A Mule, a Pond, and a Christmas Gift

I don’t curse much anymore. Using them words ain’t near as much fun as it was when I was younger. Maybe I’m older and wiser, maybe not. Probably much more it’s just because I don’t like people judging me by the way I talk. About the only thing that can make me use them words these days is a mule. Even thinking about a mule can get my dander up. They are ornery, stubborn, smelly creatures that just ain’t natural to begin with, being a cross between a donkey and a horse. It’s plain to see they ain’t blessed by God neither. That’s why most of them come out sterile. He knows they shouldn’t be passing on their cussedness.


I didn’t always think this-a-way. Time was I’d be excited to get to work with any kind of stock, but that was before I worked with mules. I should have listened to my uncle. He said they was talked about sorely in the Bible over in Psalms 32:9, “Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding.”

Said it was because they was so blasted cantankerous that they was held up as an example of what we shouldn’t be. Why when God had all them other animals like donkeys, and weasels, and skunks, and snakes; snakes hell they is so low they don’t have no legs. Preacher said that was because of the temptation in the Garden of Eden. I wonder what they looked like before he took their legs away. Did them snakes have long legs like a giraffe, or did they scoot along like a centipede with a hunderd legs? Or skunks, now I know them things just use their smell as protection, but Lord do they stink. Why if humans smelled like skunks I reckin there wouldn’t be no children made at all. I do know that the Indian that lived down near Cherokee Lake had one that he took care of when it was a little thing and got lost from its Mother. That was the cutest thing. Followed him around like a little kitten. For that matter what about fleas and chiggers? A flea is the nastiest of afflictions. But if there is one thing that should be God forsaken it is a chigger. Those things get under your skin in the most embarrassing of places. I got em on my private parts once’t when I was picking blackberries and believe me, that wasn’t no fun. I couldn’t scratch nowhere in public and there ain’t nothing that itches like a chigger. No, of all them other things God could have used as ‘samples’ he said, “Don’t be like a MULE!”

I’m sorry, here I am getting all carried away and you don’t even have nary idea at all why I’m getting so riled up. No idea at all lessen you’ve had a mule that is. If you have, then you know exactly what it is I’m talking about and will enjoy this story as justifying of your hatred. If you ain’t never had one, well listen up close cause by the time I’m done you’ll know why they is such wretched creatures. You’ll also understand why even though I despise them like the dickens I owe ‘em so much. Sometimes I just don’t know what to think about them animals.

Some of my fondest recollections are cold weather ones, even though cold weather was tough weather on the farm. There was pipes to be thawed out in the milk barn before we could commence milking and sometimes that took near on an hour. There was straw that had to be spread out in the barn where we locked the cows up after milking. We fastened them up at night cause they didn’t have much sense and would stand outside until the milk dripping off their teats froze. Last thing at evening we ran them up in the stock barn and fed them hay and closed the doors while they was chewing away. If you didn’t spread the straw out the muck would get so deep in there you couldn’t even walk. Come spring we spread the mess out on the fields as fertilizer. People go on and on about recycling and composting these days like they discovered it. Why we been doing it on the farm longer than they been alive.

We kept the mules up during the winter too because they wasn’t no smarter than the cows. They got a little brain for an animal that big, I looked it up in the cyclopedia once and their brain ain’t no bigger than a lemon. A monkey’s brain is bigger than that! So every evening them mules had to be led out to the pond to drink. The pond was about a half mile from the barn. To git there you went down a lane through the woods that Grandpa said had been a stagecoach road way back before he was born.

The year I turned thirteen Dad give me the task of tak’un them mules to drink. They was two of them, Bell and Kate; and only one of them had to be led, ole Kate would follow Bell down and back pretty as you please. But now Bell she was different, she wouldn’t follow nowhere or no one. She was the one I put the halter and lead on every night. She was the bigger of the two and I had to stand up on the feed trough to get to her head. You’d think she would lower it some so she could get a drink, but no, that animal would raise up until her noggin bumped on the loft above and you didn’t dare open the stall door until you had the lead on her. She’d run right over you to git out otherwise. One time I didn’t git it on her head good and she shook it off; took off like a cat running from a water hose, a jumping and kicking her hind legs up in the air, look’en like a year old colt. It took us two hours to git that mule put back up.

Dad didn’t really give me much instruction on what to do, just said, “You can ride them or you can walk em, but if’n you ride don’t make em run and be sure and slide off before you get back to the barn. Bell won’t stop none to let you off and will run you right smack into the timber above the barn door if you don’t.”

That mule’s back was a lot higher than I could swing my leg up to. Heck it was higher than I could jump. So every night after I got the halter on I led her over to a big rock that laid up beside the barn on the south side and used it to boost myself up. I had to do it sorta quick like. If I didn’t jump right on she would turn her butt end around and start pulling on the reins like a hound pup does when you are breaking ‘em to lead. Cept’n she ain’t a dog, were’nt young and was a sight bigger. So I got pretty good at leading her over to the jumping rock and swinging my leg over in one move. It was sort of like learning to ride a bicycle, felt hard at first but soon got so easy I never even thought about it.

I guess you’d say we both got educated. She learned that she could chew on that bit all she wanted and it wasn’t going to break in two and I learned that riding a mule bareback wasn’t anywhere near as much fun as riding a horse. A mule’s got a backbone that sticks up like all the ridges in the Appalachian Mountains and the way they walk makes that back bone rub you side to side. They tell me in the old days that men who carried loads into the mining camps rode mules cause they was so sure footed. But they better have rode them animals with saddles cause if you was on one more than an hour or so they would rub holes in your pants and ever bit o’ flesh of’n your butt. That along with me only being thirteen and her having a wide backside meant when I rode my legs stuck out like I was a three legged milk stool; and gait, there ain’t no gait to a mule, they sort of pound along like they’s cracking walnuts with ever step.

