Posted by Steve Hamley on April 11, 2006 at 9:29 PM
Folks,
Looks like we're still on for Saturday the 22nd for a SENP hike into Whiteoak Sink (meet at Schoolhouse Gap trailhead, let's say at 7:30). My dad's health notwithstanding, I will be there along with Jerry Greer and we are knowledgeable of the area. Jerry has had a unique past adventure here!
If I'm not available, Jerry knows the "good stuff", but this one is high on my priority list for spring, maybe the highest. Keep your fingers crossed that the phlox isn't late.
Hope to see everyone there and meet Brett and Steve W if I don't before!
Steve
Posted by Steve Wachtel on April 11, 2006 at 9:58 PM
Cool... I will try to make that.
Any wisdom on camping around there? I may be able to get there sometime on Friday afternoon, but have no idea whether or not the campgrounds there will be in danger of filling up at this time of year. I assume Cades Cove is the most convenient / nearest???
I am off that Friday, so I may try to explore the "Waterfall Run" (as someone here termed it some months ago) on my way up from Columbia. Depending on shooting opps, I may not be able to stake a claim on the "first come first served" (park site says no reservations till mid May) campground if it gets busy on Fridays.
Any wisdom???
Posted by Thomas Biggs on April 11, 2006 at 11:26 PM
Cool! I'll be there, looking forward to putting some faces with these names!!
Posted by Jon Massie on April 12, 2006 at 12:22 AM
Great, meet you there!
Posted by Steve Hamley on April 12, 2006 at 12:16 PM
Steve W,
Plenty of camping close by. I'd do the Cades Cove campground if I wanted get up the next morning and do the Cove at first light. Cades Cove is about 3-4 miles west of the Schoolhouse Gap trailhead.
There's also plenty of camping at Townsend right up next to the Park, about 3-4 miles east of Schoolhouse Gap trailhead. I'd do the Townsend area if I were interested in hitting Tremont for early light.
Steve
Posted by Jerry Greer on April 12, 2006 at 1:54 PM
Yo guys,
I'm not going to make it to the gathering! Things have come up and I'll be hanging with the wife that weekend. I will be there during the week following.
Posted by Lori Kincaid on April 13, 2006 at 7:09 AM
Dang, I hate to miss this trip, but I'll be helping out with a photo workshop at GSMIT that weekend. Steve, I'm hoping to make it to Whiteoak Sink either Thursday the 20th or Monday or Tuesday the 24th or 25th. Any idea which would typically be better or if the light is better early or late in the day? I'm hoping to catch the phlox and shooting stars and am thinking things might be a little early if this dry and warmer than normal weather continues.
I'm sorry to hear your father's health is bad.
Lori
Posted by Steve Hamley on April 13, 2006 at 9:25 AM
Lori,
I'm thinking the same thing, but I intend to scout next week and I'll post here. I've always shot late in the day as it takes a little over an hour to get into the good areas of the sink, but I'd suspect that either early or late light would be good.
Shoot me an e-mail Wednesday night if you plan on going Thursday the 20th, I may go with you if you don't mind.
Steve
Posted by Lori Kincaid on April 13, 2006 at 9:58 AM
Steve,
Thanks for the info. I'd love to have you join me on Thursday if I can make it that day. I have a yahoo email address for you from a couple of years ago. Is it still current?
Lori
Posted by Steve Hamley on April 13, 2006 at 10:06 AM
Lori,
Yes, it's still good! BTW, I've probably updated that guide since 2-3 years ago. I've explored further on and found what they call the "bluebell pit" (a sinkhole cave with a lot of Virginia bluebells growing around it) and been on up to Schoolhouse Gap from the "bat cave".
Steve
Posted by Jon Massie on April 13, 2006 at 11:51 AM
Steve,
Think you could email me your guide to WhiteOak Sinks?
email:
jon(at)jonmassie.com
Posted by Jerry Greer on April 13, 2006 at 12:51 PM
I may be able to make it on the 20th also! Let me know!
Posted by Steve Wachtel on April 17, 2006 at 7:31 PM
So... is this hike still on for this coming Saturday?
I am thinking about heading up that way on Thursday evening - maybe stay near I-40 somewhere, and head into the east end of the park on Friday morning... then stay at Cades at least Friday night, and maybe Saturday night as well.
Any suggestions for Friday festivities (or shooting, at least)... and will anyone else be bopping around?
I will be down there this weekend from Thurs to Sunday. Hope to do Whiteoak on Thurs if that is still in the plan otherwise will shoot for Sat. Probably, spend some time in Greenbrier and some time in Deep Creek. Also want to do Big Creek if there is time.
