View Full Version : Charlie's Bunyan Dayhike mid February
Am I crazy to attempt it? My birthday is mid February and I LOVE Pigeon Forge, so my husband is taking me on a long weekend and my gift is an all day hike. I would like to do the 8 mile round trip to Charlie's Bunyan, and I know weather is unpredictable, but has anyone done this and been blessed with a relatively warm (50's) day and sunshine? I don't expect to be the 1 out of 1000 that gets lucky but if my odds are 50/50, I'll chance it. Anyone with any experience nearing this?
i think your odds will be better than 50.50..
for example......yesterday and early today were really warm here in the valley...........
and no snow........
so easily doable....
and even with snow, and the road is open (thats the main point)-----it can still be done....
ive gone out to icewater shelter (which is a mile or so before the bunyon) when there was 4 feet of snow on trail...
i was prepared so it wasnt a problem per se......
but have fun....
worse comes the worse----just do a lower elevation hike....
i would suggest ramsay cascades if youve never been there....
and thats more of an all day hike than then bunyon which can be done in a few hours....
HooKooDooKu
01-08-2019, 16:41
As you say, weather is unpredictable.
From what I can see online, looks like weather over the last few days has been great for a hike anywhere in GSMNP. Temperatures, even at the highest elevations, have pretty much stayed above freezing, so there's likely no ice and snow on the ground to cause problems.
So there's always a chance the weather is just as nice a month from now.
But of course, a month from now, there could be a foot of snow and ice on the trail making it difficult and dangerous.
Just make sure that even if the weather has been looking good if/when you go, make sure you have warm enough gear/clothing to survive a cold night in the woods just in case something happens (good advice ANY time of year, but especially when you could find yourself stuck outside in some very cold temperatures... temperatures that can quickly kill if you encounter precipitation and you're unprepared for it).
PatmanTN
01-08-2019, 16:43
You are not crazy at all for hiking to the Bunion in February. Traction devices are a must if it's freezing; lots of ice on that walk. But loving Pigeon Forge, well, consider mental evaluations for that. :)
You are not crazy at all for hiking to the Bunion in February. Traction devices are a must if it's freezing; lots of ice on that walk. But loving Pigeon Forge, well, consider mental evaluations for that. :)
What can I say... I'm a tourist and Pigeon Forge is Tourism HEAVEN! :D I will definitely be loaded for bear... and ice. Thanks!
i think your odds will be better than 50.50..
for example......yesterday and early today were really warm here in the valley...........
and no snow........
so easily doable....
and even with snow, and the road is open (thats the main point)-----it can still be done....
ive gone out to icewater shelter (which is a mile or so before the bunyon) when there was 4 feet of snow on trail...
i was prepared so it wasnt a problem per se......
but have fun....
worse comes the worse----just do a lower elevation hike....
i would suggest ramsay cascades if youve never been there....
and thats more of an all day hike than then bunyon which can be done in a few hours....
Good to know. Being from GA, I know we get our coldest and iciest weather in January and February, so I was a little worried the Smokies might be a bad idea. I just have to take advantage of the time whenever I get it. Thanks!
Being from GA, I know we get our coldest and iciest weather in January and February, so I was a little worried the Smokies might be a bad idea.
naww.....
i wouldnt worry too much....
its just like GA-----one week its nice outside..........next week is cold and snowy..........the week after that, snow is melted and back in the 50's..
i say all this and of course the week you want to come to the Park will be a blizzard......
but even so....the lower elevations are generally accessible.....
worse comes the worse----more go carts, salt water taffy and air brushed t shirts in town... :P
naww.....
i wouldnt worry too much....
its just like GA-----one week its nice outside..........next week is cold and snowy..........the week after that, snow is melted and back in the 50's..
i say all this and of course the week you want to come to the Park will be a blizzard......
but even so....the lower elevations are generally accessible.....
worse comes the worse----more go carts, salt water taffy and air brushed t shirts in town... :P
LOL!! Please!!! I'm going to Dollywood! I'll just be sure to have my crampons and my layers on me. Thanks!! :)
LOL!! Please!!! I'm going to Dollywood!
oh....
they got all that stuff at dollywood as well....
along with crafts people...
oh....
they got all that stuff at dollywood as well....
along with crafts people...
ROTFL!!! So I should be all set then!
ROTFL!!! So I should be all set then!
yeah...
and i think they even have a fake mountain that you could climb.......
and the water park could double as a waterfall......
I prefer the real deal, but you sound like you've given the place a thorough once over yourself! ;)
Weather is unacceptable go full tilt Gatlinburg. Ride the elevator to the top of "Space Needle Observation Tower" to work off the AYCE Buffet. Make sure to get your Selfies at the top. Make it a true event buying a T-shirt and southern style gourmet fudge at the Paula Deen Store. Top it off with a BIG slice at the Cheesecake Factory. :p
I prefer the real deal, but you sound like you've given the place a thorough once over yourself!
my work does alot of work with them.......
so, ive been there alot for work..........
we have dollywood elements on our shows pretty much on a weekly basis.....