By December I was used to the gait and the cold and the mule. I guess my butt hide had got a little tougher too. I learned to sit higher up on the mules back, up almost on its neck so my legs weren’t splayed out over half the state. Besides, I had my mind on other things anyways. It was Christmas time and I was hoping to get a twenty two rifle and I was going to be in the living nativity scene at the church the Sunday night before Christmas. We had one every year on the weekend before and this year was special as that Sunday was also Christmas Eve, not to mention my first to take part. There was a kid’s play afterwards in the church and I had done that before but never been in the grown up play. I was getting to because they wanted a donkey in the scene and Mr. Page, that used to own one, didn’t have one no more. So, I was going to hold Bell beside the manager scene. Hopefully no one would think it was too funny we had a mule instead of a donkey. If they did I bet Preacher would give em a look. I wasn’t excited none about having to hold the mule, but I still got to dress up and wear a robe like all the other grownups. Mom had bought me a brown one that was too big, but she cut off the bottom and washed it a bunch so it raveled and looked all worn out. When you wrapped it around me and I wore the beard that they glued on my face I looked like a short’ish grownup. Besides, nobody else in my Sunday School Class was getting to be in the grown up play. They all thought it was pretty cool.

We practiced every night in the week leading up until Christmas Eve and I was surprised at how cold it was once the sun went down. Mom told me just to wear my jeans underneath my robe and that helped. Bell was pretty good the first night, I guess it was the newness of it all, she was the other nights too and I figured we had this licked.

I was running late the night of the play and it was all my fault. A light snow had been falling all day, not enough to cover the roads, but there was plenty enough on the ground. I had gone over to my friend Jackson’s for lunch after church and then we got busy building a fort out of snow. Before I knowed it Mom was calling saying Dad wanted to know where I was. I rode my bicycle home and it was already getting dark so I didn’t waste no time.

I’ve never seen that mule so stubborn, every time I reached up to put the halter on old Bell she raised her head to the ceiling and then shook it side to side like one of them polar bears at the Knoxville Zoo. Finally I got the halter on her and then when I took her over to the rock she twisted around half sideways and I missed her entirely when I went to throw my leg over. I fell flat on my back beside that rock and the breath went out of me with a wushhhhh! The snow pushed up under my coat and shirt right onto my bare back, sending a shiver down my spine and making me jittery all over.

I was really running late by the time I got on her back and started out for the pond so I decided to give her a little nudge. In the back of my mind I could hear Dad’s say’en, “Don’t run her none.” But I figured by now I was good nuff a rider to stay on her back so I kicked her hard with my heels. Made no difference, it was if I wasn’t even there so when we came up under the old hickory tree I reached up and jerked off a limb to use as a switch. Once’t, twice, I thrashed her on the hips, nothing happened so the third time I brought it down on her backside as hard as I could. She took off like greased lightning. I grabbed a big hand full of mane or I would have slid right off her back. I dropped the reins and held on with both hands as I laid down low on her back, partly to keep from sliding off and partly to keep the limbs from smacking me in the face as we galloped down the lane.

`When we got to the edge of the pond that damned mule didn’t even slow down but went traipsing right out into the cold water. I raised my feet high up on its back to keep them from getting wet and waited as she drunk her fill. I kept trying to reach the reins but each time I reached she shook and when she shook I darned near slid off. So I just left well enough alone after a while. Then she did something I sure never expected. She laid down right in that cold stinking pond. I jumped off to the side and even though it only came up to my chest I thought I was going to drown before I got my feet up under me. I got a mouthful when I first went in and could taste that muddy mess. It was gritty in my teeth. I spit and sputtered trying to get the taste out, but my mouth felt like a cat had laid down in it and spent the night. Man it was colder than I don’t know what. Cold enough to make a muskrat shake I bet. As soon as she had me off her back she started running up the hill away from the barn. I took after her as soon as I realized what was going on.

Bell knew exactly how close to let me get before running on a few steps. She’d run a little bit and then stop, wait’en on me to reach down, then take agin off as soon as I was inches from the reins. I chased her around the pond twice before I finally got her hemmed in at the corner of the fence. I could hardly hold the reins my hands were shaking so bad, and I lit in to her with every cuss word I had ever heard. I might even have made up a few I was so mad. My teeth were chattering so hard I sounded like a squirrel chew’en on hickory nuts and I was shaking and shivering all over. It was a miracle I was able to get back to the house. I tied Bell to the fence post while I went in to get changed.

I didn’t want Dad to know nothing about what had been going on. I slowly inched the back door open and slid quite as a church mouse down the hallway toward the stairs that led to my room in the attic. I had just taken the first step when I heard Dad’s voice coming in from the kitchen, “Better get a shower before you put your clothes on. I can smell you coming all the way in here. And if I ever hear you using the language you was using up at the pond agin I aim to put the switch on you like you was using on that mule.”

That was when I knowed I hadn’t got away with nothing. Dad had been watching the whole time. I didn’t have to wonder none why he didn’t see I was hav’en trouble, why he didn’t help me catch that mule. He knowed I had been running her and figgered it was a lesson that needed learn’en.

I wasn’t none too sure that night how that old mule was going to act. Bell sure had been the devil up till then and when I got back out to where I had tied her to the fence post she was a snort’en and carrying on like she was loco, stomp’en her front foot down in the dirt. I untied her and she took right off. Here we went, up toward the church, me hold’en on for dear life. I was afeared the whole time she was going to git it in her head to take off agin and me knowing that when it really comes down to it a mule is a lot stronger than a thirteen year old boy. But when we got up to the nativity scene she settled down calm as a sleep’en baby; stood there as still as a cow wait’en on sweet feed. I knowed she was just thinking up some other kind of mischief though cause she kept look’en at me through the corner of her eye. I swear I think she was a laugh’en cause her lips kept curl’en up and she was grin’en just like she was a chewing on saw briar. She was the devil. I was sure of it. If not the devil she was one of the devil’s angels a sent down here to tempt me to cuss’en.

Dad and Mom wasn’t in the nativity scene cause they was the directors. They were in charge every year and decided who got to be who. I didn’t always agree with their pickin’, but Dad said it wasn’t no popularity contest and I better hush up cause he could always get somebody else to hold the mule. I guess the ones I had the most trouble with was who they chose to be Mary and Joseph. He named Terry Bittle to be Joseph and Terry was just about the meanest thing in the whole church. He was eighteen and had a red Dodge Charger that he raced at the drag strip every Saturday night. He kept the tires for it in the back of the store down at the highway that the Bacon brothers owned. Story was he had something on them both and told them if his Dad got word of what he was doing he’d tell. I don’t know why he was so vexed, his Pop never came to church and I couldn’t imagine he was none too worried about what his boy was up to him being eighteen and all.

