Going Downhill

This walk was approximately 12 miles, beginning off the Clingman's Dome road, at the Sugarlands Mountain trailhead. There is a small parking area just across the road from this access point, where the Fork Ridge trail comes out of the woods. The whole route continues along Sugarlands Mtn trail, to the Fighting Creek Gap and the Laurel Falls trail. What an awesome hike! I had inquired about this hike several times over the last few years as I would see folks coming off the end of this route into the parking area, which is primarily used by folks hiking the Laurel Falls trail, when I'd be there working as a volunteer in the park (VIP). The trail begins at close to 6000', and maintains elevation for most of the hike. A hike which I'll do again in the fall in order to experience the changing colors and potential views. Though notice that in the one picture there are no leaves on the trees yet, except for the rhododendrons, and it's the middle of April. Winter lasted this year. I'd estimate in the last 3-4 miles of this hike is when the most elevation was lost and that the majority of our walk was along ridgelines. Though there was a relative decline throughout the walk it was a strenuous hike in both the distance and in the use of different muscles when walking downhill on natural terrain for this distance. The only camping on this route was the Mt Collins shelter which is a few hundred feet into the trail as I have described it here.

Back Country Search and Rescue

The GSMNP Rangers demonstrate once again their importance and...more importantly this incident again points to the need for every hiker, be it for a an overnight or a day-hike, to be knowledgeable and prepared for about what they are getting ready to do and not full of some make believe BS that they think they know from watching a TV show. 
http://www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/12325-a-winter-rescue-rangers-trek-into-frigid-snowy-darkness-to-save-hikers

   

Hiking Weather

Well the hiking weather has been good by my experience. The often abnormally warm temperatures have prevented the winter moisture from freezing for the most part so eliminating some challenges in the form of ice and snow, though creating others such as slippery mud, and at times some flooded streams.  This type of weather provides for a quieter walk with more opportunity to listen to the woods.  Bear activity is of course down with the cooler temps, however in one of my routes off the primary beaten path I have noticed fresh skat and taken note to proceed with awareness as recently as the 27th.  For anyone reading that doubts this report "because bears are hibernating", I'd suggest, while you're waiting for spring, please research the black bears "hibernation" behavior. 
The campsite in the picture was found off a man-way far from any park designated campsite and I 'stumbled" upon it while bushwhacking up an old logging road.  It did not appear to have been used recently, at least their were no ashes in the fire-pit only leaves fallen from last fall.  

The Great Smoky Mountains Festival of Christmas Past 2014

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has announced the 38th annual Festival of Christmas Past celebration scheduled on Saturday, December 14, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Sugarlands Visitor Center. The event, sponsored in cooperation with Great Smoky Mountains Association, is free to the public. “This is our 38th year of celebrating the holiday season through traditional mountain music, storytelling, and crafts,” said Kent Cave, North District Resource Education Supervisor. “It is the Park’s obligation and privilege to preserve these traditions and keep them alive for future generations. Young and old alike will again have the opportunity to relive Christmas in a simpler time along the Forks of the River community.” The festival will include old-time mountain music and traditional harp singing. Demonstrations of traditional domestic skills such as the making of rag rugs, apple-head dolls, quilts, and apple butter will be ongoing throughout the day. There will also be several chances to experience these traditions hands-on, with crafts to make and take home. As in years past, the Christmas Memories Walk will be held at 11 am and 2 pm, to teach visitors about the spirit of the season in these mountains in the time period from the 1880s to 1930s. “We invite everyone to come and experience the joys of an old fashioned mountain Christmas,” said Cave. Contact the helpful folks at the Sugarlands Visitor Center for more information, the number there is 865-436-1291

Fall Colors in The Appalachians

The weather and other natural processes have allowed some awesome visual beauty in the Appalachians this fall.  This brief period of transition for the deciduous trees is in it's peak few days and despite the heavy winds form a storm front which moved through Thursday most of the colorful foliage remained.  This will all be done and gone for another year in just a few days so if you're in an area with trees go outside and enjoy the change.

These pictures were taken today on the Rich Mountain Trail, and only share a small part of the actual experience of walking among this natural beauty!  Dudes and Dudettes, the shades of red, orange, yellow, and brown are to numerous for the camera to capture, often on only one tree.  This picture below looks like it did when I was coming down the trail, on fire.

 

Jump Off the AT to Sweat Heifer

This Monday we chose the AT from New Found Gap; crowded with many folks here for the fall colors, to Jump Off, and back to the Sweat Heifer Trail where we dropped down this beautiful path experiencing numerous cascading waterfalls, some bigger than others, but all very pleasing to the senses.  A few years previous we had come up Sweat Heifer from Kephart Prong and this was a much more difficult direction to travel as there is a serious elevation gain of approximately 2300' from the Kephart Prong Shelter to the AT (3.7mls).

The walk down Sweat Heifer was peaceful and we encountered no one until the shelter at Kephart Prong.  Sweat Heifer is a great trail to incorporate into a day hike or could also be involved in an overnight roue as well and one I would recommend for solitude from the people on that portion of he AT, it's two easy access points,  the waterfalls and streams along it, and the availability of the Kephart Prong shelter on the lower end of the route.  Among other things.  Peace

 

Jakes Creek and Fall Colors

Dudes and Dudettes! What an awesome day for a walk in one of the most biologically diverse ares in the world! (That being, this part of Appalachia in which the GSMNP is located).  And "The Mysterious One" and I were lucky enough to choose Jakes Creek Trail, which was in excellent condition; thanks to the trail maintenance crews, and there was no one else hiking as we went up and a few as we descended.
Once we had rested some and enjoyed some snacks; including, apples, some gorp, and stuff, in the intersection of trails at Jake's Gap I followed the man-way over to the remnants of the old fire tower on Blanket Mountain, which took a bit longer than I expected and had my hiking partner quite concerned.

 The colors which are beginning to peak, and which will probably meet their seasonal brilliance over the next week, are as pretty when looking from below as this picture demonstrates.   Peace