Thread: Fontana Reroute: State of the Trail Report

[SGT Rock]

In the past few weeks some hikers have expressed interest in hiking the new BMT route ahead of its June opening. In an effort to provide current route status so hikers can make informed decisions, I've created an update one can read and decide if it is worth the hassle to hike the new route and have some maps they can print to use if they do so decide. I expect this information to update regularly, so stay tuned.

Here is the first installment of "The State of the Trail Report"

[blisterbob]

Thanks again Sarge, I printed these and will put them to use sometime this year.

[SGT Rock]

If it is later in the year, check for updates.

[Ewker]

Sgt Rock, I am sure all of these updates will be in your new BMT guidebook. Any idea when it will be going on sale

[SGT Rock]

It just left the print shop yesterday. I should have it in my hands by the end of the week. The info in my guidebook is not real time at this point. It is assuming that the date is June 1st. Some people have been expressing an interest in hiking this route before then so I made this report up.

[SGT Rock]

A small update: The new route between Meadow Branch and Old Field Gap Road has now been cleared of brush and dead falls. They are looking at replacing the bridge across Meadow Branch.

[SGT Rock]

For those interested in helping out. I've posted a volunteer call over at the maintenance forum: http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?101954-BMTA-reroute-maintenance-work-call

[Ed'n Lauky]

Sgt., Rock

This summer My wife and I and Lauky moved from Maine to North Georgia. In the fall Lauky and I section hiked the AT from the Falls to Fontana. Since Lauky's passport is no good in the SMNP we went back to the Falls and started over on the Benton Mackaye. Next week we'll be finishing the Mackaye with a hike from Farr Gap to Deals Gap. I say finish because Lauky's passport is still no good in the Park. :) Anyway, I was wondering if you could give me the GPS coordinates of the point where the newly proposed trail to Fontana connects with the old trail. I'd like to check it out. Thanks.

Ed

[SGT Rock]

Sure, the new trail and the old trail connect at a road walk, so getting there is easy. Here is the start point: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/35.44865,-83.9409511//@35.4472166,-83.9358441,17z/data=!4m4!4m3!1m0!1m0!3e2?hl=en

Maps of the area are found on this thread in the first post.

[Ed'n Lauky]

Thanks. :)

[Ed'n Lauky]

Lauky and I finished the BMT as far as the 20 mile ranger station which as I mentioned before will be the end for now as he's not allowed in the park. Today we did a scouting hike to check out the proposed new reroute. I think I have it pretty clear in my mind now. We went as far as the end of FS 251C. I congratulate you on hiking over the ridge on the old trail. I could see that it looked to be pretty much of a bushwhack. Interestingly, what is labeled as the Yellow Creek Mountain trail on my National Geographic map was labeled as the old AT on my GPS software. Just a couple of comments on FS251. The road is gated and in pristine condition. It has obviously been used quite a bit recently including by a bulldozer. 251 B is somewhat overgrown and shouldn't fool anyone. The big change is with 251 C which the dozer obviously opened up. When you get to C the main road now swings to the left. 251 continues straight ahead but looks like a grass covered unused road. 251C has recently been used as a fire block for a controlled burn which is the obvious reason for its improvement. There is plenty of room for two trucks to pass on this road. There are no longer any Ts. I didn't even realize when I came to the first T that there was another road or trail there. There is simply a sweeping left hand turn with a large parking or staging area at the point of the turn. Only on the way back down did I see another road heading off. It's basically the same with the second T. It is a large sweeping right hand turn and the road on up to the high point is almost three lanes wide. At the high point there is a large clearing most of which has been burned off and farther down the road another large and burned off clearing where the road ends. It ends at the point where a sign on the tree says D4 Old Yellow Mountain trail or something like that. There was yellow flagging attached to the same tree. The trail that continues was fairly large and was also used as a fire block as the burn stopped at the trail. I wasn't able to spot a car today so I decided that that point was a good place to turn around. I plan to head back again sometime with a car spotted on Welsh Road.

