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Backpacking Savage Gulf to Great Stone Door


The Basics:
Event Type:Backpacking
Event Location: Beersheba Springs, TN
Date(s) & Time:Sat, May 7 2005  9:00 am >> N/A
Registration Opens: Mon, Jan 1 2007 12:00 am
Registration Cut Off: Wed, May 4 2005 11:59 pm
Event Duration:per itinerary
Difficulty Rating:D5: Difficult
Trip Leader(s):
Bruce
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:12
Minimum Group Size:4
Number Registered So Far: 8 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:
Moderate to Strenuous

After filling out permit at Savage Gulf Ranger Station, we will be off with backpacks for the 4.2 mile trip to the Great Stone Door and the overlooks into the Big Creek Gulf, and finally to the Alum Gap campsite, where we will set up tents. Then we will be hiking in daygear into the Big Creek Gulf, past many wildflowers, and beside the cascading Big Creek to the sinks of Big Creek, where it slips below the limestone strata, rocks and streambed. After two miles we come to side-trail to Ranger Creek Falls, a 4/10’s mile trail one way to the beautiful waterfall, that also flows into a limestone sink. After returning up the steep slopes to our campsite; we will get wood for our campfire and nights camaraderie, have dinner and card or other games to extend the evening, not have to sleep ten or eleven hours before morning.

Sunday morning, we will rise and have a quick breakfast, and be off to enjoy a short hike (1.4 miles one way) to several beautiful waterfalls, before returning to take down tents, pack up and go back via the Big Creek Rim trail to our cars. After putting packs in the cars, we will visit nearby Laurel Falls on its short trail next to the ranger station. For anyone wanting to dine afterwards, and share company a little longer (hopefully most or all of us), there is a nice and inexpensive family diner (Mary’s Country kitchen) ten miles south of the trailhead.

Anyone having time concerns for returning Sunday, when my friends Joe and Mike helped check this trip out in mid-March, we ate at Mary’s on the way out after the trip, and still got back at shortly after 5pm.

There will be a mandatory pre-trip meeting on Thursday, May 5th to discuss the trails we will travel, go through lists of needed items for rookies or new backpackers, answer any questions.

We will allow time after the meeting for any to buy things needed at REI-Perimeter where the meeting will be held. There are many in AOC with extra equipment for anyone in the group lacking equipment-so e-mail the leader with any concerns about shortages in equipment. I will do my best to arrange for all to be well equipped and ready for the trip.

Very importantly, the Savage Gulf campgrounds prohibit alcoholic beverages, and any small amounts carried in will have to be done discreetly; and consumption minimal and disguised in soft drinks, gatorade, etc. The ranger here does have a backroad to drive in and check on all campers at Alum Gap; and he did so with flashlight, and short interview, when my friends Joe and Mike helped me to check out this trip in March. Since this is an extensive park with plenty of opportunity for future trips and adventures by hopefully other leaders, and myself it is important we do not abuse the hospitality of the Savage Gulf ranger crew. This is an elemental wilderness of stunning beauty with many natural wonders, and I don’t want the AOC’s welcome worn out here for any reason; so let’s be responsible and thoughtful in enjoying its many and varied beautiful scenic attractions.

Required Items to Bring:
See Suggested Items Below...		Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
Besides the usual 2 liters/quarts of water and good supportive shoes needed for this very rocky trail; common backpacking items including the pack itself, tent, sleeping pad and bag, stove, fuel for same—see suggested items list for more comprehensive list.
Also plan on food for trail dinner for Saturday night and breakfast for Sunday, trail lunch of choice for Saturday

The Savage Gulf, like so many wilderness areas, has poisonous snakes; not nearly as common this time of year as in summer- but I will carry snake bite kit for safety anyway, and a filter for water near our campsite at Alum Gap, for cooking and drinking.

How to Get There:
Event Directions:South Cumberland Plateau Park and Ride Only We will travel up I-75 from the park and ride to Chattanooga, TN, where we bear off on I-24 west to exit 155 to Jasper, TN. Then we travel north on highway 41, then 56 to Beersheba Springs, just out of town to the trailhead to the Stone Door Ranger station of the Savage Gulf and parking lot and registration-permit check in for the Alum Gap camp area.

Notes:

Are Dogs Permitted? No

Will this event occur rain or shine? Not in terribly inclement weather
* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:Shared gas expenses for the long trip - $8.00 - $10.00

Dinner is $5.45 for meat and three veggies

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