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dinkhound 
Group: Members
Posts: 5
Joined: Oct. 2012
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Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 9:27 am |
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Hey all, first time posting here. Headed out to Joyce Kilmer / Slickrock this weekend, looking for a suggestion as to a trip plan.
Thinking maybe it would be good to hike up to Stratton Bald from the memorial forest in the morning, set up camp and do some exploring / day hiking from Stratton Bald. Sound like a good way to spend 36 hours in the woods? Not looking to bust my balls here.
Any suggestions / better ideas?
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| Post Number: 2
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ashepabst
Group: Members
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Joined: Jul. 2008
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Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 9:54 am |
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whatever you do, you gotta hike Haoe ridge from The Bob down to The Hangover. love this hike, and the views from The Hangover are fabulous. not sure which route you were thinkin about takin up the mountain, but the Naked Ground Trail just about busted my balls. i've also taken the Haoe Lead Trail up from Maple Springs Overlook... it wasn't too terribly steep but almost unbearably overgrown at the end of September.
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| Post Number: 3
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UlightBandit
ROAR!!!
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Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 10:28 am |
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There are 2 or 3 trails at the memorial forest that go up to the ridgeline of Bob Bald, Stratton Bald, Naked Ground, & Haoe lead. I think ashepabst mentioned one he called Naked Ground trail, which I call little santeetlah creek trail (Not sure the official name or #), but like he said, it is pretty tough. I think the elevation gain is around 3,000 feet, depending on what part of the ridge your final destination is. Another is commonly referred to as Jenkins meadow trail, and its also tough, right out of the gate. And then there is another, which I've never done in full, that uses horse cove ridge.
If you aren't into "busting your balls" try one of the high elevation parking areas at beech gap, big fat gap, or Wolf Laurel Hunting area. Ashepabst mentioned Maple Springs Overlook, but i'm not very familiar with that side of the Haoe lead.
My personal pick would be an out and back from Big Fat Gap.
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| Post Number: 4
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dinkhound
Group: Members
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Joined: Oct. 2012
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Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 12:06 pm |
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Hey, Thanks for the help. Looks like you can park right around the state line and have an easy walk in to the area. Anyone know if that's right? Also, someone told me the views are a lot better on Bob bald than on Statton Bald. Assuming that we hike in from the state line, where would you recommend to camp? Bob Bald maybe?
Thanks again for the help
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| Post Number: 5
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ashepabst
Group: Members
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Joined: Jul. 2008
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Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 12:33 pm |
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yeah, the state line is at Beech Gap. from there it's only 3 or so miles up to Bob Bald. The Bob is the only open area. what they call Stratton Bald on the map must be a former bald. it's not an easy hike up to the bald from Beech Gap. you'll have a short, but very steep section up to the summit.
again, i highly reccomend that you don't stop at the bald but hike down the ridge to the Hangover. there are several good campsites along the ridge including a small clearing right before the Hangover where you should both sunset and sunrise views.
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| Post Number: 6
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UlightBandit
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Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 12:57 pm |
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(dinkhound @ Oct. 23 2012, 12:06 pm)
QUOTE Hey, Thanks for the help. Looks like you can park right around the state line and have an easy walk in to the area. Anyone know if that's right? Also, someone told me the views are a lot better on Bob bald than on Statton Bald. Assuming that we hike in from the state line, where would you recommend to camp? Bob Bald maybe?
Thanks again for the help
Yes, that is beech gap.
The hike in from there isn't bad. A little less than half is fire road. The connector trail (54A) is hit or miss. Its more or less a rhodo tunnel at times, but its not hard and there is very little elevation gain.
The views from Bob bald are great, and some consider the 2 balds one in the same (Bob Stratton Bald). Earlier ashepabst mentioned the hangover trail, which have some of the finest views in the southeast, in my opinion. As for camping there are several spots to camp on the bob, but it can get very cold up there at night and if the wind picks up, it may be a long night. There is also camping at Cold Springs gap on the way up, or Naked Ground.
The one spot you may run into a little confusion is at Cold Springs Gap. The maps don't really do a good job explaining this junction. Below is a picture of cold springs gap. 54A is the trail you need to take, up to the right. To the left is cold springs trail (part of the BMT) which will bypass the connector trail to the bald. There is also a fireroad that continues down and to the right, and also the south fork citico trail (105) is on the left. It is a big junction, so make sure to take 54A, and then when you come to a junction about a 1/2 mile later, take another right.
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| Post Number: 7
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UlightBandit
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Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 1:05 pm |
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Oops...conflicting information. I was typing when ashepabst replied I guess....
I dont think the climb up to the bob is too bad coming in from beech gap.
I guess thats all opinion anyway.
Should be a great trip regardless...I'm envious.
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| Post Number: 8
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ashepabst
Group: Members
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Joined: Jul. 2008
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Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 1:35 pm |
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you calling me a wuss, ULB?? 
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| Post Number: 9
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| Post Number: 10
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Tipi Walter
Group: Members
Posts: 294
Joined: Jan. 2007
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Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 3:21 pm |
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I just finished a trip to the Bob from Beech Gap and hooked over to Hangover Mt where I met up with John Quillen and the Southern Highlanders who are an active backpacking group trying to deep six the stupid new Park rules on fee backpacking and all sites reserved, etc.
I came out on one trip to Beech Gap and found this wonderful sight.
On my last trip to Hangover Mt I ran into John Quillen and the Highlander boys. John on the left.
