GSMNP-Three days of fantastic hikes in the Smokies!

Come join me for a challenging series of hikes in the nation's most popular park, the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Over three days we will hike to some of the most spectacular destinations in the park.

Friday, July's 4: We start with a D6 hike to Mount Sterling, covering 15.8 miles with over 4,000 feet of elevation gain. We will start at Big Creek Campground and start with an out-and-back hike on the Big Creek Trail to Mouse Creek Falls at about the 2 mile point. Because of a trail outage we must retrace our steps to Big Creek Campground, cross Big Creek (on a bridge), then hike the Big Branch Trail to the Baxter Creek Trail. We will continue on the Baxter Creek Trail until we get to the summit of Mount Sterling, where we will take in the views from the tallest firetower in the Eastern US and possibly enjoy lunch. We will return to Big Creek Campground on the Baxter Creek trail. This is a different route than I originally posted due to a closure of the Big Creek Trail at Mouse Creek Falls, but it is still a D6, with about 16 miles and over 4,000 feet of climbing.

Saturday, July 5: The second day we hike 10.7 miles to Mount Cammerer, climbing 3,400 feet. We will start at the Cosby Campground Parking lot at 9am. We will first hike on the Low Gap Trail for 3 miles of climbing within earshot of the Cosby Creek until we reach the namesake gap and a junction with the white blazed AT. A left turn on the AT will give us 3 more miles of a less steep climb to reach the beautiful fire tower on top of Mount Cammerer. This tower looks awesome and will yield magnificent views for us to enjoy while we eat lunch. After lunch we will retrace our steps in what should be an enjoyable downhill, fast paced return.

The third day we hike the Gabes Mountain trail to Hen Wallow Falls and Greenbrier Creek, covering 9.3 miles and climbing over 2,000 feet. We will begin at the Cosby Campground parking lot. Expect to see a multitude of wildflowers as we cross several creeks (on bridges) and make our way to Hen Wallows Falls at the 2 mile mark. After the falls we will get back on the trail for a creek filled stroll until we reach our turn around point at Greenbriar Creek. Somewhere along the way we will be stopping for a lunch break.

These hikes are difficult, up to D6 with up to 4,000 feet of ascent. Recent strenuous hiking is required to join the fun. If you don't have recent D5 or higher hiking experience with the AOC I will contact you to determine whether this event is right for you.

We will be staying at a rental house near Cosby, TN. I have rented the house beginning Thursday night through Saturday night. This will allow an early start for each day's hike. This is especially important for Friday's hike, which covers 17 miles. That hike is the only one that doesn't start at the Cosby Campground, so we will need extra time to get to the trailhead. 

There will be a bed for each person (unless one or more couples register). Because of the need to plan sleeping arrangements, though, the event is designed to place everyone on the waitlist. I will make judgments about who to add to the list based on the sleeping arrangements, but everyone must be highly capable to handle the very challenging hikes planned without slowing the group down. Please do not add yourself to the waitlist if you have any doubts about your ability to complete three very difficult hikes in three days.

These hikes are new to me, so I can't be sure of the distance or elevation. So bring your sense of adventure, your sense of humor, and be flexible. 

I will email directions to the rental house a few days prior to the event, and will have directions for drivers to each day's trailhead at the event. 

Note that the maximum number of attendees on this event is the number of beds in the rental house. I can increase that number (subject to AOC limits) for people who will not be staying in the rental house. And I will send anyone who wants to meet at the event directions to the trailhead of each hike. 

The payment noted above includes ONLY the AOC fee. The AOC fee must be paid within three days of being added to the event. This fee is non-refundable. Additional costs are set out below.

We will be staying in a rental house in Cosby, about 10 minutes from the start of our three hikes. The cost of the house is $1,328.53 (including cancellation insurance). If six people register, the cost for the house will be $221.42 each. This will increase if fewer people register, and will reduce if one or more couples sign up.

In order to save your place on the trip, you must send the trip leader $221.42 by PayPal or Zelle within 5 days of being added to the trip, but before June 15 in any case, to avoid being removed from the event. 

In addition to the cost for the house, there will be a $5/day parking fee for GSMNP, meals, and carpool. 

The trip leader has paid a deposit for the rental house, so payment for lodging will not be refundable. If the event is full and a member withdraws and is replaced by another member, the replacement member will reimburse the member who replaces the withdrawn member.