Lookout Mountain and Cloudland Canyon May 26th

The wknd. continued w/ another moderate hike in Cloudland Canyon State Park on the Georgia side of Lookout Mtn. A short drive from Chattanooga, and/or Trenton, Ga., depending on from where you come. "Meg the Hiker", and I walked several trails through the park on this day hike covering approximately 7 mls+. We began from the main parking area; which is straight in from where you pay the $3 day rate. Once we started walking we bypassed the trial to the waterfalls initially, for the 4.7 ml. partial loop route. This took us down some and around the rim of the "Gulf". I call it this because it it appears to me to have the some of the same geographic features one sees in the Stone Door/Savage Gulf sections of the South Cumberland area in Tennessee.
This being the holiday we encountered lots of folks and were delighted to meet a lady walking w/ her kids as they identified various plants using some basic guides. The kids were writing down the plants they positively ID'd and "Meg the Hiker", provided some information clarifying the identity of one bloom. Keep it up mom and kids!
We made the loop and on the way back up we bypassed to the falls and enjoyed the beauty. It was interesting how many folks were attempting the walk; much like the day before at Alum Cave Trail, down and back up the extensive wooden/steel stairways they have built to access views of the falls. "Meg" noted how this experience would be enhanced by doing it on a less busy day and time. The pictures demonstrate of what she speaks, Peace.

A Walk With Friends, May 25th

So I'm in Crossville meeting w/ some friends and Beth walks in the room. After she greets some folks I say hello to which she replies, "I'm going hiking tomorrow on Alum cave Trail, wanna go?". "Sure", I say. Who, when, and where, is worked out and we meet the next morning, pick up her nephew, Allen, and headed to the mountains for a glorious day in the woods. Of course this being a holiday wknd., the GSMNP would be packed so we got started relatively early. This was Allens first time on the Alum Cave Trail and it had been several years since Beth had been here. They both enjoyed the natural beauty of the streams and rock formations especially Arch Rock. As well as the bright greens of the new plant life. We hiked up to the cave and sat for a few minutes and enjoyed the view. After which we picked up and continued to 'Gracies Pulpit', (see 'Hiking Trails of The Smokies'), ate some PB&J sandwiches which Beth had brought along and took some pictures. We really enjoyed the awesome views across the valley looking off the "pulpit" towards the Lower Ledges, which is part of the 4 peaks which make up LeConte. As more folks stopped we gave up our seats on the pulpit and began our descent back to the trailhead. As we did so we let pass 2 very large groups of hikers. The first, we learned were mostly of Korean ancestry and were part of a group of over 100, and the next about a 1/2 mile behind them were from colleges all over the country and belonged to some interdenominational group.
Rock on! Let's hope they all take some appreciation and urgency back to wherever they traveled from, be it Kansas or Korea, for the need to write, call, or e-mail, Washington and local officials, and participate in stopping the wasteful destruction of public and private habitat across the globe. Peace

Weekends away...

Hello, this weekends excursion began atop Clingmans Dome. Damn, I need to remember what the CD bypass trail is all about next time and stop starting my walks from here w/ a 1/2 mile up the cement walkway! Just as I was arriving at the AT someone asked "are you thru hiking?", to which I responded "know I'm just getting started". I missed that one! A few seconds later I understood what she meant and laughed at myself.
Soon after I began I started greeting hikers who were going towards the dome in varied sorts of clothing, gear and physical make-up. The first man had no shirt on and a log for a walking stick, the next was a short man round man "struggling" w/ the incline and rocks asking me how far to the next shelter. To which I replied that the dome was less than a mile and did not go into any specifics about mileage to Mt.Collins. Didn't want to scare him because he was tired and any of you who know that portion of the AT and direction he was heading know what he was facing in his shape. The next encounter involved two chaps looking determined as we exchanged greetings in our passing.
The winds were strong w/ gust approaching 30mph+, grayish sky, temperatures in the mid 50's, and the Knoxville forecast calling for the possibility of rain more likely Saturday morning.
The Flowers were were bright and plentiful. All sorts of colors and sizes were displayed over the next 3 days bringing feelings of peace, wonder, and appreciation of the little things.
After passing by Double Springs Shelter and some folks fixing some dinner I had the trail alone to myself until reaching the shleter at Silers Bald, at which I met some of, but not all, my shelter mates for the night. The wind was strong. "Rainman"; ask about him in the comments, was it appeared an experienced and impatient AT hiker I gathered over the next 14 hours, and he was hiking w/ 2 others, w/ a third joining them along the trail to Davenport Gap. Most of the folks I encountered at this shelter Friday night and those that passed through Saturday morning before I got out were calling themselves "thru-hikers". One man, "blackjack", remembered me from a couple of years ago and my first stay along the AT at Mt. Collins. His trail title and physical shape did seem familiar. I'll check my notes about that walk later. Saturday Morning I gave thanks to the "spirits that be" for the sleep I got and the opportunity to experience this windy, gray, morning. AT hikers began arriving as quick as the those I had met already had left, and I prepared my pack for the descent into "the valley below". And then it rained. This day's walk was via the Welch Ridge Trail, to Jonas Creek, and picking up the Forney Creek trail up to Campsite #68 (which has 2 sections a couple hundred yards apart). Along this 11 mile+ walk I saw lots of birds, a deer, squirrels and chipmunks and only 3 hikers in form just before I reached #68. Though there was a tent and fire at #70 a "dual-use" site. Here at this trail intersection I shed my rain gear w/ hope and a prayer. On a previous excursion I stayed at #69 which is a larger site w/ lots of water, though #68 gets you right to the base of serious climbing for the ascent back up Clingman's, I'd say 4000'+-, and water "a plenty". This is where I would recommend to begin most last day walks for this route or similar ones.


Sunday morning it looked like it had rained though the moisture was a combination of humidity, dew, and previous rain on the surface contributing to the humidity. I had some coffee, GORP, and began the 4 plus vertical miles to the CD parking area. Along the way I was giving the opportunity to experience awesome views, flowers and wildlife, w/ some peace and acceptance within myself. Thanks again to the spirits that be. Peace.