Hemphill Bald and Cataloochie Area

“Balsam Mt campground is closed (until May), but from what I can tell, Mile High is year round. (They post two contact numbers.) I've got a call into them, and will let you know what I find out.
last edited: 1/02/08 10:31:13 AM”

“I thought they closed at the end of October.

Maybe I am wrong on that.”

“If that falls through.. we have a few other (Cataloochie for example) options.. but I'm hoping this one will work out.”

“isn't Smokemont open all yr?”

“Smokemont is another option.. 3/1-12/31


Balsam Mountain: 5/9-10/14
Cataloochee: 3/7-10/31
last edited: 1/02/08 11:00:15 AM”

“By the way, if anyone wants to come hike Saturday only -- we could make arrangements to pick you up at "The Swag".

http://www.theswag.com/directions.html



Crazygurl for example -- I know you don't overnight and only dayhike. If you and anyone else want to be at "The Swag" on Saturday morning, we could make arrangements to pick you up so you could hike up and over Hemphill Bald with all of us.”

“Just letting you guys know, Smokemont is closed at least through the end of February. They're replacing all of the water and sewer lines in the cg.”

“It almost seems like we could also get away with stealth camping at Flat Creek Falls?




Wow -- then again.. maybe not. "Backpackers and hikers are subject to all Backcountry Rules and Regulations. Failure to abide by park regulations may subject you to a fine under Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations. Maximum fine for each violation is $5,000 and/or 6 months in jail."

Treebait -- the trip isn't until the last weekend in April -- so we should be ok.
last edited: 1/02/08 1:57:55 PM”

“Whoa -- I may have found a show stopper.

Heintooga Ridge Road
Closed for the winter. Will reopen May 9, 2008.
Buses, RVs and motorhomes are prohibited on this road.

I need to call the park.”

“Just for future reference that notation on the map "(closed in winter)" applies to the road that it is printed under.”

“hehe.. smartass. The park office never mentioned it -- and I discussed the trip with them at length.

Appalachian Trail Days 2008 will take place May 16, 17, and 18 -- hMmmm..

Weekend of May 23rd? May 30th?.. I've got to check and see when I am supposed to get back from my Utah trip.

Or we could keep the original date and just re-route the trip to start/stop at Cataloochie.

Would y'all prefer to go with that option?.. just re-routing it, and keep the same weekend? or would you prefer we pick a different weekend?
last edited: 1/02/08 2:06:07 PM”

“It makes no difference to me; I should be able to be there anytime after the first week in March. The only other trip I have on my schedule after March is the McAffee Knob trip April 18-21, and I will probably do two trips a month until the summer heat gets to me.”

“doesn't matter when you plan it someone will have problems with it..pick a date and run with it.
If I can make it I will drive up Friday after work and park at the Polls Gap trailhead or somewhere else along the way. Either way i will see you Sat morning”

“OPTION 1: From Cataloochie, Rough Fork to Polls Gap, then Hemphill Bald to Double Gap, and then overnight at CS #41. Caldwell Fork to Big Fork and out.

OPTION 2: From The Swag, Hemphill Bald to Double Gap, on to Polls Gap, Rough Fork, then Caldwell Fork and then overnight at CS #41. Continue on Caldwell Fork to McKee Branch to Appalachian Highlands Learning Center, and then Cataloochie divide Trail back to The Swag and out.

OPTION 3: Original route, a few weekends later.”

“what is wrong with this route?
Saturday: from Polls gap trailhead take Hemphill Bald to McKee Branch to Caldwell Fork then to CS 41 (11 miles)
Suday: Caldwell Fork to Rough Fork and back to trailhead (5.2 miles)”

“Eddy -- You can't get to Polls Gap until May 8th. Heintooga road closes in winter.”

“Thought the trip was in May? Did you change it?”

“LOL. Somebody please help TD with this.”

“Ewker my boy.. you have to keep up child. (poke poke) I had it originally in May -- but I got asked to change it because of Trail Days.. (which begs the question.. how many would not go if I put it back to the original weekend, which would solve the whole "road closed for the winter" problem.

Chili, that's what I get for trying to come up with a plan that works for everybody. By the way, call my cell sometime today. The only number I have on you is your old 901 number.
last edited: 1/03/08 7:15:42 AM”

“I will go on either date.”

“calling now TD”

“rang 15 times, no answer, no voice mail”

“The Heintooga Road does not enter GSMNP until it reaches Black Camp Gap, about 2 to 2.5 miles from the start. Also, it is a Spur Road of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I believe there are additional road barriers after Black Camp Gap and after Poll's Gap. These may or not be set closed.

It is posssible that the Park might open sections or all of the road to permit access to trailheads. And they might do it for a special request. Even if they only permit road travel to Black Camp Gap, you might want to hike from there to Poll's Gap, about 1.5 to 2 miles.

So, I suggest that you keep your options open and check with the Park Office People shortly before the trip.

Please be aware that: "Due to extreme fire danger, all areas of the backcountry within the boundaries of the national park are closed to any open fires such as campfires. The use of camp stoves and pack stoves is still permitted. This closure is intended to mitigate the potential for human-caused wild land fires."
http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm”

“If we still have a fire ban in May, things are going to become desperate in terms of water availability.

