Baby Bear's Pictures From Oregon

OK, so these pictures ain't from around here yet the little bear is a contributor to the information here on wemaybeback and an important friend. That would be "Baby Bear", AKA Mama Bear, a contributor to this "information blog". The little bear lives in NYC, and was given the trail name "Baby Bear" on what she described as her "best backpacking trip ever", lol, (July '08, GSMNP with The Mysterious One).



She sent these pictures a short while ago and I've figured out how to get them from there to here. These Pictures were taken by "Baby Bear" in her travels to Oregon last month.

Big Frog

This really peaceful hike covered 8.5+, RT, miles in the Cherokee National Forest and the Big Frog Wilderness area. The hike began at Thunder Rock campground where we picked up a trail that may have been West Fork, Benton MacKaye, which hooked us up w/ Rough Creek, Big Creek, but maybe Wolf Ridge trail. Though that excludes Licklog Ridge and Grassy Gap. Along this walk we may have been on, or crossed the Chestnut Top trail and were often on trails which paralleled the Benton MacKaye trail.
The walk began w/ some short, steep switch backs on a hiker only trail and mellowed some as it merged w/ an old Forest Service road. At what appeared to be 2.6 miles in we came to a road crossing and trail intersection at which the only clear reading I could make confirmed what the fella' had told us in the parking lot as we prepared to start. That was to cross the road and follow the West Fork route.
I'll say this it was a beautiful walk in in the woods where we encountered few folks, w/ birds and small animals frequent. More on this hike later.
Ok, to continue. This was a very pretty and enjoyable walk. The route brought us to, and across several streams and through beautiful forest. We stopped and enjoyed some veggies wrapped in "Tore tea ya's", (Practicing my pronunciation). We continued on for another 15 minutes before turning and finding our way back as we had covered some ground and did not want to lose the light. Another great hike in Southern Appalachia. Thanks mysterious one.

Calvin's Gold (Tuesday the 17th)

Hello, this was a very informative walk on and around the Rich Mountain Trail and road. Myself and two "noted Historians", and authors began this hike around the Rich Mtn./Ace Gap trailheads. It was mostly OTG, and brought us to one of Dr Calvin Post', gold mines, the remains of a former residence of his, and a strenuous search through "rodo hell's" for another mine, which we were unable to locate at this time. On the way out my friends showed me Bull Cave and it's impressive entrance. One of the men I was w/ described the way the caves in this area are formed in limestone, the way sinkholes are formed, and other bits of geological information. While my other hiking companion was a wealth of history on the early settlements in and around the park. I was privileged to share this walk w/ them and hope to do so again soon! Peace

Chestnut Top on Saturday the 14th

This 8.6 ml. RT started at the Townsend 'Y', parking area alongside the Little River. What was different about this hike today was that I went ahead and completed the 4.3 ml. one way from the 'Y', to the junction w/ the School House Gap trail, and the number of people, 7,; and one domestic animal, I passed. Yes, the second couple of folks who I crossed paths w/ had one of those "large poodles" w/ them. Not sure what kind of dog it was though I do know that it was not providing any needed assistance to the man who had it and it DID NOT belong in the park! After greeting them; turns out I knew one of them through mutual friends, I pointed out that it was illegal to have the dog on the trails and that he could get a big ticket/fine if caught.
Now folks I do have a problem w/ you putting me at a higher risk of encountering a tired, hungry, and angry bear, which is what you do, when you carry your useless, domestic, overgrown, lap dog into the woods of this and any other wilderness area. It is Against the Law, a federal law that applies to all of us.
Well I got over it and developed a packaged comment for the next person I see doing this which will sound like this..."Oh, and be careful there's a couple of rangers just starting some work at the trailhead you'll be coming out at"...hee,hee,hee.
Along the way I saw bunches of Squirrels foraging for grub in the "warm weather" and despite the quiet trails I could not get close enough for a good picture.
This trail could be part of several one way routes provided you have the transportation and is enjoyable as a RT for the views, rock formations, and wildlife. Peace

The New Campsite

This started out as mid morning walk of 4 miles or so to see where the new #26 campsite was located. The Middle Prong was flowing strong and I was rewarded w/ PC skies and a temperature in the 50's, as this walk turned into an 8 mile day hike. Proceeding up MP to Indian Flat Falls and turning around. Well I had obviously misunderstood the information as the new campsite has not been established yet, though the location I was expecting to find it was correct. I learned this after speaking w/ a friend and park volunteer quite familiar w/ backcountry camping and trails in the park. I guess they're waiting on the seasonal workers to come on "the clock" to develop the new sites. And I say sites because there are several other backcountry sites being closed, moved and/or developed. For more information check the new maps due out in July, the web site, and ask at a backcountry office located a the visitor centers. Peace.

