generoll
03-21-2008, 21:26
I just finished a hike using the Fires Creek Rim Trail and the Chunky Gal Trail. Those of you at Soruck 2008 may recall a presentation my Jeff Hunter (Mowgli) concerning these trails so I though this might be of interest to some of you. This isn't about great feats of hiking, just my impressions and experience on these two trails.
Day 1:
My daughter and son in law accompanied me to the Fires Creek Rim area near Hayesville, NC and joined me as far as the first creek crossing the trail up from Leatherwood Falls. This small meadow and creek is about 2.3 miles from the parking lot and made a nice stopping point for lunch. After lunch they headed back down and I hiked on to Will King Gap which is where a connecting trail comes up from the basin. The mileage is listed as 5.3 miles in John Rays guide and all mileages are taken from that guide. The altitude gain is about 2200 feet in the first 4 miles and the trail is rugged. The trail is well blazed and shows signs of old maintenance, but nothing too recent. As this is a rim trail available water is limited and determined campsites for me. I hate dry camping and will lengthen, or more often shorten a hike to camp by water.
Day 2:
Will King Gap to County Corners. 8.8 miles and an overall gain of about 1000 feet. The aggregate gain felt about 10 times that as every knob, named or not gets a visit. Blowdowns are a fact of life as is an excellent view north over Andrews, NC to the Snowbird Mountains and other points of interest. The campsite at County Corners was the nicest I saw on my trip and had the nicest spring. Level ground for tents (rare on this trail) and not overly trashed. An old bunker and firetower base (not visited) are on this section and I regret not taking the time to snoop around.
Day 3:
County Corners to campsite past Bob Allison Campground. (est 5.4 miles) This day was done in a dripping fog and although spectacular views are mentioned in the guide, this was not the day for them. A possible campsite atop Tusquitee Bald would be great for star gazing in clear weather, but you would need to carry your water from one of the sites along the trail. This trail, which combines sections of the Fires Creek Rim and Chunky Gal trails includes a 2000 foot altitude loss in a little over 3 miles. That along with the distance to the next dependable water had me stopping a short distance beyond Bob Allison to camp for the night. There are several tributaries for Big Tuni Creek and I camped near one of them. This was the only section of the trail where I actually saw wildlife. Heard would be more accurate as I scared up two grouse (who returned the favor) on the descent for Tusquitee. Bob Allison is a campground in desperate need of a cleanup as trash is everywhere. It's accessible by car, but has no trash recepticles which doesn't seen to inconvenience the campers. They just leave it for the next guy. The guide doesn't recommend camping there for good reason.
Day 4:
Campsite near Bob Allison to assumed headwaters of Barnard Creek. (est 9.7 miles) This day was done in a driving rain and was basically just more of the same. The rain did break by late afternoon and some of the promised views occured. I could see what was the western end of Nantahala Lake as well as Wayah and Winespring Balds. Or at least I think that was what I was seeing. Other then knowing I was on the Chunky Gal Trail I was never absolutely certain where along the trail I was. The campsite I chose had a nice collection of quartzite in the creek, which I first mistook for a trash dump full of chunks of styrofoam. I was puzzled as to how that could have happened, but once I put my glasses on and went for water the mystery was solved. Ron Haven says those rocks are known locally as moonstone and when I told him I had hiked the Chunky Gal he wanted to know if I'd seen gemstones. Frankly, all I saw were dead leaves for the most part. Obviously this needs to be hiked by someone more attentive.
Day 5: Headwaters of Barnard Creek to hwy 64. (3.3 miles) The temp dropped and I awoke to snow, frozen boots and underware. My original plan had been to complete the Chunky Gal to the AT and then down Kimsey Creek to Standing Indian Camprground, but a hot shower and dry clothes won the toss and once I got to the highway it was two short hitches and I was at the outfitter in Franklin. A phone call from them and my ride to Rons was on the way. This was the only section of the trail where I actually misplaced the trail. The guide warns of a short (.5 mile) walk on a seeded road with an easy to miss ladder. I missed it and once I figured it out had to backtrack about 1/4 of a mile. This was probably the only place on the trail where a turn wasn't double blazed. Guess I got spoiled.
