Smokies Fall Hangout

“There are no showers in the park.”

“http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/upload/trails2005.pdf

There are better maps out there, but this one will show you all the trails I listed. They will have maps at the Sugarlands visitor center.


On the map, what I called "Chimney Peaks" are actually called "Chimney Tops".

Chimney Tops and Alum Cave are fairly close together on Newfound Gap Road, the main thoroughfare that bisects the park. Clingmans Dome is on, you guessed it...Clingmans Dome Road which branches off of Newfound Gap Road at Newfound Gap.

Cades Cove is the only thing I listed not in the "middle" of the park.
last edited: 10/13/07 10:39:39 AM”

“Any plans for a campfire?
Any place nearby to get some firewood?”

“They sell wood in the campground. They don't like people bringing wood in from other areas because of the risk of pest or pathogen spread to local flora. Mmm, toasted marshmallows sound really good right now.”

“so there is not a fireban?”

“Not yet.”

“10-4 about the firewood.”

“tree does that include dimensional 2x4 cut up?”

“Thanks Ewker and longlosthiker. At this time, the weather forecast is looking relatively acceptable, so if/when I come, I'll buy the map set and recommended book at the Sugarlands Visitor Center.

-------------------------------------------
NWS Forecast for Gatlinburg, TN

Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78.

Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.

Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 77.

Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.

Saturday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 72.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.”

“yo bear,

Rich B cannot attend this one. He has health-related issues to take care of later this week and early next week.”

“M thanks for the update! yo bear”

“I have a 13 x 15 screen tent with a sylnylon roof. We should get some rain protection from it.”

“Of course. The showers at Elkmont are as good as the showers at any National Park.”

I've told him that no less than 1000000 timex....there are no showers in National Parks!!!”

“There are showers in some of the National Parks.”

“2x4s should be okay to burn as long as they aren't treated lumber.”

“

“There are showers in some of the National Parks.”
humanpackmule

True. I saw one somewhere during my trip west this summer, unless it was in a National Monument.

---

"chili - The third weekend in October will be the best for the colors. Nature always adjusts. Have some faith.”
nowslimmer
10:35:52 AM
9/17/07
last edited: 10/15/07 7:19:03 AM”

“Fall color report
http://www.foliagenetwork.com/reports/southeast_us/”

“showers / rain call it what you like they have rain in ALL national parks......sometime? DUH! yo bear!
last edited: 10/15/07 6:19:59 PM”

“I picked up the mini keg this evening. All they had sitting out was hefeweizen, which is fine, but I was after the O-fest. The kid behind the counter actually went through several boxes looking for one and finally found one. I'm always pleasantly surprised when I get good customer service in a retail establishment.”

“I am sitting in Townsend and the color sucks.”

“lol @ Jerbear.

I was thinking of the kind of showers that are usually hot that you mix with soap.”

“We saw a bear on the Roaring Fork Motor Trail this past weekend. It was playing around a tree on the side of the road.

There was a traffic jam of course and everyone was snapping pictures. People got to the point of being an arm's length away from this bear. It was totally ignoring the people, but you have to wonder what might have upset it. If it did get upset, someone would have been hurt.

Luckily, it wasn't long before a ranger came along to tell everyone to get moving.”

“so is there a pot luck for dinner sat night, was that ever decided?”

“I hope I can shake this whatever I have by the weekend. My fever is so high Laurel won't snuggle up to me because I'm too hot. I'm thinking I had a very serious fever earlier, when I had unstoppable chills. The last time I had that my temperature was 103.2. I still feel yucky, but I feel a helluva lot better than I did this afternoon. Actually taking your medications is a good thing. ;P”

“if it gets real bad, get in the tub or shower and run cool water to sit in. you dont want cold water cause it could cause you to go in shock...”

“I did the cool water thing earlier; it worked well until I took a nap, then my temperature spiked again. I just took an additional vitamin I, to see what kind of difference that makes. My biggest concern right now is my knees; Dayyyyyum they hurt. I don't know if its from being ill or all the digging I did a few days ago. Since it takes a few days for physical pain to reach peak for me, I think its the digging. I'll get that pond done yet! I really hope this does its usual "crappy for a day then fine" thing, because I don't want to miss this. I'm not coughing or sneezing either, just a fever, runny nose and serious aches.”

“u know, just from hearing that bout no coughing or sneezing worries me a bit...have u been bitten by a tick lately? i had the same sickness that lasted almost a month when i was 15, and the docs couldnt figure it out....turned out i had lyme disease. i had to go to a specalist for them to figure it out....if it continues go get checked out...i almost died from it”

“I posted on the "feeling sickly" thread. It sounds like I've acquired it through the flu shot I got a few weeks ago.”

“hmm..could be
any way i hope u make it, im looking foward to meeting a bunch of new people”

“I think the achiness is from digging. I cleared out an area 21 feet long by 8 feet wide by 18 to 24 inches deep, of hard red clay in my yard this weekend. I've only just recently figured out how to quickly dig in clay, and most of it involves the legs rather than any other body part.”

“sounds like digging a foxhole in ft bragg......ugh......granted its sandy but its 4-5 ft deep, 18-24 in wide, and 6 ft long but u have to do it while pretending your under fire and all that....annoying at the least, and if you hit an ant hill life threatening at worst”

“This is my koi pond. I'll do what I have to for them to have an excellent and healthy environment.

Guess I hijacked the thread a little.”

“lol..........maybe......”

“Hey BPB, we drove right past you this weekend. We went up 77 to 40 east,out to Walnut Cove (just past Winston Salem) for a koi club meeting at a koi breeders' house on Saturday.”

“lol, except i eas in mt rogers va, but yep thats where i am”

“Colors were beautiful just a little west of the Blue Ridge Parkway on Highway #19. I'm at Cataloochee now.”

“I changed from a maybe to a yes. I will be there sometime Friday afternoon.

Campsite #1 in the group section..right”

“Yes, GCS #1.”

“Okay, I'm in ...changed my status to "Yes." Weather forecast looks fairly decent, so I'll be leaving early Thursday morning. Hope to do a little dayhike and maybe some car touring on Friday before meeting youans later at Elkmont. So long as decent weather holds, I'll probably stay a few more days into next week to make the long drive from NE Pennsylvania worthwhile. This will be my first adventure to the Great Smokey Mountains!”

“got this from HOI on another thread

Orionid Meteor Shower 2007
The Orionid meteor shower is at its best the weekend of October 20-22, peaking before dawn on the 21st

http://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors/

a trip to Clingmans Dome might be worthwhile”

“that sounds like a great plan to me! daypacks and coffee!”

“The potluck was never decided so I assume it isn't happening.”

“If anyone wants to bring stuff to share with everyone that's fine. If not, that's fine too.”

“I belive I will be coming to this. Won't make it there before 10 a.m. on Saturday. Hope to get some day hiking in...if anyone is still around.

Is there a fee for the campground?
last edited: 10/17/07 1:16:41 PM”

“yes 100.00 per person”

“The site is paid for and I'm not worried about it.”

“dang HPM you could have come out ahead with that newbie...lol”

“bite me Eddy.
last edited: 10/17/07 1:49:54 PM”

“ok :)”

“Dang, blew another opportunity

lol”