Ramsay Cascades

“10 AM news in this area just reported that the mountains up there are receiving a lot of rain right now. They said that more trees are falling than from the other storms because the water is washing out the dirt under them and because the ground is so saturated. Further, they said that danger from wind and flooding will continue throughout the weekend.

I hope you remember that the winds can get stronger as you get higher. And it does not take much of an excuse to rain on the top.

Even if the weekend turns out beautiful, I think you'll be pushing the envelope to continue this one. Is it that important? Water will continue to flow, trees can fall and landslides can happen under sunny skies. That Park has springs all over. A lot of water will be flowing and settling underground, where you can't see it. This causes more slides than the surface water that one can see.

The Knowville weather is out of the mountains. I suggest you average it with the Asheville forecast and add serious factors for the mountains and the altitude changes.

You do not have my approval to make this trip! I suggest you use one of your alternative plans. But whatever, have a great weekend.”

“PS: Where are all the CA hikers? They could tell you about the dangers of slides after the storm has passed. I've lived out there and I've seen the results of some of them. People there take rainstorms and the associated slide dangers very seriously.”

“TD - if you get there and bail, you might try Savage Gulf or even the Walls of Jericho as a recon trip. Walls is probably on hour off the interstate from the S. Pittsburgh exit coming into Chattanooga from Nashville.”

“"TD apparently has some death wish, and is on a suicidal mission from God.

Wow, what some people will do to have their 15 minutes of fame."
SecretDisorder
08:28:55 AM”

“Yes, the forecast does look a bit better. I think the road will still be closed. I am not very concerned about landslides, those mostly happen in the Anakeesta rock areas, which does not occur anywhere near where we are going. The big concern is flooded creeks. Above the cascades you have to wade for long distances in the creek. I have seen this creek in flood and crossing it then would be out of the question, you would be swept away and drowned. If we have to go through the rhododendron beside the creek...well that's almost impossible. Maybe 3-400 yds and hour. I don't know what the fir thicket is, but a half mile above the cascade where the valley flattens out you can camp. I think that would have to be our target if we start from the ranger station.

So if the road is open we meet at Ramsay trailhead if it is dry, the picnic shelter past Ramsay turnoff if it is raining. But I have a feeling we will only reach the ranger station or they may even close it at the gate right off Hwy 321. I think we have to have a shuttle at Cosby.”

“"The big concern is flooded creeks."

How bad is that first crossing?.. At the Cascade? It looked like a rock skip in the picture I saw, but my guess it might be the roughest to cross right at THAT point.

"a half mile above the cascade where the valley flattens out you can camp."

The second cascade, right? Supposedly the biggest part of the climbing is over, and this is supposedly a fir thicket so thick, that you won't be able to see one another, and if it is raining, prolly wont be able to hear each other either.

Dang it, I forgot my Cobra walkies this morning, and won't be driving home to get there.”

“Lots of rain still falling in the Smoky's area. Just listening to the news reports on television. Interstate 40 over Pigion River is getting washed away.

Again, be safe. (klink)”

“BREAKING NEWS: I-40 through Smokies closed

http://www.wbir.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=19894”

“Fortunately.. I exit before the 40/81 split.

On my way... * pooferz *”

“So it really is true, sometimes the herd really does need thinning. Just let it go Nowslimmer. Sometimes things just work out for the best.”

“TD, hope you sent the check before you left ;)”

“Looks like you wound up and had great weather. Now you get to tell us all that you told us so. You're still a knucklehead, dumbass, but that's why we love ya'.”

“I had Towndawg and Stix take a pitt stop at my house Friday night. Saturday was a beautiful day for them to move on out - they left at 5:30 in the freaking morning! Saturday was also the most beautiful day... for the Tennessee Vols to Gator done!!! Hehehehehehhehhehehehhehh!!!!!!!!!! WOoooooooooooooooooHooooooooooo!”

“Road, Trails, Campgrounds, and Picnic Areas - September 20, 2004 - GSMNP

It appears that the SE area of the Park may have gotten the worst of it.

They mention Cataloochee Campground, Group Camp and Picnic Areas still closed. But it appears that the Horse Camp is open. I did not know that there was a picnic area unless they consider the area by the church to be one. They are doing studies for building some walk-in tent sites, a picnic area and an additional bathroom, but they had not started on it during May. No mention of trail closures, but "Park staff are evaluating trails for damage, but it will take some time for all trails to be checked."

I'm getting nervous as I wait for our never-say-die backpackers to report.”

“Any word from TD?”

“You don't think they're mad at us, do you? We gave them all the encouragement we could muster.”

“you got us worried. Step up from behind. I know you watching this thread and are laughing...”

“Hurricane Ivan caused landslides that killed four near Franklin, TN.
KnoxNews.com Registration required.

"Officials at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park said there was some storm damage from Hurrican Ivan, mostly on the North Carolina side. Some facilities and roads remain closed, pending repairs."

”

“I'm at work. We didn't step out of the woods until about 2pm yesterday. Thank you SmokyGirl for being TrailAngel. Your hospitality was wonderful! Really enjoying hanging out and talking to your dad.

Started trip Saturday morning. By 3pm it was quite clear that we were not going to make the AT on Saturday. Kenneth Wise in his books says to allow 5hrs to reach the AT from where the 'trail' ends to the Cascade. It took us that and then some.

Thanks to MadMudMan and SwampTromp! You guys are incredible guides. My gosh, would Stix and I even made it without you?

Thanks Nigal for the Gregory Pack. It worked great, and even survived all the falls, spills and general swimming I did.

Thanks 2socks for the map. It was indispensable!!!

Thanks NPS rangers for allowing us to go, even though the road was closed up until Saturday morning. Thanks for opening the gate, and letting us drive to the trailhead.

