Josh's non-Bankhead Fall 2009 trip coordination thread

[Joshua Szulecki]

Okay, to avoid abusing that Sipsey thread with stuff non-Sipsey, here's a new thread to plan some hiking for this fall.

Gonna have another cool weekend up here in Tennessee, with Sunday predicted to be awesome. Anybody interested in Savage Gulf or some other East-Central TN location this Sunday?

Also, anybody interested in a Labor Day camping trip somewhere? I'd strongly prefer something close to the car right now, as backpacking is totally out of the question until my back cuts it out, plus I still don't have all my gear down here. I've been leaning towards Joyce Kilmer per Jay's recommendation, although I'm open to other locations if that might be too crowded and somebody has a good idea. Frankly, I just need to go somewhere.

If Labor Day ends up being a bad idea for camping in E.TN/W.NC, I may head out to the Ozarks instead. Chime in if you might be interested in that as well.

[jaybird]

Hey Josh,

For the Labor Day trip, i can almost guarantee there won't be a big crowd along Santeetlah Creek in W NC.  This place is so remote, there are only a half-dozen or so campers even on July 4th.  It's away from the crowds, and the dayhikes are right there in your backyard.  Weather would be the only real thing to worry about.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Sounds like a decent place, assuming the weather holds out. Any takers?

[Joshua Szulecki]

Also an option for Sunday is Walls of Jericho.

[McDowra]

You ever hike the Walls of Jericho?

[Joshua Szulecki]

Nope. That's why it is an option.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Nope. That's why it is an option.

EDIT: Although... Even though the temps look great, there is a good (40%) chance of T-storms around Hytop. Maybe TN afterall...

[McDowra]

Its a beautiful hike, but also a strenuous hike, or at least was for me and the bride.

[Joshua Szulecki]

I think I'm leaning towards heading back to Savage Gulf, or maybe taking a trip up to scope out Mammoth Caves. If anybody gets interested in any of these, or has a suggestion that would be interested in, let me know by tonight.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Ended up scouting out Mammoth Caves NP. Hiking looks promising, but I'm itching to get in the caves.

If anybody wants to go camping next weekend at Santeetlah Creek, let me know REALLY soon, because otherwise I'm going to make reservations for a cave tour for next weekend instead. If anybody wants to meet me for that instead, give me a heads up.

[Joshua Szulecki]

I'm going to operate under the assumption that nobody else wants to head to Santeetlah this weekend, so I'll make other plans accordingly.

[weathermansam]

I concur with McDowra, coming up out of the Walls is a calorie buster.  There are some other trails that connect in from the Bear Mtn. Hollow WMA.  Map here:  http://tn.gov/twra/gis/wmapdf/BearHollow.pdf   Anyone hike any of these?  

Also, my first trip up there, I stopped at a gas station and asked a group of old guys drinking coffee if I was on the right track to get to the walls, and one of them spoke of a 'back door' or alternate way of getting there.  Anyone know anything about that?  At the time I told them I was more interested in just getting to the Jericho entrance.