And then there was Jenny. Jenny was the one they named to play the Holy Virgin. Jenny was as pretty as April sunrise. Although she was a couple of years older than I was, I’d been sweet on her for as long as I knowed what men and women was all about, which had been a while. Growing up on a farm and all, you learn’t these things just by watching what the farm critters was up to. But Jenny never paid me no mind even though we all knew she had kissed just about every boy in church but me. They tell me she even kissed Jimmy Larson once’t. I hadn’t never seen Jimmy without he had a chew of tobacco in his mouth and if’n she’d kiss him I couldn’t figger why she never had kissed me.

Old Pud was one of the wise men. Preacher says that the wise men were actually kings in their countries. Them coming such a long way to see Baby Jesus and bring him all those expensive gifts was their way of saying he was the King of Kings. I couldn’t see Pud being king of nothing unless it was a whiskey bottle.

Pud took care of the church, cleaning the building and mowing the cemetery in the summer when it was need’en it. He’d been throwed out of the church for drink’en, must’a been ten times already, but they kept vote’n him back. I think Preacher would have thrown him out for good if he wasn’t so handy at keep’en the old coal furnace going in the winter time. Dad said wasn’t no one as good at stok’en up a fire as Pud was. I think anyone could have done it if’n they wanted to, but they kept bring’en Pud back just cause no one wanted to carry the clinkers out and climb into the coal bin at 5 o’clock on Sunday morning. Last time they had to “church” him they had found him passed out in the coal bin. The door on the furnace was wide open and smoke had filled up the whole building. I reckin it was a miracle the church didn’t catch on far and burn down that time. They probably would have put him on the road for good, but he come back the very next Sunday and said he had him a dream about the fires of hell a lick’en at this feet and he was given up the drink for good. With a testimony like that I reckin Preacher had to take him back.

Between think’en about all the things that was go’en on in my head and keep’en my eye on Jenny I didn’t even notice where we was in the Christmas story. Dad was read’en the Christmas story. He had bought a version from the Bible store with both the shepherds and the wise men in it that was written just for nativity scenes. I looked out from where I was standing beside the stable we had built on the hill above the church. They must have been a couple of hunderd people gathered around a listening and a watching. I don’t rightly know how many but it was for sure more than I’d ever seen in church, even on Easter. The shepherds was already standing around and the wise men was gett’en ready to lay their gifts at the feet of Baby Jesus when I heard the mule. It wasn’t only me that heard it, I knowed Dad did too cause he looked at me as if it was something I had done. He give me one of them looks that said you are in trouble boy, ain’t nothing I can do right now, but you better know you are in a heap of trouble.

Now I think we was the only two that heard it, but slowly as the wind picked up the smell I noticed even Jenny who was holding Baby Jesus was curl’en her nose up and look’en over at me. I kneed that mule in the side trying to tell her she better not be doing that no more. But I reckin that was the wrong thing to be doing cause right at that exact moment she let the biggest, most longest fart I’ve ever heard any animal let out. It seemed like an hour although I’m sure it was just a couple of minutes.

Then it started, first it was just a few people right up in front. They was trying to not laugh full out loud, but then King Pud said, “Lord have mercy, get that mule out of here afore we is af-fix-e-atated.”

When he said that the whole crowd started in a laugh’en as hard as they could. They was laugh’en harder than the year that someone put one of them crying dolls in for the Baby Jesus and as soon as the Virgin Mary picked it up it started crying to all get out. I couldn’t help being embarrassed cause they was look’en right at me as if I was the one that had done it. Dad, he walked over and muttered, “Take that mule down to the barn – NOW!”

When I got to the barn I was about to let into that mule, but I remembered what happened earlier when I took a switch to her and didn’t feel like chasing her any more that night. So I just put her up in her stall. But I didn’t give her no sweet feed as a treat like I had done the other nights that week. I went back up towards the church and by the time I got there everyone was inside a listening to the little ones singing Old Little Town of Bethlehem. I couldn’t bring myself to go in and stood in the shadows until they sung a couple more Christmas songs and I reckin they was passing out the gifts cause it got all quite.

We exchanged names in Sunday school and everyone got a gift. I was looking forward to mine that year. I didn’t know who had drawn my name, but they had raised the amount to spend to five dollars which was twice’t what we spent the year before. Instead I had just about made my mind up to go on home when Jenny came out the front door of the church and called my name, “Walter, Walter Huggins.”

She hadn’t never called my name before, least not my full name anyways. I still didn’t feel much like talk’en so I didn’t even answer her. She walked right over and hooked her arm in mine then she pulled me toward the door of the church and I told her right off, “I ain’t going in there, they is all either mad at me or mak’en fun one!”

Then she done something I never expected, kissed me full on the mouth. Looking me right in the eye she winked and said, “Come on in here, no one’s mad, I think this is just about the merriest Christmas any of us has ever seen. Besides, I was the one who drew your name and I’ve got you something extra special.”

Extra special I reckin it was, special enough to make me forget about that mule anyways. Even today some fifteen years later, when I think about Bell I get all confused. Some ways I’m glad she died soon after and I didn’t have to be reminded no more of that night; just fell right over there in the stall, dead as a fence post. Then I look over at Jenny and think how she ain’t kissed nobody since, nobody ‘ceptin me that is and I want to hug that old mule’s neck. There’s some things ain’t worth sort’en out, they’s just best left alone and I reck’in my feelings about mules is one of them.

CC 2010 Michael D. Gray

Walking in The Snow Along Chestnut Top Trail

Dude, today it was Cold! Though we were pleasantly surprised at the lack of wind that was forecast with air temperatures in the 20's. Well at least along the 2 mls. or more we walked up and in from the Townsend 'Y', along Chestnut Top trail there was little wind and we had past some folks coming out who warned of us a cold wind ahead so we noticed it not happening. With roads in the park closed due to the snow over the last couple of days there were people using this route as a default it seemed.
The snow was probably about 3-4 inches+ and the "mysterious one" enjoyed the dry light flakes and the puff balls they formed in the pines along the trail. As seen in the photo. Peace

New Trail For a New Friend

Hello! This awesome walk OTG took me and a new friend into the recent snow that has been falling for several days. Depending on what elevation you may have been at or seeing. Ha, "seeing", much of the GSMNP and surrounding areas has been covered in a thick, low, bundle of grey clouds for several days through this morning! Our short walk was into quiet white snow where no one had been for several days as the snow was untouched. Aaaah...