Thanks Ronnie Holbert, SMHC, and others for your excellent trip reports and trail descriptions.

Oh my gosh. Whew. Now for the trip report. Give me time. Maybe others can 'chime in' in the meanwhile. I'm still recovering. There is not one part of my body that is not sore, beat, battered, bruised, cut up, soaked, and generally exhausted.

This was the most incredible thing I have even done in my life.”

“Welcome back.”

“I can't wait to hear this. Congrats on a great trip, from the sound of it.”

“The pink tape does not make it to the top. I'm assuming he/she didn't either.

The orange tape DOES make it to the top, but it is 6-8 yrs old.

I can't wait to get these pictures developed. I'm going by the one hour place today if I can.

Because of the thickness of the rhododendron, you often had no choice but to wade/climb/swim up the creek. Because of the verocity of the creek, you often had no choice but to hack a path through.

(SwampTromp literally had a machete.)”

“I placed rock cairns at our exit onto the AT, plus a cairn at each of the springs to each side of where we came in. I also marked someone else's past exit (I spotted signs) onto the AT, but not sure how long ago it was.”

“Glad ya'll made it out OK. We was getting kinda worried, LOL. But we didn't hear any news, so I thought no news is good news. Ya'll didn't make the newspapers or tv, so I guess you could call that a good trip. I just got a copy of Ken Wise's book at the library. I will read up on that trip, maybe I can make it when the weather is more cooperative.”

“karo. trust me on this. NO.

;)”

“TD, shut up and post a trip report. j/k...
but Iam still waiting for the TR”

“

karo. trust me on this. NO.
;)"
TownDawg

Listen to him, Karo. He listened to us about this trip, didn't he?!!!!!”

“Glad to hear we all stumbled out eventually. I got back to my house in FL at 2AM. Phew! Not too productive at work Tuesday.

That was sure one trip I won't forget soon--an experience even most veteran hikers have never had. Actually the shrimp scampi and that soup may be the most memorable parts. MadMudMan and I never hiked with other people before. We decided we have a lot to learn about the non-bushwacking related aspects of backpacking. Liking cooking something besides ramen.

Let me know when you plan the Three Forks trip. I can give you plenty of info on the route.”

“I just recovered from getting my ass kicked. I almost paid with my life from listening to a bunch of armchair wanna bees. Ken Wise's is full of sheot; he never made it to the top jack and neither did those other punks. I am pissed cause I almost paid with my life. I got lucky this time…don’t be stupid…stick to the trails.”

“SO WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?????

inquiring minds wanna know!”

“http://www.anycities.com/user/towndawg/ramsey.htm

All I got done so far, please be kind.”

“Glad you made it safely home.

I just checked the link. None of the photos or graphics loaded for me. I've got an orangish yellow background showing with waypoint info, but no photographs.”

“Mines showing the uplink correct, but I hear that comment a lot.. it seems to be some sort of temporary thing to some servers?”

“Anyway.. I have a few more pictures to scan, and I see a pair in the wrong order, but I will fix that eventually. I could make a laundry list of what I know I still have to do on it, but you will at least get an idea of what the trip was like.”

“Waypoint #6 is my favorite.

You are looking straight up the trail. That's it.”

“Whaaaaa!!! Pictures are not showing!!!”

“I totally do not understand, because I've passed the link on to several folks last night, and they all could see it.

Soo weird..”

“td, are you around? i could use your account of this trip man. thanks.”

“Hey... Just saw this..

What do you need to know?”

“oh cool. well, how was it? any pics?
i'm going to be in the smokies in a couple of weeks and am thinking of exploring some above the cascade. we'll see how the partner feels about it though.

anybody ever try greenbrier ridge?”

“Unfortunately ~those~ pictures were lost when the ANYCITIES.COM website decided it was all right to trash all their user's websites and start over without notifying everyone.

Yes, I should have had them backed up. No I didn't.

You should definitely explore above the cascade. I'm assuming you've read all the background information on how to get there, what to look for, how the trail marked.. etc etc.. ? I will say this though.. It doesn't even get pretty until you get above the "upper cascades." That's when the whole woods opens up, and the stream gets marvelously flat and wide.
last edited: 1/23/09 5:43:30 AM”

“well, i've read this thread a few times and have the one book mentioned here on order at the library.

any other tips?

i'll have to play it by ear as the cascades may be icy and in that case i won't be able to check it all out. my folks were there in november, i think, and they said it was pretty bad.

a bit off this topic, where are the cat stairs? are they along the old trail up greenbrier?

thanks td.

this manway has been in my plans for a long time. it's just a part of a larger loop. i was trying to avoid going all the way to le conte. i could never find any info on it before. this thread is what brought me here. :)

never knew about the one up bunion either although i did see some guys pop up there long time ago. reading your threads brought that memory back.”

“".. have the one book mentioned here on order at the library."

Assuming you mean this one?



http://www.amazon.com/Hiking-Trails-Great-Smoky-Mountains/dp/0870499149”

“correct. the earlier version is not owned by my library system. i should have it tomorrow or tuesday at the latest.
how many cascades are there? and you said it opens up wide above them all? still thickets though, right?

i'm going to poke around some old map collection from that area i came across the other day. see if anything pops out at me there.”

“You will learn a lot by reading.. I really wish I had all my notes saved somewhere.. maybe I do.. I will do some checking to see if I kept it all.”

“well, i went to Ramsey's the week before.. it was pouring all day that day so i didn't venture up but i did poke around a bit and it sure seems that a manway is getting worn in on the LEFT side of the falls now. very impressive fall, for sure.. pictures sure don't do it justice.. it's impossible to shoot it and make it look 100' tall like it really is.

”

“you're right offtrack, you can't really show it very well. i was there in the middle of feb.

”