Long Loop Thursday the 29th

This 14 ml. excursion took place last Thursday, the 29th, on a partly cloudy, cool to cold day, depending where I was at the time, w/ a light wind. I began this excursion from the parking area just beyond the Old Sugarlands Trail junction w/ Bull Head, and the Rainbow Falls trails, following Bull Head trail as it made the 7 mile+ ascent, w/ an approximate 4500' elevation gain, ending atop Mt. LeConte. I was distracted shortly after the incline began as a Whitetail grazed just above the path among some trees and boulders barely paying me any attention as I fumbled for my camera. This trail was moist from recent precipitation with, I noticed several times, cliffs just off the right side of it hidden amongst the rodo's. Speaking of which! The "rodo hells" I saw on parts of this trail and parts along the Rainbow Falls trail which I returned on, were some of the thickest I've seen yet in the park. Of course I still have got a lot to see but damn they were thick!
Once I reached the "Pulpit", about 4 miles from LeConte, (described in the "lil' brown book" pg. 145) I rested for a few minutes, took some pictures, and ate some "fodder". Just before here and several times after your have views down on Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and distant points beyond.
It was just past here where snow and ice began appearing on the trail. Something which obviously increased along w/ the elevation. The last mile plus going up, and about the same distance coming back down the Rainbow Falls Trail the ice and snow on the trail required Extra attention and caution!
After arriving at LeConte lodge I sat the porch of one of the buildings ate a "gourmet roast beef sandwich", some carrots, and some chocolate. Not having a lot of time to sit around, as I had started later than expected, I walked very carefully up to "Cliff Tops" and got some great pictures. I say "very carefully", due to the fact that most of the trail was covered in a thick sheet of moist ice and snow. This done I gathered my gear and began my descent from the lodge the .6 back to the Rainbow Falls trail head.
This trail was more rocky and rough than Bull Head, w/ some panoramic views of scenes as far off as Wear Valley and Townsend it appeared. About a quarter mile or so before rainbow Falls I began crossing some large streams which increased my eagerness to see these falls which until then I'd only heard others talk about and seen as a spot on maps.
I apologize to all the novices I've sent here when I'm acting as a Volunteer at one of the park Visitor Centers. This 5.4 ml. round trip walk from the parking lot ain't for sissy's !
After I stopped by the falls, appreciated the moments, got some picture's, and continued down, I passed a family coming up the mountain still a half mile plus out. Dude and Dudette! With 3 kids ranging from early teens to one about 3-4 years old. Damn, I hope those "young ens" remember that day as good and if they reached the falls they probably will.
This was a difficult route for obvious reasons and one I hope to do again w/ some variations such as doing Trillium Gap trail or reversing this route which is the way the trails are described in the "lil' brown book". Good exercise, Peace.

One Way

Today was a wonderful day to hike w/ temps in the 40's, PC skies and, and not a lot of tourist out of their cars. When a friend dropped me of at the sinks and Meig's Creek trail there was no one there. A fella w/ Ohio tags on his car pulled in after us to take some pictures as I tied my boots, but I was quickly on the other side of the rock and beginning another awesome day in the woods! Damn I forgot to check my camera for space on the memory and so I missed some great vista's as I made the descent along Lumber Ridge trail into Tremont. Oh well, I guess you'll have to take my word for it, or come join us on a walk.
This one way excursion began at the Meig's Creek Trail and Little River rd. The trail has numerous stream crossings 16-20, and tested my rock-hopping skills and will yours, if your lucky enough to "walk this way"! For more information on the name of this trail, Meig's Creek, see the book 'Place Names of The Smokies',(Coggins'99), and learn some about Mr. Return Jonathan Meigs.
The trail was untouched it appeared by human traffic since most of the snow melted and was not too muddy w/ the difficulty up to Lumber Ridge Trail moderate to difficult depending on your fitness and pace. The cascading fall just under 2 mls. into the walk was partially frozen as you can see in the picture. The incline is moderate over the 3.5 mls, and as noted the frequent stream crossings keep your attention. Today there were several beautiful vista's, streams, cascades, large trees, open forest, and "rodo tunnel's", w/ fresh sign of what appeared to be bear skat and paw prints from what looked like some sort of "k-9", coyote or fox I'd hope.
Lumber Ridge Trail was moderate to easy once I started down Meig's Mtn. w/ views of the Middle Prong of the Little River and Walker Valley. Peace