White Oaks

Today I walked into White Oak Sinks from an unmarked route and found the area quiet except for conversations with a hiking partner who spotted this psychedelic fungus growing on a log beside the trail. The temperature was in the 30's with PC skies and a cool breeze. Lots of fresh skat from boar was seen throughout the area we walked in the sink.

Lookout

On a great autumn afternoon this walk covered 5+ miles along several trails on Lookout Mountain. We began our walk out the parking area at the Kiddie Trail just before the Nature Center at the base of Lookout in Chattanooga. As the trails along this side of the mountain are not well marked at intersections I'm not sure how much was on the Skyuka trail, the Lower Truck trail or was it Upper Truck trail? Maybe some of all of these. The remarkable thing was that there were so few people out enjoying these trails on this sunny fall day with the temperature around 70. These trails can be from moderate to difficult depending on your route and pace. The trail to Sunset Rock would be considered difficult for the novice and at parts for the experienced hiker as well. The Kiddie Trail has some short but steep climbs up until you reach the first intersection and split with other trails.

Warm and Dry...in November

Today it was 71 degrees in Tuckaleechee Cove with clear skies and lot's of people in cars driving through the GSMNP. The short walk I took was exceptional and I was able to take a route that kept me out of visual contact with anyone else. Though at times I could hear folks up on the marked trail as I stopped to listen to the sounds of the forest.

Burning The Cove

Fire managers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park plan to conduct a series of prescribed burns of fields in Cades Cove on Tuesday through Friday, November 9-12, if weather conditions permit. Park managers plan to burn several tracts totaling about 700 acres.
The selected fields are being burned as part of a cost-effective strategy to prevent the open fields from being reclaimed by forest. The Park contracts to mow about 950 acres of fields that are clearly visible from the Cades Cove Loop Road twice a year. Other fields that are less visible from the Loop Road, totaling around 1,500 acres, are kept open by burning or mowing on a three year rotation. Park firefighters and a Park engine will be assigned each day to ignite the grass lands and to make sure the fire stays within its prescribed boundaries. Strips of grass surrounding each field slated for burning have been mowed short to provide containment lines. Hand-built control lines have also been scraped down to bare soil to contain the fire in some areas.
“At this point we do not expect to have to close the Cades Cove Loop Road, but will monitor the situation for smoke or other safety hazards,” said Park Fire Management Officer Mark Taylor. “The public, of course, will notice smoke in the valley but it will dissipate quickly and not unduly impact their visit,” he said.

A Few Days Away

Hello to all! This excursion began on Sunday the 31st of October from Cades Cove and the Anthony Creek Trail early in the afternoon. The weather was fabulous with temperatures around 70 degrees, sunny skies and a nice breeze. Of course this meant lots of folks "auto-touring" and even some walking on the initial few miles of the trail. Most coming out from day hikes though I spoke with some BP's coming off Spence Field who had had a pleasant weekend. I followed Anthony Creek trail to the Russell Field trail (RF) where some folks were sitting listening to an old timer tell stories of the past so I greeted them and continued on. The trail was great except for the horse shit I had to step around occasionally. Water was available throughout the three days hiking however I chose not to collect it at RF Shelter due to the strong odor from horse shit in the trail and how the trail which paralleled the water source was acting as drainage for recent rains into this source. The RF Shelter is open and looks great with the refurbishing done. Thanks Folks! (see the picture)



I rested at RF after the 3.5 mile climb to the AT before continuing on to Mollie's Ridge. A note here: the guide books and maps I've seen that provide the distance between RF and Mollie's state it as being around two miles though the trail signs show it as just over three. The distance on these signs between Mollie's and Spence would be a total of 6.4, rather than the 5+ I calculated and which I heard several different parties later making the same observation.
Upon arrival at Mollie's I greeted two avid hikers from Dalton Ga, who were collecting wood for the fire. A fire which we kept hot and burning in the shelter fireplace until after we slept. We were later joined by a father and son team who were hiking from Newfound Gap to Fontana. The fire and the wind breaker covering the front of the shelter made for a pleasant nights rest with temperatures probably in the lower 30's upper 20's. It was not as cool the next night.
Monday November 1st, I took my time getting up and moving because I had only 6.4 miles of relatively moderate terrain to cover back to Spence Field where I'd be staying that night.




At Spence I was greeted by to young men, SOBO's, who had started 58 days prior near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and who were sleeping in today. They were only going a short distance because it was like 2:30 at that point. They shared some stories, the most interesting to me was...well that's probably better shared on another site, and was probably why they were so tired. Anyway they moved on shortly after 3pm for RF and left the fire burning for me. Just after laying in the grass atop Spence Field appreciating what has been given me for about 45 minutes and feeling like I may have this shelter to myself they showed up! A man with his two children and a lap dog! Uuuhgggg!!!! I had time to compose myself. It was too late to continue out for either party and find another shelter so I politely said hello. The next morning before departing I explained to him the parks policy on dogs to which he admittedly new he was in the wrong "but what else was I gonna do with my dog?". Really wanta know? It ain't about the dog sir!!
The Bote Mountain trail was as rocky as the last three times I've hiked it only this time I was going down through the 1 mile+ of softball size rocks, tempting me to twist or break something if not careful. Erosion and heavy horse traffic. Shortly after turning left onto Anthony Creek trail I passed a couple in their 60's+ looking strong on a day hike and was given more hope that all things willing I'll be able to do the same when I reach that point in "the trail." Peace

