Gregory Bald Azalea Hike - Update

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Gregory Bald Azalea Hike - Update

The Basics:

Event Type:

Hike

Event Location:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Date(s) & Time:

Sat, Jun 16 2012 6:15 am >> Sat, Jun 16 2012 10:30 pm (Carpool Departure: 6:15 am *log in for location*)

Registration Opens:

Thu, May 17 2012 8:10 pm

Registration Cut Off:

Thu, Jun 14 2012 10:00 pm

Event Duration:

16 Hours 15 Minutes

Difficulty Rating:

D6: Advanced (Exploratory)

Distance:

15.7 Miles

Pace:

Moderate

Trip Leader(s):

Laura V
John L

Email Trip Leader(s)
You must be logged in to get the Trip Leader contact information.

Member Cost:

None

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 21 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

16 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Note: This is an "EXPLORATORY" trip. This means that there are parts of this trip, or perhaps the whole trip, that is new to your Trip Leader(s). However, they are confident that this will not be an issue.
This note is here so that you can make an informed decision. When a Trip Leader isn't personally familiar with a trip, there is an increased chance of things not going as planned and you need to be prepared. The Trip Leader may have additional details in the itinerary.

Itinerary:

Update:

We have gotten another update from Park Rangers regarding the peak dates for the azaleas on Gregory Bald. As of May 12, 2012, our friend at GSMNP reports that is still too soon to tell for sure when the best week will be for viewing the azaleas.

"We plan to have a volunteer who is extremely knowledgeable about
wildflowers hike to the bald sometime around the third week in May to
assess bud development. At this point we're guessing that they may bloom
1-2 weeks early, but that's just a guess."

With that in mind, we will stick with the June 16 date for this event. Please note that this trip has been upgraded to a D6. The carpool location has also been changed. Please review this event description in its entirety before signing up.

Event description:

Azalea lovers from all over the world come to Gregory Bald to experience the finest display of flame azaleas anywhere on the planet. Gregory Bald is a 10 acre grassy meadow with azaleas in a rainbow of colors, including fire red, wine red, orange, salmon, yellow, white, pink, and even multi-colored azaleas.

Our loop hike will start at the Twentymile trail head. We will begin with an easy .5 mile on the Twentymile Trail and then begin the steep ascent up the Wolf Ridge Trail. We will hike 6.3 miles on the Wolf Ridge Trail to the Gregory Bald Trail. From there, it is another 1.2 miles to the Bald. After enjoying a long break among the Azaleas on the Bald, we will continue on the Gregory Bald Trail to Long Hungry Ridge Trail. After a steep descent over 4.6 miles on the Hungry Ridge Trail, we will rejoin the Twentymile Trail. From there, it is another 2.6 miles along Twentymile Creek to the side trail for the Twentymile Cascade, where we will stop to enjoy the falls. After that, it is less than a mile to the end of our hike.

This will be a strenous 15.5 mile hike with over 3,600 feet of elevation gain in the first 7.5 miles. On the way down from Gregory Bald, we will descend about 2,000 feet in the first 3 miles. If you have not completed several recent D5 hikes, the TL will contact you to discuss your fitness for this hike.

I will update this event description as I get more information about the timing of the azalea bloom.

Required Items to Bring:

Sturdy hiking shoes or boots
Water and/or sports drink - at least 3 liters
Lunch and Trail Snacks
Emergency rain gear
LED flahslight or head lamp- we may finish after dark

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

Camera
Sunscreen
Bug Spray
Bandana or Hat
Change of clothing for the car ride home

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

The trailhead is at the Twentymile Ranger Station.
GPS Coordinates: 35° 28' 9.9" N, 83° 52' 18.8" W.
Detailed directions will be emailed to all drivers.

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):

300Mile(s)

Carpool Departure Time:

6:15 am

Carpool Location:

Carpool Directions:

Carpool Cost:

Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $120.00 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:

Some of us may drive up the night before and stay in a nearby campground or other lodging.

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

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

Because of the timing of the peak Azalea display, the date of this event may be changed to the weekend of June 9. If severe weather is predicted, this event willl be cancelled.