Smokies Fall Color Weekend (Part 2) - Chimney Tops

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Smokies Fall Color Weekend (Part 2) - Chimney Tops

The Basics:

Event Type:

Hike

Event Location:

Newfound Gap Parking Lot

Hike: Smokies Fall Color Weekend (Part 2) - Chimney Tops

Date(s) & Time:

Sun, Oct 21 2012 9:00 am >> Sun, Oct 21 2012 4:00 pm (Carpool Departure: 6:00 pm *log in for location*)

Registration Opens:

Sun, Sep 16 2012 9:30 pm

Registration Cut Off:

Thu, Oct 18 2012 6:00 pm

Event Duration:

7 Hours

Difficulty Rating:

D5: Difficult (Exploratory)

Distance:

10.4 Miles

Pace:

Leisurely

Trip Leader(s):

Scott
Laura

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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:

15 / 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:

This is the second of two fall color hikes scheduled for the weekend of October 20-21 in the Newfound Gap area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Each hike will be posted separately, and you may register for one or both of these hikes. In addition, you may elect to stay overnight at the lodging of your choice or return to Atlanta the same day.

Chimney Tops is one of the Smokies' most recognizable geological structures and a very popular hiking destination. Chimney Tops is a double-capstone knob on the eastern slope of the Sugarland Mountain massif. This massif stretches north-to-south across the north-central section of the Smokies. From the summit, Mount Le Conte and Mount Kephart dominate the view to the east and Sugarland Mountain dominates the view to the west.

We will begin our 10.4 mile out-and-back hike at the Newfound Gap parking lot and follow the AT southbound for 1.7 miles until we reach Road Prong Trail. From here, we will turn right and follow this trail down 2.4 miles. At the junction of Chimney Tops Trail, we will turn left and climb around 1,000 feet over 1.1 miles to the top. Once we reach the summit, we will be on the end of a rocky ridgeline, and to make it to the top to witness the 360 degree views, you will need to scramble or crawl along this spine-like ridge of bare rock that make up Chimney Tops. Luckily, if you have a fear of heights, you don't have to climb all of the way out along the ridge to get a good view of your surroundings. We will take a break at the top of Chimney Tops for lunch and relax and enjoy the views. After lunch, we will hike back the same way we came until we return to the Newfound Gap parking lot.

While this is a challenging 10.4-mile hike that involves around 2,500 feet of elevation gain over rugged and exposed terrain, we will be hiking at a leisurely pace so that we can enjoy and photograph the views and fall colors. However, this is NOT a beginners hike, so please be sure you are in good physical condition.

(Photo courtesy of nps.gov)

Required Items to Bring:

Water or Energy Drinks
Trail Snacks
Lunch
Good Hiking Shoes/Boots

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

Camera
Hiking Poles
Sunscreen
Bug Spray

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

Newfound Gap Parking Lot

GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
35.610840, -83.425090

From Cherokee, NC, drive north on US 441 about 19-20 miles until reaching the Newfound Gap Parking lot. This parking lot will be on the right.

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):

320Mile(s)

Carpool Departure Time:

6:00 pm

Carpool Location:

Carpool Directions:

Carpool Cost:

Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $128.00 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.