Weekend Walks

These pictures are from several hikes taken with a friend over the holiday weekend. Hikes which included a short 2 mile RT up Curry Mountain trail to fill some time before dinner on Saturday, an approximate 6 mile RT up Rich Mountain trail to Cerulean Knob 3665', and on Monday what turned out to be approx. 4.5 miles along West Prong trail and the loop to campsite #18.










There were some folks camping in the un-official site across the bridge and to the left at #18. While some others had left their garbage scattered around site 'B' w/ more hanging in a plastic bag for others to take out. We picked up a gallon milk jug and other stuff laying around this site, put it in the hanging bag and called it in to the Backcountry office later. On the walk out I collected a plastic bottle, a straw and some plastic wrappers thrown away by others and was grateful enough to enjoy the walk with a friend. Peace

Friday Afternoon on Rich Mountain

Hello! This day hike began at the Rich Mtn. trail head off of Rich Mtn. road, which is still closed for the Cades Cove work expected to wrap-up on the 24th of this month, April. The weather was wonderful as it actually cooled in the last few days. So with temperatures in the 60's up here and skies PC, and a nice breeze I enjoyed an undisturbed walk for approximately 5 mls. roundtrip. The route today took me to Cerulean Knob where I got this photo of LeConte I believe.
I've taken pictures of this peak before and figured it was either Clingmans or LeConte, and assuming what I saw on another web site is correct, and reviewing the pictures I'd say LeConte. (http://solitarywalker.com/rich_mtn_loop.htm)
Along the walk I noticed streams in places I'd never seen or heard them despite being 3 inches below average for the calendar year in these parts. As Meg the Hiker noted in her last entry with temperatures above the norm; 20 degrees plus on some days, earlier this week and last, this has cut short the time of some early blooms. However this Bloodroot looks great!