Along the trails from Tremont to Metcalf Bottoms

This route took my friend David and I up the Lumber Ridge Trail, from the Institute at Tremont, connecting in 4mls+, with the Meigs Mountain trail, then turning left onto Curry Mtn. trail down to Little River rd. (3mls+), and across the street to the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area where our second vehicle was parked.

This route should be considered difficult, but doable, for the healthy novice hiker given the distance, and that the first ~3.5mls coming out of Tremont is primarily an incline. The trails are currently in good condition with no real stream crossings. 

 There's a cemetery along the Meigs mtn. section with some flat spots nearby where family settlements once stood. The majority of the headstones or markers were nameless, however a few recognized the infamous Huskey family and their lineage in these parts.

Really, really cool hike. Pleasant, not crowded, easily accessible, and once up on the ridge out of Tremont very moderate in regards to elevation changes. Enjoy and protect.

Bull Head and Sugarlands Mtn Trail Reopen

Park Reopens Bull Head Trail and Sugarland Mountain Trail

These trails have been closed since November 2016 due to damage resulting from the wind event and fire damage associated with the Chimney Tops 2 Fire. 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced the reopening of Bull Head Trail and Sugarland Mountain Trail on Friday, October 26. Both of these trails extend from the highest peaks in the park to the lower elevations, providing incredible opportunities for hikers to enjoy fall colors over the next few weeks.

Park trail crews spent several weeks this year repairing over 500 feet of trail tread, cutting 758 downed trees, removing over 20 large rootballs and boulders, and repairing and replacing 53 trail drainage structures.

Both trails pass through areas in the park which burned at a high intensity, including some sections where the entire tree canopy was lost. Hikers should remain alert for hazards such as loose rocks and falling trees or limbs and should avoid hiking these trails during and after high wind or rain events. At all times, hikers should avoid lingering around standing dead trees.

The Friends of the Smokies provided $195,000 for this rehabilitation. The donation was made possible thanks to the generous support of donors from across the country who responded to help fund park recovery needs following the wildfire.

For more information about hiking safety, please visit the park’s website at https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/hikingsafety.htm.

Cloudland Canyon State Park

Cloudland Canyon State Park, is located in Northwest Georgia, just below Chattanooga TN. "The Mysterious One", and I hiked Sitton's Gulch trail, via Trenton GA, and were delighted with the lack of people, the trail conditions, and the waterfall 2 miles from the trailhead.

The route was moderate in difficulty for someone who hikes frequently, with a generally consistent incline and a few short but steep inclines along the two miles going in towards the falls.
Fun, quick day hike which we will do again!

Enjoying the Wilderness safely

Wow Dudes and Dudettes! Think your actions through!! "Look before you jump". If I do "A", I will probably get "B",
We have been keeping the law enforcement rangers (LE), and Search and Rescue (SAR), folks busy over the last month or so! A dead ginseng hunter, a car crash leaves several dead and a woman who has been missing for nearly a week, as this note is typed. These events are sad and mostly preventable. These, along with the usual but many less life threatening events are keeping LE/SAR busy, busy.

The GRSMNP is a beautiful, fairly natural wilderness setting which is nothing like where most of the 10 million plus annual visitors come from. Thus an honest individual appraisal of this environment and it's realities should be made by All who come here to enjoy and learn. Whether it's an immediate assessment of should I drive the speed limit in the park? or get closer to the bear for a better picture?, honesty with self is required.
Telling yourself,
"Oh, it'll be alright", as you approach a bear or saying "here, hold my drink, watch this", as you decide to float over the falls at the Sinks, are examples of where You take responsibility for your own fate.
However in making uninformed sometimes careless decisions, people also put SAR/LE personnel in jeopardy as they work to locate you.
So when you decide to go hiking on a trail in the GSMNP, or any other wild area like the GSMNP, please check with a ranger or  currently qualified personnel about "your plans".
Just because you saw it on the internet or your TV does not make it "reality", or doable. I used to work in entertainment production and I assure you that there is a whole lot of stuff going on off the camera, before whatever you see on the screen appears.

Please do yourself, and all the park personnel everywhere a favor. Slow down and think first. Ask for some opinions from those who know better, and please do not approach the bear.
I also speak with some compassion to those whose families are affected by the accidents which may occur when people make the choice to visit wild places to enjoy the moment. Peace

Hurricane Florence in the Smokies?!

This just in.....(Friday afternoon)….

    Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials continue preparations for Hurricane Florence and have announced road and facility closures beginning Saturday, September 15. 
Predictions from the National Weather Service indicate Florence will be a tropical depression rated-storm when she reaches the Smokies beginning as early as Saturday evening.  Officials anticipate sustained winds of 40 mph with higher gusts Saturday afternoon and into Monday, with the most severe weather predicted for Sunday.  
Rainfall amounts of 4-8 inches Saturday afternoon through Monday evening are estimated, with higher rainfall amounts possible for the North Carolina side of the park.  Due to the potential for hazardous conditions due to downed trees, flooding, and landslides the following closures will be put into effect out of concern for public safety.

Overnight backcountry use is not recommended beginning Saturday through Monday due to the potential threat of downed trees and flooded stream crossings causing rivers and trails to become hazardous.  
All backcountry reservation holders are encouraged to change their itinerary or cancel their permit and receive a refund.  Refunds will be available to those who are unable to reschedule their trip for an alternative date.
Following the storm, roads, campgrounds and facilities will be reopened as quickly as possible once they are passable and safety assessments have been made. 
For up-to-date information about roads and trail closures, visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm, follow the park on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GreatSmokyMountainsNPS, or follow “SmokiesRoadsNPS” on Twitter. 

Rich Mtn Trail today

With rain likely, air temps in the 70's, and extreme humidity I hiked this trail via Townsend, my usual route for this day hike. It was mid afternoon and with the pace I kept most of the way and the heat index I was soaked in sweat! A good cardio work-out, which was needed.

Well I was hoping to like see five or ten bears (lol), posing for me as they gathered food but that didn't happen. I'll give them another few weeks. However I got to appreciate some of the smaller yet equally as significant parts of life along the way.

Big Basin State Park

Ooops! How could I forget?! "The Mysterious One", and I got to hike for several miles in the Big Basin Redwoods State Park, a couple of weeks ago while out in California visiting family. This is California's oldest state park, established in 1902, and sits just off the coast NW of Santa Cruz. It has over 80 miles of trails with numerous front country campgrounds, as well as backcountry sites.
There is an overnight(s) route which one can take all the way to the ocean after beginning on the ridge of the Santa Cruz Mtns. This trail is called the Skyline to Sea Trail. Maybe another day.

Anyway, we found a trail, mostly by accident that was not that busy and ended in a quiet picnic area near where we were parked. We relaxed here for a while before returning to the beach in Santa Cruz to listen to the american version of the "English Beat", who were performing on the beach that evening for free. Pretty cool day!