Smokies ?

“A few fellas and I are looking into a 3 day trip in the Smokies in late July or early August. I have the book Hiking Trails of the Smokies. Some of the trails are listed as hiking and horse trails. Are the multiuse trails worth taking for a hiker. I've never hiked in the Smokies. We're looking at going from the road to nowhere to the Janas Creek trail to Welch ridge trail to the AT to Clingmans Dome and down Noland Divide trail. We'll have two vehicles will shuttle between start and end. The horse/hiking trails that I've been on at Sipsey Wilderness just didn't have the same feeling as a hiking trail. Something about trees being 30' away instead of 2'. Thanks in advance, as I am geographically challenged in Alabama.”

“ps. I'll have to get a new handle if I keep taking these overnight trips.”

“I'm no expert on the Smokies but I'd suggest getting a back country permit(ASAP) and hiking the AT from Clingman's Dome to Fontana Dam. Since the Dome is the highest point on the AT it's all down hill to the dam(well mostly). There is a short side trail to a fire tower that is worth the detour for the view. You can even take a free shower at the dam's visitor center to freshen up. Also the restraunt at Fontana Village has a KILLER aged T-bone and/or try the Moose Tracks ice cream at the general store.”

“I second what the crow said but iffin ya want better stuff go on down the road a little ways to Joyce Kilmer area.”

“I heard they quit smokin'.”

“I'm going out of town for the week. When I get back I'm going to get the permit. One of the reasons I was looking at side trails was that the rationed shelters might be more readily available. I think I will look into the Dome to Dam part of the AT. Where is Joyce Kilmer, I didn't see it on a map.”

“In the smokies you need the permit for any overnight hike. You can get the permit when you get to the smokies.
The reservations are different. You can call and get the reservations. Last year when I went they would not take them more than 30 days in advance. I had already set up a shuttle. He advised me to call exactly 30 days before the trip. Then you usually get the schedule you want.
The permit and reservations are two different things.”

“Altho I agree with Spam, dayhiker don't pass up the Smokies for Kilmer. Dome to damn is a great one, but do take the advice to ASAP your reservations for the AT shelters along that route. If the reservations are a no-go, do it the other way around with a "self-reservation permit" from the Fontana Hilton Shelter kiosk and say you're a thru-hiker, space'll be there for ya. Do take note tho if you choose this route: take Ibuprofen cause you iz gonna be sore from the 5-mile climb outa the dam.”

“Yo Ape
Why don't you speak NakedApeeeze any more?”

“I just have one question walkingcrow. What century did you do this trip in. downhill from Clingmans? Bologna! it might be downhill as far as elivation but theres nothing downhill about cligmans to Fontana. thats a good hike though.”

“Thanks for the help everyone. I'm heading out of town for the week. I haven't even taken this weeks trip to the beach yet, but the mtns are what I'm thinking about.”

“Mom; That was said 'tongue in cheek'.

My bad.”

“dayhiker, I did the exact trip you are talking about last year. We started at Clingmans Dome and went through Welsh Ridge. There werer a heck of alot of swirchbacks, and very little ridge hiking. There were a few nice views (Silers Bald) & Clingmans dome, but that is about it. I suggest you stick to ridge hikes, and walkin' crow's suggestions sounds pretty good to me. If you want more detailed info. about where we went and what we did last year, email me at jayd14@prodigy.net”

“Roger that WD! I'll remedy that right quick brutha!”

“dayhiker,
If you do the Road-to-nowhere to Jonas Creek to Welch Ridge to AT to Clingmans Dome. I would suggest coming down Noland Divide trail and then Noland Creek Trail. It is only about a half a mile or less back to the parking lot at the tunnel(where you start). That way you will not have to shuttle vehicles or you can leave one at the Noland Creek Trailhead.

You probably will need to stay at Silers Bald the first night and 61, 62,63 the second. Plenty of water at any of these places. Silers Bald can get crowded in a hurry. Also that climb from the Road-to-Nowhere up to the AT is a real butt kicker and a 12 mile day (which may not be possible after having to travel and regester at the ranger station).

An alternative would be to go up Forney Creek Trail to Clingman's Dome (not many views until you reach Forney Ridge, beautiful area though) Maybe stay at 68 or 69 the first night.
Another alternative would be to start at the parking lot at Clingman's Dome and reverse the route.

If you have reservation, you can sign in at Deep Creek Ranger Station and save some time. You also could start there (carry water). I've always made the climb to the top a two day venture. You can come down in one.
I've been hiking and fishing in this area for the last 31 year. I love it!

I did 3 days in the upper reaches of Deep Creek last month and in 3 days, from leaving the trailhead (Deep Creek Trail at Hwy 441) to returning we didn't see another person at all! Great!

I hope you enjoy your trip!”

“If you want to hit high points do this.
Start at Little River Trail. Go up Goshen Prong hit the AT to Clingmans Dome continue on At to Boulevard Trail to Mt. LeConte then go down Alum Cave Trail. great hike.
But for me the best place is in the Cosby area.
Take Gabes Mountain Trail then up Maddron Bald Trail hit the AT and come donw Low Gap Trail for a loop. Also a great side trip on AT is to Mt Cammerer fire tower the views are great and on Maddron Bald trail don't miss the Albright Grove of old growth forest.
Happy hiking
Barbara
PS on both routes we really never saw any other people just on the AT sections.”

“I've heard that the AT through the Smokies is really crowded in the summer. I hiked from Newfound Gap, up over Clingmans Dome, to Silers Bald and back in the middle of January. I saw a couple people the first day, that's all. The views along the ridgeline, past Clingmans are just incredible. I highly reccomend a winter trip.”

“We did the AT in Georgia a couple of years ago and counted up about 40 people per day on the trail. (It got to be a game of predicting how many people we would see the next day.)

If you get off the AT in the Smokies, the number of people you see drops radically. I usually avoid the AT just for that reason.”

“I'm back in town now. Thanks for the advice everyone. I looked into some alternate routes while I was out, but the stuff is at home. I'm going off memory here, but a possible route I came up with is to start at Little River like Barb said, and go to the Dome and take Noland Divide back to an awaiting vehicle. This would be a 7 mile, 11.4mile, and 8 mile day. I will look at the suggestions on a map tonight. How does my route?”

“sounds good. There is a great campsite number 23. Then in the morning you head up the mountain. Also campsite on a dead end backtracking required is nice #25.
Have a great trip.”

“Sounds like a plan.
Have a good trip.
And report back in!”

“When you doin this trip? I could be available Jul 11ish? Yo bear!”

“Aug. 10-12. is when it's tentatively planned.”

“wrong time frame sorry. We will meet someday!”

“Monday I'm going to call and get reservations at the rationed camp grounds. My merry band is up to 6. When I get reservations I'll post the route. If anyone would like to join us, then the more the merrier. I'm still waiting on a date confirmation from one of the fellas going. I should get that set up this evening.”

“hey YoBear when you gonna come around this neck of the woods? anytime soon. I need a hike!!!!!!! so does Naked Ape .”

“I had to wait til 30 days ahead of departure to make reservations. I called at 8:01 this morning at got reservations. The plan is to leave Elkmont and take Little River Tr to Goshen Prong. Stay at campgroup 23. Con. on Goshen to AT. Take AT to Noland Divide and on to 61 or 62. 61 is currently closed because of bears. Cont. down Noland Divide to trailhead. We'll probably have a couple of hours Sat. afternoon on Clingman's Dome. I can't wait.”