimmer aka Paul..lol..Some Thru-hikers in there had read in the shelter journals about MM and DN..They said they were moving on..GO MM and DN..woohoo!!

Great company!!
Great weather!!
Great hike!!!

It don't get better than this..

Maybe Opie will have pics later..”

“walnut bottoms is a really nice site. sounds like a good little trip! Thanks for sharing.”

“Wonderful trip report. Glad that everything went great.

BTW, I estimate your altitude gain around 3,400 feet in about 5.3 miles, along your route from Big Creek to the observation tower. You did great. (I slept there one night. The sunset and sunrise were gorgeous.)

Thanks for mentioning me at Mtn. Mama's. I have known them since they first moved there. We have become good friends.
Paul”

“Woot Woot!!

Sounds like a great weekend!”

“i didn't try to figure out how far up i walked but i know we walked up for a long time.
kenny's mad at me for putting him through it. i always forget that kind of hike's not fun for people who don't like punishment. he's pretty sore today, and was gripin about it the whole way home. i was feelin pretty good though, and just to rub it in i went to the gym for a workout after we got home. now he's really upset.”

“i had a wonderful time, it was a great trip! it was a definate workout but the scenery made it all worthwhile! i'll upload my pictures tomorrow night, my legs and feet are feeling some pain and i'm going to bed!”

“hmm wish i cold have made that trip but i had to visit sick relatives among other things so...sounds like it was nice let me know when someone is going out for a weekender in the south again...”

“Thanks guys.I hurt too Miss Opie but I'm like you it's worth it.

Nowslimmer I didn't know you were allowed to sleep at the tower.That would be great.”

“I was carrying a full winter pack for 27 days of backpacking. Trail maintenance people assured me that at that time of the year and for certain reasons, no rangers or other park personel would be up there checking. One of them stayed with me overnight. The following appears near of the end of the second paragraph in the linked report.

As I neared the side trail to the Mt. Cammerer Fire Lookout Tower, ... in my tired condition.

”

“What the? Kentucky Fried Chicken???? On a backpacking trip? Or was this car camping?”

“Hey guys! great trip!...was wonderful to hit the trail after a long week at work. The temps were awesome...slightly kool at night and warm and sunny during the day with a nice cool breeze. The birds were in full chorus, and the flowers and buds coming out...this was trip to welcome spring in with. Thanks TG for bringing the missuz in, and awesome to get a call from TT's number one popin....ductape and his buddy kenny (aka henry rollins)
The hike up was massive...not too bad..but steady...not too many switches..couple of neat rock walkways and the views were great. Kept thinking that this firetower everyone was talking about was invisible...or that they were looney. Turns out mt cammerer is a fire "lookout". Difference being it was a small squat 2 story stone hexagon turret. not the 6 story towers i was use to.
Once in the gap the trip was all
downhill to Walnut bottom and Big Creek was roaring!!
Then Trekkingirl proceeded to parade us around all the diff campsites to show everyone else all our neat gear *grin* and then back them again....and....again. HAHA

Used Currahee's tarptent last night and it was super light...but having just borrowed it..never seen it put up, or seen any instuctions, and not wanting to F-up your former army ranger buddy's sweet gear....i proceeded to tackle the task at hand....like a monkey trying to screw a football. once i figured it out it was a snap, and will be in the future...the 4 stakes confused the hell out of me at first...it's a rock solid tent...tons of room, but slicker than owl snot with a thermarest.

Had a bit of dinner, shared drinks and laughed at the other campers, around our valiant but small fire that tried it's hardest with the meager wood. Met with fellow Alabamians...and watched TG buy their hugs with russia's best.

Slept soundly and then headed back to the truck along the beautiful BIG CREEK.
Went off to mtn Moma's...was a neat place, but was expecting more than a cigarette warehouse store, i heard the burgers make up for it.
After my slowgo saturday morning...i was ripping late saturday and sunday...i feel another good 20 in me...time to see what's up next weekend!!!!”

“matt..can this get changed to a TRIPS, EAST COAST or PLACES icon..i think i'm about to ignore general soon also...that stupid thread of the nightcrawlers keeps getting bumped”

“cool trip report guys, thanks!”

“Lotta interesting info Nowslimmer.

We did stay near the car the first night Dub.

Opie great addition to the report..me buy hugs?? Well I never. : )”

“Good report, OPIE. Thanks.”

“Dub - I don't think it was car camping, but I do think the foodfest that was Sipsey has spoiled her for good food. OPIE - some of Russia's finest huh?

Sounds like a good place to checkout. Thanks for the report.”

“Glad yall had fun. i still haven't had my first trip of the season. Hopefully next week I'll finally be able to do the deed. Maybe Springer Mt. or someting down that way.”

“Sounds like a great trip you guys had. I'm sorry I wasn't there but I think Trekkin Girl KNEW I wasn't going because of the way you went. Going up that damn trail is a killer!!!! Now if you had gone in the reverse, I would have been there. Looking forward to the pics....”

“Dodder we went up Chestnut Branch and the AT to Walnut Bottoms not Baxter Creek (that the really tough trail..)The other was tough enough I assure you..We came out on Big Creek.It wasn't the same without you though..You are and remain the Dodder. ;)

Dayhiker the chicken wasn't as good as the bear gumbo and apple cobbler..Russia's finest aka crystal hard..lol
Yeah you guys spoiled me for sure.
Do it again,ok!

Currahee..wish you and kabinkamper could have made it.Better get out soon..time's a wasting..”

“glad you all had a good time. Did anyone take any pics.

trekkngirl, there is no one of here by the name of kabinkamper”

“We are going to have a different trip on the same weekend. It's on the trips page. This one will be a little more mobile than we were on Thur and Fri, but no mileage like on Sat.”

“Ewker be nice now..

Cool dayhiker I'll check it out.”

“Great trip reports!
Dang! Opie had two of the finest TT ladies all to hisself? ;-)

Sounds like like y'all had a good time. The views from that 'tower' are great!

View of Mt. Cammerer fire lookout from approach trail.
Mt. Cammerer fire lookout”

“Thank you Stovie..thanks also for the pictures..Isn't that an amazing tower?”

“That tower is something. I need to get back to it.

I wouldn't sleep in it. Lightning strikes that Mt top a lot.
When I was there, you could go inside. There was roach poop all over the place. I ain't sleeping with thousands of roaches! ;-)”

“trekkngirl, I am being nice. There is NO ONE on TT that goes by kabinkamper. Now there was this one female named spewgirl who earned her name ;) You do remember that don't you!!”

“Sounds like a great trip!! Wish I could have joined you...got stuck working Sunday, thou. :-(”

“Ewker, Ewker, Ewker...”

“Some good pictures there. Thanks.”

“Esp. the waterfalls, the creeks, the views, the flowers, oh and Miss Opie! I was looking at the flowers and trying to name them all using my field guide to wildflowers. The white one is bloodroot, can't tell about the leaves on the others.”

“"Sounds like a great trip!! Wish I could have joined you...got stuck working Sunday, thou. :-("
yam
01:52:35 PM


glad i didnt go then..i was only considering going because yam was going...”

“Where was that benchmark in the pics? I have been hunting them with my GPS.”

“Love the wildflower pics!! Beuuuuuuuutimous.

shep, one day, don't worry, I will grace you w/ my presence.
(and you'll be so so so so sorry!)
;-)”

“Really great pictures Opie..It was a nice weekend..”