We even saw a bald eagle fly over the mountain, a first for me.
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http://trailjournals.com/TipiWalter11
http://tipiwalter.smugmug.com/
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| Post Number: 11
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UlightBandit
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Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 5:01 pm |
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Walter, I wish you would stop by here a little more often.
Although I guess i could be a little more dilligent in keeping up with your journals.
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| Post Number: 12
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Tipi Walter
Group: Members
Posts: 294
Joined: Jan. 2007
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Posted on: Oct. 23 2012, 6:50 pm |
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Thanks for the sentiments. UlightBandit---have you done any stuff in the Cohuttas? Reason I ask is because there used to be a wonderful website of the area called GeorgiaHikes and a guy named Trailfrog who's an expert but the site has disappeared.
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http://trailjournals.com/TipiWalter11
http://tipiwalter.smugmug.com/
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| Post Number: 13
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| Post Number: 14
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dinkhound
Group: Members
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Joined: Oct. 2012
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Posted on: Oct. 25 2012, 11:35 am |
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Thanks for the help y'all, I will let you know how the trip goes and maybe put up a pic or two next week. Really appreciate all the advice and help.
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| Post Number: 15
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| Post Number: 17
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ashepabst
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Posted on: Nov. 07 2012, 7:46 pm |
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if you continue east on the Haoe Ridge Trail there's a campsite in that patch of fir trees. and if you go just a bit further down the trail there's a campsite in between two vertical rocks like stegosaurus plates.
the spring at Naked Ground seems to be pretty reliable. i was in Citico last weekend and the water seemed high.
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| Post Number: 18
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Synthetic
Group: Members
Posts: 73
Joined: Jan. 2012
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Posted on: Nov. 08 2012, 12:34 am |
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Great, thanks for the reply, very helpful. Stegosaurus camp sounds very cool.
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| Post Number: 19
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| Post Number: 20
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ashepabst
Group: Members
Posts: 1009
Joined: Jul. 2008
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Posted on: Nov. 08 2012, 12:08 pm |
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i went up North Fork, across on Fodderstack and down Pine Ridge.
North Fork kicked my ace, by the way ... i had much more ambitious plans for the weekend. it was certainly a wild ride, though... one of my new favorites.
https://picasaweb.google.com/1139574....ectlink
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| Post Number: 21
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ashepabst
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Posted on: Nov. 08 2012, 12:17 pm |
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i've been meaning to pick your brain for beta on Bald River Wilderness, by the way. i've been eyeing that trip for awhile but have no good info except for Walter's journals. any good routes for a simple one-nighter? any good views up on the state line ridge?
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| Post Number: 22
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UlightBandit
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Posted on: Nov. 08 2012, 1:04 pm |
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(ashepabst @ Nov. 08 2012, 12:08 pm)
QUOTE i went up North Fork, across on Fodderstack and down Pine Ridge. North Fork kicked my ace, by the way ... i had much more ambitious plans for the weekend. it was certainly a wild ride, though... one of my new favorites. https://picasaweb.google.com/1139574....ectlink
Thanks for sharing your pictures. I loved them. Brings back memories.
North Fork has kicked my butt several times. Still love that trail though.
Haven't done Pine Ridge yet, but its on the list. Did you enjoy it?
QUOTE 've been meaning to pick your brain for beta on Bald River Wilderness, by the way. i've been eyeing that trip for awhile but have no good info except for Walter's journals. any good routes for a simple one-nighter? any good views up on the state line ridge?
Funny you ask. Kevin (Umberger) and I had kicked around the idea of a trip up there later this month. I really don't remember that much about it. Last I was up there was about 10 years ago. I remember that we camped on Kirkland creek trail, and the second night on Brookshire creek. I also remember getting terribly lost near Beaverdam bald, which I remember being the best views. I've got some trail notes at home that I will look at tonight and shoot you a PM.
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| Post Number: 23
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ashepabst
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Joined: Jul. 2008
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Posted on: Nov. 08 2012, 2:01 pm |
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QUOTE Haven't done Pine Ridge yet, but its on the list. Did you enjoy it?
yeah, it was surprisingly good. i only went down that-aways because the North Fork had me ready for some easier tread. the trail was narrow singletrack... not a wide road like i usually expect with horse trails. there are winter views up top as the trail traces the apex of the ridge for awhile with lots of laurel... the middle gets a little non-distinct, and the bottom is very nice as you get closer to the river... lots of color left down there.
QUOTE I've got some trail notes at home that I will look at tonight and shoot you a PM.
I appreciate that. Lemme know if you guys get some solid plans together.
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| Post Number: 24
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kevinumberger
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Posted on: Nov. 08 2012, 3:48 pm |
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Im still game if we can come up with a route......
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| Post Number: 25
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UlightBandit
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Posted on: Nov. 09 2012, 8:29 am |
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Ashepabst, did you get my PM last night?
For some reason, I can't see it in my "sent" folder.
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| Post Number: 26
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ashepabst
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Posted on: Nov. 09 2012, 9:48 am |
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yup -- thanks a bunch for sharing. my weekends are booked through Thanksgiving but lemme know if you guys make some plans for this trip -- might tag along if you guys don't mind.
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| Post Number: 27
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ashepabst
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Posted on: Nov. 09 2012, 9:52 am |
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one more thing to say about Pine Ridge ... the trail was a very easy grade overall -- never too steep even at the top. if you're lookin for a quick way to get up to main ridge it's a good option.
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