GSMNP Winter Schedule

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has announced its winter season facility closings schedule. As cooler weather approaches and visitation decreases, various facilities will close, including 7 of the 10 campgrounds, and operational hours for some visitor services will be reduced.
VISITOR CENTERS Through the month of November, the
Sugarlands Visitor Center, 2 miles south of Gatlinburg, TN, will open daily from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Oconaluftee Visitor Center, 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC, will serve visitors from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
The Cades Cove Visitor Center located half way around the Cades Cove Loop Road will be opened daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The visitor center hours for the following winter months are posted on the Park’s website, www.nps.gov/grsm.
ROADS Several of the secondary roads are scheduled to close as indicated:
Balsam Mountain/Heintooga Roads on November 1, Roundbottom/Straight Fork on November 16,
Parson Branch and Rich Mountain Roads on November 22, and Clingmans Dome and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail on December 1.
During the winter months, the Park’s two main roads, Newfound Gap (U.S. 441) and Little River, will remain open throughout the year, except for temporary closures for extreme winter weather conditions. The Gatlinburg Bypass, Cades Cove Loop Road, Cosby Road, Greenbrier Road, Upper Tremont, Forge Creek, Lakeview Drive, and Foothills Parkway (East and West) will open and close as road and weather conditions mandate.
For more information on winter weather road conditions, contact the Park at 865/436-1200 (Then select option “2” and select “2” again to access road info).
Winter Schedule—LODGING
Mt. LeConte Lodge will close for the season on November 23.
CAMPING Two of the three major campgrounds will remain open all year. These year-round campgrounds are Cades Cove in Tennessee and Smokemont in North Carolina. Starting November 1, they will be on a self-registration basis with a reduced number of available sites.
Elkmont Campground in Tennessee will remain open through the Thanksgiving weekend and will close on December 1. Balsam Mountain campground is already closed for the season.
The six remaining self-registration campgrounds at Cosby, Cataloochee, Deep Creek, Big Creek, Look Rock and Abrams Creek, will close on November 1. CADES COVE CAMPGROUND STORE Cades Cove Campground Store will close on December 22, but will reopen December 26-January 2 to serve visitors during the holiday period. The store will also be closed on Thanksgiving Day. Vending machines at the store will remain in service throughout the winter.
PICNICKING Seven picnic areas will remain open through the winter: Chimney Tops, Cades Cove, Cosby, Greenbrier, Metcalf Bottoms, Big Creek, and Deep Creek. Picnic pavilions at Cosby, Greenbrier and Deep Creek will be open through the winter and can be reserved at www.recreation.gov. Picnic pavilions that will close on November 1 include Twin Creeks, Collins Creek, and Metcalf Bottoms.

Reservations Required Campers

Great Smoky Mountains Superintendent Dale A. Ditmanson has announced that when the Park’s Cataloochee Campground reopens for the season next March 11 campers will be required to have made advance reservations either online at: www.recreation.gov or toll-free at 1-877-444-6777.
Historically, the popular, but remote, 27-site campground has operated on a first-come-first-served basis, which did not provide prospective campers any way of knowing whether they would be able to get a site until after they arrived at the Campground. “Cataloochee Campground offers one of the Park’s most sought-after camping experiences, but getting there involves a 30 to 40 minute, 11-mile, drive off I-40, with much of that along a very-narrow and circuitous gravel road.” The reservation system will eliminate the frustration of finding no campsites left after having made the difficult drive to the campground.”
“The new reservation system will allow all interested campers an equal chance to plan their visits up to six month in advance with the assurance that they will have a site.” Ditmanson continued.“
The reservation system typically allows reservations to be made up to six months in advance, but the reservation database for Cataloochee in this first year is not expected to be active until February 1, 2011. On that date, reservations for sites from the March 11 campground opening date through August 1 will be reservable at once. Campsite reservations must be made in advance by phone or on-line. The cost of camping at Cataloochee in 2011 will be $20 per night beginning in March 2011.

These ain't Crop Circles in the Smokies

These oval shaped formations were spotted OTG on the side of the rock and were obviously left by alien life forms.
Today was great day for a walk OTG and avoiding all the folks along the park roads and easy trails taking pictures of the fall colors. Much of the foliage may be cut in it's peak as these heavy rains and strong winds blow through tonight. There was a tornado warning for the GSMNP/Townsend area earlier tonight and it is still raining hard at this time (11:18 pm EST). I may get up early and go for a walk, while the seasonal visitors are still in their RV's drinking coffee, and enjoy the quiet of the full streams.

Falling Temperatures

Dudes and Dudettes! today I walked the Rich Mtn. trail up to the #5 campsite and it was not a day for the lightweight!
Now I'm sure you have walked in tougher weather conditions as most regular backpackers and hikers have yet this was the first of the season for me and included temps in the upper 40's with rain. Check out the bee in the bloom. What?!, is it like trying to stay dry or was it slow to get out as the bloom closed anticipating the weather? May be that it's been dormant because of the change in weather.

As I was on my return I passed two ladies going up and one remarked with a smile "hello, beautiful day!?", and I responded "yea, I guess it just depends on how you look at it!" It was a good day for a walk and glad I had the opportunity, Peace.

Sweetwater Creek In Georgia

Whoa! It's been a while but the hikes are happening! One of the most recent, last Wednesday the 29th, was taken while working in and around Atlanta during which I hiked couple of days at Sweetwater Creek State Park. Sweetwater Creek is located 15 mls west of Atlanta off I-20W and exit #44. This day use park encompasses 2549 acres offering hiking trails, picnic areas, fishing, and class IV rapids, after heavy rains. Sweetwater Creek is the most visited day use park in the Georgia SP system.

The trails are easy to moderate with most; that I walked, wide and clear of plants and obstructions and were a fun change. The scenery from the trails along the creek/river and around the remains of Manchester Mill (see picture above) were quite pretty. The New Manchester Manufacturing Company, a textile mill built in the 1840's was burned during the Civil War as part of a scorched earth policy being carried out by Union troops.










For more information about this SP see friendsofsweetwatercreek.org

Clingmans Dome Road Closure

Officials with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park have announced that the Clingmans Dome Road will be closed for construction work from Monday, September 13 until Saturday morning, September 18 During the closure contractors will do final paving and striping on the large parking lot that serves visitors to the observation tower, and will re-grade the gravel shoulders to improve drainage and safety. The work is a continuation of the reconstruction and repaving that was begun in February.

Appreciation For our Parks.....Show Some

NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY RECOGNIZED WITH VOLUNTEER WORK On Saturday, September 25, many public lands across the country will be holding events to celebrate National Public Lands Day.
National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands Americans enjoy.
In recognition, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host two volunteer trail projects. The Park is currently recruiting for volunteers for two trail projects that are supported through the National Park Foundation and the Trails Forever Program. They are the Cosby Nature Trail in the Cosby Campground (Tenn.) and the Smokemont Nature Trail in Smokemont Campground (N.C.).
Work on both trails will involve installing waterbars, maintaining existing drainage structures, removing social trails, defining the trail tread and installing trail signs. Work will be conducted between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on both projects and staff will provide all the necessary equipment needed, including work gloves, for the projects. Volunteers should come prepared to work for a day in the woods and must be able to hike, safely perform manual labor, and be comfortable using hand tools. It is suggested that participants dress in good sturdy foot wear and long pants. Since volunteers will be working a full day, it will be necessary to pack a lunch and plenty of water.
To attend these projects, interested persons must be at least 12 years old and must RSVP by September 17 to the Trails & Facilities Volunteer Coordinator, Christine Hoyer, at 828-497-1949 or Christine_Hoyer@nps.gov. At the time of RSVP, volunteers will be provided with further project and trailhead information.

