Expedition Big Frog Mountain

Feb 6 Sat 7:30 AM
Location
No location was chosen
Estimated attendance
 8  people attended.
5.00 5.006 (6 ratings)

Who organized?
k

I've never done this hike. Looking for a few brave souls to go exploring, hopefully find our way on top of Big Frog Mountain. Starting from the Georgia side in the Cohutta, looking to try the Hemp Top Trail up to the mountain top. Should be about 6.2 miles one way. Should be. A lot of the trails in that area are less than well marked. We'll make sure we've got a GPS in the group.

I've stolen this from another site:
The Hemp Top Trail is primarily a ridgecrest trail that offers numerous winter views and the very occasional summer views. The ridge it follows is the Blue Ridge which also serves as the Tennessee Vallet Divide. The Benton-Mackaye Trail shares Hemp Top's path from 0.9 miles of the Hemp Top trail until its ending junction with the Licklog Ridge Trail.

Starting at Dally Gap (elev. 2505 feet), Hemp Top heads north. At 0.9 miles, Section 10 of the Benton Mackaye Trail (marked with a white diamond blaze and a sign to the left) joins with the trail at Spanish Gap (elev. 2920 feet). At mile 2.3 it meets up with the Penitentiary Branch Trail just south of Rockwall Gap (elev. 3100 feet). The trail continues until you gradually ascend to the crown of Hemp Top Mountain (elevation 3580 feet) at mile 4.1. A fire tower once stood on top of the mountain though the spot has long since been reclaimed by trees.

Continuing northward, the path descends to Double Springs Gap (elev. 3220 feet) at mile 5.4. The gap has two springs, one to the left and one to the right. Double Springs Gap is the southern end of Section 11 of the Benton-Mackaye Trail. It is also the beginning of a brutal climb that gains 810 feet of elevation in Hemp Top's last 0.8 miles to the top of Big Frog Mountain. Once you hit the intersection of the Licklog Ridge Trail, proceed to the top of Big Frog Mountain by turning left (west) onto the Licklog Ridge Trail and follow that path 0.5 miles to its end.

Only strong, experienced hikers need apply. I'm planning on a 12-13 mile day, and I'm pretty confident of the route, but we could end up with more and you need to be prepared for that.

If it is raining or forecast to rain, I will cancel this hike.

We'll take off from a Park and Ride (TBD which one-probably either Busbee or Mansell) around 7:30am , it's a 2.5 hour drive. Small amount of FS road (dirt road) driving, but I picked this trailhead because the road is mostly paved.

