Newfound Gap to Le Conte

**Little Tiny** · 03-15-2010, 15:04

I was up there this weekend. From Newfound Gap, you can make it to Icewater shelter because hikers have packed down the snow. After that, though, you are post-holing up to your knees. The Boulevard is basically impassable. After I left, it got worse. Another foot of snow fell.

**mts4602** · 03-15-2010, 18:13

Why are all those shelters closed all of a sudden? That's crazy.

**mts4602** · 03-15-2010, 18:15

Originally Posted by mts4602

Why are all those shelters closed all of a sudden? That's crazy.

OK I just looked on the site and they are Not closed. They just have bear warnings.

**valleyfire** · 03-16-2010, 09:43

Can I make it to Charlies Bunion?

**Ashepabst** · 03-16-2010, 12:59

is it just me or are the bear warnings starting early this year?

**TIDE-HSV** · 03-16-2010, 17:52

Originally Posted by valleyfire

Can I make it to Charlies Bunion?

I haven't been up this year, but, if the snow is packed down to Icewater, I'd bet it'd be packed down on to CB...

**drdewrag** · 03-16-2010, 19:17

Hiking Newfound Gap to Dav Gap beginning this Thursday

**valleyfire** · 03-16-2010, 20:28

We are hitting the trail this Friday(19th), we have three days to hike. So do yall think New Found Gap to Dry Sluice Gap to Grassy Branch to Sweat Heifer back to New Found Gap is going to be possible?

**valleyfire** · 03-16-2010, 20:29

I would like to hike more miles in the three days but I know the conditions will slow us down.

**TIDE-HSV** · 03-16-2010, 20:36

Originally Posted by valleyfire

We are hitting the trail this Friday(19th), we have three days to hike. So do yall think New Found Gap to Dry Sluice Gap to Grassy Branch to Sweat Heifer back to New Found Gap is going to be possible?

Yes. My wife and I did that loop in August, '06. FWIW, I was 67 at the time and she 64. I don't know about trail conditions now, though...

**valleyfire** · 03-16-2010, 20:42

I figured we could make the hike, just didn't know about with the snow and ice conditions in the area

**TIDE-HSV** · 03-16-2010, 20:56

From what the others are saying about conditions up on the AT, it looks pretty bleak on the upper sections of Grassy Branch/Sweat Heifer. I'd try to call backcountry and see what they say...

**Ramble~On** · 03-17-2010, 05:43

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/file...mokies_033.jpg
This is what Newfound Gap looked like March 1st. There's been more snow since then. This photo was taken around 1pm. Just cause the weather is nice and warm down lower doesn't mean that there's any snow melting up higher! The temperature goes down with the sun, way down. Winter is an excellent time to hike, it's beautiful, it's magical and it's fun. The situation dictates though and getting caught out with the wrong gear or a lack of "the right stuff" can and does ruin trips and takes lives. Plan, prepare and Enjoy!

**valleyfire** · 03-29-2010, 18:16

Originally Posted by valleyfire

We are hitting the trail this Friday(19th), we have three days to hike. So do yall think New Found Gap to Dry Sluice Gap to Grassy Branch to Sweat Heifer back to New Found Gap is going to be possible?

We did it! Damn that was alot of snow to be hiking in.

**valleyfire** · 03-29-2010, 18:17

It was worth it! A whole different experance doing it in the snow.

**valleyfire** · 03-29-2010, 18:18

Esp. since we could do it in t-shirts. No moisture in the air made for great hiking weather

**Swofford11** · 03-30-2010, 14:02

valleyfire

could you give a more detailed trail report for some of us others who will be out there in a week.

snow depths most of the way?
Any real trouble spots?

**ChinMusic** · 04-01-2010, 16:55

A buddy of mine just got to Clingman's and said he has "post-holed multiple times to my groin without touching the ground".

Here is a link to the view from Clingman's yesterday: http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2497878_n.jpg

The website I use for conditions shows 0" snow depth at Leconte, which is basically the same elevation.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/data/MRX/RTPMRX

What gives?

**Swofford11** · 04-01-2010, 23:50

well considering that there were at least one trail report in the last five days that say a foot up near clingman's dom, that must mean the report is FU'p

Take if for what it is...i'll be up there Monday...I have a feeling it will not be so bad by then.

**bubba295** · 04-05-2010, 23:25

My self and three others ran into the snow 3-20-21. We went on at Big Creek ranger station up Chestnut Branch and we started seeing snow around 4000'. We went on up to Cammerer tower and then to Low Gap trail down to CS 37 for the night.

Great hike but it was the first time for us in snow. Post Holed a few times when we would step to one side of the trail or the other.

Blow downs were bad in places. I was able to use my mad limbo skills though.

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This photo taken March 1st

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