View Full Version : Newfound Gap to Le Conte
valleyfire
03-04-2010, 22:28
We are planning to hike from Newfound Gap to Mount Le Conte: AT to The Boulevard Trail and back down to Icewater Spring Shelter. Is this going to be a really long hike or are we going to be able to enjoy the views?
We are planning to hike from Newfound Gap to Mount Le Conte: AT to The Boulevard Trail and back down to Icewater Spring Shelter. Is this going to be a really long hike or are we going to be able to enjoy the views?
It will be a very very long hike in the deep snow that is on the ground now:-?
valleyfire
03-04-2010, 22:42
We are going March 19-21, do you think there will still be snow then?
The Solemates
03-04-2010, 22:43
We are going March 19-21, do you think there will still be snow then?
probably...
We are going March 19-21, do you think there will still be snow then?
Right now there is supposedly over a foot. I wouldn't be surprised if there were new snow between now and then. The entire route is 5000+ feet which means conditions more like coastal New England than Tennessee, and this year is considerably snowier than usual.
If there IS snow, the trail will be very icy from folks packing in down, melting in the afternoon sun, then refreezing overnight. Be prepared with some kind of traction device, yaktrax, katoolas, instep crampons, whatever.
valleyfire
03-04-2010, 23:09
Right now there is supposedly over a foot. I wouldn't be surprised if there were new snow between now and then. The entire route is 5000+ feet which means conditions more like coastal New England than Tennessee, and this year is considerably snowier than usual.
If there IS snow, the trail will be very icy from folks packing in down, melting in the afternoon sun, then refreezing overnight. Be prepared with some kind of traction device, yaktrax, katoolas, instep crampons, whatever.
which will be the cheapest option when it comes to traction devices? It might be the only time this FL boy needs them
take-a-knee
03-04-2010, 23:22
We are going March 19-21, do you think there will still be snow then?
I have yet to unpack my crystal ball, I'll get back with you.
which will be the cheapest option when it comes to traction devices? It might be the only time this FL boy needs them
not the cheapest, but I like insteps. I have used the Petzl Crab 6
http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3667360
The CMI ice cleats look like they will work too
http://www.outdoorpros.com/Prod/CMI-ICECLEAT-Ice-Cleats/32883/Cat/156?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=googlebase&cvsfa=1184&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=3332383833 (http://www.basegear.com/cmiinstep.html)
which will be the cheapest option when it comes to traction devices? It might be the only time this FL boy needs them
Yaktrax Pros. They won't last nearly as long as the others, but they're about $30 versus $50-80 for crampons or Katoohla Microspikes. Weight about 4 ounces per pair.
Highstepper
03-04-2010, 23:52
The NWS in Morristown, TN reports that Mt. Leconte had 51" of snow on the ground as of 7:30 this morning....
Like the last person just said. There is 50 inches on Mt. Leconte right now. It's "supposed" to get warm next week so I would bet a lot of it will melt. Thats A LOT of snow though.
I talked to Doug who is the winter caretaker on Leconte and he said he does not believe anyone has come across the boulevard since they got all this snow the last few weeks.
I'm going with a couple of friends next weekend, the 12th. We're going up Alum Cave trail and going to Try and cross the boulevard. I'll let you know how it goes.
Ox97GaMe
03-05-2010, 09:00
Snow depths on LeConte on Wed morning was 51 inches. There was over 36 inches at Newfound Gap. It is going to be slow hiking across the Boulevard for a while. It isnt likely that many folks have tried to hike that 12 mile loop, so there wont be many tracks to follow.
Trail should be broken from NFG to Icewater, as there have been a few thru hikers that have made it through there, but they were post-holing most of the way.
The temps are warming up in the valley, but it wont be much above freezing at 6,000 ft. That snow is going to stay for a while. Probably going to take 2-3 weeks of warm weather to melt the majority of it, and even then you are likely to see some deep patches on the north side of the mountain or in places shaded by the hemlocks, spruce, and firs.
Tennessee Viking
03-05-2010, 09:26
I saw a posting on Facebook. LeConte lodge has about 51 inches of snow at the moment.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Great-Smoky-Mountains-National-Park/35104903672?ref=ts
Its somewhere around 8-9 miles from Newfound. Rainbow Falls, to some, is the hardest approach. Alum Cave would be the shortest.
Ashepabst
03-05-2010, 13:05
i think that guide service in gatlinburg rents gear... maybe yaks
Snowleopard
03-05-2010, 14:24
which will be the cheapest option when it comes to traction devices? It might be the only time this FL boy needs them
Have you done any winter hiking in places that have real winter (not FL)?
If not I'd recommend against doing this hike until things melt out, especially since you're not acclimated to cold.
If you do it, carry more warm clothes than normal for the temps. In particular, carry extra warmth for your legs (heavy synthetic long johns, fleece tights, don't use down pants) and spares for when they get wet. Carry waterproof rain pants. Once it warms up enough for deep snow to start melting it'll be a challenge avoiding hypothermia when hiking through waist deep wet snow. To repeat, warm wet deep snow at 40F or 50F can be more dangerous than dry deep snow at 0 degrees. Read the old Fhart's hypothermia article: http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?p=96956#post96956
Tennessee Viking
03-05-2010, 15:39
The attached photo is just a taste of what you will be facing. A foot or more of just ice. This is a pic a mile north of Newfound on 2/14/07. That years snow was small compared to now.