Just a curiosity question. The map shows trail 48 (Yellow Mt. Trail) continuing straight ahead and connecting with the AT at Walker Gap. Just wondered why that route wasn't chosen.

[SGT Rock]

Glad to hear that you got out and looked at it, there has been some movement on this that hasn't been reported to me yet. The recent maintenance you report was probably done partially by the FS in anticipation of the work next month. They had said they would make sure the road was usable for us to bring in workers.

Also, FS251 is in use by the power company as access to their lines on the top of the ridge. They have been given an easement to use it because the road along the power line/aqueduct is badly eroded. They maintain it out to the end of FS251C and then have been doing the trail maintenance of about 0.7 miles between there and the power line. I mentioned this maintenance in another thread where I talked about reconnaissance of the new route. Next weekend the Sierra Club will be working the route between Look Rock and Welch Road.

The Yellow Creek Mountain Trail is indeed the old AT. If you read Earl Schaffer's "Walking With Spring" you will find that in 1948 the new reroute that took the AT down to Fontana Dam wasn't well marked and he continued down the old AT to Tapoco and resupplied at Jenkin's Store before continuing on down past Cheoah Dam and using what is now the BMT to get to Deals Gap and then up to Parson and Gregory Bald in the Smokies. Interesting history...

Anyway. The route we chose is because thru-hikers now need to get a printed copy of the GSMNP permit before entering the park. There wasn't any good solution on this that we could come to an agreement on with the Park Service. Fontana Village offered a a servie to help hikers with this. It also solved the problem with the resupply issues for hikers before going in the Smokes, it also had a well maintained set of local trails that got us to the AT and into the Park, and they were also a willing partner to help us out with this. So Hikers can go to Walker Gap on the Old AT if they want to (the BMTA could give a dang less about purism) or they can follow the route we are working out through Fontana Village and take advantage of their services and then continue on. It also puts more "different" trail in our trail system instead of making the AT and the BMT shared trail over more miles which would have been the case if you had to walk to Walker Gap and take the AT all the way to the park. AT/BMT Loop hikers would have more redundant trail if we went that way.

[Ed'n Lauky]

Thanks, that's all very interesting.

[Tipi Walter]

I've done both routes on the YCMT---the Lookout Rock trail up (and down) from the YCMT (and from what is now called Green Gap) and continuing on from the old Lookout Rock trail to Walker Gap on the AT. I asked Evans the same question about using the YCMT (now BMT) to Walker Gap and he said it won't be opened or maintained so I expect it to be somewhat of a bushwack. But yes, it's possible for BMT backpackers in the Slickrock now to do a short 129 roadwalk to the Meadow Branch trailhead to YCMT and follow it all the way to the AT without dropping down to Fontana or Hiway 28, etc.

I remember this reroute fondly as I backpacked it several times in 2002-2003 and the first part coming up from the "footbridge" on Meadows Branch to the Oldfield road crossing has some fine rock formations overlooking the Cheoah River "gorge". I can't wait for the June opening as I hope to start out at Beech Gap and hike to Slickrock Creek and get on the YCMT all the way to Lookout Rock and maybe Walker Gap. There's water in Walker Gap, but I'll have to look at Rock's map for water sources on the YCMT before Lookout Rock.

Once I did the whole roadwalk on Meadows Branch (passed old man Jenkin's store---he asked me if I wanted to buy the place)---and got on Farley Branch road and eventually reached the trailhead to Lookout Rock which put me up on the YCMT ridge and over to Walker Gap. The only reason I did the roadwalk was because the YCMT was in hellish leg-ripping shape. But not anymore!

[SGT Rock]

Dick Evans and Rick Harris were supposed to be working over there this weekend with the Sierra Club some.