Frozen Rainbow

Rainbow Falls that is, or frozen they are. Today I walked w/ a friend visiting from Michigan, to the sinks where she got to experienced some of the magnificent small parts of Southern Appalachia. And since she's only visiting it will not be consistent traffic in this location.
The frequent hikes I've taken along this route over the last few months have brought beauty and wonder in how as I've noted before, the familiar becomes new. It was also fun to note the changing temperatures as the wind blew from different directions and as we began the descent into the sinks. We passed a couple of folks coming out of the sinks as we made our way along one of the ridges on the spur and they were the only people we saw in the sinks. We both noticed squirrels throughout the walk foraging for firewood or maybe food. Peace

Snowy Trails

This walk was really cool with several inches of snow already on the ground and some falling as I walked a familiar trail made new again by the snow cover. I was the first on the trail even though a couple was putting their boots on when I arrived. Their out of state tag and blue jeans, indicated to me that they were gonna enjoy the day as much as I was, probably. My route along the West Prong trail was similar to others. I took the trail to campsite #18, sat on a rock in the stream, returned to the spur about halfway back and followed it along it's untouched snow cover.
I was on this trail because access to trail heads was limited w/ the roads in the park closed as they were yesterday around mid-day. The weather is probably going to allow melting over the next few days w/ re-freezing occurring overnight. HP willing I'll be out again Wednesday looking for a new route. Peace

Rich Mtn. to Indian Grave Gap

This walk (8mls RT) began like the previous entry in that it started at the Rich Mtn. trail parking where the Rich Mtn. road exits the park. Today the visibility was much better and the temperature was a little warmer except when walking along exposed points of the ridge line. The trail was muddy in places along the route and frozen in others.
On this day once I reached the ridge at campsite #5, I drank some fluids, ate some junk, and turned left along the Indian Grave Gap trail for 1.8 mls. A few hundred yards after taking this turn the trail splits. I chose the one less traveled (made the choice while planning the route) and was rewarded with some beautiful views and pictures. This spur takes you to the location of an old fire tower and if you keep following it, as I did, it reconnects you w/ the Indian Grave Gap trail.
This path drops occasionally and probably loses several hundred feet in elevation before it terminates at the junction w/ Scott Mtn. trail and the Crooked Arm trail. The latter which drops you down into Cades Cove and the Rich Mtn. Loop trail.
I followed the Scott mtn. direction about a Qtr. of a mile to campsite #6, where I sat on a log ate some stuff, drank some fluids and appreciated the gifts.
Once done I filled my Nalgene at the water source below the site and returned to the trail. Through this hike I saw several birds of various sizes and colors out taking advantage of this relatively warm day. Enjoy!

Frozen Springs

Brrrrr! Y'all know it's Cold! May be why your inside looking at the computer. My sister "L.A.", and I ventured into the gorge which holds Hidden Springs today, and were treated to the scenes partially shown in this picture. Our arrival was just in time for lunch with Hector, Suzie, and Jan, a "Woofer" who is currently helping on the farm. She has a wealth of experience in the woods and I hope she'll contribute some of her knowledge with us either on 'wemaybeback' or joining us on a walk. I may have the name wrong but she knows who she is. And if your reading this...Welcome! Our friend Sydney had just arrived and was getting out of her truck as "L.A." and I were beginning our walk to the falls. The process for protecting this immediate area of the gorge is underway. Peace.

WWW...and I ain't Wrestling!

