Three Forks -- GSMNP

“I've updated the trip information.

Featured is a reconnaissance that will preview some of the wildest country in the Southeast US. We will meet Friday afternoon/evening at CS #44. There are two trails leading to it, and both begin on the Straight Fork Road.

We will bushwhack Saturday to Three Forks. There are two trails leading to it, and both begin at the McGee Springs campsite (#44).

My plan is to go into Three Forks using the manway and then come out by going up Right Fork and McGee Prong.”

“We are still a good ways off on this one.. but I will be calling GSMNP in a few weeks. If you have an opportunity to update your yes/maybe/no status it will give me a chance to be accurate when I make reservations.”

“Iam starting the process with the station for the allotted time frame. Will keep in touch.”

“Mileages?”

“low mileages, but off trail bushwhacking.”

“Is there an "on trail busnwhacking" or would that be trail maintenance?

LOL.”

“LOLz.. that would be a yes, NS.

but seriously.. mileage from 44 down to TF is prolly less than 5 miles.. maybe less than 3.. but it will take a good 3-4 hrs to make that distance over breakneck ridge..

and then coming back up the creek to the springs.. another good 4 hrs for sure.. maybe more depending on several factors.

this one is not a race -- its an historical adventure, and exploratory fishing trip and reconnaissance mission.”

“When is the spring hike to Tri-Corner?”

“Give me a nearby town that I can map-search for?”

“MarkO --Get you a GSMNP map, or I can email you one.

edoc -- Dont know. You got any idea for a good weekend to try it?”

“April”

“yeah.. third week of april sounds good.. let me check my calendar.”

“Maybe start on Thursday, 4/17?

That would give us two complete days to get up the mountain, and another (easier) two to get back down.”

“Sure is good to hear someone talk about going up a mountain. I get tired of hearing from so many great hikers talking about hiking down various trails in GSMNP.

In order to join the 900-mile club, I feel they should have to hike each trail in each directiion!”

“To all who have signed up as a yes/maybe -- just wondering.. did you take Friday off work?.. and if so could we start Friday morning?.. did you take Monday off work, and if so, could we add the extra day.. ?

Just curious. With all the DROUGHT, it might be tempting if we got down to three forks pretty early that first day.. well ... .. ... you know EXACTLY what I'm thinking.
last edited: 8/16/07 9:20:25 AM”

“Heaven help us if anyone knows what you are thinking!!! hehehehe
last edited: 8/16/07 9:35:13 AM”

“If I begin to think like Towndawg, I will shoot myself.

;-)”

“

“Maybe start on Thursday, 4/17?
That would give us two complete days to get up the mountain, and another (easier) two to get back down.”
TownDawg
6:50:19 AM
8/13/07

I'm thinking he's lost count of his marbles!”

“Don't ya feel the love TD...if you would show up more often we wouldn't have to her-ass you all at once!”

“hehe... ya ya.. whatever.. but most of you can read my mind by now..

no rain.. low streams.. easy passage.. very tempting to do the spring 08 now.. if we had enuff days.”

“So.. no one interesting in starting Friday morning.. and seeing if we can do the complete bushwhack?”

“I wouldn't be able to take Friday off from work, but I may not get to go anyway. I am going to be testing out the ankle on some easer stuff over Labor Day. If for some reason I miss it, I should definitely be ready for the spring trip assuming surgery is not required.

If you do complete the bushwhack, be sure to take some pics to go along with the TR!”

“Towndawg - Where are all the pictures for the "x's" that show up from the link in the trip planning page?

I'm trying to get my defibrillator tuned up, but I don't think it will be ready for the trip. The trip would be a good test for it. The cardiologist said that if go down on a backcountry trail, it should get me up and moving again.”

“I saw where some of you are going to be unable to go.. and I also saw where none of you so far thinks you have the extra day to spare that i mentioned about a week ago.

Just so I know.. who /IS/ coming.. so I can plan accordingly?”

“I had not planned on doing the complete bushwack this time, so had not thought of taking off more days.”

“I plan to go, count me in”

“Hi trapper. fridge is supposed to call me today or tomorrow. thinking about hitting the trail at first light friday, and attempting the bushwhack up to tricorner. if we could get there by saturday night, we could hoof it out the next day back to our cars.”

“Reservations are made.

Hitting trailhead first light Friday (28Sep) morning.”

“Please note changes to main itinerary. We will make final decision as the timeframe approaches.”

“anyone,got,there,lil,brown,trail,book,with,them

reason,check,this

ow,well,my,keyboard,is,messed,up

the,comparison,to,the,two,ways,in,seems,backwards”

“I ended up working this past weekend. They will trade me a few days back, so I might get to leave Wednesday afternoon.. and start at CS#44 on Thursday.”

“I must bow out from the trip. I have a medical appointment on Friday, with a possible torn rotator cuff. MRI is this coming Monday. Bummer!!”