[Ed'n Lauky]

Today (Sat.) Lauky and I finished off the new section of the BMT as far as Fontana Village. We started this time at Old Field Gap road. The four miles to the top went very quickly. We continued on to the power line and that section is also in great shape and went quickly. As you mentioned, from that point on the progress slows. I was surprised, however, by how easy it was to follow the treadway even though it has obviously been very lightly used. While well marked with yellow strips, Lauky, who led the way was following the trail without any problem and obviously was not following the yellow strips. The only place we got off a bit was on the first knob where the trail hangs a right and we continued straight ahead. At the end of the plateau there was no more trail so we turned back and very quickly saw the yellow strips heading down the hill to our left. The going was not all that bad except where the thorns grew over the trail. It was a bit tedious in those spots. Fortunately I had on long pants. Until the trail is cleared, it definitely should not be done by someone wearing shorts. Trail #40 going down is copiously marked with red strips. This section shows signs of recent work. I had spotted a car on Fontana Hts. road right by the trail sign. As we neared the road I could see that the red strips were not going to take me to the car so I picked up another trail then made a short bushwhack that took us over a now abandoned obstacle course and onto the end of the trail that led to the car. I plan to go back again soon to the Fontana Hts trailhead and head up. I would like to see where that trail connects with the red flagged trail as I did not pick it up on the way down. I saved the trail coming down on my GPS so it should be easy to pick up. I also want to tag Walker gap. Since we can't get into the Smokies this will at least permit us to complete the short (400 mile) loop. We did the AT to Fontana last fall.

[Tipi Walter]

Ed, Question---What you call the Fontana Hts trailhead---is it the same as the Lookout Rock trailhead?? I have it marked on my Nat G 784 map as #40 Lookout Rock Trail.

[Ed'n Lauky]

I think so. It has Lookout Rock marked on the sign along with other points.

[SGT Rock]

Today (Sat.) Lauky and I finished off the new section of the BMT as far as Fontana Village. We started this time at Old Field Gap road. The four miles to the top went very quickly. We continued on to the power line and that section is also in great shape and went quickly. As you mentioned, from that point on the progress slows. I was surprised, however, by how easy it was to follow the treadway even though it has obviously been very lightly used. While well marked with yellow strips, Lauky, who led the way was following the trail without any problem and obviously was not following the yellow strips. The only place we got off a bit was on the first knob where the trail hangs a right and we continued straight ahead. At the end of the plateau there was no more trail so we turned back and very quickly saw the yellow strips heading down the hill to our left. The going was not all that bad except where the thorns grew over the trail. It was a bit tedious in those spots. Fortunately I had on long pants. Until the trail is cleared, it definitely should not be done by someone wearing shorts. Trail #40 going down is copiously marked with red strips. This section shows signs of recent work. I had spotted a car on Fontana Hts. road right by the trail sign. As we neared the road I could see that the red strips were not going to take me to the car so I picked up another trail then made a short bushwhack that took us over a now abandoned obstacle course and onto the end of the trail that led to the car. I plan to go back again soon to the Fontana Hts trailhead and head up. I would like to see where that trail connects with the red flagged trail as I did not pick it up on the way down. I saved the trail coming down on my GPS so it should be easy to pick up. I also want to tag Walker gap. Since we can't get into the Smokies this will at least permit us to complete the short (400 mile) loop. We did the AT to Fontana last fall.
We were up there part of the day yesterday. In the morning my son and I walked the proposed trail around Fonana and went part of the way up to Look Rock (we didn't go the whole way) to see what the Sierra Club had been able to clear. We saw a car parked at the end of one of the trails just above Fontana Village. According to Dick, the route between Green Gap and Walker Gap has been cleared by the Sierra Club so that AT hikers could go that way and come down into Fontana Village, though I doubt many hikers will.

Then we went to Old Field Road and met up with then BMTA board for a hike down to US 129 to show them a part of the new reroute. We probably just missed you Ed.

[Ed'n Lauky]

That without a doubt was my car that you saw at the Fontana Hts. trailhead. After dropping it off there my wife dropped us off at Old Field gap. We left there about 9:00 AM. Except for the thorns in places, the trail between the power line and trail #40 was I thought in better condition than the trail between Farr Gap and the Slick Rock crossing. That section, I thought, presented the most difficult passage on the entire BMT. For the new trail, it shouldn't be that difficult to clean up the thorns and the number of blowdowns is relatively limited and they mostly seem to be located in areas where they can be easily bypassed. The upper section of #40 has been cleaned up to AT standards. It was quite a surprise. The only problem there is that the trail is steep in places and with the new cleaning it looked like it would be quite slick in the rain. A bit of use should roughen it up a bit.

