Happy Bottom Hiking Club, Knoxville, TN (2026)

07/31/2015

When: Saturday, August 1

Time: 10:00 AM

Meet where: Indian Gap parking lot on the Clingman's Dome Road. We will carpool up to the Fork Ridge Trailhead where we will start.

Hike: John and I are calling this a Mt Collins hike although I don't think we can summit the actual mountain. Let me quote from Kenneth Wise's book. This quote starts at our end but the description is good:

"On leaving Indian Gap the trail enters shortly into an extensive basin that forms an upper corner of the vast Little River watershed. The terrain is virtually flat (let ME repeat that - the terrain is virtually flat so no whining) and the forest cover is composed almost entirely of red spruce, Frasier fur, and other species of the Canadian subartic. The ground is damp, if not wet, and covered with ayellowish green spongy humus that imparts an otherworldly pallor to this foreign environment. Where the firs are thick, a sweet, resinous aroma permeates the air." (let me repeat this - the terrian is virtually flat - his words not mine)

If you look at an elevation map it is mainly downhill with only a 600 foot total elevation loss. I didn't include going to the Mt Collins trail shelter which would add another 1.5 miles to the 2.5 mile hike. All this is very doable so I'd rate this a moderate hike. I'm even letting you sleep in with a 10 meet time. I've had heart surgery, fibromyalgia, diabetes and 70 kidney stones. If I can do you can! (Okay, get off your soapbox Scout Master) Another stroll in the woods.

What you need: Good hiking boots. If this is wet tennis shoes won't be a good choice. Lunch and snacks. Goes without saying but I will anyway, water. Even though the weather report says lower humidity and sunshine for K-town bring something for rain. The mountains can be difficult at times.

I'm estimating 3 to 4 hours taking our time.

RSVP if you're coming and we can figure our car pooling to save people gas (tip your driver please).

'nough said