East TN Hangout at Horse Creek (July 15-17)

**wisenber** · 06-11-2011, 20:04

Originally Posted by spamburglar

Sassafras, Dr. Enuf, barbecue and mennonites.....a great day!!...oh yeah, did some hiking too!

Don't forget the semi-resident historian "James" who shared with us the location of some Civil War graves, blueberry patches and a long lost mountaintop baseball field.

I'll just keep the rest of the Mennonite story "under my bonnet" so to speak.

**spamburglar** · 06-11-2011, 20:05

Originally Posted by Roche

So how many mennonites did you eat?

None, unfortunately, it wasnt on the menu lol

**wisenber** · 06-11-2011, 22:12

Here's your preview. Let the tree choosing begin!

**spamburglar** · 06-11-2011, 22:48

Originally Posted by wisenber

Don't forget the semi-resident historian "James" who shared with us the location of some Civil War graves, blueberry patches and a long lost mountaintop baseball field.

I'll just keep the rest of the Mennonite story "under my bonnet" so to speak.

Yeah, definitely cant forget James. He was a pretty good guy and knew a lot of the places history. I wouldnt mind running into him again

**Roche** · 06-12-2011, 12:23

Originally Posted by wisenber

Here's your preview. Let the tree choosing begin!

Thanks for the recon - you did start stocking the cooler? Dibs on the presidential suite.

Roche

**spamburglar** · 06-12-2011, 12:34

Originally Posted by Roche

Thanks for the recon - you did start stocking the cooler? Dibs on the presidential suite.

Roche

Havent stocked it yet. lol Its close to 2 miles in, but not necessarily a difficult hike. Even so, it would tire a couple of people out lugging it there. Oh yeah, dib away.There are lots of good trees. I picked my spot yesterday lol

**Running Feather** · 06-13-2011, 07:49

Originally Posted by wisenber

Here's your preview. Let the tree choosing begin!

What of the listed trail closure???

**wisenber** · 06-13-2011, 08:02

Originally Posted by Running Feather

What of the listed trail closure???

There are quite a few swaths of tornado damage there. It seemed to have hit the campground quite hard, but our proposed back country site was untouched.
Spamburglar and I hiked from the trailhead up FS 94 and up the Poplar Cove Trail to the campsite and there were no visible sign of damage on those trails. We also hiked up to Pete's Branch which showed no damage and on up to the ridge of Poplar Cove.

It may be a while before they clean up the campground, but the latrine and pavilion were still standing.

There are about four creek crossing along the way that may not be conducive to rock hopping, but the water was still less than a foot deep where the trail crossed Horse Creek.

I did a bit more research in my Cherokee National Forest Guidebook. It looks like Horse Creek and the adjoining tracts makes up about 40,000 contiguous acres of forest and wilderness.

**L.D. Cakes** · 06-13-2011, 18:58

Walter, I was at the ranger station today and Vern said you needed to only park in the upper parking area not the lower one at Horse Creek until they finish all their work. Someone could get towed! I got permission to help on Holston today by becoming a FS Volunteer. Part of the trail got hit up there too.