I'm glad to hear that the section over to Walker Gap has been cleaned up. It should make the passage fairly easy, I'm looking forward to doing it.

[SGT Rock]

There is more work to be done to #40, but it may have required NEPA process to get it as changed as it should be, so there is about 1/2 mile of trail in there that is probably going to be steep and slick as you mention. I haven't walked the section of trail between Green Gap and Walker Gap, but I hear it is clear and it is about 1.7 miles between those points.

[Ed'n Lauky]

We headed out today to finish off the trail over to Walker Gap. We left from the Lookout Rock trailhead. It starts off on an old logging road. Partway up the road turns left marked First Blood trail and the Lookout Rock trail continues up and to the right. From that point to the juncture with #40 it is a very narrow trail but totally free from any obstructions. It meets #40 at 2742' 36.25.473N 83.49.922W. Trail #40 at that point has been cleaned and is very definitely in AT condition. Up on the ridge we turned left and headed over to Walker Gap. The Sierra Club no doubt has the intention of clearing this trail but I can state that they haven't done a thing yet. The trail was as difficult (perhaps more so) as any part from the Power Line over. There were a couple of sections where I had to get out my saw and cut my way through. While at Walker Gap I met four people. That's as many as I had met on the entire BMT from Springer to that point. We were able to get our picture taken under the Walker Gap sign which was special to me as it represented the completion of the short loop from Amicalola Falls to Amicalola falls, about 400 miles. On the way back down we stayed on the #40 until arriving at the stream. There is obviously a trail heading up the stream so I decided to follow it to see if by any chance it was the First Blood trail. It was. It required a vertical climb of 200' or so where it connected with the old logging road we had started on. We followed the road back to the car.

[Tipi Walter]

That without a doubt was my car that you saw at the Fontana Hts. trailhead. After dropping it off there my wife dropped us off at Old Field gap. We left there about 9:00 AM. Except for the thorns in places, the trail between the power line and trail #40 was I thought in better condition than the trail between Farr Gap and the Slick Rock crossing. That section, I thought, presented the most difficult passage on the entire BMT.

I just backpacked the Stiffknee trail from Farr Gap down to Slickrock Creek and somebody dropped that ball on that section as I counted around 230 branches, deadfall and blowdowns on the trail, most of it due to the hemlock dieoff. I quit counting at 230. I usually work trails as I hike them with my hand pruners and my corona folding saw but there were too many and I was burning daylight and had a rough creek crossing to pull in February. Who's in charge of that section?

[SGT Rock]

We headed out today to finish off the trail over to Walker Gap. We left from the Lookout Rock trailhead. It starts off on an old logging road. Partway up the road turns left marked First Blood trail and the Lookout Rock trail continues up and to the right. From that point to the juncture with #40 it is a very narrow trail but totally free from any obstructions. It meets #40 at 2742' 36.25.473N 83.49.922W. Trail #40 at that point has been cleaned and is very definitely in AT condition. Up on the ridge we turned left and headed over to Walker Gap. The Sierra Club no doubt has the intention of clearing this trail but I can state that they haven't done a thing yet. The trail was as difficult (perhaps more so) as any part from the Power Line over. There were a couple of sections where I had to get out my saw and cut my way through. While at Walker Gap I met four people. That's as many as I had met on the entire BMT from Springer to that point. We were able to get our picture taken under the Walker Gap sign which was special to me as it represented the completion of the short loop from Amicalola Falls to Amicalola falls, about 400 miles. On the way back down we stayed on the #40 until arriving at the stream. There is obviously a trail heading up the stream so I decided to follow it to see if by any chance it was the First Blood trail. It was. It required a vertical climb of 200' or so where it connected with the old logging road we had started on. We followed the road back to the car.Today I was up with Dick Evans working on getting the rest of the Yellow Creek Mountain Trail flagged from Old Field Gap Road to FS251C. Good news is the trail between FS251C and FS251A is in better shape than I thought. The trail is now flagged and a GPS track has been made of the entire length that is to be opened. While we have been working this part of the project we talked over upcoming work crews and experience with the Sierra Club. Based on what Dick told me I am not surprised that the section between Walker Gap and Green Gap isn't up to standard. The Sierra Club folks mean well, but I don't think there was much accomplished at the top of the trail because they had problems with weather, and thought that they could get more done than they could. Sort of bit off more than they could chew. I don't know if any trail organization has any plans to get that section now or in the near future. Sorry about that.


