Bone Valley - GSMNP

“Ok. Not a kid. Mine are 14 and almost 12.”

“Just talked to the guy..

$50 round trip, per person. First takeover in the morning is at 9:30am. Pickups from other side to go back at 10am, 1pm, and 3:30pm.

Canoes for rent, $50/day.

If daughter goes, could do a one way from Clingmans to Ollie Cove.. set up a pre-arranged pickup time.. so she would not have to make that "deathmarch" on the way out.. and it would be "downhill."

If daughter doesn't go, will prolly still do the total 34mi haul -- just cause it's there, and I've never done it.
last edited: 7/15/09 10:58:19 AM”

“i'll post clingmans dome to ollie cove later. i have that one already via either welch or hazel.. can't recall how many miles are each but there is only a couple of miles difference between. hazel being the shorter way.

i was also looking at clingmans to fontana.. didn't look too bad but will post them up later tonight.. maybe.. heading to WV tomorrow..

also, if you want other profiles, let me know what trails.. i know i have a few other option already mapped out as i was just trying to figure out other hikes in the area.. i'm pretty sure i have at least one profile from bone v to the tunnel.. i think.. if not, i can make it happen anyway.

TD, which one is your daughter? either way, niiiiiiiiiiice. :D :D :D
last edited: 7/15/09 11:04:19 AM”

“you got mail offtrack.”

“TD, I think it is $75 round trip for up to six, but I need to confirm that.”

“For the canoe trip I would recommend starting at Cable Cove boat ramp by that campground. It is then directly across the lake to the mouth of Hazel Ck. 2-3 miles up the creek to the "new" take out. Lock up your canoe to a tree with a bike lock and start hiking. It's about 5-6 miles to #83 from there. All Road walking and easy grades. Sorry to hi-jack your thread TD, I just would like to go and this is the only way I would have time to make it. I forgot that Monday was a holiday also.”

“karo - I wish I HAD a canoe.

chili36 - well the guy didnt tell me that. I called him and said it was 25/one way, per person.. no quantity discount.”

“Hmmm. I have to start thinking about this one. I need to shop this out.”

“Well I figure we need to study every option/approach/plan -- and just determine which path/trail makes the most sense for all of us.”

“clingmans-hazel-bone-ollie


clingmans-welch-bone-ollie


ollie-bone-"pinnacle cr"-eagle-lakeshore-fontana


the highest point here ^^ is the Pickens gap which is a hair to the E of that dot or basically above the "e" in "the" (pinnacle)


ollie-bone-tunnel



i'll try to check with you guys tomorrow before i leave for the weekend.
last edited: 7/15/09 8:20:47 PM”

“I can borrow my neighbor's canoe just about anytime. We took it last time I went to Hazel Ck. It was a lot of fun taking it up Tail of the Dragon on top of my Blazer. Your daughter can sit in the center with our packs and the three of us can take it across the lake, no problem. No cost except the gas to drive there. Just meet me at my house either after I get off work on Friday at 2 or I'll see if I can leave at 10:00 am. unless I get the whole day off. Being a holiday weekend that might be a tough day to get a vacation, but hey its my anniversary, yeah that's the ticket!”

“well the guy didnt tell me that. I called him and said it was $25/one way, per person.. no quantity discount.”
TownDawg

What kind of boat is this? Do they serve cocktails? Daum...what a racket!”

“No kidding.”

“They serve spring water and mountain sushi (which I think is just a big minnow with head and tail removed).”

“karo -- give me a call.. do you know my work number?

area code seven three one, and then two six five, five zero one five.
last edited: 7/16/09 7:52:41 AM”

“Right now I'm considering a couple of ideas..

THANK you off-track -- those elevation profiles REALLY helped!! I printed all four out, and studying them now.
last edited: 7/16/09 7:53:17 AM”

“TD, if you didn't notice, i did respond to your email. :)”

“whats the exaggeration on all these scary-ass profiles that offtrack is presenting?”

“crashbang -- offtrack and I were just talking about that on the phone -- see Kenneth Wise and others write about my original route like its really not that big a deal.. I've about decided that if my daughter goes, I'm going to canoe over from Cable Cove CG and if she doesn't -- then do the original 34mi deathmarch.”

“FYI -- I will be calling GSMNP in about a week (Wednesday August 5) to reserve CS#83 for all of us. I'll do my best to get 8 spots for Saturday Sept 5.

The rest of the campsites, depending on what we all need, don't require the advance phone call.”

“double springs gap shelter does too unless you have totally abandoned the original idea.”

“Have they renovated Double Springs yet?”