John Zinn
Posted by Steve Hamley on April 18, 2006 at 8:44 PM
Folks,
Pending Lori's reply tomorrow (Wednesday) I'm going to go in with her about 1:00 p.m. for late light. I think Jerry is going in, but I don't know what time. I'm flexible.
Steve
Posted by Steve Wachtel on April 19, 2006 at 8:41 AM
Sounds like a number of folks are congregating on Thursday for Whiteoak Sink... is ANYONE going in on Saturday as originally considered?
And, BTW... I can't find that labeled on maps that I have access to here (my topo is in Denver and I won't even bother trying to find anything useful here in Columbia)... could I get a little more direction on that??
Check out this website GSMNP Landforms. If you scroll down the landform in the top you will see two for Whiteoak Sink. Go to that page and you can open up a topo map.
Posted by Steve Wachtel on April 20, 2006 at 8:43 AM
After watching the forecast for the weekend over the last few days, it appears that weather a the Park will be ugly. I think I am going to forego the gas expense of driving up there. Hope it works out for those who go, but I don't think I'm gonna blow the $150+.
Discussion
18 repliesLooks like we're still on for Saturday the 22nd for a SENP hike into Whiteoak Sink (meet at Schoolhouse Gap trailhead, let's say at 7:30). My dad's health notwithstanding, I will be there along with Jerry Greer and we are knowledgeable of the area. Jerry has had a unique past adventure here!
If I'm not available, Jerry knows the "good stuff", but this one is high on my priority list for spring, maybe the highest. Keep your fingers crossed that the phlox isn't late.
Hope to see everyone there and meet Brett and Steve W if I don't before!
Steve
Any wisdom on camping around there? I may be able to get there sometime on Friday afternoon, but have no idea whether or not the campgrounds there will be in danger of filling up at this time of year. I assume Cades Cove is the most convenient / nearest???
I am off that Friday, so I may try to explore the "Waterfall Run" (as someone here termed it some months ago) on my way up from Columbia. Depending on shooting opps, I may not be able to stake a claim on the "first come first served" (park site says no reservations till mid May) campground if it gets busy on Fridays.
Any wisdom???
Plenty of camping close by. I'd do the Cades Cove campground if I wanted get up the next morning and do the Cove at first light. Cades Cove is about 3-4 miles west of the Schoolhouse Gap trailhead.
There's also plenty of camping at Townsend right up next to the Park, about 3-4 miles east of Schoolhouse Gap trailhead. I'd do the Townsend area if I were interested in hitting Tremont for early light.
Steve
I'm not going to make it to the gathering! Things have come up and I'll be hanging with the wife that weekend. I will be there during the week following.
I'm sorry to hear your father's health is bad.
Lori
I'm thinking the same thing, but I intend to scout next week and I'll post here. I've always shot late in the day as it takes a little over an hour to get into the good areas of the sink, but I'd suspect that either early or late light would be good.
Shoot me an e-mail Wednesday night if you plan on going Thursday the 20th, I may go with you if you don't mind.
Steve
Thanks for the info. I'd love to have you join me on Thursday if I can make it that day. I have a yahoo email address for you from a couple of years ago. Is it still current?
Lori
Yes, it's still good! BTW, I've probably updated that guide since 2-3 years ago. I've explored further on and found what they call the "bluebell pit" (a sinkhole cave with a lot of Virginia bluebells growing around it) and been on up to Schoolhouse Gap from the "bat cave".
Steve
Think you could email me your guide to WhiteOak Sinks?
email:
jon(at)jonmassie.com
Thanks in advance!
I might go with you on the 20th, if youre going.
I am thinking about heading up that way on Thursday evening - maybe stay near I-40 somewhere, and head into the east end of the park on Friday morning... then stay at Cades at least Friday night, and maybe Saturday night as well.
Any suggestions for Friday festivities (or shooting, at least)... and will anyone else be bopping around?
I will be down there this weekend from Thurs to Sunday. Hope to do Whiteoak on Thurs if that is still in the plan otherwise will shoot for Sat. Probably, spend some time in Greenbrier and some time in Deep Creek. Also want to do Big Creek if there is time.
John Zinn
Pending Lori's reply tomorrow (Wednesday) I'm going to go in with her about 1:00 p.m. for late light. I think Jerry is going in, but I don't know what time. I'm flexible.
Steve
And, BTW... I can't find that labeled on maps that I have access to here (my topo is in Denver and I won't even bother trying to find anything useful here in Columbia)... could I get a little more direction on that??
Check out this website GSMNP Landforms. If you scroll down the landform in the top you will see two for Whiteoak Sink. Go to that page and you can open up a topo map.