I just backpacked the Stiffknee trail from Farr Gap down to Slickrock Creek and somebody dropped that ball on that section as I counted around 230 branches, deadfall and blowdowns on the trail, most of it due to the hemlock dieoff. I quit counting at 230. I usually work trails as I hike them with my hand pruners and my corona folding saw but there were too many and I was burning daylight and had a rough creek crossing to pull in February. Who's in charge of that section?
Right now there isn't anyone volunteered on that section. I think (and could be wrong) that Bill Hodge might be taking SAWS up there this year. For the next couple of months we will be focused on the new reroute, so it will probably be at least July or later before any monthly trips can be planned on it. I need to get on the Ike Branch Trail myself, I know where a couple of step over blow downs need to be cleared, but I'm covered up for work of I would just do a three day trip starting at Topoco and head all the way to Farr Gap clearing as I go. If anyone wants to volunteer to take that section I would love to help them get started.

[SGT Rock]

The work trip for 15 April has been canceled due to bad weather. We are looking at possibly a two day work trip 25 and 26 April to make up for it.

[SGT Rock]

Today, 9 members of the BMTA and a couple of members of the ATC Smoky Mountain Hiking Club started working in earnest on the Yellow Creek Mountain Trail reroute. The areas of focus were the critical 1.9 miles connecting the section from the Powerline to Lookout Rock, and the section from FS251 C back to FS251 A at Halfmile Branch Gap.

My team was able to clear all blowdowns between the Powerline all the way to Fontana Village and was able to brush cut all vegetation for about 1 mile past the Powerline. Another team was able to brush out and clear blowdowns most of the way through from FS251C to FS251A. We ran out of brush cutter fuel and had one chainsaw go down. A third team concentrated on brush cutting between US129 and Old Field Gap road mainly on a couple of ridge tops. As far as I know they completed that task.

Tomorrow we go back up there with the plan to attack the remaining ~1 - 1.5 miles of brush between FS251C and Green Gap with two brush cutters, and work on completing the section between FS251C to FS251A. I hope we can get a good deal of brush cutting done at the gap near FS251B. If that gets cleared early, then we will start working west from FS251A toward Old Field Gap Road. If we have that same sort of success tomorrow we did today, then I forecast that the route will be hikeable by Sunday. Blazing will not be completed until closer to the opening ceremony, but for now there is flagging tape all along the route to navigate by.

I also believe I may have found a very good water source near a campsite that will not be far off the BMT once the route is complete. I hope to waypoint it and improve the water source as time is available in the near future.

[Ewker]

Thanks to Sgt Rock, BMTA and the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club for their work on this

[SGT Rock]

Yesterday we were finishing up some brush cutting. There are still some pockets that need work either brush cutting or blow downs removed. Should get on that in a couple of weeks.

[SGT Rock]

..........

[SGT Rock]

Latest update to the BMT.

[Tipi Walter]

Latest update to the BMT.

Thanks for the neato update. I have one question---

On Section 2 you have---

"Past FS251B you will continue for 0.7 miles until you reach the end of FS251C at an intersection. Straight ahead is the BMT/YCMT, left(NoBo) 0.3 miles is a clearing with good views through the trees and a spring to the west in a small draw."

Question---Wouldn't your directions at 251C to be to the RIGHT instead of the left?? A right seems to take you down 251C the 0.3 mile required to reach the water and campsite.

JUST WONDERING.

