Castaway,
You are correct, if you hike about 4 or 4 1/2 miles west of Clingman's on the AT, a trail heads off to the south towards Hazel, I don't remember the name of the trail right now but I believe it connects to the Hazel Creek trail. This is a trip that I've been thinking about for a while. Maybe making a loop to hit Forney also, it would make a great week-long trip. That would be an intense hike back up though
8-)!!!
David Knapp