Breakneck Ridge to Three Forks

“Hope to organize a trip to Three Forks using the Breakneck Ridge manway trail. (GSMNP)

Itinerary will be developed as time goes on.”

“Three Forks is the most remote spot in the east right?

Sounds like a cool trip. It would be cool to incorporate the Saw Teeth in there.”

“Where is this in the park?”

“Find #44. It about a mile or so along a manway that leaves from CS #44.”

“My map's not showing that. But it is the online PDF version.”

“#44 is McGee Spring.

Lower Se part of part.. VERY remote access.. you drive thru indian reservation to get to trailhead.”

“Damn TD, you put this 2 wks after my 4 day Sipsey trip.”

“No I didn't.. I opened up a 3 week window.. I don't even know WHEN I can go, yet.. just throwing it out there for normal consumption.”

“I'm just bellyaching because I know I won't be able to go during that stretch. I have a rafting trip to the Chattooga the first weekend in April.”

“I should add that I'm sure this will be a great trip. I'll continue to watch it. If something changes with my schedule I'll show up for sure.”

“TD you lookin for the remains of the old hyatt ridge trail by marks knob and hardison? Subsequently to the balsam mtn trail?....interested as ive been as far as marks summit on it....dates?”

“just ckd and found out Round Bottom and straight fork roads are closed...will be a long walk in to start.....lol”

“Bushwhacked/hiked this in April 2002.
Very difficult. Thick. Water at Thicket Branc. Hardest hike I'vbe ever done.”

“This is the bushwhack I did in 2002. Sorry for the confusion.”

“2socks: Email me.. give me some clues as to what your best weekends might be in March. I'd be thrilled if we can hike 2gether.

dayhiker: well dang, and we had talked about doing this one together. Right now.. based on checking the home front.. Daughter goes to NYC about the third week.. so might try to go the same weekend.. which is her spring break. I haven't ok'ed it with the boss (wife) yet though.”

“Marc has emailed me, and put together a really good plan. Three Forks is not on the Smokies maps, but described (by Kenneth Wise) as one of the most interesting places in the GSMNP.

Current itinerary as suggested goes like this:

Day 1 - Travel to Round Bottoms, and on to CS#44. This allows for latecomers to get there before the real assault on the 'attempt'.

Day 2 - Travel to Three Forks using Breakneck Ridge Manway and return same day. (We can leave the gear somewhere at CS#44.)

Day 3 - Get to cars, and return home. That way we have a whole day to get to Three Forks from CS#44 just in case it is really grown over.

If you want a deathmarch -- There's been a suggested one. I don't see doing the deathmarch at the moment though. For your reference, the deathmarch would be tracing the Ravenfork Valley watershed from Three Forks up to TriCorner (or hitting somewhere along the Balsam Mountain Trail to Laurel Gap Shelter) -- but that's a two day journey in itself most likely!

SwampTromp has done the deathmarch manway, and I want to reinforce it is NOT part of my current plans. From there, you'd have to hike Balsam Gap Shelter to Pin Oak, and take the road back to Round Bottoms. (A killer, but doable.)

I prefer the itinerary suggested above -- a three day journey that would not pit our strengths and tax our emotions.

Day 1 - Travel to Round Bottoms, and on to CS#44. This allows for latecomers to get there before the real assault on the 'attempt'.

Day 2 - Travel to Three Forks using Breakneck Ridge Manway and return same day. (We can leave the gear somewhere at CS#44.)

Day 3 - Get to cars, and return home. That way we have a whole day to get to Three Forks from CS#44 just in case it is really grown over.”

“”

“Dayhiker: Look at your weekends in March, and suggest me one.”

“hmmm... I will have to email the image for the time being.”

“Sent emails to John, Marc, Kirk and bitpusher with topo map as attachment.”

“I'm just going to have to play it by ear. I doubt I get to go. I have a 4 day Sipsey trip planned the first weekend in March and then April 8-10 I have a Chattooga rafting trip. That's a busy time of year workwise and alot of time away on the homefront too. It does help that my wife is going on the rafting trip.”

“Well at least now we are all "on the same page" so to speak.

I didn't completely realize what Marc had in mind, until I saw the route on the map though. I didn't envision the tracing of the creek back to the trail, after we leave three forks.

;).. Koo. I like this already.”

“TD - did you get my email reply?

It looks like yall are looping back to the campsite I like so much. That's going to be some trip.”

“TD it sounds like a good trip..I may go if I can figure out a longer stay :) I don't want to travel that far just for a couple of days.

PS, your "exact route" linc doesnt work.
last edited: 10/08/04 8:24:56 AM”

“hold on folks...clarify....this is TD's trip...I just forwarded the map on my software with everything on it...trip and route to be adjusted accordingly....again I was going and only suggested out to the forks and return the same way not the entire route in pink. The blue arrows indicate "my" route to follow as i am doing the "Smokies 900" and have ample time to work with. TD is in charge......saloot”

“dayhiker: got email back on Walls of Jericho adventure.

spirit coyote: yes.. so I am sending file to your posted yahoo addy.”

“2socks: TD is in charge?.. OMG.. we are doomed.

