Advanced Backpacking - Gregory Bald (Smoky Mountains)

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Advanced Backpacking - Gregory Bald (Smoky Mountains)

The Basics:

Event Type:

Backpacking

Event Location:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Gregory Bald (Campsite #13)

Date(s) & Time:

Fri, Jun 26 2009 6:30 pm >> N/A (Carpool Departure: 6:30 pm *log in for location*)

Registration Opens:

Wed, Jun 3 2009 9:00 pm

Registration Cut Off:

Thu, Jun 25 2009 5:00 pm

Event Duration:

2 days 2 nights

Difficulty Rating:

D6: Advanced

Trip Leader(s):

Jason Kotz
EB

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Member Cost:

None

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 21 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

5 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

Join us for an advanced backpacking trip to one of the most beautiful spots in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This trip will have a late night Friday night and a very tough climb on Saturday morning, but we'll be staying at coveted campsite #13 on top of Gregory Bald during the peak season for the Flame Azaleas. This campsite has limited space and we are limited to 8 permits.

This is an ADVANCED TRIP and you must have prior backpacking experience or you will be removed from this event.

We'll meet at the Mansell Rd Marta Park and Ride on Friday night after work where we'll compact into two cars and begin our 3 hour car ride up to the Twentymile Ranger Station in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with a brief stop along the way to pick up something to eat.

We expect to arrive at the station around 10 pm to grab our permits and get our gear ready. We'll have to use our headlamps to navigavate for about a 2 to 2.5 mile trek up the Wolf Ridge Trail to campsite #95. We expect that the campsite may already be crowded with other backpackers so we'll have to minimize where we set up.

On Saturday morning we'll wake up early and quickly pack up our gear and eat a quick and cold breakfast. Gregory Bald rises 3000 feet of elevation over 5 miles, so expect a long and challenging up-hill climb. Once we reach Parson's Bald it's an easy hike to campsite #13. We'll set up camp and check our water source at a nearby creek, and then we'll grab our lunch supplies and hike the .5 mile up to the top of Gregory Bald.

With the challenging time on Friday night and Saturday morning we'll have the rest of the day and evening to enjoy Gregory Bald, take plenty of pictures of the Flame Azaleas, lay in the sun, relax at camp, day hike one of the other 3 trails that lead away from Gegory Bald and enjoy the sunset.

Sunday morning we'll have a leisurely breakfast while we break down camp. Sunday will be a 8.4 mile hike down the Long Hungry Ridge Trail and back to the cars. This trail drops 2000 feet of elevation in 2.5 miles so your knees will feel the pain and we recommend having trekking poles. At some point during the downhill, we'll stop and find a place to have lunch.

Note: Bears are known to be active in the area and campsite #93 is currently closed for bear activity. If you have bear spray, bear bells, or a bear whistle, not a bad idea to bring it.

Required Items to Bring:

Hiking Boots/Hiking Shoes
Headlamp - We'll be backpacking in at night!
Backpack for overnight trip
Tent
Sleeping Bag
Thermarest/Sleeping Pad
Backpacking Stove
Water, either in camel back or nalgene carriers
bear bag or bear vault
Meals Needed:

2 Lunches

1 Dinner

2 Breakfasts (Saturday's breakfast should be high energy and quick to prepare/eat)

Whatever trail snacks you would like.

Please see the AOC Backpacking Checklist for other required and recommended items.

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

We highly Recommend Trekking Poles as the climb up and back down to Gregory Bald is a 3000' change of elevation.
Water filter or water purification tablets (we will have one water filter, but it is not recommended for a group of this size)
Lighter or matches
Semi-warm jacket—Even though it's almost July, the wind can be heavy on top of the bald and it might get chilly.
bug spray
bear spray

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

View Larger Map

1.	Head east on Mansell Rd	0.2 mi
2.	Turn left to merge onto GA-400 N/US-19 N	37.3 mi
3.	Turn left at S Chestatee/GA-249/GA-60/US-19	5.1 mi
4.	Turn right at GA-60/Morrison Moore Pkwy E/US-19 Continue to follow US-19	13.3 mi
5.	Turn left at Hwy-19 N/GA-11/US-129/US-19 Continue to follow GA-11/US-129/US-19	20.7 mi
6.	At Town Square, take the 4th exit onto Blue Ridge St	0.5 mi
7.	Turn right at Murphy Hwy Entering North Carolina	10.7 mi
8.	Continue on Blairsville Hwy/US-129/US-19	3.8 mi
9.	Turn right at US-129/US-19/US-64 W/US-74 Continue to follow US-129/US-19/US-74	29.6 mi
10.	Turn left at US-129	29.3 mi
11.	Turn right at NC-28	2.9 mi

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):

310Mile(s)

Carpool Departure Time:

6:30 pm

Carpool Location:

Carpool Directions:

Carpool Cost:

Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $124.00 using a reimbursement rate guideline of $0.400 per mile. The total amount should be divided by the number of people in the vehicle, including the driver. This is a guideline, not a rule, for drivers but the cost should not be higher unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Notes:

* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance: Please review the AOC cancellation policy.