Cades Cove Closed.....For a few Days

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Announces 2-day Closure of Picnic Area at Cades Cove. Managers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park have announced plans to close the Cades Cove Picnic Area on Monday and Tuesday, August 23-24.
During the closure, Park crews and contract personnel will be repaving all of the deteriorated parking areas in the picnic area.
The work is weather-dependent so extended rain could cause the Park to delay the completion until Thursday, August 26. No closures will occur on Wednesday, August 25, because the picnic area is heavily used for parking on Wednesdays and Saturdays when the Cades Cove Loop Road is restricted to bicycle and pedestrian use until 10:00a.m. For information call (865) 436-1200

Leave No Trace

The personal development of a land ethic as proposed by Leopold is the first step, I believe, towards preserving and conserving the wilds which make our existence possible. An honest and realistic appreciation of our need for the wild life in order to maintain our existence and the children's future must become a part of the humans being or else our selfishness will subject the children to perilous obstacles in the way of their survival. Loss of biodiversity and the loss of basic elements like fertile soil and clean water are already occurring and this loss cannot be sustained.
So I'm walking about a mile up this trail in the GSMNP and first I saw the boxers and think well I'll put them on this trial sign and the trail maintenance folks will get them.






And then I see the plastic bottles...and then I see the propane container and then the scraps of paper. I pile them up and make a pledge to myself to pick this stuff up on my return. When I do get back I notice what appears to be some paper in another area off the trail but in the same spot for the most part as the stuff gathered earlier. Turns out there is a bunch of pamphlets advertising a local tourist attraction and a cardboard box stuffed with garbage.
The afternoon walk was as nice as visiting with friends outside on a quiet afternoon while fixin' and enjoying some BBQ until as I reach for the pulled pork I see caviar. Why???

A portion of the AT

Dudes! and Dudettes! What a great experience I had w/ some friends along a section of the AT last week (approx. 70 mls. for myself). This was my first backpacking excursion of this length of time and distance though I've probably walked over 400 miles this year and thus as I was in good physical shape as we covered some righteous elevations between Erwin and Hampton.



We stayed at Greasy Creek Friendly one night and were treated to some veggie items by Connie's vegan friends who were grilling out after hiking. The next morning we bought a hot breakfast from Connie which coupled with good company and a hot pot of coffee made for a good start before getting back on the trail and towards Roan Mountain.
The 3rd and 4th day were physically challenging and worth all the sweat and sore muscles with numerous vistas and great spots to tent camp though at this point is where water needed to conserved some. Water was sometimes a concern due to the lack of rainfall in this region as well as some caution about pollutants from former farm lands on the ridges above the water sources on 4th night and this portion of the trail. Which was a bummer because we spent the night in a tent area right on the side of Laurel Fork a stream which was running despite the dry times.

On the last night we stayed at Kincora Hostel, which by the way lived up to it's billing I read on various sites and reviews, Bob told us that that area was over ten inches below average for rainfall this year. Still the flowers were blooming.

Bear Along The Way

This young bear is on the verge of being relocated due to a it's level of comfort with humans. People who visit the GSMNP are not always aware of the effect their behaviors have on the animals and the wild world they are a part of. This bear lives along a very busy trail and frequently has the opportunity to sample plastic wrappers from snack bars and candy, underwear and diapers left in the trees (see the picture), and assorted paper products. Often I hear folks say how much they love this beautiful place and then drop their cigarette butt on the ground while their child tosses the plastic wrapper from the plastic straw attached to the corn syrup (fruit Juice) they are using for nutrtion.
"I love my national parks" but I can't understand why I have to pay taxes to maintain them, I want this but only if it does not cost me any effort or money"!
I love my country and show my respect for it by throwing my child's diapers in the tree and my recyclable plastic bottle along the trail. Hmmm?
If I hear another "god fearing" conservative preaching god and guns talk about his or her love for country as they spend their kids future today with their low milwage SUV's etc..., or throwing garbage out the window of the vehicle I'm going to ask them what kind of debt are they going to leave their kids? A debt represented on paper created by the dollar or the environmental debt represented by shorter life spans, increased levels of illness as a result of pollutions, wars for clean water and dwindling species diversity. An environmental deficit spurred by personal greed and self-satisfaction that you and your god can't buy you out of! Killing your children's future in gods name with acid rain and toxic coal sludge as "stewards" of the world and all it's creations?


We may still have a choice.
What is wrong with, and how hard is it to be responsible for carrying out your own trash? No one is asking you to be responsible for anyone but yourself. Ask your kid for permission each time you decide to throw something out the window of your vehicle and into their future. Peace

Weird Science

SPECIAL SUMMER PROGRAMS OFFERED TO YOUNG SCIENTISTS Great Smoky Mountains National Park is offering special programs for youth to participate in science activities on three occasions. July 26 at 2:00-3:30 p.m. – Special Scientists Young scientists, 10 years of age or older, are invited to become “Special Scientists” and learn about some of the tiny creatures that are part of the amazing biodiversity of the Smokies. A park ranger will set up microscopes and other scientific equipment for participants to collect and view microscopic invertebrates such as water bears, also known scientifically as tardigrades. These eight-legged creatures, the “other bears” of the Smokies, exist in mosses, liverworts, and lichens. Young scientists will be surprised and amazed to learn how these critters move, eat, and live their lives. The program will be held at the Twin Creeks Science and Education Center, a 15,000-square-foot impressive environmental-friendly facility that supports the Park’s research and science education programs. July 23 and August 2 – High School Volunteer Days – Half Day High school students, recent graduates, and their families can spend time in the field with a Park Ranger conducting scientific projects such as salamander monitoring, tree identification and mapping, and water quality assessments. These hands on projects provide participants with a specialized field experience that will help Park researchers perform important studies. This experience also provides young people an opportunity to get involved in science and in their national park in a fun and interesting way. For more information and to register for the programs, contact Park Ranger Emily Guss at 865-436-1292 -NPS-

