Cumberland Gap turkey day trek

“Nov 22-25 hike.
See trip page. Yo bear”

“I would need some big things to happen for this to fall into place... but I always do try to do a trip over Thanksgiving (just normally way closer to home).

... Fingers crossed! ... Thanks for posting it, Jerbear!”

“:p

Nice disclaimer. lol

You are going to looooove this hike! We went the opposite direction.

White Rocks is amazing to night hike to and star gaze. :)

Lizs, you should totally come! Lots of history. }:)
last edited: 10/04/07 3:41:49 AM”

“Oh, and FYI on Gibson Gap water.

There is a spring about 343 paces from the Gibson Gap camp.

Ummmm.... Lemme look at my map tonight and I'll let you know which direction. If I were there, I'd know exactly where to go.

It is a bit difficult to find as it is surrounded by rhodos. Very pretty area to sit on the rock that's there, though. :)
last edited: 10/04/07 5:02:06 AM”

“OH!

And not sure about the Hennsley camp, but Gibson Gap camp and White Rocks camp use bear cables!

Makes things soooo much simpler!

Dammit. I'm just signing up as a definite.”

“Ms. Doolittle,

did you say paces?...omg”

“Only in a completely funning type of way, Stokley. ;)

Did you read his description of the hike? lol”

“Count me in as a definate.”

“no, hadn't read the whole thing...typing is not his forte (although, i do like his disclaimer)”

“lmao....

I promise not to sprain my ankle on this one. :p

And there's no WAY you can get lost there. ;)”

“Humpf and 320 paces Rotflmao!
yea, what Stokley says! Yo bear we have us a hike in progress.
Ms doolittle, what type of map do you have? National parks? I need one.
Yo bear, and welcome aboard chili and doo!
Come on liz! Long time, I have went bald and i have grey beard. Oh I had that when I metr her. Oh well”

“Yes, it is a National Park map. It's like the one I ended up with from RRG last weekend. Only, they were kind enough to fit it on two pieces of cardboard instead of 5. :p

This is where I bought my map from:

http://outragegis.com/index/outrage2005.html

The spring I spoke of at Gibson Gap camp is on the map as well.”

“MsD, are you the camp chef for this trip?”

“sounds like a good trip but I will be section hiking the AT Thanksgiving weekend”

“Ha!

You should have seen the stuff Jerbear was whipping up last weekend. Put my dehydrated chili and pasta to shame. :(

Wanna come with, NG? :D

We could use a nice Italian boy to cook for us. ;) Easy-peasy, scenic hike.
last edited: 10/04/07 7:34:35 PM”

“Oh, and for anyone interested, here is my complete album for Cumberland Gap. I'm a bit enamored with the place. ;)

http://www1.soundsofthedesert.org/cumberlandgap2007.htm

TR:

http://www1.soundsofthedesert.org/cumberlandgaptr.htm”

““Oh, and for anyone interested, here is my complete album for Cumberland Gap. I'm a bit enamored with the place. ;)
MsDoolittle

Yeah I was too for a few years but haven't been there for a while. White rocks is excellent. Had lunch up there several times.”

“nice pics doo! this will be a good time!”

“Worked some things out with Stokley via e-mail, today. Should be able to keep the family happy and still get a good hike in over Thanksgiving. :)

Won't be anywhere near Black Friday, thank the Gods.

Thanks, Jerbear! Glad you enjoyed them. :)”

“Yo bear...i see it is a dog friendly park.
just might be a maybe on this one”

“Is it a hard 10 miles from the start to Friday night's campsite?

I'd like to come down, but won't be able to get away on Thursday.”

“Ductape, the first 2.5 miles are flat, taking Gibson Gap trail. The last two'ish miles are up 1,350' to Gibson Gap camp. At that point, you take a right onto the ridge trail. There are a couple good climbs there, but really quite doable.

I believe Stokley and I will be hiking in early on Friday morning if you want to join us.

disclaimer: Seems I've become quite the masochist. I take no responsibility in what one would deem 'difficult'. :-|
last edited: 10/09/07 6:10:44 AM”

“I agree with Ms. Doo...EARLY Friday morning or possibly late Thursday night...is my disclaimer! Anyone welcomed!”

“Hey Ductape I was thinking the same thing...when were you thinking about leaving?”

“Oh sure, you guys don't want to hike in with us girls. I challenge you to a hike-off!

Okay, so I'm getting a little carried away with the ".....-offs".

If you choose not to hike with us, hopefully we'll pass you on the trail or see you in camp. ;)”

“i say, pass them on the trail...with heavier packs”

“tee hee.... I like the way you think, Stokley. :)

A little healthy competition never hurt anyone.
last edited: 10/09/07 1:21:00 PM”

“I will be there on Turkey day.”

“me too, actually wed nightish.”

“Oh sure, you guys don't want to hike in with us girls. I challenge you to a hike-off!

