Hemphill Bald and Cataloochie Area

“all right karo.. you are def talking me into it.. if I can just remember everything you taught me.”

“dynamite”

“Karo -- meet me for breakfast somewhere on the morning of the 9th. Plan on talking about fly fishing with me. :)”

“ok”

“off 2 'dega, c ya later”

“Which campsite will we be staying at Saturday night. Description says #41, yet one post mentioned #40.

Also, do we need to make individual reservations at the Mile High Campground.

Got out this past weekend. Went in at Newfound Gap, hiked past Charlie's Bunion, then down Dry Sluice and Grassy Branch to Kephart shelter. Next morning up Sweat Heifer and back to truck. Had good weather and a nice hike.”

“Hi trapper -- Exactly the same as the itinerary.. overnight at 41, lunch at 40.

I will reserve at least one site at Mile High.. and try to hold the one adjacent to me if we need more room.”

“Finally got a new voice message from Mile High Campground -- have yet to actually reach them on the phone -- but their voicemail says they aren't open until May 15.

I'll be thinking through some other options, but the simplest would be to just stay at Balsam Mountain CG, right?
last edited: 4/23/08 12:25:02 PM”

“FALSE ALARM.

(I edited this post.)

We'll stay at Blasam Mountain Campground.

I'll edit the trips page.
last edited: 4/23/08 1:59:28 PM”

“About two weeks to go, and the excitement is building. If work will just stay stable, the days should go fast.. I'm excited for this trip, and the scenery should be outstanding. I talked to the park rangers yesterday, and they said even the fly-fishing should be good. Now if I can just decide what I'm cooking for the trip.

By the way, what's your estimated arrival at the campground? I plan on leaving the house pretty early on Friday, make a swing through south Nashville to pick up Karo's fly rod, and then on to east Tennessee. I'm guessing that I will be at Balsam Mt campground about lunch time on Friday. How about y'all?”

“I should be there around six-ish.”

“I should be there around six as well.”

“It's Monday, and everything's still a go here.

Y'all have a safe and good week.”

“Wish I could go :-( Have fun!”

“See you there TD”

“It's Tuesday, and every thing's still a go here.

Monday was a killer.. but my next big deliverable is Thursday.. but lots to do today.”

“Moc123, or trapper -- since y'all are going to be there at 6pm.. I have a favor.. if I am not in the campground by the time that one of you get there, would you get me a site also?..

I'm definitely coming, but won't be there by 6pm unless something miraculous happens.

If one of you will get me a site, I can pay you the 14 dollars when I get there?”

“One more request.. so we can find each other easier.. I'll be driving a Ford F150 truck.. brown with a cover over the pickup bed..

Y'all please post what you are driving, or email it so we can find each other.”

“Just signed up, twice, one for me and one for my friend. We'll be there between 5 and 6, and in a Nissan Altima w/ Ohio plates. We'll make a round before taking sites to make sure we're the first ones and we don't double up on campsites.”

“I will be glad to get you a spot if I get there before you TD. I will be in a newer white Nissan Frontier with Tennessee Tags.”

“I will be driving a red Ford Ranger with NC tags.”

“Update on friday.. i wont get to leave here until 2pm.. its 3hrs to nashville.. another three or so to nc.. 6hrs after 2, plus time change.. and one stop on the way.. 10pm estimated arrival time, but dont expect me before midnight.

Going to be a nice weekend I think.”

“I'm in then I'm back out. My friend just told me he thought we'd be back home in the early afternoon. He has Mother's Day plans so we're gonna have to make it another time. Have fun.”

“sorry to hear it ductape. Hopefully either mocs or trapper will make sure i have a campsite.”

“So are we down to three or four?”