I encounter a bunch of these ice layers in 5-10 foot sections. Then about 2 miles in, I came across one over 200 feet long. And turned back.
Chaco Taco
03-05-2010, 21:55
The last mile and a half will be rough because of the exposed areas, like in TV pics. I almost fell off a section with a 100 foot drop off in 06 with Yaktraks on. Those cables in the walls are there but they are only so helpful
Was up there yesterday the 13th. The Boulevard trail is still waist deep in snow. Unless you have snowshoes not really possible to cross. We along with several others turned around shortly after the Mt. Leconte shelter.
here's the NWS report from Saturday March 13th.
Leconte had 22" snow
Newfound Gap had 6" snow
high temps getting up to the 40s
the NWS link
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/productview.php?pil=RTPMRX&version=1&max=61
Little Tiny
03-15-2010, 15:04
I was up there this weekend. From Newfound Gap, you can make it to Icewater shelter because hikers have packed down the snow. After that, though, you are post-holing up to your knees. The Boulevard is basically impassable. After I left, it got worse. Another foot of snow fell.
Why are all those shelters closed all of a sudden? That's crazy.
Why are all those shelters closed all of a sudden? That's crazy.
OK I just looked on the site and they are Not closed. They just have bear warnings.
valleyfire
03-16-2010, 09:43
Can I make it to Charlies Bunion?
Ashepabst
03-16-2010, 12:59
is it just me or are the bear warnings starting early this year?
TIDE-HSV
03-16-2010, 17:52
Can I make it to Charlies Bunion?
I haven't been up this year, but, if the snow is packed down to Icewater, I'd bet it'd be packed down on to CB...
drdewrag
03-16-2010, 19:17
Hiking Newfound Gap to Dav Gap beginning this Thursday
valleyfire
03-16-2010, 20:28
We are hitting the trail this Friday(19th), we have three days to hike. So do yall think New Found Gap to Dry Sluice Gap to Grassy Branch to Sweat Heifer back to New Found Gap is going to be possible?
valleyfire
03-16-2010, 20:29
I would like to hike more miles in the three days but I know the conditions will slow us down.
TIDE-HSV
03-16-2010, 20:36
We are hitting the trail this Friday(19th), we have three days to hike. So do yall think New Found Gap to Dry Sluice Gap to Grassy Branch to Sweat Heifer back to New Found Gap is going to be possible?
Yes. My wife and I did that loop in August, '06. FWIW, I was 67 at the time and she 64. I don't know about trail conditions now, though...
valleyfire
03-16-2010, 20:42
I figured we could make the hike, just didn't know about with the snow and ice conditions in the area
TIDE-HSV
03-16-2010, 20:56
From what the others are saying about conditions up on the AT, it looks pretty bleak on the upper sections of Grassy Branch/Sweat Heifer. I'd try to call backcountry and see what they say...
Ramble~On
03-17-2010, 05:43
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/2/7/8/5/smokies_033.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showimage.php?i=39697&original=1&c=member&imageuser=2785)
This is what Newfound Gap looked like March 1st. There's been more snow since then. This photo was taken around 1pm. Just cause the weather is nice and warm down lower doesn't mean that there's any snow melting up higher! The temperature goes down with the sun, way down. Winter is an excellent time to hike, it's beautiful, it's magical and it's fun. The situation dictates though and getting caught out with the wrong gear or a lack of "the right stuff" can and does ruin trips and takes lives. Plan, prepare and Enjoy!
valleyfire
03-29-2010, 18:16
We are hitting the trail this Friday(19th), we have three days to hike. So do yall think New Found Gap to Dry Sluice Gap to Grassy Branch to Sweat Heifer back to New Found Gap is going to be possible?
We did it! Damn that was alot of snow to be hiking in.
valleyfire
03-29-2010, 18:17
It was worth it! A whole different experance doing it in the snow.
valleyfire
03-29-2010, 18:18
Esp. since we could do it in t-shirts. No moisture in the air made for great hiking weather
Swofford11
03-30-2010, 14:02
valleyfire
could you give a more detailed trail report for some of us others who will be out there in a week.
snow depths most of the way?
Any real trouble spots?
ChinMusic
04-01-2010, 16:55
A buddy of mine just got to Clingman's and said he has "post-holed multiple times to my groin without touching the ground".
Here is a link to the view from Clingman's yesterday: http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs082.snc3/14993_383736367043_604147043_3707556_2497878_n.jpg
The website I use for conditions shows 0" snow depth at Leconte, which is basically the same elevation.
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/data/MRX/RTPMRX
What gives?
Swofford11
04-01-2010, 23:50
well considering that there were at least one trail report in the last five days that say a foot up near clingman's dom, that must mean the report is FU'p :rolleyes:
Take if for what it is...i'll be up there Monday...I have a feeling it will not be so bad by then. :sun
bubba295
04-05-2010, 23:25
My self and three others ran into the snow 3-20-21. We went on at Big Creek ranger station up Chestnut Branch and we started seeing snow around 4000'. We went on up to Cammerer tower and then to Low Gap trail down to CS 37 for the night.
Great hike but it was the first time for us in snow. Post Holed a few times when we would step to one side of the trail or the other.
Blow downs were bad in places. I was able to use my mad limbo skills though.