View Full Version : Cherokee National Forest Closure
this came down today..
CLEVELAND, TENN – October 5, 2017--- The U.S. Forest Service is closing a portion of the Tellico Ranger District in Cherokee National Forest to public entry. The closure will remain in effect while the U.S. Navy is conducting an investigation of the October 1 crash of an aircraft from the Naval Air Station in Meridian, Mississippi.
The temporary closure order applies to the following areas:
1. FS-RD 210 - Tellico River Road from Pheasant Field Picnic Area to Stateline Campground
2. FS-RD - Beaverdam Bald Road
3. FS-RD 61 - Whigg Meadow Road
4. FS-RD – 40841
5. FS-RD – 40921
6. FS-RD – 2417 – Big Cove Branch Road
7. Benton MacKaye Trail #2 from Sandy Gap to Mud Gap
8. Kirkland Creek Trail (#85)
9. Whigg Ridge Trail (#86)
10. Brookshire Creek Trail (#180)
The Donley Cabin (access to cabin only), Dam Creek Campground and Spivey Cove Campground (access to campgrounds only) will remain open.
For information about the closure area call the Tellico Ranger District at 423-254-8400.
Tipi Walter
10-05-2017, 17:09
Wow, for a crash that happened at the fish hatchery to scatter all the way up to Brookshire Creek is amazing. Or all the way up to Whiggs Meadow and Mud Gap.
the exact point of the crash hasnt been determined, i believe...
along with a huge debris field since this sucker could have pulled 650 mph if it wanted to....
Analog_Kidd
10-05-2017, 18:26
I kayak the upper Tellico River all the time, and have had those jets blast past us on a couple of occasions. They'll come out of nowhere, drop in over the ridge and follow the river. They are loud as hell, and shook everything. Quite an impressive sight.
tvance0645
10-05-2017, 19:39
Wow, for a crash that happened at the fish hatchery to scatter all the way up to Brookshire Creek is amazing. Or all the way up to Whiggs Meadow and Mud Gap.Word I have heard is missing parts to possible include ordinance....
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Losing a nuke makes everyone's puck factor to amp up a bit.
tvance0645
10-05-2017, 20:13
Wowhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171006/f26a4ecfcd45afafc9f35609db6d34ec.jpg
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wow, that does seem like a rather wide area.... I understand debris fields could be scattered, but I'd think they would have a bit tighter handle on where.... of course that's based on a guess that it was a low level incident. I haven't heard about what happened.
Anyway, prayers out to the victims, families, and the folks working the incident.
tvance0645
10-05-2017, 21:32
The really interesting fact is in the closure area is included two previous crash sites, John's Knob where a C141 had a controlled flight into the terrain testing a new radar system in the early 80's and Whigg Meadow where I believe either a B29 or B17 crashed in the late 40's or early 50's.
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Tipi Walter
10-05-2017, 21:42
Really gonna mess up the BMT thruhikers.
The really interesting fact is in the closure area is included two previous crash sites, John's Knob where a C141 had a controlled flight into the terrain testing a new radar system in the early 80's and Whigg Meadow where I believe either a B29 or B17 crashed in the late 40's or early 50's.
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Maybe the researchers are trying to determine if this is an auxiliary Bermuda Triangle zone..... (Que twilight zone music...)
Wonder how long it will be closed. Any guesses?
Tipi Walter
10-06-2017, 09:18
Too bad the entire Cherohala Skyway isn't also closed . . . permanently.
This has a Close Encounters of the Third Kind feel.
gpburdelljr
10-06-2017, 09:37
Word I have heard is missing parts to possible include ordinance....Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
The T-45 is a training aircraft. It is typically not armed, but can carry dummy practice bombs.
The T-45 is a training aircraft. It is typically not armed, but can carry dummy practice bombs.
Yeah...
and most of the rumors about losing ordinances has come from non credible sources---ie locals....
tvance0645
10-06-2017, 11:07
Yeah...
and most of the rumors about losing ordinances has come from non credible sources---ie locals....I think the issue is flight path prior to a controlled flight into terrian... Loss of external fuel tanks to prior to crash if the plane tree topped prior impact
I heard the rumors about weapons but probably a reconstruction issue
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dickdurk
10-06-2017, 11:16
Losing a nuke makes everyone's puck factor to amp up a bit.
That escalated rapidly
Traffic Jam
10-06-2017, 11:20
Very sad. The pilots were really young.
