August 20-21 - Whitewater Rafting

Broams and McGregors to host. 

 

Rafting

I made a reservation for 15 with the NOC.  $35/ea.  Time 3:45, arrive 1/2 hour ahead, so 3:15.  Total time 2 1/2 hours. 

Location :
  3420 Hartford Rd, Cherokee National Forest, Hartford, TN 37753
  Lat Long : 35.819108, -83.156823

 

From Asheville, NC - (approximately 55 miles) Take I-40 West towards Knoxville. Eight miles after the NC/TN state line, take Exit 447 (Hartford Rd). At the bottom of the ramp, turn left and go under I-40. Then turn right onto Hartford Rd. Drive 1/4 mile and turn left at the NOC sign, just as the road starts to bend left. Follow the gravel driveway to our Pigeon River Outpost. Welcome!

 

Hiking
As an additional activity, I'm proposing a hike to "Max Patch" - this is a short hike to a beautiful "bald" on the Appalachian Trail.

 

http://www.trailbehind.com/Max%20Patch%20Mountain/  

 

Camping - ** change in plans **
As we are rafting later and driving around in the mountains with darkness approaching and hungry kids in the car isn't my idea of fun, I found something closer that was *reservable*.  We have a group site (#2) in the Cosby Campground in the GSMNP.   :
http://www.recreation.gov/camping/Cosby_Campground_Tn/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70960&topTabIndex=CampingSpot

 

Note :

• $26/night for *all* of us - that's less than $2/head!
• They do say a max of 5 cars so we may need to park a couple of cars elsewhere  
• ** Don't bring firewood!! ** there are new rules about bringing in wood...
• Shirin - the bathrooms will be nicer...

Itinerary

I'm proposing the following : 

• leave *Saturday* morning
• raft mid / late afternoon
• camp at Cosby
• hike to Max Patch Sunday morning
• head home