Smokies Fall Hangout

“Updated forecast.

Rain late tonight and tomorrow. Clearing off Friday afternoon and warm and sunny for the weekend.

Temps in the valley expected to be Highs of mid seventies, Lows of mid fifties.

I think the trip to Clingman's is a great idea.

I am bringing sausage and eggs for Saturday morning.”

“We like to make scrambled eggs (and sometimes sausage) in a tortilla for breakfast. Laurel loves them, but that doesn't mean she'll eat all of them. Dang girl is an epiphyte.”

“Cool, breakfast burritos it is for Saturday morning.”

“They're great with sweet pepper relish or a little salsa.”

“I love them things.......that's what we usually make on the trail....easy to carry, and really good stuff.......mmmmm”

“I think I will make some home made salsa for them..

jalepenos, tomato, onion, a little garlic powder, about half a squeezed lime and some cilantro.”

“Mmm, sounds good.

So I just excavated the chuck box from the garage. Most of the necessary contents are missing and scattered to the winds. How'd that happen? Guess what HPM took with him when he got an apartment for starting his new job up here, lol! Oh well, serves me right for not getting this taken care of ahead of time.”

“I should have some fresh jalepenos ready to pick. I will get the salsa made tonight so it can meld before Saturday.”

“I have plans to drive to the other side of the park and drive the Balsam Mountain Rd Sat. I figure it will take a while to get from Elkmont to the BRP and then to the Heintooga Ridge rd. I am hoping there might be some colors on that rd. Anyone driven that before? Are there views, photo ops, etc.”

“Yes, and yes.

Beautiful Drive. At the Balsam Mountain entrance, there is a unique Masonic Marker. If I were going over there, I would go on out to Maggie Valley and up to Cataloochee and back across to Cosby on the return to Elkmont.

I would plan on at least an hour to get to BRP given the fall crowd.”

“He he he Balsam Mtn... one of the reasons I got a Subaru! I don't remember the views if any, but I do remember good color the last time I drove it. There's one spot where the road has a nice tight switchback that made me glad my car was on the small side.”

“http://www.onelook.com/

Quick definitions (epiphyte)

noun: plant that derives moisture and nutrients from the air and rain; usually grows on another plant but not parasitic on it
last edited: 10/18/07 8:09:56 AM”

“translation for Tilt: Laurel doesn't eat much, and sometimes its problematic.”

“LMAO @ tb.”

“I was just up there on the 6th.... The color was just starting.  There's One spot along the road with a view through the trees.  Nice drive, though.  The best actual view is from the Heintooga Overlook (just a short stroll from the parking area where the road begins).

That's a wild picnic area up there too.... benches made from split logs and the table tops are slabs of granite (or moss-covered concrete).”

“I have a 99 Jeep Cherokee so I am not worried about the road.
I was kind of figuring 1-2 hours to get there because of the fall color seekers.

Chili, that would be a nice drive all the way back around the park. I doubt I will do that this weekend but it would make for a nice spring drive.”

“I have done it a couple times. It is pretty much an all day affair if you stop to take pics, eat, etc.”

“Yup --- kinda figured, from the defn and the context.

I'm not one of the Pod People < GRIN >, so I had no idea what an 'epiphyte' was... (like one of those 'Air Plants' from the 1970s, I'm guessing)”

“Ever heard of Spanish Moss? And you live in the South, how shameful. ;P”

“All I know about Spanish Moss is "Don't touch it! It's loaded with chiggers!"

At least that's how the saying goes.”

“You know I've never gotten chiggers or ticks from Spanish moss but I have gotten them from ordinary grass and palmettos.”

“Last attack I got was in a blackberry patch.”

“I can put 3 more people in my car if anyone wants to go on Balsam Mtn road with me”

“I wanna drive! Lol!”

“you can but from the backseat..lol”

“sooo where will we be hiking to? I've never been to the Smokies and I wanna see somethin sterotypical Smoky Mountainish...with the exception of tourists, that is.”

“I plan to hike wherever my five year old drags me.

Other than that, I'm open.”

“grasshopper, chili mentioned doing a hike that will require a shuttle. I was thinking it was the Laurel Falls trail...you will see tourons on the first part of the trail.”

“Well IF a person was going to come over on Saturday morning from Asheville...what would be the easiest less confusing route for them to take?”

“Just do 40 to 74 to the blue ridge parkway. GO towards the Smokies, turn right at the terminus/441, go through the park, and when you get to Sugarlands center turn left. Follow that road for a mile or so. Elkmont will be on the left.”

“That is what someone advised. Thanks Tree..are you feeling better?”

“Yeah, just contending with sinus congestion and an altered voice right now. Usually I end up sounding like Lauren Bacall, but this time its a little rougher. Not quite as bad as Marge Simpson's sisters, though.”

“LMAO....just tell everyone it is your sexy bedroom voice. :-)”

“HPM likes it. ;D”

“That's all that matters!”

“Chili and who ever else is doin the hike sat Laurrell falls. Let do dinner somewhere out ifin you want. I will have food to cook so I can be flexible.
Clingmans dome sun morn, will we not have a load of fog???? Please clear this up for me. Thank you. Latter jer Yo bear!”

“What time would be a good time to wander into camp Saturday morning?
last edited: 10/18/07 3:22:33 PM”

“Whenever you like. I don't know if I'll be up for much hiking but I do plan to get some drawing time in.”

“I just don't want to get there too early and wake the dead! LOL”

“It's almost Halloween. Go for it!”

“I've gotten used to having my alarm go off at 5:30 am, alas.”

“Well...I'll just follow the smell of breakfast...!!! And listen for the late morning snores!”

“Fri
Oct 19 AM T-Storms
70°/40° 60%



Sat
Oct 20 Sunny
69°/35° 20%”

“Seriously don't worry about it. Just wander in any old time.

On any TT trip there is always a mix of early risers and those who prefer to wake at the crack o'noon.”

“and if u havent eaten there will be plenty of left overs”

“we will see ya all tonight keep the fire burnin. should be there before..... c ya yo bear. Breakfast burritos mmmmmmmm!”

“crazygurl,

don't worry about the time...i'm usually wide awake at about 5 am...”

“HPM and Laurel are on their way. I'm not comfortable with going on this trip with the amount of chest congestion I have this morning, so I'm staying home to hock it all out in private.”

“Tree...sorry you aren't feeling up to snuff still.

You have 'tree mail!' :-)”