That is Wilderness Wildlife Week, happening in Pigeon Forge this week, thru Saturday evening at the Music Road Hotel and Convention center complex. Henderson Chapel Rd., I believe, Ruby Tuesday's on the corner and turn left if your coming from Gatlinburg. I've attended several informative presentations including Mr. Arthur McDades' on Horace Kephart. This one included some of Kepharts personal history and his influence on the creation of the GSMNP. There still remains many good activities to participate in at WWW, and the price is great! It's free. Peace

A Wet, Wintery, Walk

This walk (4.4mls) took place Sunday afternoon when I parked at the park boundary and gate on Rich Mtn. Rd and accessed the trail as a light frozen drizzle seemed to be present. Precipitation falling yet so light I sensed it mainly by the sounds of icy slivers bouncing off my jacket and occasionally a flake big enough to see would catch my eye in the cloud shrouded air. The visibility after the first half a mile was sometimes less than 75' w/ fog or clouds keeping much out of vision. Days like this help me appreciate the practice of keeping the focus on my current environment or world I'm in. Be it a grocery store or at a meeting w/ friends. Staying in the moment as I walked the 2.2 mls up this trail helped avoid slipping in the mud and also make some "great saves" when I did. Really relaxing hike and the silence was phenomenal. I would stop, close my eyes, and listen and would hear almost nothing. Sometimes an occasional bird or something hitting the forest floor. Saw only one man who passed me just before campsite #5. When I was beginning my return the thick cloud cover, fading afternoon light and cover from "rodo's" and pine prompted me to pick up my pace before it became dark. Peace.

Will the Ranger....

Hello, This walk was a 6 mile+ one-way, beginning at the West Prong trailhead at Tremont, and ending at the School House Gap/Scott Mountain junction w/ a second car parked at "the gate". I had just done a small portion of this route the day before and found it very interesting how quickly some of these wet streams go dry even after the copious amounts of rainfall we have had recently. The falls in the sinks were awesome as I think these pictures will partially reveal.
My friend the "Ranger Will"; who really is a park ranger, joined me along this walk as he acquaints himself w/ the different areas within the park. The pace was relatively relaxed, the temperature was in the 40's if you were standing in sunshine without the wind, but probably in the 30's in the shade at the top of some of the ridges and colder with the windchill. The seemingly translucent moon was visible in the often broken blue sky.
It was great actually having to step w/ care over and through streams crossings to avoid getting your feet wet! The only folks we saw were a man we spoke w/ just before West Prong trail began it's decent to campsite #18, and two other folks we greeted at the Bote Mtn., West Prong intersection; where we had stopped for some grub, who were headed down the Bote mtn trail. A wonderful day for hiking! Peace. Oh! have you called the Governor today and asked him what actions he has taken regarding the coal ash spill? Did You know...The TVA CEO, Tom Kilgore, got a raise of $500,000, in October('08), bringing his salary to 3.27 million dollars a year! , this pay raise a month after TVA made the largest rate increase in 30 years! The Governor's phone# 615-741-2001

Walking Sunday

Hello, this walk of I guess about 3.5 miles, began at the Townsend entrance for the School House Gap trail. Which means I parked at the gate coming in from Dry Valley. Confused yet?
This hike has been described before (11/28/08), I only wanted to make an entry in order to post some more pictures and try and share some of the peace I find when taking these walks. See ya'

Kephart Prong etc...

Well the weather was cool at times along this 15+ mile walk I took with a friend, which began at the Highway 441 parking area and the Kephart Prong trail. Though as we started up the Sweat Heifer trail from the Kephart Prong shelter layers began peeling off! We took this trail the 3.7 mls. up to the AT, and what a great trail! As we climbed in elevation we had views with unlimited sight as there were no clouds or immediate ozone residue obstructing the blue sky's. Once we reached the top we had to put some of the winter layers back on with a strong wind blowing atop the ridge line the AT follows along this point. We stopped near Ice Water Springs shelter, fixed some veggie and tuna burritos, ate, and got back on the trail out of the cold wind.
Along this portion of the walk there were some wonderful vista's of the surrounding mountains including LeConte, and Brushy Mountain. There were at times frozen layers of ice covering the trail which would have made great impromptu bobsled courses, with abrupt endings.
We sidetracked for a view from Charlie's Bunion and then continued on to the Dry Sluice Gap trail. Following it to the intersection with Grassy Branch trail and back to the Kephart Shelter. We stopped here and made some coffee for a caffeine rush to take us out the remaining 2 mls. as the day faded into night. Watching the crescent moon, Venus, and stars come into view as we completed this great walk. Peace