Enloe Creek - Smokies - trip report

“Friday Tom, Jeremy, and I met nowslimmer at Smokemont camground to set up a shuttle. NS was gracious enough to help us out of some shuttle difficulties. We did the shuttle thing and hiked into campsite #50. Tom and Jeremy hiked in while NS and I shuttled. When we got there the fire was already going. It was great to meet NS. Tales were told around the fire and most of them were true. What a treat the evening was.

Sat NS was already gone when we finally got up and moving. We had about a 4 miles, 2500' climb ahead of us, but not until we all had omelets. This was a food trip. I hiked in a 12 pack for the evenings and eggs for the mornings. Ahhhh, omelets. 1 mile out of camp we came to Chasteen Cascades. We goofed off and then onward and upward we went. Around lunch time we arrived at #48. This is a really nice campsite with lots of water. Around 2 we came to the intersection of Bradley Fork and Enloe Creek trails. The azaleas were starting to bloom. It was threatening rain so I went on ahead to get our bad weather tarp setup.

About the time I had everything setup Tom and Jeremy (Cocoa Williams) arrived. Jeremy and I explored downstream. #47 is great. You have pools about 20 yard in diameter followed by a rapids/falls, then another pool, then another rapids and so on. About 3 pools down we got where we could only contiue by swimming. We had to leave the cameras behind. About 3 more pools down we found a nice cascade that formed a flume. Jeremy decided he'd boulder around the thing to see if there were any big rocks at the bottom. If not, he'd slide down the flume. I tried to shortcut across, slipped and went down it backwards. I fell about 2', hit the upper flume, slide down to the lower one and had about a half a second to turn around frontwards to finally come to the bottom face first. What a trip. Afterwards we each slid down on purpose.

We got back to camp just in time for the rain to hit. The 12'x12' tarp I hiked in came in handy. I did tacos, Jeremy did enchiladas, and Tom had ramen. We did share the good food. The 6 pack that I had now carried 7 miles and up 2500' tasted dang good.

Sun was a short 3 miles out, but not without another 700' gain.

This is the first trip where on the way out we decided that this would be our next trip. The next one will be to drive up Fri afternoon, hike to #47, explore downstream of Enloe and on into Raven Fork for the entire day Sat, and then back out on Sun.

Cocoa/Jeremy did a fantastic job planning this.

pictures”

“Nice report.”

“Let's see,,,,12 pack is 144 ounces excluding containers...

at 3.8% Alcohol by volume is 5.472 ounces of alcohol.


By comparison, 151 rum to net 5.472 is 7.296 ounces in weight.


Rum for me.”

“I only drank 6 of the 12. It was more about atmosphere than effect.”

“Well,,,some people fish for the trophy,,,some fish for the skillet.”

“Too funny. Haven't heard that expression before.”

“I thought people fished so they could cruelly reinforce their mammalian hegemony over the poor enslaved and exploited piscine race...”

“nice dayhiker!”

“Oh yah, nice TR and pics, dayhiker!”

“cool pics and a great report.

wish it were warm enuf here to swim!:(

I can still see snow on most of the hilltops!”

“Thanks for the report! I can't wait to go up there this coming weekend!”

“Thanks for sharing Dayhiker! Both pix and TR are fantastic. I've been to CS 47, and 50, but not #48. I have explored Enloe Creek and that portion of Ravens Fork. Its beautiful. Glad you guys had fun.”

“MDS - where are you hiking up there this weekend?”

“Hey dayhiker...

I'm taking my youngest on a short backpacking trip from Clingmon's Dome to Newfound Gap. We'll spend the night at Mt. Collins shelter on Saturday night. Easy hike, 4 miles each day. That's the AT section I yellow blazed when the cute lady zookeeper gave me a ride from Newfound Gap to the Dome. :O

Figured I'd make it up sometime so this weekend is it I guess.

We're going up on Friday to just generally goof off around the Smokies and then on Saturday we'll start hiking.”

“Sounds great. I hope one of mind turns into a hiker. So far they both like to camp. Becky sure tore it up off trail at Sipsey on New Years weekend when we did recon for the Quillen trip.”

“I was thinking about hiking from Clingmon's dome to Andrew Bald on Friday afternoon. It's only about 3m round trip. Have you ever hiked that trail? I think it's a short portion of the Forney Creek trail.”

“I haven't, but I'll bet the azaleas are out like crazy. It'll be worth the trip. I don't have my Smokies book at work with me to check the profile.

Last weekend we saw lots of azaleas at about 4500'. Maybe at 6000' they'll be out when you go.”

“Ok, I'll give you a report when I get back.

:p”

“Sounds good.”

“MDS that section of Forney Ridge Trail was rocky and wet last I was there. Andrews Blad is a nice destination though.

Be aware that Mt. Collins is experiencing lots of bear activity right now. My buddy Madman was just there and they had a bear visit them at least three times looking for salt. The last time was late at night and the bear was able to reach through the fence and made off with a sock and a trekking pole.”

“Yes, HPM, you're right. It's Forney Ridge Trail and not Forney Creek Trail.

A trekking pole? hahaha

Yeah, I read that there was bear activity in the area. Oh well, should be exciting. hehe”

“Becky vs. a bear? My money is on Becky.”

“Yep a trekking pole. Sweaty hands on the grips = a salt lick for bears.”

“You are quite the hiker lately.. :) Thanks for the trip report.. always wanted to look that section of the park over.”