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Thread: Hike with wife

  1. #1
    Registered User stilllife's Avatar
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    Default Hike with wife

    My wife has decided to go hiking with me the weekend of Thanksgiving. She's been on one over night trip to Cabin Flats and enjoyed it.
    This time I'm thinking two nights from Cosby on Gabes Mountain to site 34 then Madron Bald to site 29 and out on Snakeden Ridge. Will this be too difficult for her? It's all down hill on the hike out. Thanks.


    My other option is to take Middle Prong to Lynn Camp and site 28 then down Miry Ridge to site 27 on Jakes Creek Trail then back out on Panther creek and Middle Prong
    Last edited by stilllife; 11-17-2020 at 09:38.

  2. #2
    Registered User gollwoods's Avatar
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    I'd just go on to cosby shelter there is a nice campsite 500 ft south. with bear cables.

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    Registered User gollwoods's Avatar
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    site 29 is least attractive site on the smokies.

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    Registered User stilllife's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by gollwoods View Post
    I'd just go on to cosby shelter there is a nice campsite 500 ft south. with bear cables.

    Sent from my moto g(7) power using Tapatalk
    Not planning on getting on AT and that is too far from 34

  5. #5

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    Quote Originally Posted by stilllife View Post
    My wife has decided to go hiking with me the weekend of Thanksgiving. She's been on one over night trip to Cabin Flats and enjoyed it.
    This time I'm thinking two nights from Cosby on Gabes Mountain to site 34 then Madron Bald to site 29 and out on Snakeden Ridge. Will this be too difficult for her? It's all down hill on the hike out. Thanks.


    My other option is to take Middle Prong to Lynn Camp and site 28 then down Miry Ridge to site 27 on Jakes Creek Trail then back out on Panther creek and Middle Prong
    I dont know about the quality of those sites but the mileage looks reasonable for someone that doesnt backpack all the time. I try and keep in mind when planning a trip with someone wanting to experience backpacking that the trip is for them, not me. I sacrifice my hiking requirements and plan a trip that is most attractive to them. FWIW I use Grayson highlands ponies or roan mountain for new hikers to capture a big wow factor. YRMV
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    stilllife, either itinerary looks reasonable. I haven't personally hiked Snakeden Ridge, but assuming it's typical for that area, it wouldn't be all that hard.

    Another option I'll throw out there is a loop with Kephart Shelter and Icewater Springs Shelter.
    Or if you are interested in a site with an interesting artifact, you could go to Campsite 32, Injun Creek. Upside-down in the creek is an old engine (Injun?). Doesn't fit well with a 2-night loop idea, but it's still cool.

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    Smile First idea can be done

    Your first choice looks very do-able. I've gone down the Snake Den Ridge Trail from the A.T., and it's steeper than I'd prefer, but you're certainly not overdoing it on any of the three days.
    Just remember to get your permits ahead of time -- that weekend may be pretty heavy with hikers and campers.

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    i wouldnt take your wife to a shelter............and you probably shouldnt as well.....

    thanksgiving, as noted, could be really busy....

    she might not like being in a shelter full of stinky farting snoring people.......

    29 is not a bad site-----there are worse in the Park (thinking 14 in particular.....number 14 that is)


    28---i really didnt find to be a good site....

    it filled the needs of what i needed but nothing special...

    and to get to the "better" of the tent sites----have to cross the creek...

    however, 27 was a wonderful site....

    even with me staying closer to the trail as opposed to closer to the creek......

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    oh, and forgot that the Park is allowing tenting at shelters...

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    your original loop is not a bad loop as long as your wife doesn't kill you for the uphill to get to 29.....

    and if she is cool with two nights........

    you'll see a waterfall......and some huge trees.......

    etc etc etc......

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    The #34/#29 is a great starter loop, because each day is only around a 5 mile hike. It's one of the first hikes I did when I started camping.

    #34 was a nice enough campsite... 20 years ago. Last time I walked by it a few years ago, it looked a bit over-grown. but then I didn't spend any time at the campsite to see if there were any good spots to setup a tent.

    #29 is nice enough, but rocky (gravel). But at an elevation of about 4,500', expect it to be cold.

    It's also NOT all down hill after #29. There's still about an 800' climb to get to Snake Den.

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    The #28/#27 loop was the loop I did just before the #34/#29 loop.

    Again, each day is only about 5 miles.

    Similar to #34, I've been by campsite #27 in recent years, and it's not as nice looking as it was 20 years ago.

    Both campsites are at about 3,500', so they should be a few degrees warmer than #29.

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    If you want a lower elevation "beginner" loop, look into #15/#17 from Abram's Falls trailhead. Both campsites are at about 1,500' in elevation.

    Again, each day is around 5 miles (or less). The campsites are at an elevation of 1,500' or less.
    Campsite #15 is nice enough, and I think #17 is great.

    The loop will include a visit to Abram's Falls.

    The one down side (for some) is that the loop requires 3 creek fords (bring water shoes):
    One at the trailhead of Rabbit Creek.
    One just past campsite #15
    The biggest being Abram's Creek at the end of Hannanh Mtn trail at Abrams Creek trail.
    The water WILL BE COLD... but skin dries quickly. I've done this loop with a 12yo on a Veteran's Day weekend.
    Last edited by HooKooDooKu; 11-17-2020 at 22:41.

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    The biggest being Abram's Creek at the end of Hannanh Mtn trail at Abrams Creek trail.

    just take your time on this crossing....

    it seemingly is always slick when i have crossed it....


    it really has perplexed me the last few decades of with the amount of traffic this crossing gets,
    they haven't put in a bridge for it....


    and yeah----15 and 17 are both nice campsites......

    17 was going to be a suggestion from me, but i didnt want to bring up the water crossings.....

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by TNhiker View Post
    it seemingly is always slick when i have crossed it
    Confirm!
    As you approach the Abrams Creek trail side, the rocks get smooth.
    I've forded this crossing over a half-dozen times and never fell.
    But when I took a friend from work on this loop with our sons, we both crossed first with packs without falling, but on the 2nd trip to hold hands with they youngest kids, he slipped and took a bath (but that was in October when weather was warmer).

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    GSMNP 900 Miler rmitchell's Avatar
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    Campsite 15 is currently closed due to bear activity.

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    Quote Originally Posted by rmitchell View Post
    Campsite 15 is currently closed due to bear activity.



    16 is in that same area.....

    but it ain't as nice as 15, imo.....

    not bad, just not great......

  18. #18

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    I guess it depends on your wife’s fitness level and enthusiasm but personally, I like your second option the best. I enjoy that loop much more than hiking out of Cosby.

  19. #19
    Registered User stilllife's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by TNhiker View Post
    oh, and forgot that the Park is allowing tenting at shelters...
    So how long have they been doing this and can you hammock at the shelters?


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    Default Changed (likely) only for this year

    So how long have they been doing this and can you hammock at the shelters?
    It's a response to the Covid-19 pandemic, trying to prevent people from bunching together in an area that's nearly closed up. Hammocking is permitted. This change in policy will almost certainly end when Covid restrictions end.

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