Stone Door to Sawmill (TN)

“For those not familiar with the area, this trip is in the Savage Gulf section of South Cumberland Recreation Area near Monte Eagle, TN. The trip is a basic ~5 mile out and back. We would leave the Stone Door ranger station and hike down into the gorge and camp and Sawmill Campsite. Spend the night and then reverse the trek on Sunday. The dates would be Sept 18-19.

I've hiked uptop of Savage Gulf a few times, so this time I figured why not go dooooowwwwwnnnnnnn.

Anyone interested?”

“*cough* I believe I've gone down Savage Golf's Stone Door. It was a fantastic time with a bunch of great TTer's. Wish I could join you. I'd love to see TN again.”

“I'd love to do anything around Stone Door, however, I am getting married on Labor Day weekend and I would be in the eternal doghouse if I tried to go hiking in the same month.”

“I gotta backpack planned for the weekend after already, otherwise I would definitely say yes.

Heck who knows?”

“I'd go Matt -- but that's the weekend we are doing the off-trail hike in the Smokies.”

“TD,
I was wanting to get up to the Smokies, but I would have to do a shorter trip than what you planned because of time constraints. I was about to post a weekend trip in the Smokies for the same date as your trip, but you beat me to the punch.”

“I'll be onriver that weekend...winding down the wetest summer in record for me, but, Savage Gulf is totally managable later in the year. Last time there, it was totally overcast and raining, so, I'd love to get down there in late Oct for leave coloration.”

“I'd be interested if you could switch the dates to the 19th and 20th (I've got a crazy Tues- Sat work schedule). The last time I got up to SG when the weather was still warm, the ticks were horrendous.”

“GGGGRRRRRR, i would love to go!

Going to Mammoth Cave the week after. No way the wife lettin me out 2 weekends in a row.”

“It looks like most of us have plans, Iwould love to go, but have to work and have my vacation days planned out. I could go if it were on the weekend of Oct. 2-3. Let me know if that weekend would work better for more of us. We could all wear our new T-shirts!”

“ok, it looks like those dates may be tough for everyone. If the trip was moved up or back a week, would that help anyone?”

“The Mammoth Cave trip is the next weekend.”

“If you moved it up to the previous weekend, I'd have a better chance of going.”

“I would like to go and I am a new member so this is my first post.As long as something dont come up i would like to go.”

“I wish I would have done more hiking in this area before leaving Tennessee. South Cumberland SP is the best place to go backpacking that is close to Nashville. I really enjoyed the Fiery Gizzard.”

“I had planned a hiking trip to Savage Gulf on Oct 2-3 with TTA. We can combine it with your trip if that is a good weekend for you.”

“I've moved the trip up one weekend to Sept 11-12. I wanted to move the trip up instead of pushing it closer to Tc4 to give people better chances of getting out of honey-do lists.”

“Excellent! I'll put myself down as a maybe, hopefully I can make this trip.”

“I originally planned my TTA Savage Gulf trip on Sept 11-12. I was thinking of changing it to October because of the weather. (It would be warmer in Sept for a canoe trip) We can still combine these trips if you don't mind. I had originally planned to hike out to Gretter Falls from Stone Door, staying at Alum Gap. Since I have done this trip before I would be glad to try your trip.”

“That is if you don't mind a few TTA members coming along. DK how many will actually make it. You are welcome to join us at our next meeting, Tuesday night, Sept 7th at the China Buffet in Spring Hill at 6:30 p.m.”

“I haven't gone down into the gulf before, but I have gone to Alum Gap. Supposedly the trails inside the gulf are more strenous than uptop (rockier footing, stream crossings, and offcourse elevation gain). If your group doesn't mind trying something different, I say bring it on.”

“That sounds great, I'll pass the info on at our next meeting. I hope you can make it, you are more than welcome to come and meet the group. This month's meeting will have Jed from Blue Ridge Mtn. Sports give a talk on maps and mapreading, compasses, and GPS units. It should be very interesting. I will relay the strenuous part of this hike to the TTA members. It should bring out the hardcore hikers.”

“The only really bad part of this hike will be down into Savage Gulf and back up out. The rest of the trail isn't too bad, and there's lots of interesting scenery, plus the Cator Savage cabin on the way.”

“The bottom of the gorge is a bit more challenging for all of the reasons you stated Matt, but still not a butt kicker. It is very pretty down there especially the Big Creek Gulf Trail which follows...you guessed it Big Creek. There are some areas of the Alum Gap campsite roped off so it can regenerate (It's been used pretty hard). There are still great views from there though.”

“How's the water situation at the campsite? I know some of you have been there before.”

“There is a small spring/creek a few hundred meters down the trail to Greeter Falls.”

“Are you talking about at Alum Gap campsite? I know where that water hole is. I am asking about water at Sawmill campsite. If I remember right some that went there last winter were talking about hiking down farther to get to water. I will search past threads to find it.”

“oops, I was talking about Alum Gap. I don't think water in the gorge is gonna be a problem with all of the recent rain. But that's three weeks from now.”

“The water source at Sawmill is .3 miles from camp...not exactly a short hike. Follow the signs and blue blazes...”

“Yeah currahee, it'll be cool if there's water in the creek...otherwise enjoy the walk.”

“i may be in the gulf this weekend...wish i could go that weekend..but i've got a surprise trip planned for tha miss”

“opps i meant labor day”

“what's my surprise????????????? i'm dying over here!”

“Sorry I was wanting to go but I am going to a blue grass fest on that weekend..”

“I'm gonna have to back out too. My son's soccer team has its opening day that weekend, plus he's asking me to take him camping. So I'm gonna go do both of those instead that weekend.”

“Too funny. Everyone gets matt to change the date and then backs out.”

“If I had known about the soccer thing, I wouldn't have suggested Matt change the date.

Who's stirring the pot now, dayhiker?”

“Snort!
John has been taking troublemaking lessons from lizs. ;-)”

“We all have! lol!”

“I am. Notice I didn't single you out and said "everyone." Life gets in the way. I usually figure that 20% of the folks I talk about a trip with will wind up going. Stuff happens. I've backed out of trips too.”

“SS- now that was just plain mean. If I was taking lessons from lizs you'd see a new thread on the board titled, "Longtime friend abandons board administrator. Hundreds of internet folk left asking why."”

“Man, I am so Jonesying for a trip to TN right now.
Been way to long.”

“dayhiker - Now, that was funny.

Luv Ya, Lizs! ;-)”

“SS - you have mail.”

“Two people backing out does not constitute "everyone". I don't know what airhead will have to say, but I think I stated my case succinctly.”

“Lighten up bit. It should be obvious that I'm joking.”

“Sorry, but no, it's not obvious.”

“Well, I did admit to stirring the pot, I went on to explain that when I plan I realize only 20% get to go, I mentioned that life happens, I mentioned that I've backed out of trips too, I had the little back and forth with SS.

Sheesh.”

“Whatever.”

“Can't we all just get along??????? ;-)

Us few nonliberal Southerners got to stick together. ;-)”