Big South Fork
Hiking and Stay at Charit Creek Lodge
Fort Ridge Rd, Jamestown, TN
November 3-5, 2023
Co-Trip Leaders: Leslie Green and Cindy Durr
Type of Trip: Backpacking
Trip Cost/Deposit: $365/$180
Cancellation Date and full payment: July 27, 2023
Wilderness Level: 3 - typical meetup day event in good weather setting with cell coverage
Trip Difficulty: Moderate – up to 10 miles per daily with challenging terrain and moderate elevation gain
Policy on Fitness Self-Assessment
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: 10/7 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.
Charit Creek Lodge is a rustic and historic wilderness lodge location the heart of Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. Staying overnight here will be the main highlight of this trip.
To reach Charit Creek lodge, not accessible by vehicle, we will hike 10+ miles on the Middle Creek-Slave Falls Trail that features outstanding rock formations that make this area so spectacular. While at the Lodge, our overnight stay will be in a shared bunk room cabin with wood heat. Restrooms and showers are nearby. Dinner at the lodge will be welcomed at the end of our hike. Breakfast will also be served at the lodge before we take a short hike back to the parking area at the Twin Arches. Before leaving the area, we will also hike up to the Angel Falls Overlook to view the South Fork of the Cumberland River far below.
Hikers should be capable of hiking 10+ miles in moderate to rugged terrain with a backpack that includes bedding, clothing, water, lunch/snacks, and emergency gear (approximately 20 lbs). We will also camp at Bandy Creek Campground on Friday night. A tent or shelter will be required for the campground and temperatures in the 30s could be possible.
The cost of the trip includes one overnight stay with dinner and breakfast at the lodge, camping fees at Bandy Creek, and shared transportation. Participants are responsible for meals in transit, breakfast at camp, trail lunches and snacks.
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.
