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Backpacking - Snowbird Mountains


The Basics:
Event Type:Backpacking
Event Location: Western North Carolina
Date(s) & Time:Sat, Jul 9 2005  9:00 am >> N/A
Registration Opens: Mon, Jan 1 2007 12:00 am
Registration Cut Off: Wed, Jul 6 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: 13 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:
Moderate to Strenuous 11 mile trip

The Snowbirds are a beautiful, enchanted place that is among my favorites for an absolutely, pristine and serene wilderness environment. The Cherokee Indians used these rugged mountains to hide from the ‘trail of tears’ and this also implies, however, the primitive conditions a wilderness entails. No restrooms-except what nature provides. (Bring trowel, toilet paper) And please see the excellent and comprehensive guide for what items to bring on a backpack on the AOC web site guide, listed under the event, especially if you are an occasional backpacker.

We will begin our hike close to noon on Saturday, hiking in 3 miles on a fairly easy, level roadbed which follows Big Snowbird Creek the whole way, then we rock hop across Sassafras Creek close to our campsite. We will set up our tent, settle in, and then do the eight mile loop hike to Sassafras falls short strenuous hike up Burntrock ridge, and back down the ridge to a cold, wide, but relatively shallow water crossing of Big Snowbird Creek (which should feel nice this time of year). Then we will visit the nearby Middle Falls and large dipping, wading pool in front of the falls. On Sunday morning we will wake up, and do the short hike to ‘Big Falls’, which is actually two separate waterfalls close together, and languish at the prettier of the two waterfalls, before returning to pack up tents and leave for our cars.

There is a mandatory pre-trip meeting Thursday before the hike where Snowbird map and latest weather forecast and what items are more important for this backpack.

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
Swim suits for Saturday (time allowing) and/or Sunday. Bring some sort of water crossing shoes (Tevas, sneakers and bag to put them in after water crossing), two large containers of water - liters or quarts (I will bring a water filter to replenish water. There is also a spring 2 ½ miles in to top off water) Enough food for your dinner Saturday night (Not smelly bear attracting food-but dehydrated, and Sunday morning breakfast of some sort; along with trail food for lunch on both Saturday and Sunday. As always bring appropriate clothing for the temperatures (usually at least 10 degrees cooler in these mountains) as well as properly rated sleeping bag.

How to Get There:
Event Directions:Robbinsville, NC Park and ride lot only From the park and ride lot we will travel to I-575 and take it up past Blue Ridge. This is where will travel briefly on Hwy.60 north to Hwy-Spur 60 which goes northeast out of Mineral Bluff, GA and ends up just south of Murphy, NC. From there we continue traveling north until we near the Nantahala Gorge, and turn west to Robbinsville, NC where we will stop to coordinate at the local Ingles grocery store, before heading to the trailhead.

Notes:

Are Dogs Permitted? No

Will this event occur rain or shine? Not in terribly inclement or threatening weather

NOTE: Please be considerate of others. If you sign-up and cannot attend, please e-mail the trip leader, so others that may be on a waiting list may attend. E-mail the trip leader to be put on a waiting list if the trip is at the max number of attendees.
* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:Your personal cost for trail food (hopefully dehydrated and lightweight, cost for inexpensive dinner on Sunday, and shared gas costs for our drivers, and lastly fast food breakfast money for Saturday morning before the hike.

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