Hand over hand north of Fontana?

[George]

my guess is a fear of heights/ falling would have some use all fours

[Berserker]

The only thing "hand over hand" that I'm aware of in the Smokies (but it's not on the AT) is the top of Chimney Tops. That's an actual steep rock scramble if you go up the front of it (of course there's an easier way around the side/back).

[Berserker]

The nurse is probably way over exaggerating the climb up to Shuckstack from Fontanta Dam. And that's really a steady, well-graded climb. Nothing in the Smokies is brutal - not even the climb up Rocky Top from Spence Field.

^ This.

The AT through the Smokies is very well graded, and a quite enjoyable hike. I wasn't in the best of shape (disclaimer: I do exercise regularly though), and I was able to do all 74 miles of it in 6 days back in May of this year. Probably the "hardest" part that I remember was that piece from Fontana up to Mollies Ridge Shelter, but it's a 2,886' climb over 10.4 miles, which translates to it's graded pretty nicely. The steepest part of this piece is the first 4 or so miles up to Shuckstack.

[JC13]

We did Fontana to Hot Springs in July and no hand over hand climbs come to mind. Hardest climb according to my wife and Troubletrev was the 19.4 miles from Mollies Ridge Shelter to Double Spring Gap Shelter.

[HooKooDooKu]

The only thing "hand over hand" that I'm aware of in the Smokies (but it's not on the AT) is the top of Chimney Tops. That's an actual steep rock scramble if you go up the front of it (of course there's an easier way around the side/back).

Not anymore...

First of all, they had closed the easier way around the side of The Chimney's many years ago due to loss of vegetation.
But after the fire last year, ALL vegetation is gone and a part of the rock crumbled and fell off.
From what a ranger was telling me, for the foreseeable future, there will be a viewing platform where you'll be able to see the Chimney's, but you might not ever be allowed to climb out on them again.


Otherwise, what I recall of the AT thru GSMNP, there are two or three spots (some for sure near Thunderhead) where the trail could be described as a nearly vertical climb... but its like only 6 feet high. So you might need to use your hands, but certainly NOT hand-over-hand climbing.

[Berserker]

Not anymore...

First of all, they had closed the easier way around the side of The Chimney's many years ago due to loss of vegetation.
But after the fire last year, ALL vegetation is gone and a part of the rock crumbled and fell off.
From what a ranger was telling me, for the foreseeable future, there will be a viewing platform where you'll be able to see the Chimney's, but you might not ever be allowed to climb out on them again.

Holy crap...that sucks! That was a really neat hike with a great view that required actual work (i.e. climbing up the face of the pinnacles) to see the full view.

[SouthMark]

I had to do hand over hand over Thunderhead and Rocky Top but only because the wind kept blowing me down on my knees.

[TNhiker]

From what a ranger was telling me, for the foreseeable future, there will be a viewing platform where you'll be able to see the Chimney's, but you might not ever be allowed to climb out on them again.

we---wbir----and other media outlets have reported on this....

because thats the plan.......according the to NPS...

and to be honest----the top part might never open again..........or open 75 years from now when the vegetation has come back...

[HooKooDooKu]

Holy crap...that sucks! That was a really neat hike with a great view that required actual work (i.e. climbing up the face of the pinnacles) to see the full view.

Yea, I always considered the view from Chimney Tops to be the best in the whole park.
While places like Clingman's Dome would let you see far off places, Chimney Tops gave you a view of Mt LeConte that felt like it was in your face while New Found Gap Road looked like a tiny ant trail.

[Longboysfan]

Albert Mtn. going northbound? This is south of Fontana, and not a big deal at all for anyone who has hiked in New England.

Good. So I'm past where it straight up hill. For now.

[JumpMaster Blaster]

There is ONE section on the AT in the Smokies that has a spot where I threw my poles about 2-3' away and used my hands to balance on the way up and over. It was literally a 4 foot section that went up over a small rock formation. If I recall it was on day 2 or 3 into the Smokies, so somewhere between Mollies Ridge and Silers Bald shelters. Absolutely nothing that I would consider "hand over hand" though.

[Dan Roper]

That sounds like the tough little climb up Brier Knob, a bit north of Thunderhead.

[HooKooDooKu]

That sounds like the tough little climb up Brier Knob, a bit north of Thunderhead.

I was thinking the same thing... a little less than half way between Spence and Derrick Knob shelters.

[MuddyWaters]

That sounds like the tough little climb up Brier Knob, a bit north of Thunderhead.

Didn't make enough impression on me to even notice if that's the case...

[HooKooDooKu]

Didn't make enough impression on me to even notice if that's the case...

I was specifically meaning that the spot where I recall needing to put down hiking sticks and hold on to the rock was north of Thunderhead... because yea, I don't recall anything that was "tough" in that area, especially if going NOBO.