Hiking New Paths

New trails, for me, was what this hike provided (28.8 mls). It started at the Rich Mtn. parking accessed from Dry Valley, atop Rich Mountain. With the normal to slightly above normal precipitation over last few months, water was available throughout the hike described in this entry.
I followed Ace Gap trail 5.6 mls, to the junction w/ Beard Cane trail at Blair Gap and Hurricane Mtn. The difficulty of this section of the hike was easy to moderate w/ several drops and gains along the way. The campsites #4, and #7, which sits in Ace Gap (1680'), I passed along this trail are now closed due to lack of consistent water and property disputes w/ a developer. A few new, large, vacant, houses border the park between these closed sites.
Ace Gap trail ended w/ what appeared as a "man way" continuing straight on to Hurricane Mtn., though I was going down to the left following the Beard Cane trail. This began with, and continued a descent for .9 mls, and brought me to campsite #3. After crossing Hesse Creek, which could be difficult had there been recent rains as it is wide and slippery. Hesse Creek merges w/ Beard Cane Creek nearby.
This campsite was "way cool"! Plenty of room and lots of wood found on the ground for firewood. More to see here next time I travel this route.
Monday morning I woke late, and was in no rush to move on. After enjoying the "quiet noise" of the streams and the wind in the Hemlocks. I finished packing up and moved down Beard Cane trail past campsite #11, and to the intersection w/ Hatcher Mtn. trail at 1900'. The 3.5 mls+- on the Beard Cane trail from #3 had a seemingly slight incline; though towards the end this was more apparent, also crossing a creek of the same name 12+ times, which it pretty much paralleled the distance. This would make for tough going w/ melting snow or on rainy days because of the mud and almost bog like appearance it had. This section of trail also looked like a great area for a hike in the spring to see blooming wildflowers and a variety of wildlife I'd bet.
I continued from this intersection w/ Hatcher Mtn. and Cooper Road trails, along Hatcher Mtn. trail until it ran into the Little Bottoms trail (2.6 mls), at which point I went to the right. In less than a mile I reached the #17 campsite. (Abram's Falls was like 1.9 mls to the left) This site, #17, is a large campsite sitting above Abrams Creek in the location of a former homestead. The area is frequented by fly fisherman w/ relatively easy access from the Abram's Creek Ranger Station and a developed campground. There was plenty of room for relative privacy and firewood to be found on the ground here as well.

A note I need to make here. At #3, and here, #17, where I spent the nights out, I located, by accident, plastic bags of garbage left partially hidden by the inconsiderate, ungrateful, _______, ________ _________, person(s) who felt their sh__ is someone else's responsibility. Probably some of the same F____s that are afraid to change old ways despite the known negative results. If only...huh? oh, OK, I'm done.

I enjoyed a wonderful fire, a really special dinner; chicken and rice mixed w/ tuna wrapped in a tortilla, and later some decaf strawberry tea! So, minus the chef's surprise it was a good night.
Tuesday morning I got up to great temperatures and had the sun warming me earlier than the previous day by about an hour because it didn't have to climb as high over a mtn. before "shining down on me". (Though all three days of hiking were done in a poly shirt and shorts the nights were probably in the upper 30's low 40's.)
The original plan here was to hike back to #3, via a partial loop, which included finishing Little Bottoms Trail thru campsite #1, going up Cooper Road trail, a dual use trail often rough and rocky, passing through a portion of Lynn Hollow, past Cane Creek trail at Cane Gap, and on to the intersection w/ Beard Cane and Hatcher Mountain trail. Taking a left turn here and reversing a portion of the route I'd hiked the day before, back to #3, and camping out.
That was the plan.
But when I reached #3, I was pumped and feeling strong (I was also thinking about 2 large porkchops I had leftover from grilling out Saturday), so I decided to go for it! I did, and I got it (tired that is). The last mile of the Beard Cane trail from this direction was back up the mountain and throughout the remaining distance, 5.6 mls., of Ace Gap trail, it is a steady rise and fall in short burst keeping you honest in your physical efforts.
Throughout these three days I saw only one person. A nice fella' who was coming off the Cane Creek Trail after camping the night at #2.
This route is a definite do over! Offering numerous possibilities for continuing paths and stopping points! Peace.

TVA Ash Spill

With the excitement of the current snow fall in the Smokies, an expected 8-12 inches before ending tomorrow, it is hard to write about the negative news. However, the reports concerning the recent TVA ash holding pond spill continue to get worse.

Immediately after the spill the response from TVA was that the ash was inert and would be contained in the area directly affected by the sludge itself. TVA spokes-people have continued to take this stance, but the evidence is mounting that the river water is contaminated more than thought.

Recent water samples taken by volunteers working in cooperation Appalachian State and Duke University have shown arsenic levels 2-20 times the standard for drinking water as far as 4.5 miles below the site. It is important to remember the water from the Emory River these samples are taken from eventually flows into the Tennessee River.

For more in depth coverage visit the following sites:
http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2009/01/tva.html
http://ilovemountains.org/tva-spill/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sandra-diaz/new-media-keeping-coal-as_b_156381.html

Grotto Falls via Trillium

This excursion began after a meeting w/ friends and was an alternate route chosen after the snow began to accumulate. Being that I was on the Roaring Fork Motor Loop route when our meeting ended and the snow was falling heavy I chose to access the Trillium Gap Trail and hike to Grotto Falls. A trail and location I'd not experienced yet.
Dudes, and Dudettes! What an awesome day for it! The Park service had not yet closed the gate and w/ a little slipping I got to the parking area. The hike was relatively moderate but required some extra attention w/ the snow, and some ice buried beneath it, leftover from previous days. I busted it a couple of times on hidden ice. This portion of Trillium is no where near as difficult as the first few miles of Bull Head, though I'll recommend it w/ caution to novices. Cautions such as bring some water and snacks for the kids.
The whole walk was fabulous w/ the steady snowfall, heavy for the first half of the walk, and the lack of other folks.
The closed section of the road (closed each winter) parallels the trail for most of the first 2 miles from the Old Sugarlands Trail Head. Which is where one must park during the seasonal closing.
A Park service employee was closing the gate as the snow continued and I left the park. Another wonderful day for a hike! Peace.