[SGT Rock]

You are correct. My mistake.

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[SGT Rock]

Walter, when do you think you will be up there? We should be up there on the 24th next trip.

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[Tipi Walter]

Walter, when do you think you will be up there? We should be up there on the 24th next trip.

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Sorry for the delay. I should be on the YCMT by the 24th, God willing and the creeks don't rise.

[Ed'n Lauky]

The Yellow Creek Mountain trail has been cut through from Green Gap to Walker Gap. The dead fall has been mostly removed. There were several large blowdowns that have been made passable either through or under or over. The worst of the smaller branches have been cleared. It took us between five and a half and six hours to get from Green Gap to Walker Gap and about an hour to get back. The trail is definitely not up to specs. There is much brushing to be done but it is definitely passable right now.

[SGT Rock]

Yesterday we had a small ceremony followed by a hike of part of the new route. It is now official: the old Yellow Creek Mountain Trail is now reopened as a part of the Benton MacKaye Trail. There is still some tasks we need to get in and finish, but you can now hike it without a problem. I've uploaded some files for hikers to use here: http://hikinghq.net/forum/showthread.php?7738-BMT-Re-Route-Handy-Hiker-Files&p=341522#post341522

I'd upload them here, but there are some limits to the file sizes here.

[Tipi Walter]

Hey Rock---I just returned from a long backpacking trip on the YCMT and did it both ways---nobo and sobo--to the AT and back---between May 20-21-22-23 and wanted to hook up with you on the 24th a Saturday but the motorcycle noise was so bad along the entire length of the trail that I had to bail back into the Slickrock and Ike Branch over to Slickrock Creek for noise relief.

BTW, the Ike Branch trail going up from the Lake has a brand new terrible blowdown which took me 30 minutes to get through.

Also btw---I was camping in Walker Gap on the AT on May 22 when a mini tornado came thru and so on my return sobo trip on the YCMT I encountered about 7 brand new fresh blowdowns blocking the excellent work you guys did on the new reroute. I'm sure you found these trees on the 24th. This storm also brought down the terrible Ike Branch mess.

I ran into 3 BMT thruhikers on Bob Mt doing your alternate as they were afraid of the possible high water of Slickrock Creek. They were Momma Goose, Mother Teresa and Jet Lag. Good folks, and we talked about their upcoming YCMT humps---some tough ones. I camped one night on top of Yellow Creek Mt---tough hill going nobo---and had to haul water to it from 251C---a goodly distance.

I will post a BMT trip report here soon with all the pics, etc.

The only "poor" section I found on the reroute is the nobo thru the big powerlines where the trail leaves the powerlines and descends sharply on sketchy tread.

I found your water in Halfmile Gap and swung back to the gap to camp for my first night.

[Tipi Walter]

And to Ed'n Lauky---Yes, I did the YCMT "extension" past Green Gap to the AT as I did not want to descend to Fontana for any reason and found the trail easy to follow except for one section atop a hill which I marked with copious pink ribbon so other hikers can find their way. It's a great way to link up the AT with the BMT w/o having to drop down to Fontana---and a great way to link the Citico/Slickrock with the AT.

[Ed'n Lauky]

I know the exactly the place you're talking about where the trail is difficult to follow. As you near the top of the first knob nobo, the ridge opens up and it would appear that those few passing through spread out and left no treadway. Putting up ribbons to keep everyone on the same path will probably help form a treadway through that section. Did you find any recently downed trees when you passed through the extension?

[Tipi Walter]

I know the exactly the place you're talking about where the trail is difficult to follow. As you near the top of the first knob nobo, the ridge opens up and it would appear that those few passing through spread out and left no treadway. Putting up ribbons to keep everyone on the same path will probably help form a treadway through that section. Did you find any recently downed trees when you passed through the extension?

No blowdowns on the extension but many fell that weekend north of Halfmile Gap.