Thats it :p~
Actually it's like a 9 hr drive for me and I can't leave till Thur afternoon..I suppose I could get there in time to hike in Fri morning as long as one of you two will carry my pack for me :p~ lol”

“1.yo bear, are your reservations including Wednesday night? If not,
2. if the universe unfolds this trip for me, I would be traveling on Wednesday,so, what would be the likelihood I could call and get a reservation for WEdnesday night now? I am all about letting the universe unfold the path, but I wouldn't expect it to make my reservations.
3. After coming so far and being trapped in a car for so long, I would naturally want to do the loop hike to Tri State Peak. Would you think that would be a doable day hike even if it meant some night hiking coming back to the campground? or is there a backcountry site along that trail...? and finally
4. should i bring the tofurky? just kidding, boca chicken patties with mushroom gravy are much tastier...... :)”

“OM I anm not sure what time I will be there wed.I have a universe also. need to shuttle cars. TRI state? Need to look at that. I will either sleep in car or go to campground. I DO NOT have resevations for wed.
Let the universe unfold and will see you.
I have heard rumors that some mich people may be there. Kewl, Yo bear jer”

“one of us will carry your pack and the other will help you with your walker (just kidding) Ms. Doo, why did you start this?
i'm really a nice person..i really am

Come and hike with us!”

“hehehe....

Stokley is a quick learner. She's discovering her inner evil. ;) I'm so proud.
last edited: 10/10/07 6:02:07 AM”

“Geez Stokely, I expected this from Doo...but you too? :p~
This is lookin pretty good actually, I'm thinkin if I can hit the road by mid afternoon or so I can still get down there before to late .
Are you guys...uh hum I mean...ladies, planning on night hiking in or just hiking in Fri morning?
last edited: 10/10/07 6:14:29 AM”

“That's still to be determined. We're discussing. We're not certain what the bear activity might be like. We'd rather not night hike that if they're still roaming around. ;)

Hey! Wait a minute! You "expected" that from me? I thought I was pretty quiet.... :-|

Well, except for on threads I'm active on. :p
last edited: 10/10/07 6:39:00 AM”

“Hey! Wait a minute! You "expected" that from me? I thought I was pretty quiet.... :-|

Lol I'm pretty sure the last time I hiked with you, you were most definitely NOT quiet :p~

As for night hiking with the bears...where's your sense of adventure? :D”

“Lol I'm pretty sure the last time I hiked with you, you were most definitely NOT quiet :p~

Eh? Refresh my memory? Which trip were you on that I was on? lol I've only been on 3 TT trips and 2 of them were huge. :-|

I'm only now coming out of my TT shell... ]:-)”

“Eh? Refresh my memory? Which trip were you on that I was on? lol I've only been on 3 TT trips and 2 of them were huge. :-|

Let's just put it this way....I'm not surprised you don't remember :p~

There may have been a LITTLE alcohol involved !
I have pics somewhere if you want me to post a couple to remind ya :D”

“Ah, must have been the Deam. However, I'll remind you that I was pretty quiet for that. And I really didn't have much to drink. It was all too overwhelming, especially since I knew no one on that trip.

Now, I drank a bit too much at Mammoth Cave the first night. :p
last edited: 10/10/07 7:49:11 AM”

“lol ok I'm going to look for the pics :D
And maybe that was ME that had to much to drink ! lol”

“make sure you yankees go back home after visiting..we already have enough of yall down here ;)”

“lol I'll remember that the next time you wanna come up and hike with us yankees!”

“if i can get away thursday evening, i'd like to drive down and camp in the campground...or if there are several of us, hike on in...in the dark...with the bears. i'm hiking in the middle!

All depends on family stuff and when Ms. Doo can get to KY...time left to plan”

“I think that I might add myself in as a go for this trip as my first time hiking with the TT'ers. I did some packing a couple of years ago and have really been itching to get back into it. From what I can see, this would be a good trip for someone just getting back into it/beginner?
Questions:
1. Is there anyone coming from the Indianapolis area on Thursday that I might be able to meet up with/tag along with?
2. Bears? Someone is going to have to skool me on the camping with bears thing. Once again, I am from Indy. The closest bears around me are in Chicago...and you can imagine how I would feel about Chicago Bears.
3. Someone mentioned that this might be a dog-friendly trip?
4. Where might I be able to get some literaure on the area that we will be hiking”

“Lemme see if I can answer your questions...

1. I dunno. lol

2. Bears won't be a huge concern at that time, they should all be pretty much denned up by then. But, the park service installed cables to hang food bags every night. It makes bear bagging super easy. ;)

3. National Parks usually aren't dog friendly, but according to the NPS website, dogs are allowed in this park.
Q: Are dogs allowed on the hiking trails?
A: Yes! Cumberland Gap is a pet friendly park. Dogs are allowed on the trails as long as they are on a leash.

4. http://www.nps.gov/cuga/
I also posted a link to mappage earlier in this thread. That will show you the trails we'll be hiking.”

“Only every other TT'er is from Indy. You shouldn't have a problem carpooling.

In fact, maybe we should put a restriction on any more hoosiers joining our group! :p”

“Good to hear about all of the Hoosiers. I guess I really wouldn't think that there would be too many of us considering the lack of vertical terrain in Indy.

I guess I really don't know exactly how this works. Should I have talked to jerbear before just inviting myself?”