Cades Cove
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
May 19-22, 2022
Co-Trip Leaders: Phyllis Legan and Cindy Durr
Type of Trip: Hiking/Camping/Biking
Trip Cost/Deposit: $60/$30
Cancellation Date and full payment: April 19, 2022
Wilderness Level: 3 (in Cades Cove), 4 on hike to AT
Trip Difficulty: Strenuous hiking with elevation gain of 2,832 ft, 11 miles of moderated biking
Policy on Fitness Self-Assessment
Level 1: Applies to trips in which we carry only day packs and stay on maintained trails. Hiking distances range from 3-6 mile, and elevation gain can be as much as 2000 feet. You should be comfortable hiking 3-6 miles in a day with considerable gain/loss on good trails.
Level 2: Primarily applies to trips in which we carry only day packs. In one day, we can hike up to 9 miles and 4500 feet of elevation gain on maintained trails, or up to 7 miles and 2000 feet of elevation gain on more rugged, less-maintained trails. For a Level 2 trip you should be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles in a day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a light day pack. If a backpacking trip has a Level 2 rating, it means the distances are 2-4 miles with little elevation gain/loss.
Level 3: Applies to backpacking trips in which we hike with 25-35 pound backpacks. In one day, we can hike up to 7 miles and 3000 feet of elevation gain on maintained trails, or up to 5 miles and 2000 feet of elevation gain on more rugged trails. For a Level 3 trip you should be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles in a day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a 25-pound backpack.
Group Size: 12/7 Maximum/Minimum
Adults Only
***Before registering***
While considering your participation in CIWC trips, be aware that some trips will involve shared transportation, lodging, and other activities. Each participant is encouraged to evaluate your comfort level with such arrangements based on your health condition, vaccination status, and unknown COVID positivity rates at the time of the trip. Members are encouraged to review the COVID waiver as a part of this evaluation.
Join us for May flowers, mountain views and the history of Cades Cove. We will be front country camping (small tents only) in Cades Cove Group campground. Only 4 vehicles may park at the campsite, but more parking is available a short distance away. We plan to hike to Spence field via the Anthony Creek trail out of Cades Cove on Friday. This trail is a 10.3-mile roundtrip hike with an elevation gain of 2,832’. It is considered quite strenuous. Conditioning ahead of time is a must!
We will bike the Cades Cove loop (11 miles) beginning Saturday morning. Bike rental is available at your cost or bring your own. We will stop for lunch and a shorter hike that afternoon. After camp clean-up on Sunday, we will head back to Indiana.
Activities may be weather dependent.
Provide your own transportation or carpool with another group member. Three breakfasts and three suppers will be provided by the leaders. Each participant will provide their own lunches, snacks and meals on the road. Camp chores and clean-up duties will be shared by all participants.
Questions may be submitted to ciwcinfo@gmail.com.
All trip participants must fill out and submit a CIWC Medical Form and Long Waiver Form.
Effective on all trips, there will be a $50 non refundable registration fee. This fee will be assessed to those who sign up for a trip, get on the roster and then later cancel. Even cancelling before the cancel date. Those who never make the active roster (i.e. those who stay on the waitlist) will NOT be charged the $50 cancellation fee.