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Talk about this Meetup

  • gail
    Posted Feb 8, 2010 9:51 AM
    gail
    Assistant Organizer
    Yes, James, Ariel just posted them and I will post tonight, pic's of a car being pushed up an icy hill...LOL can't wait for your clinic and lecture...at this point you could make alot of money on this one...
  • James workman
    Posted Feb 8, 2010 8:39 AM
    James workman
    Are their no pics of the cars stuck on the hill and people sleeping in the road???!!!!!!!! wow!!!!
  • James workman
    Posted Feb 8, 2010 8:33 AM
    James workman
    nexttime i tell yo dont go in the wilderness listen to me!!!! lol!!! Glad everyone was safe!! Good meeting Loren and Ariel!! Another snow up here tonight!!
  • gail
    Posted Feb 6, 2010 7:53 AM
    gail
    Assistant Organizer
    James we are doing a version of the original hike. Thanks for the info and suggestions.
  • Expedition Big Frog Mountain happened on February 6, 2010 7:30 AM
  • gail
    Posted Feb 5, 2010 9:31 PM
    gail
    Assistant Organizer
    James, how are the roads to this other hike. Iknow you said there were camping areas, also, right?
  • gail
    Posted Feb 5, 2010 9:21 PM
    gail
    Assistant Organizer
    Thanks Karen for forwarding the info to me. James suggested another hike that sounds awesome to me. 12 miles in and out up to Lake Conasaugo and a firetower at the top. Sounds awesome and hopefully easier to get to. I sent to K and she is looking at it.
  • gail
    Posted Feb 5, 2010 9:11 PM
    gail
    Assistant Organizer
    IF there is ice anywhere I don't think we will chance anything. If we go the way James says I would still like to meet Karen b4 we get there unless it is very inconvenient for her. But K has maps I am sure she is loking at the options.
  • gail
    Posted Feb 5, 2010 9:08 PM
    gail
    Assistant Organizer
    I forwarded the email to K. Thanks James, I don't have a 4wheel drive either. I think K is weighing the option of the other hike. I called your cell # and left 2 messages. So we will see what the organizer has to say.
  • Fawn
    Posted Feb 5, 2010 7:51 PM
    Fawn
    Feeling a bit under the weather. Hiking/camping in the rain/mud/snow may not be a good idea. Sorry for last minute drop off, was holding out to see if I'd feel better.
  • RainFly, Karen
    Posted Feb 5, 2010 6:34 PM
    RainFly, Karen
    I definately do not have a 4 wheel drive, I have a honda accord, and she is rather low!
  • gail
    Posted Feb 5, 2010 5:41 PM
    gail
    Assistant Organizer
    Beth you can meet at Mansell or Blue Ridge. K is not camping so she will be returning tomorrow.
  • Beth
    Posted Feb 5, 2010 4:54 PM
    Beth
    I don't care to camp. Should I meet everyone in Blueridge?
  • James workman
    Posted Feb 5, 2010 2:14 PM
    James workman
    I dont think ice will be a problem its the ground is thawing out from the hard freeeze, and the roads around the wilderness are a mess and deep soft ruts!!!! If someone is taking a fourwheel drive they need to be in front oce yo reach Watson Gap!!
  • James workman
    Posted Feb 5, 2010 2:12 PM
    James workman
    Low tonight 29 high tomorrow 45 for this area!! Im about 25 miles away from there!!
  • James workman
    Posted Feb 5, 2010 2:08 PM
    James workman
    There should be no problem getting to Watson Gap in any vehicle but from there to Dally Gap maybe different! there is parking at Watson Gap if you have to carpool from there!! and just to be clear the route from 64 up from the north do not attempt i was there Tuesday in fourwheel drive and it was a mess! before this rain!!
  • k
    Posted Feb 5, 2010 1:41 PM
    k
    Assistant Organizer
    when I say cars, I mean not SUVs/4WDs... to be clear. obviously we'd want to drive something. =)
  • k
    Posted Feb 5, 2010 1:40 PM
    k
    Assistant Organizer
    this trail doesn't happen to include river crossings, no, at least not normally...... (shouldn't have any trouble on the trails). I'm nervous about driving. I'm hoping to not have to take any cars onto this road. The rain will probably help with the snow/ice that were there earlier in the week, but to get to Dally Gap, you're essentially driving over a mountain. Bill said up was ok but down was a problem. We'll have choices, but we'll be flexible.
  • Posted Feb 5, 2010 1:17 PM
    Former Member
    Last night they had one of the hardest rains they've had in a while up in that area and it's still pouring now, so be prepared for mud on the trip. The roads are driveable but the rivers will be really swollen. Just doublechecking, but our trail doesn't include any rivercrossings, correct? The base of Big Frog mtn had 3 inches of snow on Tuesday. Dunno how much has melted off since or how much was up at the top, but it sounds like snow may be on the menu as well.
  • Posted Feb 5, 2010 1:08 PM
    Former Member
    According to a ranger in the Cohuttas, "Weather is pretty rough for this weekend. Could be snow and ice on road before Dally Gap." He also said that there's no river crossings before the campgrounds we want to use which is good news.
  • Loren
    Posted Feb 5, 2010 10:58 AM
    Loren
    Option A sounds good Ariel! Getting my stuff ready!
of 2

Who attended?

  • 8 attendees
    • “ I am very thankful to let everyone know Ariel, Loren and the 2 cars are off the mountain and enroute to my house. Thank you God and thank you James. James being experienced in ice conditions was able to drive the cars to the top of the hill and guide them down the mountain. Ye-haw....With that being said The hike was incredible. 15 miles round trip, once again in the middle of a winter scene experienced by only a few...sometimes crazy people. LOL But it was a blast. Once again my fellow hikers made it the incredible time it was. Once our "mis" adventure started we all pulled together and walked another couple of miles to get ourselves and one car off the mountain!! What an experience. But one I will never experience again!! Thanks to the couple that picked us up in conditions safe to drive in. It was an incredible time with incredible people.See all you guys soon. ”
    • k (+1 guest)
      “ I'm uniformly amazed by every single person that shared this adventure. wow. thank you all so much. ”
    • “ I definitely had a memorable experience! Scenery was beautiful, company was great. Everybody worked together to make sure all got out safe. Thanks Everyone!!!! ”
    • “ I had a blast on this adventure. While there were a few unexpected events, we all made it out safely. I was so excited that I was able to do a snow hike! ”
    • “ Great! Love the top of that mountain! Let's do it backwards with snowmobiles vice cars! ”

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