“Check out tnhiker's trip(s) to Hazel Ck. and GSMNP:
http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/2221093_LH5S4/1/115689936_adYPT#115689936_adYPT
last edited: 7/21/09 12:02:40 PM”

“Note: those pics were before the shelter at Double Springs was renovated, here are some newer ones:
http://tnhiker.smugmug.com/gallery/8846135_2ZXTo#586280165_uVdCB”

“He even has all the newer style shelters in this album:
http://tnhiker.smugmug.com/gallery/4385136_7KBsY#257490153_yeRuq”

“Al's pics of Bone Valley Ck.:
http://tnhiker.smugmug.com/gallery/2222704_Va8Te#115790521_oSyiz”

“http://tnhiker.smugmug.com/photos/586349319_YyFPJ-L.jpg

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/8624/clinghazelollie.jpg

lol.. his doesn't look any different.
last edited: 7/21/09 3:49:19 PM”

“Holy crap! They turned the hell hole inn (Double Springs) into a damn resort.”

“Those fishing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that are just getting started may be surprised to learn that catching the wild trout in the small streams requires some skills they may have not associated with fly-fishing.

1.Hiding and sneaking up on trout the trout is a big part of it. Trout spook very easy.

2. Being able to get your fly to drift naturally or what anglers call a "drag free drift" in turbulent water with cross currents is another.

3. Casting in small streams that are totally enclosed with tree limbs is another.

4. Being able to cast a fly a long distance is not one of them. Short, pile, curve, roll and other types of "messed up" cast are necessary.

5. Having a huge amount of expensive fly gear is not a requirement.

6. Having inside knowledge of secret fishing holes is not a part of it. Trout are abundant in all of the streams.

7. Those new to fly-fishing for trout may also be surprised to learn that the trout they are trying to catch are relatively small but that they are either native or wild trout that were born in the streams. The trout are not stocked trout from a hatchery.

8. Fly-fishing the park is not difficult. Once you get the hang of a few basics techniques, you should be able to catch a few trout.

9. Never forget that the experience of fly-fishing should be fun, peaceful and relaxing. Being able to enjoy the day should be your first priority.”

“dynamite?”

“batteries work well although they are a bit heavy. ;)”

“I went back and read all the trail descriptions again.. paying close attention to difficulty and elevation change.. I really really don't think it would be THAT tough to do my original plan, and if my daughter bows out, will most likely do the original itinerary.

If she does come along, then I will be boating in from cable cove CG.”

“Hello everyone. I am pleased to report that I have located: 1) canoe with a boat trailer, and 2) an inflatable 3-person raft.

I've looked at the canoe, and it's in good shape, but the trailer really needs tires and the bearings packed before I haul it to east Tennessee. Dude said he'd let me borrow it for free, and if he chips in $50 on the new tires, the balance from the tie shop is only about $60.

However, I should be able to see the raft tomorrow, and as fa as I know right now, all it needs is a foot pump. So yeah, I'm definitely excited.

My current plans are to embark from Cable Cove CG, unless my daughter bails on me -- in which case I might /still/ do the infamous "deathmarch."

Either way, I will be calling GSMNP to attempt to secure CS83 for all of us on Saturday night.
last edited: 7/30/09 11:01:54 AM”

“Dude, if you make it across Fontana lake in a three person raft without collapsing from exhaustion, I will be somewhat shocked.”

“Lol, Chili...it might be good to go watch this endeavor from the shoreline.”

“I'm actually leaning toward the canoe.. I've never been in a rubber raft.”

“Kayak = hot, sharp steak knife through butter
Canoe = sharp steak knife through butter
Rubber raft = butterknife through cold butter
last edited: 7/30/09 2:13:28 PM”

“I would say more like a butterknife through a tough steak, but, hey, that might be an overkill.”

“In a head wind, a rubber raft is more like a spoon through a tough steak.”

“it's more like a feather on ice.. you ain't going far.. lol.. it actually depends on the raft.. if it's el cheapo kind, forget it.. if it's a ww raft or better yet, a catamaran like one with set oars and oar seats... that may work...


so TD, what is the plan actually now.. let's say your daughter comes.. when are you leaving etc..? still on thursday night?”

“offtrack -- assuming my daughter joins.. my current plan is to drive to cable cove CG when I get off work Thursday.. and cross the lake Friday morning.

but that is still subject to change.. I will know more once she gets her classes set for the fall semester.”

“Then of course she will discover the strip...will have called TD for "book money" and he will be broke and can't go.

But hey, hyway is having a cool trip at the beach!”

“ouch.. don't jinx her like that. :D”

“I thought my friend had an "inflatable raft".. it's not.. it's a 3-person inflatable canoe.

”

“Your "friend" is bound and determined to have all of your gear at the absolute bottom of Fontana Lake.

;-)”

“ya.. the bad thing about that thing.. is i dont see anywhere to lash it all down.”

“lol.. the inflatable kayak will work but will only haul one person and their backpack or just 2 people.. i don't see it otherwise.. however, the canoe will hold at least 3 backpacks and maybe even 4. so, with those two boats, you could get 4 peeps to shore.. hopefully safely. :)”

“TD remember Madman?

He used an inflatable like that to reach one of the boat-in campsites on Fontana a year or so back. He said it did ok but if the wind came up even a little it was brutal.”