Tremont/West Prong

This hike begins in the parking area on the right side of the road just before the main Tremont Complex. The trail splits soon after it starts w/ the main route being to the left, and a spur to 'Walker Valley Cemetary', going to the right. The West Prong trail is a steady incline from the very beginning and continued going up throughout the duration of my being on it. As I walked there was water to be found if needed and several other stream beds dry, apparently due to drought. Some of these dry streams would have wonderful water falls when running even partially. At what I thought was the the second turn-off to campsite #18; later I learned, by consulting the book,"Hiking Trails of The Smokies" ('03)that this was another unmarked trail which created a large loop around the cemetary and back to the trail head. I followed that trail from the split and enjoyed some views as well as open areas that were big enough to remain partially clear even during the summer for meditation and relaxing. I crossed over and around some mounds of dirt and rock that apeared to have been left from previous settlements or Tremont developments. Another something I'll ask about or research at Sugarlands and edit this, or report on. The trail dropped off and around the front of some knobs, into a large drainage that had water running, and was at one point buried in fallen trees and sided by a rocky face. The last quarter mile or so of this trail was parallel to and above the Middle prong creek that feeds the Little River. The approximate distance of this improvised loop was around 2.5 miles. Moderate to difficult terrian.