Forney

[Oldman]

Although I have fished Forney I have not been up to CCC #71 yet. This Friday we will be hiking up to 71 From Tunnel road. Question I would like to know is this, Are there any wet creek crossing to 71? Thanks in advance.

[JayB]

I dont know about if you take forney creek trail up, we took whiteoak branch as a shortcut. There were two or 3 small crossings you could rock hop across in dryer weather I would imagine. We ended up having to get wet a couple of places, but it was after a rain, and the creeks were swollen out of their banks and spilling into the trail in a couple of places. I havent been on Forney creek trail between 74 and where whiteoak comes in to know anything about that stretch.

[jumperdoc]

I did a tunnel to Clingmans trip a couple of years back. If memory serves, the trail stays to the east of the stream the whole way to #71. I can't remember if Springhouse Branch was a log or wet crossing, but either way I can't imagine that it would be a very difficult crossing. That was a mid-summer trip so water levels were pretty low. Hopefully someone with a better memory will chime in on this.

[Oldman]

Whiteoak branch trail is the one we are taking to get to 71 from Tunnel Rd. With the rains that are coming down now and the ones for Sat night just courious as to any dangers involved.

[JayB]

I wouldnt consider any of it dangerous, just a lot of water in the trail, so you will get your feet wet. The stream crossings are all smalls tribs, that I imagine you could step over in summer, but were flowing pretty well while we there. The worst water we went through was knee high on a 5 year old, so nothing dangerous.
I would be more worried about the winds with the storm coming Saturday. I was supposed to take a group of teens out there Saturday and Sunday but decided to hold off. Last i saw on weather.com they were saying the storms on Saturday could be severe. I've been through one lightning storm up there with no wind and that was enough for me. I worry more about falling branches in the smokys more than I do bears, but thats just me.

[ifish4wildtrout]

Email me some pics when you get back.

[Oldman]

Originally Posted by ifish4wildtrout

Email me some pics when you get back.

Pics of us getting drowned at the campsite or being washed downstream to Fontana. If I remember to bring the camera I will.

[JoeFred]

Oldman, here is my understanding. At the junction of Whiteoaks Branch & Forney Creek Trails, you would need to wet cross Whiteoaks Branch. After that, it appears that Forney Creek Trail stays to the east of Forney Creek all of the 1.3 miles up to CS 71. The quad shows that at one time the trail crossed Forney (or side streams of it) three times. Have good trip.
JF

[old tom]

We got over 2" of rain in the last couple of days. Some areas close to 3". The young paddlers from the NOC were running the cascades at the top of the upper Nan yesterday and I understand they need at least 2" of rain to be able to run it.

Younger Tom and I fished Forney several springs ago after some heavy rains and had a tough go at it. We caught a few fish, but it slap wore me out wading in the high water all day long. Some drainage areas drop faster than others, and Forney, contrary to what we thought, seems to be one that is slow to come down.

No saying change your plans, but just something to think about.

[Oldman]

That is exactly what I was thinking about Tom. More rain on Sat and Sat night. Sounds like a report on this trip will be about snakes,bears,hogs,rain,floods and being cold and wet than catching fish.