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Forney Creek Loop
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Views from the AT and cascades highlight this backpack trip
Distance: 18.75 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 5470 ft
Hike Time: 10.5 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous
Trail Condition: OK, but a few difficult spots
HikeType: Loop
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Summary: Your hike will begin on the Forney Ridge Trail but after 0.1 mi take Clingmans Bypass Trail to the right. This trail will intersect with the AT in 0.5 mi then turn left on AT. From Mt Buckley you will descend over 1000' but have your camera ready for there are many fine views over the next 3.8 mi. Turn left on Welch Ridge Trail. This will provide easy ridge walking and keep an eye to your left in the blueberry patches and you might be lucky enough to see a few bears enjoying this flat grassy area. Just pass the Hazel Creek Trail is Jonas Creek Trail to the left. From here you descend over 2000' and before reaching Campsite #70 (home for the night) you may have a few creek crossing to rock hop. Day 2 will be a test as you gain over 4000' in the next 8.5 mi from Forney Creek Trail to Forney Ridge Trail. It is very scenic with streams and cascades so take your time and enjoy. When you finally intersect with the Forney Ridge Trail turn right for the last climb out.

Adam is a new member of our group but a seasoned and grizzled veteran of the Southern Appalachians and beyond. He enjoys long, steep, uphill, rocky grinds and extended treks throughout the wilderness. This will be a 1 overnighter, Saturday-Sunday. We'll be very close to the summer equinox so days will be long and we can cover 8-10 miles a day no problem.

Hi guys!

OK, I am back and we are going to do a part of #6 section of the AT: Dicks Creek Gap - Bly Gap + 3 miles to Muskrat Shelter. I've been there a couple of years ago and the view near the shelter was terrific. You can check it out here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shishdim/sets/72157600239798339/

The trail is rated moderate to strenuous, water sources: mile 0 - rivulet, mile 1.6 - permanent branch to left, mile 4.3 - stream, mile 8.6 - spring, 8.8 - springs at Bly Gap, mile 12 - water near the Muskrat Shelter.

Google says its 96 miles (1 h 46 mins) from my place to Dicks Creek Gap.

Cheers,
Brer Mountain Rabbit

My brother is coming up from Florida and wants to do this same hike we did back in October. I tried to talk him into something different, but he can't wait to get back .So, it's the Pocket Wilderness near Chattanooga /Soddy Daisy Tenn. Bring your swim suit , the Pocket has an awesome deep swimming hole with a swing rope.

Friday, Saturday and back out on Sunday morning. So, other then the hike in and out, this will be a pretty relaxing, enjoy the wilderness and forget about the stock market / swine flu kind of trip.
We'll start at the trail head near Mont Lake road and hike about 4-5 miles to Stephenson Branch Campground or campsite number one.

This hike should be rated moderate to strenuous. It's fun and short, but can be tough with some really cool technicals like boy scout ladders, and some semi rock scrambling. I would not recommend this hike for people who never backpacked before and a tuff one for newbies.
We'll meet at the cracker barrel in Kennesaw at about 8:30am and work out carpooling and try to get to the trail head to meet Ellis around 11am. People have left their cars at The Cracker barrel without any problems on previous hikes. There's also a park and ride down the road and meetup members have used it before without any problems.

If you want to meet us at the trail head, here's the directions:
Take 75 North into Tennessee to exit 4 (153N). Take 153N for 12 miles (over the dam). It will turn into Dayton Pike. Take this another 3.5 miles. You will go over a small bridge. Keep a lookout for a Sonic on your right. You will take a left on Montlake Road just before the Sonic (there is a bank on the left hand corner as well). You go about 1 mile, and you will see the big sign for the State Park area on the left (Upper Chickamauga Pocket Wilderness). This is the entrance and parking area.
Here's a website to check out for more info: http://www.cumberlandtrail.org/nchic.html

Photos from Dmitry:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shishdim/sets/72157605135439712/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shishdim/sets/72157604564691533/

Hope you can go!

I am super busy these days, but it's been too long since I went backpacking, so its time! :)

We are going to do the best part of the Art Loeb trail - we are staring from the Blue Ridge Scenic Highway go to Daniel Boone Boyscout Camp (probably will take a spur trail to the Cold Mountain as well) and coming back by a trail whose name I don't know. We are going to make 9.5 miles on the first day (plus optional 2 miles on the spur tail), and 7.5 miles on the next day. First day is longer, but it is pretty much flat or downhill, second day has some uphills, but it's only 7.5 miles. I uploaded a map of the loop on our website.

It's about 200 miles of driving from my place, but its mostly highway miles and google says it should take 3.5 hours to get there - about the same time it takes to get to the southern part of the Smokies. It's a longer drive than usual, but it's a new place and I think it's worth it. We already have 3 people to fill one car, but if we get another car and 3 more people that would be even more fun!

We should stop by at Ashville on our way back for lunch/dinner - I've heard it's a beautiful town and looking forward to check it out!

I hope some folks will crack at the last minute and will join us!

Cheers,
Brer Mountain Rabbit

This is a FUN easy day hike about 10 miles that will follow the River Walk Park in Chattanooga along the Tennessee River. We did this before and it was a blast!

We'll park our cars at the Rowing Center parking lot. Parking is free there. We'll then shuttle everyone to the Dam and start our hike to Downtown where we'll stop for pizza and refreshments. Bring your good walking shoes and some refreshment money. The trail is paved,flat, and gorgeous.

More info and details to come.