Request for 1st-hand GSMNP Information (Breakneck Ridge To Three Forks)

[TownDawg]

This post is not for asking people to join my trip, but rather to find out what additional information I can read/gather.

Trying to gather information on Round Bottom area, Ravenfork area, CS#44 (McGee Spring), Breakneck Ridge Manway, and Balsam Mountain Trail and Pin Oak Gap. Reading Kenneth Wise's accounts, also looking for any trip reports and/or pictures. Itinerary shown below for your reference.

Three Forks is not on the Smokies maps, but described (by Kenneth Wise) as one of the most interesting places in the GSMNP.

Current itinerary as suggested goes like this:

Day 1 - Travel to Round Bottoms, and on to CS#44. This allows for latecomers to get there before the real assault on the 'attempt'.

Day 2 - Travel to Three Forks using Breakneck Ridge Manway and return same day. (We can leave the gear somewhere at CS#44.)

Day 3 - Get to cars, and return home. That way we have a whole day to get to Three Forks from CS#44 just in case it is really grown over.

If you want a deathmarch -- There's been a suggested one. I don't see doing the deathmarch at the moment though. For your reference, the deathmarch would be tracing the Ravenfork Valley watershed from Three Forks up to TriCorner (or hitting somewhere along the Balsam Mountain Trail to Laurel Gap Shelter) -- but that's a two day journey in itself most likely!

SwampTromp has done the deathmarch manway, and I want to reinforce it is NOT part of my current plans. From there, you'd have to hike Balsam Gap Shelter to Pin Oak, and take the road back to Round Bottoms. (A killer, but doable.)

I prefer the itinerary suggested above -- a three day journey that would not pit our strengths and tax our emotions.

Day 1 - Travel to Round Bottoms, and on to CS#44. This allows for latecomers to get there before the real assault on the 'attempt'.
Day 2 - Travel to Three Forks using Breakneck Ridge Manway and return same day. (We can leave the gear somewhere at CS#44.)
Day 3 - Get to cars, and return home. That way we have a whole day to get to Three Forks from CS#44 just in case it is really grown over.

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If you want to sign up -- that's another link.

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trips/trip/505.php (http://www.thebackpacker.com/trips/trip/505.php)

[chris]

I was at 44 last spring. It isn't what I would call a great campsite, but there is water (a spring) down the gully a little bit. I was there in April, and it was flowing, but I wouldn't count on it in summer, or in a dry fall. About 7 minutes before you hit the camp, there is a great campsite with a view but no water (that I recall). Of course, there are no bear wires and it isn't legal to camp outside of established spots. I haven't gone up the manway, but I recall that it isn't described in the little brown book of the smokies. I don't recall seeing a trail or even a brush route when I was in the area. Bushwacking in the Smokys will be very tough. If you are prepared for the suffering, give it a shot. Perhaps deer maintain the manway, but I would suspect that you are in for a very tough trip.

If I was going to try this, I would wait until late November, when much of the brush is down, but before too much snow has falllen. Or, wait all the way until January and have the least brush, and more snow higher up. Early spring (March) might be feasible.

[TownDawg]

Thanks.. :).. We just got done doing a bushwhacking trip a few weeks ago.. we traced Ramsey Cascade all the way up the mountain..

http://www.anycities.com/user/towndawg/ramsey.htm

the weekend of Hurricane Ivan.. but anyway.. ;) I've got most of the trip worked out. I have read some accounts of the three forks area, seen an old picture (from the 40's), and have the route marked.

You are right -- it is NOT in the little brown book.. but Kenneth Wise and Harvey Broome have described this area. I'd read through that -- now just trying to find folks who have been in that area recently. My guess is that a dozen of less people venture the breakneck ridge trail, and most likely -- not a LOT more end up at CS#44.

A military surveyor and I are signed up so far -- and the trip is set for March 05.

[chris]

Thanks.. :).. We just got done doing a bushwhacking trip a few weeks ago.. we traced Ramsey Cascade all the way up the mountain..

http://www.anycities.com/user/towndawg/ramsey.htm

the weekend of Hurricane Ivan.. but anyway.. ;) .

That is one of the trips that I always wanted to do in the Smokys. Good luck!

[TownDawg]

http://community.webshots.com/photo/188357802/197453299ThCctv