“Sorry I can't make it either, two birthdays and Mothers Day have me staying here. Esp. since one of the birthdays is mine and I got the feeling I am in for a surprise, LOL. I never had a surprise party before. But since I got wind of it I have to actually act surprised I guess.
TD, Give me a call and I can meet ya Friday afternoon. If you exit I-40 at Fairview and take 100 then 96 to Franklin, then meet me somewhere in Franklin or at my house, you can take 840 from my house and miss all the rush hour traffic in Nashvegas. I am about 3 miles from 840 near hwy 31 in Thompsons Station.”

“Can't leave work till 2pm Karo... puts me in Nashville about 5pm. Is the deal still on?

I'd like to do me some fly fishing..”

“out of here mr myspace.. headed to nc.. its all about the fun now.. look.. talking to you is grand.. but I'd rather be looking face to a mountain, than to be sitting here talking to you all day.

if u gotta say hi.. its easy. text to my email.com. most people that know me, know my cell, but my cell ain't got no text plan. so if ya wanna send me an update, text to my email. I'll be back on monday. take care.”

“Leaving today at 2pm. Expected arrival at campground sometime after 10pm. Please save me a tentsite.

Karo, I will give you a call once I get on the road to cross paths when I come thru Franklin.”

“Chris, Towndawg left my house around 7 pm. so expect him to arrive after midnight. He stopped by and got a refresher on casting and one of my pack rods with a box of flies, and nippers, hemostats, line straightener, etc. to set him up to fish. Good Luck on the fishing and the weather. I just wish I was going.”

“Karo...so if he doesn't get lost, wanna bet he hooks himself or others.

this should be a grrrreat trip report


we are watching TD...make it good.”

“Yeah I bet he hooked alot of tree fish. At least I did when I was last over there. Any fisherman who hasn't hooked at least one tree is not a true fisherman or is lying!
BTW where is the trip report or did they get lost again???”

“I just called TD's cell and got no answer. So I called his house. His wife said he made it back late last night. I'm not worried about the flyrod, I just wondered if they made it out ok. So.... where is the trip report. Everyone must be too busy catching up at work to post, LOL.”

“We made it out fine, nobody got lost this time, but we did have one member of the group get really wet. I'll save the details for TD and his trip report.

I should have my pics up in a day or two.”

“Pics are up (click the thumbnail for the whole album)


last edited: 5/13/08 5:32:34 AM”

“I'm buried at work, but here's a quick trip report.

Hiked. Fished. Cooked. Had fun.

I will get my pictures and videos uploaded as soon as possible.”

“Nice pics, thanks for sharing.”

“Yeah, great pics. Any fish??? I haven't had any luck fishing in the area.”

“I'm sorry guys. I just haven't had time to do anything lately.

Naw, I didn't actually catch anything, but if I based every hunting and fishing trip on what I actually caught -- hey.. life would be pretty dismal. The cliche is to talk about the one that got away you know..

Yeah, I hung my fly a few times, and had to retrieve it. Not many though.. maybe 6 times?

The part I wanted to tell you, is that I had been casting for as little while..working my way up the creek.. and thought, gee.. I can do this.. not paying a whole lot of attention, but yeah, I can do this.. and about that time I heard the line go wherrrrrrrr.. heh.. I was totally unprepared.. about the moment I realized that I had a strike, the fish had managed to get itself loose.

It was awesome. Just to get a good hit, was awesome. I caught a glimpse of him and I'd say he was a good 5 incher or so.

Let's see what else.. Mocs mentioned getting wet... Saturday night it came a flood.. literally.. and I had managed to put my tent right in the middle of it. I gave up on sleeping. Sat up in the middle of the new stream running through my tent and waited for the sun to come up.

Food was good.. even if I do say so myself. Mocs and trapper seemed to enjoy the samples.

Enjoyed the weekend immensely.

Sorry to be so long to post back. Thanks Brad and Curt. Good to hike with you both. :)

Oh.. by the way, I basically shot all movies.. give me a little while and I'll have it ready to upload.
last edited: 5/18/08 5:43:03 AM”