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| Clingmans Dome to Fontana Lake and back Joe Fleming and Nathan Officer 5-29-05 |
| This hike is made
up of two major trails with several shorter connecting trails at the lower
end to allow a loop hike. You
really need a map to decipher this one! The hike begins at the Dome parking lot near the water fountain. Starting with Forney Ridge Trail 5.6 miles to Spring House Branch Trail-then 4.3 miles to Forney Creek Trail at campsite #71. From there 1.3 miles to White Oak Branch Trail-then 1.8 miles to Lakeshore Trail and 1.1 mile to campsite #74 on Forney Creek. Turning left at 74 it is .2 miles on to On the return it is much easier to follow. You are on the Forney Creek Trail 11.4 miles where it joins the Forney Ridge trail for the 1.1-mile hike to the Dome Parking Area, approximately 27 miles total. The highlights of the hike, history of the area, the view from the parking area, crossing Andrews Bald, Fontana Lake and the 12.5 miles and the 4600 feet climb back with five creek crossing which were very challenging. Down Forney Creek Trail 1.3 miles to White Oak Branch Trail then 1.8 miles to Lakeshore Trail and 1.1 miles on to campsite #74. This camp was listed as receiving heavy use. No one was camping here today. It was a short .2 miles on to the boat landing on Fontana. We arrive at 11:35 for lunch. Now the REAL hiking is about to begin. A 4600 ft. climb over 12.5 miles with 5 creek crossings above campsite #70. We are on the trail at 12:30. It is 2.9 miles back to campsite #74 by way of Forney Creek Trail. At 1:25 we take a ten- minute break. We meet three hikers coming down Forney Creek, who say all crossings could be rock hopped. We feel good about the news. We are off at 1:35. From here to the Forney Ridge Trail Jct., the trail follows an old railroad grade for most of the way. We see lots of signs of the logging that place in the watershed in the early 1900’s. We are at campsite #70 at 1:55. Ahead awaits five creek crossings. The first crossing is the widest. We are able to rock hop. It took a lot of time picking our way across the creek. In .5 miles we are at the second crossing. We were able to rock hop - same as before it took a lot of time picking our way across. The third time was a charm! No hopping this one, at least where the trail crosses. We decide to put on our water shoes and just cross. No time to pick our way across. This was a blessing in Disguise. The cold water feels great on our tired feet and we lost the weight of our boots on our feet. Nathan finishes the hike with his water shoes on and I change after the fourth crossing. The fifth crossing is a rock hop and it could be dangerous in cold weather with ice around. We are at campsite #68 at 4:20. This camp is the site of an old logging camp. It is in two sections about 200 yards apart. The upper is at a rock water slide. We have 2.9 miles to finish. The next section is a moderate climb for less than a mile. It switches back to the left with a 1-mile climb to Forney Ridge Trail. We are at the junction at 5:40. From 68 to Forney Ridge Trail is a hard climb on a very rocky section of trail. After a twenty- minute break we are off at 6:00. For the last 1.1mile we can hear the traffic sounds from the parking area above. We top out at 6:20; it is 50 degrees. We are on the road home tired and hungry at 7:00. |
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