Ashepabst
01-08-2019, 22:57
Traction devices are a must if it's freezing; lots of ice on that walk.
The spring for Icewater Shelter pours across the trail. It can be a mess getting through there when it’s freezy.
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I just got to say it with my tongue in cheek. It's not like you are planning a white mountain traverse in December.:-? a bad day in the woods is better than an OK day in town. Or as Dad would say, just don't do anything too stupid.
Mockernut
01-09-2019, 08:58
Sad news...Dollywood is closed until mid-March... :(
rmitchell
01-09-2019, 10:31
Ripley 's Aquarium is very good.
IMHO about the only thing in Gatlinburg worth visiting.
illabelle
01-09-2019, 11:08
Ain't never been to Dollywood, but just checked their website, and yep, they're closed until March 16.
Unless there's been recent snow/ice, your biggest issue may be road access to Newfound Gap. We went up to NFG this past Saturday. Temperatures in Knoxville were forecast in the 50s/60s. As we approached through Sevierville, we could see sun reflecting brightly from some of the higher ridgelines. That's just frost, right? After driving 2/3rds of the way to NFG we began to see snow on the ground. Perhaps because of the gov't shutdown, the road had not been treated. A pickup from Florida :rolleyes: got stuck on an icy patch and traffic came to a near halt for 15-20 minutes. My husband and another guy got him towed over to a parking area and we were able to proceed. At NFG there was a 2-inch layer of crusty slush (My silly daughter wore sandals! :eek: She had socks, and we gave her plastic bags to keep her feet sorta dry). We parked and went on a short hike (Beech Flats Quiet Walkway). When we returned, rangers were stationed blocking entry to the parking lot, and announced they were closing the road. Tons of people still in the Park, so we figured there was little chance of getting stuck behind a locked gate. We drove downhill and hiked part of the Alum Cave Bluff Trail.
If NFG is accessible, I wouldn't have any hesitation about hiking to Charlie's Bunyan. At that elevation, ice is probable regardless of weather elsewhere, so just watch your step. Trekking poles help a lot. Also, be sure to allow enough time for travel and hiking considering the early sunset. We were at Charlie's Bunyan around sunset last summer. Outstanding views of the peaks and valleys, the sun's rays in a rising mist. Enjoy!
Weather is unacceptable go full tilt Gatlinburg. Ride the elevator to the top of "Space Needle Observation Tower" to work off the AYCE Buffet. Make sure to get your Selfies at the top. Make it a true event buying a T-shirt and southern style gourmet fudge at the Paula Deen Store. Top it off with a BIG slice at the Cheesecake Factory. :p
See, that sounds awesome... but I recently dropped about 60 pounds, so I likely won't be able to do about half of that. But if the weather is gross, you are on the right track!
my work does alot of work with them.......
so, ive been there alot for work..........
we have dollywood elements on our shows pretty much on a weekly basis.....
It may be my favorite theme park, bar none.
Ain't never been to Dollywood, but just checked their website, and yep, they're closed until March 16.
Unless there's been recent snow/ice, your biggest issue may be road access to Newfound Gap. We went up to NFG this past Saturday. Temperatures in Knoxville were forecast in the 50s/60s. As we approached through Sevierville, we could see sun reflecting brightly from some of the higher ridgelines. That's just frost, right? After driving 2/3rds of the way to NFG we began to see snow on the ground. Perhaps because of the gov't shutdown, the road had not been treated. A pickup from Florida :rolleyes: got stuck on an icy patch and traffic came to a near halt for 15-20 minutes. My husband and another guy got him towed over to a parking area and we were able to proceed. At NFG there was a 2-inch layer of crusty slush (My silly daughter wore sandals! :eek: She had socks, and we gave her plastic bags to keep her feet sorta dry). We parked and went on a short hike (Beech Flats Quiet Walkway). When we returned, rangers were stationed blocking entry to the parking lot, and announced they were closing the road. Tons of people still in the Park, so we figured there was little chance of getting stuck behind a locked gate. We drove downhill and hiked part of the Alum Cave Bluff Trail.
If NFG is accessible, I wouldn't have any hesitation about hiking to Charlie's Bunyan. At that elevation, ice is probable regardless of weather elsewhere, so just watch your step. Trekking poles help a lot. Also, be sure to allow enough time for travel and hiking considering the early sunset. We were at Charlie's Bunyan around sunset last summer. Outstanding views of the peaks and valleys, the sun's rays in a rising mist. Enjoy!
Good to know. Thanks Illabelle. I'll be sure to have my crampons and poles. Hopefully, the gov't will be back in action and things cleared some by then.