[Ed'n Lauky]

We went back today and worked for about four hours between Green Gap and Walker Gap doing some of the necessary brushing. In the area where Tipi Walter placed the pink ribbon I scuffed out a trail in the leaves. Between the ribbons and the new footbed it's fairly easy to follow now. Through out that Green Gap to Walker Gap section there are a few step overs, a few straight up walk unders and a few minor detours around some major blowdowns, but nothing you have to bend down for or crawl under. It's not perfect, but it's a pretty easy passage right now.

[Ed'n Lauky]

Today we went back up to the YCMT and worked four or five hours brushing the extension from Green Gap to Walker Gap. I scuffed out the trail in the section where Tipi Walter placed the ribbons. Between the ribbons and the scuffed out path it should be very easy to follow now. The trail isn't perfect. There are a few step overs, a few straight up walk unders and there are a few small detours around some large blowdowns, but there are no places where you have to duck down or crawl under. A hiker wanting to make the connection between the two gaps could breeze through fairly easily right now.

[SGT Rock]

Hey Rock---I just returned from a long backpacking trip on the YCMT and did it both ways---nobo and sobo--to the AT and back---between May 20-21-22-23 and wanted to hook up with you on the 24th a Saturday but the motorcycle noise was so bad along the entire length of the trail that I had to bail back into the Slickrock and Ike Branch over to Slickrock Creek for noise relief.

BTW, the Ike Branch trail going up from the Lake has a brand new terrible blowdown which took me 30 minutes to get through.Good to know. Outside the wilderness so I should be able to get it fairly easily. How is the brush in that section?


Also btw---I was camping in Walker Gap on the AT on May 22 when a mini tornado came thru and so on my return sobo trip on the YCMT I encountered about 7 brand new fresh blowdowns blocking the excellent work you guys did on the new reroute. I'm sure you found these trees on the 24th. This storm also brought down the terrible Ike Branch mess.Where were the blowdowns? We cleared between FS251C down to Old Field Gap Road right after that storm and took out a number of blowdowns. But we haven't checked between FS251C and Fontana Village yet.


I ran into 3 BMT thruhikers on Bob Mt doing your alternate as they were afraid of the possible high water of Slickrock Creek. They were Momma Goose, Mother Teresa and Jet Lag. Good folks, and we talked about their upcoming YCMT humps---some tough ones. I camped one night on top of Yellow Creek Mt---tough hill going nobo---and had to haul water to it from 251C---a goodly distance.I got a call from them later up on the powerline where they didn't see the turn off. I got them straight and then met them in Fontana for lunch the next day. They took the wrong trail off Naked Ground and ended up doing the Nutbuster .


I will post a BMT trip report here soon with all the pics, etc.

The only "poor" section I found on the reroute is the nobo thru the big powerlines where the trail leaves the powerlines and descends sharply on sketchy tread.That will need some work. Monday we went up and put signs on the powerline road to avoid confusion. But leaving that road NoBo is a bad little section.


I found your water in Halfmile Gap and swung back to the gap to camp for my first night.That is a nice camp spot. Have you seen my latest map of the section?

William and I hiked up to the Hangover on Tuesday and spent the night there as a little vacation from trail maintenance.

[Tipi Walter]

Wow, poor Momma Goose and the Geese had to do the Nutbuster?? Wow. And then up to Big Fat Gap and Hangover Lead North??? Double wow. Here's my pics of the YCMT as the trip is being updated as we speak---(the YCMT portion starts on photo page 4)---

http://tipiwalter.smugmug.com/Backpack-2014-Trips-152/21-Days-Yellow-Mt/i-tpSpK2p

[SGT Rock]

Brings back memories from the last two days. So you were the one that put that cairn on that log.

[Tipi Walter]

Brings back memories from the last two days. So you were the one that put that cairn on that log.

Yes if you're talking about the Deep Creek trail. The Haoe Lead/Deep Creek loop is my new favorite section of trails.

[Cedar Tree]

I am in planning stage for a BMT thruhike this Oct. Just got my databook and map last week.

[SGT Rock]

Yes if you're talking about the Deep Creek trail. The Haoe Lead/Deep Creek loop is my new favorite section of trails.

We had a blast on them. I can see why it would be one of your favorites.

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