Frozen Head SP - MLK Day Hike

[Buzzard Breath]

The hiking forum hasn't been getting much any volume latelly, so I figured I would post some pics from from a hike me and a a buddy took last week. I'd only taken one short hike in Frozen Head previously and had wanted to return but with the Smokies just down the road, I always seem to forget it's even there. We both decided to cut out of work around lunch. A quick stop at an Asian joint in Oak Ridge that only serves 4 choices for lunch and we were at the trailhead. Since we were short on time we decided to hit the South Old Mac Trail and climb to the tower. For some reason I didn't think this was going to be a strenuous hike. I was wrong. I think I about killed Travis hauling ass up this thing. It's 7.3 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 2,112 feet. Here's a few highlights from the trip.

The old CCC dynamite shack.

The trail in the lower section had a slow and stead elevation gain. It was deceiving for what was to come.


All of the small spring crossings had these cool little rock walls built to keep the trail level. Who knows how many years they have been there.

It had been warm for almost a week and I was surprised to see some frozen waterfalls.

Little did I know what was just around the corner.

Once we reached the top of the ridge, we came to one of the backcountry campsites. I'll definitely be backpacking into here in the future. This thing was luxury compared to where I normally pack into.

Another half mile hike that went straight up brought us to the tower.

The views from here pretty much sucked.

Nothing to see here.


Travis soaking in the views.

This was a really cool hike that I would recommend anyone to take. I'll definitely be back.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

Travis' version

http://tnfishingfanatic.blogspot.com/20 ... -hike.html

 

[wildb1]

Thanks for taking the time to post. When I lived in Smyrna TN I enjoyed hiking. Did Mt. Leconte several times and hit the cumberland plauteau as much as I could since it was closer for me.

 

[Brisco Darlin]

holler next time you come through oak ridge. i hike up a frozen head alot.

 

[whiskey]

great pics

 

[Buzzard Breath]

Brisco - I'll give you a shout next time. I didn't realize it would be as nice as it was. I still can't believe it's as close to Knoxville as it is and I haven't spent much time there. I'm sure you've eaten at the Asian place we hit. Magic Wok on Tyler. The kimchi was awesome.

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/68/730887/r ... -Oak-Ridge

 

[Brisco Darlin]

Brisco - I'll give you a shout next time. I didn't realize it would be as nice as it was. I still can't believe it's as close to Knoxville as it is and I haven't spent much time there. I'm sure you've eaten at the Asian place we hit. Magic Wok on Tyler. The kimchi was awesome.

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/68/730887/r ... -Oak-Ridge

oh yeah i hit the magic wok at least once a week. i like to camp at frozen head too with the kids. real nice park.

 

[AT Hiker]

My wife and I camped there a few years ago, got overrun with raccoons. Hiked up to the Cumberland Trail, I think?

Always wanted to go back in the winter.

 

[Brisco Darlin]

would love to be up there today. me and the family were camping a couple years ago up there when they had the 100 mile endurance run. Can't remember exactly what it was called but it was based on when James Earl Ray broke out of Brushy mtn. and they caught him a few days later and he had only gotten a few miles from the prison and was going in circles in the mtns.

 

[AT Hiker]

That prison beside the park the one he broke out of?

 

[Buzzard Breath]

would love to be up there today. me and the family were camping a couple years ago up there when they had the 100 mile endurance run. Can't remember exactly what it was called but it was based on when James Earl Ray broke out of Brushy mtn. and they caught him a few days later and he had only gotten a few miles from the prison and was going in circles in the mtns.

Barkley Marathons

http://www.runnersworld.com/trail-runni ... age=single

 

[Buzzard Breath]

That prison beside the park the one he broke out of?

It is. He took off cross-country thinking he could avoid capture that way. All it did was get him lost.

 

[Brisco Darlin]

That prison beside the park the one he broke out of?

not that one. that's morgan co regional. Brushy mtn. is on over and it was shut down a while back.

 

[Brisco Darlin]

would love to be up there today. me and the family were camping a couple years ago up there when they had the 100 mile endurance run. Can't remember exactly what it was called but it was based on when James Earl Ray broke out of Brushy mtn. and they caught him a few days later and he had only gotten a few miles from the prison and was going in circles in the mtns.

Barkley Marathons

http://www.runnersworld.com/trail-runni ... age=single

yeah thanks. i couldn't remember the name of it.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

That prison beside the park the one he broke out of?

not that one. that's morgan co regional. Brushy mtn. is on over and it was shut down a while back.

I'd not thought about it, but there are 2 prisons butting against Frozen Head. I should have realized the one at the entrance is still open. My wife has a nephew in there. Weren't they wanting to turn the prison into a distillery at one time?

 

[Brisco Darlin]

buzzard they were. haven't really heard much more about it. i don't know if it got put on hold or what.

 

[AT Hiker]

If I had to go to prison I sure hope it was a distillery, my luck it would be a tofu factory.