Evening Walk in The Woods

A friend and I made a short stroll to Spruce Flat Falls this evening (7pm) and enjoyed the relative solitude in that we saw only a few bugs and some birds while we walked through the pasty evening heat and humidity. Peace

Hidden Springs

Today has been a good day! Click the title to see where I was!
Got to go hiking around and along the falls, work in the garden planting beans and pulling weeds and met some pretty cool folks as well. Oh, and saw a few turtles like this one I spotted as we shared the shade of an awesome tree in Hector's garden area. Peace

The Dragon/Highway 129 Road Work

U.S. 129 Slide Repair Update for July 7 Rock slide repairs expected to be finished this week.
Crews are working on the final phase of the rock slide repairs on U.S. 129/State Route 115 in Blount County and plan to reopen the road completely this weekend, three weeks ahead of schedule. Tennessee Department of Transportation emergency contractor Pacific Blasting & Demolition removed a total of 236 truckloads of rock from the site over the course of a week. Installation of the wire mesh in the slide area was completed on Tuesday. Workers will now focus on installing guardrail, paving and striping the roadway, weather permitting.
Up to date information on the U.S. 129 rock slide removal/stabilizationproject is available on the TDOT website atwww.tn.gov/tdot/US129Rockslide/default.htm, where you can view a live camera feed of work ongoing at the site as well as video and photos from the project.
Currently, U.S. 129/SR-115 is closed from just past the Foothills Parkway to the Tabcat Bridge. A short section of U.S. 129 between the TabcatBridge and the North Carolina state line, known as "The Dragon", is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; however no through traffic is allowed at the rock slide site at any time. Detours remain in place to allow motorists to get around the rock slide repair area.

Government Canyon State Natural Area/San Antonio

Dudes and dudettes! What a different experience this walk was in central Texas. After visiting with a few friends in the city for several days the "mysterious one" and I were able to make it to the state natural area mentioned in the title of this entry and hike over 7 and a half miles in a drastically different environment from that of the Cumberland Plateau and Southern Appalachia.



The ranger that we spoke with at the entrance to the 8000+ acre area cautioned us of the 300' elevation gain on the trail we inquired about and the rattle snakes. We enjoyed the walk with no sign of snakes, we did see a few lizards and the elevation gain was of little concern as we had plenty of water in this dry zone.



There were puddles in stream beds occasionally along the way and we were able to also enjoy some beautiful blooms still happening in this part of the world. I had noticed in the local paper the day before (7/4/10) that San Antonio was several inches above average in rainfall at this time and with a good breeze the temperature was not extreme.

Bonnaroo and Blooms

These last few weeks have been busy with working real jobs though seven days in Manchester TN working was at least always interesting. This is the second year I've worked this festival and am glad I didn't have to live in a primitive camp the whole week. I shared a camper in the VIP section where we were working, w/ someone else.
These pictures are from the first couple of days in which there was some rain though after these storms there was none for the duration.
The rodo's were seen on the Rich Mountain trail last week and there were bunches of them however many were scorched from the drying soil and intense heat.
A week after the 'roo I worked several days on a benefit concert;
'Nashville Rising', in Nashville for flood recovery efforts and it was really cool!
I'm hoping to send some pictures and reviews on Government Canyon State Park in San Antonio TX, in the next few days while I'm out there visitng some friends. Peace.

Bears Along The Way

After the recent incident on Laurel Falls Trail where a bear had to be shot because it had been fed by humans and began to associate humans with a free meal, several VIP rangers have begun patrolling the route to keep the bears safe from humans. Today as the "Deputy Assistant to the not so junior Ranger's, Ranger Fife", took these photos of one of the deceased bears siblings as it fed on a cherry tree. Folks feeding bears is stupid for your own safety and deadly, unfortunately to often for the bear. Enjoy these magnificent creatures fro a distance.

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

Sleeping Bear

Yesterday I walked up Rich mountain trail and once at the top turned to the right onto Indian Grave Gap. I got about 10 minutes down that way and felt the need to stop and listen for a bit. While stopped I scanned the trail in front and reviewed the mountainside the trail had carried me above which was now visible due to the bend in the route. Initially I saw nothing yet I continued the reconnaissance of my surroundings and moved along the trail a few steps when there in woods about 30 yards in front of me and maybe 10 yards off the trail was what appeared to be a bear. My initial thoughts were it's sleeping...no it would have heard me...no the trail is quiet with the recent rain showers...no look how its laying , looks dead to me! Hmmmm? is it breathing? yes it sorta looks like it is...maybe not. I again made a quick review of the surroundings for other bears.









Then the indecision began (lol). Should I stay or should I go? I had taken a picture thinking it may be evidence for something if the animal was desceased and quietly began to continue along the trail. At the closest point I knelt and got a good view of the bear and took another picture pretty sure, looking at it's completely motionless body and partially opened mouth, that it was a "gonner".
In moving the last time up the trail I must have gotten up wind of the bear because its head popped up and quickly scanned around it's position. Once it got a fix on me it began moving down the mountain stopping at a large fallen tree to monitor my move. Which hadn't happened yet.
When it showed life I said to myself, "Oh sh_t!", followed by speaking aloud to the bear that "I was just leaving and sorry to wake you up", and I repeated this several times. I did leave and was sorry for disturbing it's rest. A few minutes later as I headed back to Rich Mtn. trail and saw a cub possibly a yearling, down along the side of the mountain.
Now what did I learn. First and most importantly when I find I'm approaching a bear stop and go the opposite direction while talking in a non-threatening way and calmly making my presence known to the bear. Second. If I must proceed and this bear is not moving be patient, back up some more and call out to this large extremely fast omnivore and see if it responds before assuming it's dead. The spirit's of the forest and luck allowed this learning without consequence though it is my responsibility to heed these lessons and not wake the sleeping bear. Peace