;)”

“hey 2sporks!!! :D

TD I got it, thanks :D
last edited: 10/08/04 9:05:14 AM”

“looks like theres a nice climb or two in there :)”

“2sporks: I got you now. So, question. Tracing the pink route. If someone (like me) adds that. Two days additional?

But ya, I understand it now. Blue Route (loop to #44 with out and back to Three Forks) -- three days. Blue route with Pink Route added (#44, with out.. then trace creek back to new point on trail, requiring shuttle maybe?) -- 5 days. Do I have it right now?

Got your message about being retired. Didn't realize you had the Prosecutor lifestyle. *gryns* Must be nice!.. :).. I need to start checking to see what MY best weekends are then.
last edited: 10/08/04 9:30:22 AM”

“TD - the email you sent this morning was replied to on my office account. It wasn't about Walls.”

“I guess I'm confused then, John.

cfox@unipres.com”

“Yep, I sent one to that address this morning. It basically says the same thing I did above though. I'll resend so you'll have the office address.”

“Crap, nevermind. You're right, I did change the subject and write about Walls. I got to work too early this morning and am a bit frazzled.”

“Dayhiker: Don't "engineer" anything right now. I don't want to die on it.

;)..”

“I'm working on an 8 story building as we speak.

I wound up having about 5 simultaneous conversation this morning and I got turned around a bit.”

“TD...Northern green is Balsam Mt. trail (2mi. from parking to jct Hyatt Ridge trail) then 1 mile N (+/-) to CS #44 via the Hyatt Ridge. From 44 without exacts I figure 4 mi. roundtrip via Breakneck Ridge on the Raven Fork manway (pink). Then I am returning via the Hyatt Ridge to Straight Fork road and just walking back via road to my car. Now if you decide to go from 3 Forks and follow remainder of pink or the Raven Fork manway to jct. with Enloe Creek trail then follow it and Hyatt Ridge to the road then again without exacts i'd add say 5 more on pink to Enloe Creek trail jct, say 1 to 1 and a half to jct. with Hyatt Ridge then 2 mi. via Hyatt Ridge to Straight Fork road. Distances for other than the pink (manway) are figured from the "bible" and could be (+/-) a few as now I have a headache......lol”

“want to add that we might find it very easy getting from 44 to 3 forks but i doubt seriously from what i have read that following the rest of the pink along Raven Fork will be easy at all. I am not planning that in my itinerary....as you will be allowing slackers to arrive at 44 anytime they chose, the "in charge" starts by dictating the time to head for the forks on sat. am bearing in mind that not all will want to go beyond.....dang thats 4 cents now”

“looks like an easy enough hike ;-)”

“Was this hiked from 3 forks up the Left or Right fork? What were Swamp Tromp comments about his hike. Looked at map and thought about Left fork to Raven Creek and up to Eagle Rocks. Or maybe up Bulldie Ridge. Head over to Pecks and spend night. Return next day via Hughes Ridge and Enloe Creek. I take it the manway is pretty obvious from #44? In the saddle to the left before the camping area, heading up the ridge? Would anyone consider a hike up to AT from 3 forks? My wife is getting weary of my solo exploits. I suspect it will be rather thick.”

“Hi guys! I am very interested in this hike, although I don't normally plan things that far in advance.

I have been down Breakneck Ridge three times, most recently Labor Day '03. At that time the first half of the trail, along the ridgetop, was mostly lost in blackberry thickets. Someone should bring a machete to re-cut the trail if necessary. There was occasional survey tape, but old and not enough to rely on. The first few hundred yards there was no tape or much sign of a trail. Getting onto and following the ridge is not hard navigation-wise. You will probably lose the trail several times and pick it up again as long as you stay on the ridge. The key thing is not to miss where the trail turns off to run downhill to the right at the halfway point. Beyond there, angling down the side of the ridge, it was rough, but easy to follow through recently trimmed rhododendron.

I have hiked the full length of Raven Fork from the Enloe Creek Trail crossing to Tricorner Knob Shelter and there is no trail at all, manway or otherwise. If you are comfortable with rock hopping, the four miles from Three Forks to Enloe Cr. Tr. is not bad and reasonable to do in a day. The other direction, to Tricorner is longer and more difficult. Two days unless you are in very good shape. On our Labor Day hike MadMudMan and I went up Raven Creek and Bills Creek to Copper Gap on the AT. This wasn't so far but required half a mile through the worst kind of rhododendron at the end. Doing this with a heavy pack is just impossible unless you are in very good shape.”

“

Check this site out. It gives you an idea how confusing this area can be and why you should be careful not to bite off more than you can chew when off-trail. Nice 3-d map also.

http://www.twohikers.org/SE_Hiking/RavenFork1.htm”

“thanks for the info swamptromp....as the original plan only calls for 44 to 3 forks that is my goal....pcraft and yourself have attested as to the difficulty of beyond in either direction and i can vouch for how hard it would be having been out beyond marks knob on the old hyatt ridge...to add with the stream and river situation at present folks should really look hard before deciding and make sure they have good partners and are well equipped....that story in the link is a "nightmare".”

“that map is really cool.”

“Is the Three Forks area labeled with "Big Pool" above? Also, the area labeled bridge is campsite #47?”

“oops, the link swampTromp provided answers both of my questions.”