Surely we will get plenty of snow and rain between now and then.

The Little River in Townsend is gradually creeping up. Still not back to normal however.”

“Temporary Closures
• US-441 (Newfound Gap Road) between Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC
• NC-284 between Big Creek and Cataloochee
• Cataloochee entrance road
• Cherokee Orchard Road
• Foothills Parkway East
• Forge Creek Road

Water Problems - No water available at the following sites:
• Backcountry Campsites 4, 5, 6, 7, 16, 19, 21, 26, 35, 42

The recent rain is not expected to provide any long term improvement in the water supply at these springs.”

“It will take a few months of sustained rain/snow to get us out of the hole.

If we go into May as dry as it was last year, bad things are going to happen.”

“North Carolina lifted the statewide fire ban yesterday.”

“Thank you NS. Actually.. I have some new information.. as provided by another ranger at GSMNP.. let me verify something with the BRP folks, and I will get back to everyone.”

“This should be the best planned trip in the history of TD hikes.


Who wants to bet he gets lost on this one?”

“There are indeed several gates.. however the ones that would affect us getting to Polls Gap are based on weather conditions only. They do not have any set open/close dates.

YAY. The original plan is on. :)..

Now all I have to do is get a response back from Mile High Campground.

If we went today, Soco Gap and Oconaluftee gates ARE closed, but there is no reason that we /won't/ be able to get to Polls Gap the last week of April.

Chili -- heh.. I'll take that bet.
last edited: 1/04/08 8:01:01 AM”

“I'm in.”

“Oh really? ;)”

“You can come too. :)”

“

"Who wants to bet he gets lost on this one?”
chili

Heck, he's already been lost several times just trying to plan the trip!”

“well crap.. I just got an update.. (the ranger I talked to confirmed everything I was told this morning with the supervisor) and it's not pleasant.. clearly a case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing.

Apparently the park DOES gate one of the gates (right at the entrance), and yes it will be closed the weekend we plan to backpack, and NO they don't make any exceptions.

“OPTION 1: From Cataloochie, Rough Fork to Polls Gap, then Hemphill Bald to Double Gap, and then overnight at CS #41. Caldwell Fork to Big Fork and out.

OPTION 2: From The Swag, Hemphill Bald to Double Gap, on to Polls Gap, Rough Fork, then Caldwell Fork and then overnight at CS #41. Continue on Caldwell Fork to McKee Branch to Appalachian Highlands Learning Center, and then Cataloochie divide Trail back to The Swag and out.

My vote is that we start/stop at The Swag, but Cataloochie is another way to route our trip.
last edited: 1/04/08 9:58:51 AM”

“Man got all the way to the moon with less fanfare than this trip is taking.”

“The only good thing I can say.. if the chase is only makes the capture better -- then this should be an AWESOME trip.

Why don't we just do OPTION 1 listed above, and make it easiest for everyone.
last edited: 1/04/08 10:01:17 AM”

“It's better that we find out now than the Saturday of the trip.

Where is the swag? I don't see it on my map.”

“About a 1/2 - 1 mile east of Double Gap.

http://www.theswag.com/
last edited: 1/04/08 10:02:24 AM”

“gawd, option 1 is a killer day 1 though.. (15 mi)

option 1 is easier logistically, but option 2 is a better day 1 mileage (12 mi)
last edited: 1/04/08 10:05:23 AM”

“crap.

I give up.. did anyone notice that this is Easter weekend?”

“Who would I lose if I put this trip back on Trail Days (May 16, 17, and 18) weekend? I need to know. Putting the trip back to the original date would solve every problem.

Or even Memorial Day (May 26) weekend?

I'm back to thinking we just need to change the date and be done with it. Trying to do the trip the last weekend in April is really ticking me off. ;)
last edited: 1/04/08 10:23:23 AM”

“It's your trip, bro.

Set the damn thing whenever you want it. People will show up, or they won't.”

“IMO you will lose folks to Trail Days. Memorial Day is good plus it is a 3 day weekend which means a longer hike”

“I'm leaning toward Memorial Day weekend.”

“Easter is in March this year, March 23 to be exact.”

“I will go if it is in April, or Trail Days weekend, or Memorial Day. If we do it on Memorial Day weekend I would rather do a 3 day trip in the area.

I am surprised that at the end of April there are still so many roads closed.”

“oh.. you are right Mocs123.. hMmm.. well I hope I am not talking this trip to death.. I just wanted to think through everything before (like you said) we discover our best laid plans are effed up on Saturday.

I'm still thinking we should strongly consider moving it to the Memorial Day weekend though.”

“After careful consideration to a number of factors, I've elected to move this backpacking trip to the second weekend in May. The best route starts/stops from Polls Gap, and the access road to that point of departure will not be open until May 9th. As you know, TrailDays is May 16 thru May 18.. and my Utah trip is May 23 thru June 1..

So May 9 - 11 appears to be the only weekend that would work.. Please update your trip status (Yes/No/Maybe) when you can. Thanks !!
last edited: 1/07/08 7:18:17 AM”

“Can't do it.
We are heading to RRG that weekend.
Y'all have fun.”