Pre Fall Colors along the Rich Mtn Trail

Another awesome day along this 2+ ml. section of trail which we've hiked many times.  I as usual find this hike relaxing in a mental sense and challenging on a physical level, depending on how fast you proceed along this mostly uphill climb.  That is 2+ mls. of incline of course if you're beginning from the parking area just outside the park where Rich Mtn. rd. exits from the park boundary.
The trees are still pretty full though I noticed in the long range forecast that the temps will be falling drastically next week so this will change. 

Along this walk I saw birds, squirrels, purple, white and yellow blooms, but no bears.....yet.  The mast crop was plentiful and there was fresh scat to indicate their presence along most of the trail.
And at one point lots of  'shrooms.
I enjoyed sitting for a few minutes at the top and just listening before returning the way I came.

Dry Times: This just in....

Great Smoky Mountains National Park firefighters are fighting a 25-acre wildfire located along the northwest boundary of the park north of the Abrams Creek Campground area. The Happy Valley Ridge Fire was reported at approximately 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, September 14. Firefighters from the park and the Tennessee Division of Forestry responded to the fire which is located inside the park boundary.  

Primarily, the fire is slowly spreading with flame lengths less than three feet high through a pine-oak forest. At times, the active fire reached flame heights between five to six feet high during the hottest, driest periods of the afternoon. The fire is burning within a suppression fire zone due to the proximity to the park boundary. A 10-person Hotshot fire crew from the Cherokee National Forest will assist with fire suppression efforts in the morning.

The current location of the fire is not threatening any structures, roads, or trails. All park areas remain open at this time. Visitors should expect to see smoke from the Foothills Parkway West and the Abrams Creek area of the park. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but a natural, lightening start is possible.

Deep Creek in the GSMNP

Hello, and what a weekend!  "The Mysterious One", and I met over on the NC side of the GSMNP, in order to hike up the Deep Creek Trail and vicinity from campsite #56.  Now this was the first time for me to hike this trail and I was pleasantly surprised at the lack of people once past the tubing area popular at the trailhead.
The section of the Deep Creek Trail we backpacked and which is described here is accessible from Bryson City NC.  This trail is moderate for the most part with a few imposing inclines within the first 7 miles.  It meanders along side the Deep Creek; basically a small river in most spots, with a few wet springs coming off the mountainside which could pose a slippery challenge during the wet seasons.
The wonderful thing I thought, was the lack of overnight campers at any of the campsites we passed in the cluster of sites stretched over a few miles before we came to #56.  The first thing for us to do after we arrived at the site was to drop the packs, survey the area and get in the creek!!
Dudes and Dudettes! There was an excellent flow of water in Deep Creek near the campsite with spots deep enough to fully submerge oneself without difficulty!  This creek must be really hooked up with excellent water sources feeding it.  As I was enjoying the cool water I remarked that this is a hikers dream to find a big flowing stream this close to a campsite after a hot sweaty hike.  How many times I have wished for even a small a water hole as the sweat dries to my body.
The only big wildlife I saw was a deer crossing the trail just before we got back into the masses at the trailhead on Sunday afternoon.

This trail provides access to numerous other trails with day, and overnight loops available from it.  The lengths and difficulty of the various routes off the Deep Creek Trail are enhanced with access to a second vehicle or shuttle.  

A Deer enjoying a casual walk along the Laurel Falls trail

This deer was just trying to eat along the Laurel Falls trail on Sunday.  Many of the visitors to the trail do not see anything but the waterfall, however today a young man in his teens shared that this was the first time he had ever seen a deer in the wild. 
A few weeks ago a man shared that he had seen a bear up beyond the falls for the first time outside a confined environment, a zoo or something similar.  This man and his hiking partner were probably in their 50's+, and he said they had hiked a lot over the years in the mid-west but had never had the opportunity to share a moment with a black bear in the wild. He thanked me for suggesting they walk beyond the falls. 
Thank you for making me a part of that moment.

"I'mm Baaack......"

On Friday August 5th, officials at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced the temporary closure of the Ramsey Cascades Trail due to a damaged foot log caused by a fallen tree that is blocking access along the route. The foot log spans a section of Ramsey Prong which is too swift and deep to allow hikers to safely rock-hop across river. The popular, four-mile trail is located in the Greenbrier section of the park.

For more information on road and trail closures, please visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm.

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Great Smokey Mountains National Park and Alternative Fuels

Wednesday, September 30, Alternative Fuels Celebration

Join Superintendent Cash at Oconaluftee at 9:30 a.m. or Sugarlands at 1:30 p.m. for two ribbon-cutting ceremonies to unveil new pieces of alternative fuel equipment.  Propane mowers, neighborhood electric vehicles, and new charging stations will be available for viewing along with a fast-charge demonstration with a Nissan Leaf vehicle and a Tesla Model S vehicle. The Smokies are the first unit in the National Park Service to install and operate public DC fast-charging stations.

The AT July 17, 2015, day 4

This section of the AT was fairly moderate as far as difficulty is concerned for the healthy experienced hiker.  Water was available throughout the 4 days of hiking this section of the AT, and I was reminded of my lack of water by my inaction on previous occasions to top-off those containers when I have any questions about my needs. 
The sign below was just after the handicap accessible part of the trial on TN 91, as we entered a big open field and our final 6.5mls to our vehicle.

 The trail was moderate in most respects for the prepared hiker, with enough incline to keep you focused on the moment and blessed with some great scenery.

Wow, another awesomely rewarding excursion on the AT!