Day 1:
My daughter and son in law accompanied me to the Fires Creek Rim area near Hayesville, NC and joined me as far as the first creek crossing the trail up from Leatherwood Falls. This small meadow and creek is about 2.3 miles from the parking lot and made a nice stopping point for lunch. After lunch they headed back down and I hiked on to Will King Gap which is where a connecting trail comes up from the basin. The mileage is listed as 5.3 miles in John Rays guide and all mileages are taken from that guide. The altitude gain is about 2200 feet in the first 4 miles and the trail is rugged. The trail is well blazed and shows signs of old maintenance, but nothing too recent. As this is a rim trail available water is limited and determined campsites for me. I hate dry camping and will lengthen, or more often shorten a hike to camp by water.
Day 2:
Will King Gap to County Corners. 8.8 miles and an overall gain of about 1000 feet. The aggregate gain felt about 10 times that as every knob, named or not gets a visit. Blowdowns are a fact of life as is an excellent view north over Andrews, NC to the Snowbird Mountains and other points of interest. The campsite at County Corners was the nicest I saw on my trip and had the nicest spring. Level ground for tents (rare on this trail) and not overly trashed. An old bunker and firetower base (not visited) are on this section and I regret not taking the time to snoop around.
Day 3:
County Corners to campsite past Bob Allison Campground. (est 5.4 miles) This day was done in a dripping fog and although spectacular views are mentioned in the guide, this was not the day for them. A possible campsite atop Tusquitee Bald would be great for star gazing in clear weather, but you would need to carry your water from one of the sites along the trail. This trail, which combines sections of the Fires Creek Rim and Chunky Gal trails includes a 2000 foot altitude loss in a little over 3 miles. That along with the distance to the next dependable water had me stopping a short distance beyond Bob Allison to camp for the night. There are several tributaries for Big Tuni Creek and I camped near one of them. This was the only section of the trail where I actually saw wildlife. Heard would be more accurate as I scared up two grouse (who returned the favor) on the descent for Tusquitee. Bob Allison is a campground in desperate need of a cleanup as trash is everywhere. It's accessible by car, but has no trash recepticles which doesn't seen to inconvenience the campers. They just leave it for the next guy. The guide doesn't recommend camping there for good reason.
Day 4:
Campsite near Bob Allison to assumed headwaters of Barnard Creek. (est 9.7 miles) This day was done in a driving rain and was basically just more of the same. The rain did break by late afternoon and some of the promised views occured. I could see what was the western end of Nantahala Lake as well as Wayah and Winespring Balds. Or at least I think that was what I was seeing. Other then knowing I was on the Chunky Gal Trail I was never absolutely certain where along the trail I was. The campsite I chose had a nice collection of quartzite in the creek, which I first mistook for a trash dump full of chunks of styrofoam. I was puzzled as to how that could have happened, but once I put my glasses on and went for water the mystery was solved. Ron Haven says those rocks are known locally as moonstone and when I told him I had hiked the Chunky Gal he wanted to know if I'd seen gemstones. Frankly, all I saw were dead leaves for the most part. Obviously this needs to be hiked by someone more attentive.
Day 5: Headwaters of Barnard Creek to hwy 64. (3.3 miles) The temp dropped and I awoke to snow, frozen boots and underware. My original plan had been to complete the Chunky Gal to the AT and then down Kimsey Creek to Standing Indian Camprground, but a hot shower and dry clothes won the toss and once I got to the highway it was two short hitches and I was at the outfitter in Franklin. A phone call from them and my ride to Rons was on the way. This was the only section of the trail where I actually misplaced the trail. The guide warns of a short (.5 mile) walk on a seeded road with an easy to miss ladder. I missed it and once I figured it out had to backtrack about 1/4 of a mile. This was probably the only place on the trail where a turn wasn't double blazed. Guess I got spoiled.