I'm sad I'll miss Dollywood this trip,but Pigeon Forge is loaded with fun stuff to do and see, so I'm sure I can entertain myself elsewhere. Our hotel has an indoor waterpark, so I can do that instead. Yes, I'm an old lady/child. :)
Our hotel has an indoor waterpark, so I can do that instead. Yes, I'm an old lady/child.
i can dress up like Dolly and then it will complete your trip.....
i can dress up like Dolly and then it will complete your trip.....
ROTFL!!! Yes, that's exactly what my trip is missing!! LOL!!!:clap
stephanD
01-09-2019, 16:09
Excuse my ignorance, But what's "ROTFL?"
Excuse my ignorance, But what's "ROTFL?"
We need more emojis. :) It means "rolling on the floor laughing"
stephanD
01-09-2019, 18:38
We need more emojis. :) It means "rolling on the floor laughing"
guess i'm from another century. LOL (i know that one)https://whiteblaze.net/forum/images/smilies/banana.gif
stephanD
01-09-2019, 18:41
You seem cool people to hang around with. I hope you have fun.:D
Traffic Jam
01-09-2019, 19:59
One of my first winter hikes was to Charlie’s Bunion...there was two feet of snow on the trail, I wore blue jeans with cotton leggings underneath, kept postholing, got soaked, made it half a mile. :)
Still...it was a great experience that I can laugh about. I did it all wrong but have a wonderful memory.
Have fun!
Tipi Walter
01-09-2019, 22:14
Sad news...Dollywood is closed until mid-March... :(
This is so far the best news I've heard in 2019. Thanks Mockernut.
Mockernut
01-09-2019, 23:17
You're welcome, Tipi, but doesn't it worry you that all those folks that would have gone to Dollywood will be crowding the trails instead? ;)
rmitchell
01-10-2019, 00:53
One summer my wife and my son worked summer jobs at Dollywood.
Family members got free admission.
I went one time to ride the rollercoasters.
Been there. Done that. Didn't get the t-shirt.
MtDoraDave
01-16-2019, 08:10
On a section hike 2 or 3 years back in the third week of March, a nor'easter came through and dumped 6" of snow on us overnight. The next day, the snow got packed down as it was trampled, temperatures rose slightly above freezing, then it refroze the next night. The result was basically a lot of very icy areas on the trail. The southbound descent to NFG was treacherous without spikes. Many tourists trying to go up the hill were slipping and falling. I fell several times, even going slowly and using trekking poles. It was melted two days later.
Be prepared. Bring spikes, use them if needed.
Gambit McCrae
01-16-2019, 09:06
BElow is a live webcam of Newfound Gap. It will give you a good idea of what the roads are up into the smokies. II wouldn't worry about the trail conditions as you wont know what they are until you are there.
https://www.air-resource.net/grsmnfgap/
illabelle
01-16-2019, 10:37
On a section hike 2 or 3 years back in the third week of March, a nor'easter came through and dumped 6" of snow on us overnight. The next day, the snow got packed down as it was trampled, temperatures rose slightly above freezing, then it refroze the next night. The result was basically a lot of very icy areas on the trail. The southbound descent to NFG was treacherous without spikes. Many tourists trying to go up the hill were slipping and falling. I fell several times, even going slowly and using trekking poles. It was melted two days later.
Be prepared. Bring spikes, use them if needed.
Now wait a minute. If this was the Smokies, then that couldn't have been a nor'easter. Musta been a sout'easter, even if nobody's ever heard of one.
:)
rmitchell
01-17-2019, 09:03
BElow is a live webcam of Newfound Gap. It will give you a good idea of what the roads are up into the smokies. II wouldn't worry about the trail conditions as you wont know what they are until you are there.
https://www.air-resource.net/grsmnfgap/
Good point Gambit.
I haven't seen mention of web cams here before. They can give some insight into conditions at their locations. Many also list temperature and other data. It varies by location. May be due to whom ever sponsors camera.
At this moment Newfound Gap shows to be 29 degrees with two inches of snow depth.
There are some other web cams with ties to the park. Purchase Gap, Look Rock and seasonally Clingman's Dome. Unfortunately those associated with the National Parks are shut down due to the Federal Tantrums .
glenlawson
01-19-2019, 18:32
I've hiked to Charlies Bunion in January and my experience was it is doable so long as the road is open. The first half mile from the parking lot is a little wet, a little shady and a little crowded. Once you get past the first mile, the trail levels out and the parking lot people head back.
Sturdy waterproof shoes, warm windproof clothes, and some snacks will get you there and back. If the day is clear, there are beautiful views north from the Bunion.
If the weather is too iffy (or the road is closed) head to Porter's Creek trail in Greenbrier which is east on 321 from Gatlinburg. Beautiful hike and rarely crowded.