Tremont Trip Planning

“I haven't heard from Chitown on this, but since CS19 is such a crappy site (or at least it was in June '06), why don't we start at Tremont, hike over to 18, cut down and across Laurel Road, up to Scott Mtn Trail and over to CS6 (I believe the water situation should be good at 6 now that it has rained). We can come down Crooked Arm Ridge and shuttle back to Tremont.

Any objections? I am not hijacking the trip, just making a suggestion. If anyone wanted to join on Saturday Morning, they could meet us at Schoolhouse Gap TH. (We can make a side trip over to White Oak Sinks on this route. The wild flowers won't be in bloom, but it is a pretty area to hike to).”

“Looks like chitown dropped out of his own trip...”

“I noticed that.

I came across this over hte weekend, noticed yall weren't going and then Monday here you are.”

“I guess chili is planning to go.. I might..”

“I see where chi posted on the other thread. He has to go to chicago this weekend.”

“Sounds like a good trip to me.

I thought that I had found the White Oak Sinks, but not according to "the book." The book has it off of Scott Mtn. Trail. You might enjoy checking out the site that I found. I turned from Schoolhouse Gap Trail onto Turkeypen Ridge Trail and walked about 0.1 mile, 0.2 mile maximum. There was a large, somewhat open area on my right(northwest). It had some caves. One of the closest had water flowing out and a small waterfall back inside a ways. I did not enter. (One needs a permit from the Park to enter caves at White Oaks Sinks.)

Enjoy the hike. I'm waiting to hear about it.

BTW, three stops at CS#6 and I have not discovered the water source there, yet. On the last trip I hardly bothered to look.
last edited: 1/14/08 2:50:05 PM”

“About 100 feet north of where Turkey Pen runs into School House gap there is a manway off to the west (from SHG) that leads over to White Oak sinks. The "unofficial" trail is pretty worn down.

Given Chitown bailed, how many are interested in this trip?

Keep it or jettison it?”

“NS, the water is in the bottom of the ravine immediately to the east. The trail winds around above the source. There was plenty of water there in June '05, but I haven't been since.
last edited: 1/15/08 12:07:57 PM”

“Also, NS, there is a cabin on the top of Scott Mtn right on the Park Boundary that is located where the old power lines used to come across to Cades Cove. The old power line right of way runs down and about 100 yards east of where Scott Mtn Trail and Crooked Arm Ridge meet. CS 6 can't be more than a a half mile from that cabin (and probably closer to a quarter mile). The doctor who owns it had the material lifted by helicopter. They only go up there once or twice a year and go up by Jeep from Dry Valley IF the road is passable. Otherwise it is a horseback trip until they grade the road again.”

“I put myself down as a maybe. I will know more next week”

“My mom is having open heart on the 25th and I have to be in Chicago. I would rather be in the mountians with all of you instead. Maybe we can get a trip together sometime in Feb. Sorry, and I wish you all a good and safe hike. Please post some pics.”

“I didn't set this trip up but it looks like I might have inherited it.

Is anyone interested in this or should we just let it die?”

“I don't let many trips in the Smokies get by without me attending, but this time of year is busy and I just can't make anymore trips until Feburary.”

“What's the daily mileages on this trip?”

“I need to look at the map again, but about 2.5 on Friday. I am guessing around 8 on Saturday and about 4.5 on Sunday (all downhill).”

“I was close

http://www.cs.utk.edu/~dunigan/gsmnp/mrsid.php?res=1&olds=1&oldx=1974&oldy=2068&image.x=371&image.y=214

2.7 Friday (those coming late can meet us at School House Gap TH), 8 on Saturday, and it looks like it is closer to 3 for Sunday.

If it sleets or freezing rain for the weekend, I am not sure we can come down Crooked Arm Ridge, it is a monster. I took a beat down going up that trail a couple years ago.”

“Is that the trail where you broke your leg?”

“No, I broke my leg bushwhacking in Sipsey.

Crooked Arm Ridge is unmercifully steep.”

“nah that was the sipsey, a flatlander trail *grin*”

“Wasn't too damn flat where I went off the ledge.”

“I thought you stepped in one of those "post holes" that I found. I went past my knee on that one.”

“Hey Dude!!
Guitargal wants me to ask about a GSMNP Trip for the third week of March!
Kinda like what we talked about on the Cumberland trail!!
Anyway, if that’s still a possibility, get back with me. You can use my email address on my profile
See ya later.
Randall Roettger”

“No problem, Randall.

I will get you an email out in the next couple days.

In the meant time, due to lack of interest and the abandonment of the trip by the organizer, can we call this one dead?”