Backpacking -Hazel Creek to Fontana Dam - Fri, Jun 18 2004

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Backpacking -Hazel Creek to Fontana Dam


The Basics:
Event Type:Backpacking
Event Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Date(s) & Time:Fri, Jun 18 2004  9:00 am >> N/A
Registration Opens: Mon, Jan 1 2007 12:00 am
Registration Cut Off: Thu, Jun 10 2004 11:59 pm
Event Duration:per itinerary
Difficulty Rating:D2: Easy to Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Joe Donovan
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:8
Minimum Group Size:2
Number Registered So Far: 5 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:
Moderate (Day 1- 5 miles to campsite 84 and 4 mile day hike. Day 2- 7 miles to campsite 90. Day 3- 6 miles to our cars

Backcountry use permits are required. We will use the self-registration station at Fontana Village Marina. After enjoying a boat ride across Fontana Lake to the mouth of Hazel Creek, the boat will drop off our party on the shoreline. This is the point where we will start hiking on the Hazel Creek Trail. After passing the Proctor Creek backcountry campsite 86, we cross Hazel Creek on a bridge. While hiking through this area we can see many signs of the homestead and logging days. For example, we will see the old Proctor cemetery. Crossing two more bridges we will then arrive at Sawdust Pile backcountry campsite 85. Crossing a couple more bridges we will come to a trail junction. To our right is the Sugar Fork backcountry campsite 84. This campsite is perched on a hill that is nestled between Hazel Creek and Sugar Fork. After setting up our camp, we will day hike up to Bone Valley. This hike will include 4 major and 1 minor stream crossings without bridges. Highlights include the Hall Cabin, Bone Valley creek. The next morning we will cross the bridge over the Sugar Fork and turn right onto the Jenkins Ridge Trail. After climbing through a second growth forest, we will come to an old trail junction. At this point we will leave the Jenkins Ridge Trail and descend down the old Pinnacle Creek Trail. (This trail is no longer maintained by the park and has been removed from their maps.) Descending down this creek we will pass by the old Pinnacle Creek backcountry campsite 88. After passing this old site, we will begin the first of the 14 wet stream crossings (without bridges) of Pinnacle Creek. We will continue along Pinnacle Creek until Eagle Creek. After doing a wet crossing of Eagle Creek (the foot log has been washed out), we will take a left onto the Eagle Creek Trail. Soon after the second wet crossing of the Eagle Creek (this foot log has also been washed out), we will join with the Lakeshore Trail. Following the Lakeshore Trail to the right, we will cross over a metal frame bridge. We will continue to travel on the Lakeshore Trail. Eventually veering right with a view of the lake to our left, we will pass over Lost Cove Creek to arrive at Lost Cove backcountry campsite 90. This is our second nights campsite. After setting up camp, we can explore the area, take a swim in the lake or just relax. In the morning we will continue on the Lakeshore trail. After going up, down and around some ridges and creek hollows, we will come upon an old road with abandoned rusty cars from the 1930s and other evidence of the pre-dam homesteads. Leaving this old road, we will climb to another old road which leads out to Fontana Dam Road. On the north side of Fontana Dam, we will take the Appalachian Trail across the dam then down back into the woods. Soon we will cross the road that leads to the Fontana Village Marina and back to our cars.

Required Items to Bring:
Water
Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
Tent/shelter
Backpack
Sleeping Bag and Pad
Appropriate clothing for the temperatures
Lunches for trip length
Snacks
Rain gear
Stream crossing footwear
Sunscreen and bug repellent
Headlamp or flash lamp
Toiletries
This is bear country. It is required for our group to hang our food and other necessary items (toothpaste, soap, etc).

How to Get There:
Event Directions:Great Smoky Mountains National Park 10:00 am Fontana Village Marina Take I-75 north to I-575 north which becomes GA 5. At Blue Ridge, GA, turn left on to Route 60 west and travel 1.5 miles to Mineral Bluff, GA. Turn right on to 60 spur and travel approximately 12 miles to the junction with US 19/74. Turn right and proceed on US 19/74 through Murphy, NC then Andrews, NC, the Natahala Gorge and Wesser, NC turn left on to NC 28. Follow NC 28 for nearly 25 miles to turn right at sign to Fontana Dam, then a right at sign to Fontana Village Marina.

Notes:

Are Dogs Permitted? No (park regulations)

Will this event occur rain or shine? Yes
* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:$35.00 per person (covers the boat shuttle, Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast, Saturday diner & Sunday breakfast)

$10.00 deposit required within 10 days of signup. Balance due by June 10th. Cancellation with refund okay before June 10th, no refunds after June 10th.

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