PatmanTN
10-06-2017, 11:24
Thanks to TN Hiker for alerting me to this closure. I had actually planned a Brookshire/ Kirkland loop for this weekend.
Time Zone
10-06-2017, 13:50
That escalated rapidly
Perhaps because it's happened before in the southeast:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961_Goldsboro_B-52_crash
rmitchell
10-06-2017, 14:10
Low level passes are not uncommon. I have see low flyovers a half dozen times or more. Most recently in the Smokies. My hiking partner said it was a trainer that made multiple high speed passes over Low Gap on the AT.
Strangest one was October 2015 when the tents of our trail crew were lite up by landing lights of some thing about midnight. I told everyone it was the ghosts of the Phantom.
gpburdelljr
10-06-2017, 14:59
Perhaps because it's happened before in the southeast:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961_Goldsboro_B-52_crash
The B52 was not a training aircraft, and B52s of that era routinely carried nuclear bombs. One bomb was lost off the coast of Savannah, Ga and never recovered.
Tipi Walter
10-06-2017, 15:07
The B52 was not a training aircraft, and B52s of that era routinely carried nuclear bombs. One bomb was lost off the coast of Savannah, Ga and never recovered.
And don't forget the B-52 which crashed near Goldsboro NC in 1961. It dropped two 4 megaton nuclear bombs on the ground and one guy said "one low voltage switch" kept it from going off.
Storm27m
10-07-2017, 00:20
Ordnance, not ordinance...
Military ordnance... City ordinance
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tvance0645
10-07-2017, 07:42
Ordnance, not ordinance...
Military ordnance... City ordinance
Sent from my SM-G930T using TapatalkTell that to this Google keyboard on this phone..... Swipe and autocorrect will be the source of the downfall of Western Civilization.
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Sarcasm the elf
10-07-2017, 08:02
Tell that to this Google keyboard on this phone..... Swipe and autocorrect will be the source of the downfall of Western Civilization.
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"Dear autocorrect: I have never meant to write "Ducking," not even once."
tvance0645
10-12-2017, 07:35
The mystery continues.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171012/ba91ea0c1dc485fd2f0b0ee5fc1745ff.jpg
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Speakeasy TN
10-12-2017, 18:09
Very curious to go to those lengths to destroy a trainer. Keep us updated though. I need trail time.
my guess...bombs or missiles that were on board, unsafe to hoist and haul out....
just a guess
Cedar Tree
10-13-2017, 08:50
Are they not letting hikers pass on the BMT? I have the section from Hwy 68 up to Tellico River rd planned for next week. How long is this closure expected to last?
tvance0645
10-13-2017, 09:09
Are they not letting hikers pass on the BMT? I have the section from Hwy 68 up to Tellico River rd planned for next week. How long is this closure expected to last?Reroutes that where postedhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171013/3f5e52b132f4af412f21144b76038201.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171013/9a8990ecde76ed163c8ffa820608d2b9.jpg
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Cedar Tree
10-13-2017, 09:51
Thanks Tvance, I think I will skip this section for now and jump up to the section from Beech Gap to Deals Gap. Would you happen to be available for a shuttle Tuesday morning? Or maybe know someone who might? Thanks again for the info.
Cedar Tree
Tipi Walter
10-13-2017, 09:56
Wow, that's a vast area and major reroutes. Maybe something worse than bombs fell off?? Like nerve agents or nukes??
tvance0645
10-13-2017, 10:14
Thanks Tvance, I think I will skip this section for now and jump up to the section from Beech Gap to Deals Gap. Would you happen to be available for a shuttle Tuesday morning? Or maybe know someone who might? Thanks again for the info.
Cedar TreeI wish, heck I've been trying to get the same sections done for a month. Work has me tied down now. I'll DM you with some info
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Tipi Walter
11-09-2017, 14:44
New update on this: Kirkland and State Line and Brookshire and Sugar Mt trails are all now open---see map of current closure---
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd562904.pdf
ever learn anymore about why, what happened?
ever learn anymore about why, what happened?
not really....
and we really havent pushed for any info on it........
which is kinda weird...
Tipi Walter
11-09-2017, 18:05
A jet plane wreck at high speed over a national forest. Rumor is that many pilots of this type of aircraft are refusing to fly it.
im referring to specifics of this wreck...
not sure what caused it, etc etc.....