Fireflys at Elkmont and Shuttle Schedules

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced that the Elkmont entrance road will be closed to motor vehicles and pedestrian use every night from 5:00 p.m. until midnight, June 5-13, except to registered campers staying at the Elkmont Campground. The closure is to accommodate transportation service for visitors planning to spend the evening viewing the natural-occurring, synchronous firefly beetles at Elkmont. Visitors are prohibited from bringing coolers, alcoholic beverages, or their pets. The City of Gatlinburg, in partnership with the Park, will provide the trolleys for this activity. The trolley service, coinciding with the expected peak flashing period, will be the sole transportation mode for visitor access during this period; no private vehicles will be allowed to enter Elkmont. For safety purposes, restrictions will be in place to prohibit motor vehicles from parking along roadsides, pullouts, or any other areas besides at the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking area for the purposes of viewing fireflies at Elkmont. Only those visitors parking at the visitor center will be allowed to ride the trolleys. Because of safety concerns, visitors will not be allowed to walk the Elkmont entrance road. The trolleys will begin picking up visitors from the Sugarlands Visitor Center RV/bus parking area at 7 p.m. The trolleys will run continually until the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking area is full or until 9 p.m., whichever comes first. The last trolley to return visitors from Elkmont to the Sugarlands Visitor Center is scheduled at 11 p.m. The cost will be $1 round trip per person as in previous years. For those riding the trolleys, it is recommended that visitors bring flashlights with red cellophane covers to reduce white light. Visitors can bring lawn chairs, and carry food and water in backpacks which can fit on their laps in the trolleys; there are no services available at the site. Visitors are prohibited from bringing coolers, alcoholic beverages, or their pets.

Curry Mountain Trail

This trail head lies just across the street from the east end of Metcalf Bottoms and would be considered moderate to difficult over its 3.3 mile length depending on your condition. The Curry Mountain trail can seem imposing when one starts the walk and over the first mile there is a considerable climb however it eventually mellows with a broken pattern of declines, flat spots and a general incline over the next two plus miles.
I found the trail clear and wide and after the first mile or so I began to have some great views to the east framed often with pink and white Mountain Laurels. These Mountain laurels were scattered on both sides of the trail, sometimes quite thick, over the next two miles.










The Curry Mountain trail parallels the Little River road more or less for the first mile and thus there was audible traffic noise for about 30 minutes into this walk.
Each time I've walked this trail I've enjoyed it especially after the first mile or more traveling in the direction chosen today. At the 3.3 mile mark it intersects with the Meigs Mountain trail which to the left will take you by campsite #20 on the way to Elkmont, or to the right and a short distance to campsite #19 before continuing on to Tremont.

Quiet Time In White Oak Sinks

This afternoons walk was really peaceful and quiet with mostly clear blue skys as I began with patches of thunderstorms speckled around the region. Clouds and a few rain drops as I completed my hike. There were no other human visitors present and little sign that anyone had been there in the last few hours. Though the wear on the small trails indicates traffic has been heavy this spring with new routes made in the last few months. I saw flowers and a running bear as I explored this area again. Peace

Blooms On Rich Mountain Trail.

Dudes and Dudettes! As I walked a familiar path I was treated to bright new colors from Flame Azaleas, Mountain Laurel, and others with some plants still in the process of flowering. The trail was quiet from recent thunderstorms some of which I encountered on the second half of this 4ml+ RT. I passed two gentleman who were coming out about a half mile into this walk and they were the only folks I saw.
Magnificent shades of green and the varying sun light with the clouds and canopy caused me to pause and wish I could show in these pictures the wide view and joy being appreciated at the time the shutter snaps a moment in time. Peace

A Walk Along Rich Mountain

This is a wonderful afternoon walk which is a moderate to strenuous walk depending on the pace. My quiet steady pace up the 2.3 miles to the ridge line was a good workout yet allowed the experience of noticing birds, lizards, and squirrels. The trail is in good condition minus the horsesh_t, with many wildflowers blooming along the way
Once at the top I took a right turn and walked another 1/2 ml or so w/ views of Cades Cove through the trees. The evening sun and strong winds made for a very pleasant hike, Peace.

Lumber Ridge Loop

Dudes and dudettes! Here I was feeling like Dan'l Boone in my mind as I began this 8 mile loop at Lumber Ridge trailhead at Tremont, half of which would be covering a new path for me. Yep, that's what I was thinking until about 3 miles into the walk a group of kids from Tremont approached and from what I gathered they had come from the "uncharted" section I was about to walk! Then a little ways further along I ran into the beginning of another group which was spread out over another 1/4 mile or so and in speaking with one of the Tremont employees I confirmed they were on the same route I had planned, only from a different direction.
So much for my ego feeding plan of hiking miles of unmapped manways covered in thick rodo hells with biting bugs and large furry mammals. Oh my!
What a delight it was to see these youngsters from a large Midwestern city out on a long day hike in the Appalachian Mountains! Mixed boys and girls, ethnic backgrounds and ages.










I can only hope they enjoyed the beautiful day as much as I did! Peace

The Middle Prong on Monday Morning

This walk began just before 8 a.m., on the third of May. As I approached the parking for the trail I saw only one other vehicle which was great considering it had rained until early in the morning. The heavy rains were the last part of the front which has crushed middle and west Tennessee over the last 3 days.





The middle prong was way up, probably class 3, and 4, rapids in some spots.
The trail was well drained and had a few wet spots where water was covering it however nothing extraordinary. There were birds and squirrels moving around a bunch in the misty morning trees with blooms more noticeable for me as I made the return from the Panther Creek turn around.

Practice Appreciation

As the walk began, before I left the parking lot I heard children in the woods on a trail I was considering for a short 2ml loop so I decided to start the loop from another direction. About 100 yards along the trail were two ladies sitting and talking and I thought they chose a great spot and day to do this. Sitting in the shade with the Middle Prong sounding busy across the road. Turns out they were there to ensure that none of the kids went beyond them on this trail as the kids were learning how to use a compass.
Along my walk I could here someones domestic dog barking up on the West Prong trail and I wanted to scream!! For those readers who have a dog and come to the GSMNP, your Dog is NOT ALLOWED on trails. See The Sign at the beginning of Every trail?
This is a safety issue and a Federal regulation.
Twenty or so minutes later as I approached the West Prong trail from the loop I heard very close by, a large animal moving through the thickening underbrush and I hoped it was not pissed because of the dog or scared enough to act a fool! Whatever it was.
These local, state, and federal parks do not belong to me they belong to us and so I should be considerate of other folk's safety and how my behavior affects another's day in the woods. Be it practicing "Leave No Trace" camping and hiking or reading about the parks policies before I bring my ass to this place. Uuuugh!
I tried to create good out of this learning opportunity and think I just succeeded. Peace