Hiking Off the Grid

Today I had the opportunity to take advantage of the decreasing number of visitors in the GSMNP, the warm weather, and the lack of underbrush which crowds the parts of this route I have followed in the warmer seasons. The exact route location will remain "anonymous", at this level of Social Media, so as to curtail some traffic in this desolate area of the park. 
But dude!, trust me, if you were to contact me and leave an e-mail address I'd probably respond with some clues. 

A very small portion of this route is already being used on a limited basis by some fishermen, by people who just walk up the manway out of curiosity, those who have no idea where their going; which is how I stumbled across it 9 years ago, and those who know where they're going and are going much farther than those previously mentioned.
Over the years I have enjoyed investigating the  different areas which this route provides access to and today was another new and awesome experience!
I was able to bypass the natural knots tied by these trees and vines in the picture above, going in, but came through it, by choice, coming back out and found it not as imposing as it appears.  Before I entered into it though I was thinking I new about where I was and was going to bushwhack my way to a trail I had previously hiked but couldn't locate it and turned back to the way I had come after coming upon a wall of "rodo".
Rhododendron has been the common obstacle halting hikes or causing changes in the routes out of this valley.  However, today, accompanied with my USGS map and compass I followed a route new to me and one which provided more insight to a future bushwhack to the AT from this valley.
Trust me,  I am not breaking new trails in the park, as this is something, if given the right key words there are pages of IE post about. 
Saw these little plants coming through moss on a log as I was walking out and completing the last few miles of about 7 miles for the day.  Peace

Bears along the Walk

This walk began up Lumber Ridge Trail late in the afternoon early in the month of November, with the Mysterious One, taking the lead. Heck we weren't but a couple hundred yards up the trail when I come around a corner and there she is bent over pointing into the woods with one hand (see picture), and waving me closer with the other. 

Oh my! Assistant Deputy VIP Ranger Fife (me), was so proud of her and the animated intensity of the Mysterious One's position and gestures as she non-verbally controlled my approach.  It was a hoot!  Once getting closer I could make out the momma bear; we saw one cub sneaking off, who was watching us from about fifty yards up the mountain. 

Eventually momma bear grew tired of me trying to get the next best picture and let me know it with a verbal warning, to which I took heed and continued up the trail away from the bears. 
We hiked up the trail to the saddle (approx. 2.5mls), where we had a snack, some rest and then returned the way we came. 

We were privileged to experience the wild life which included this and several other beautiful trees sporting their fall colors!  Peace

Montana Hikes September 2014

These falls are located in Hyalite Canyon across the canyon from the trail and were not visible from the trail because it was winding some awesome pine forest. I noticed them after I bushwhacked off the trail along a draw to get above the tree line and up to rocky cliffs. Had no idea what was waiting to be seen. This picture below is in the Spanish Peaks with the trail heading atop the pass and into Bear Basin on the other side. This is Faery Lake in the Bridgers, more beautiful than I remembered.

Trail and road closures in The Great Smoky Mountains NP, A report on trails and roads etc....

 

Due to some extensive storm damage to the trail and visitor safety hazards (a root ball tore out a large section of trail tread, 3 large hazard trees overhanging the trail), the plan is to close Laurel Falls trail on Monday. Tomorrow morning we will have Trails do an assessment to determine how long the closure and repair will take.

This just in from the folks at the GSMNP
Here is a quick take on the weekend's activities, as well as where we are as of Monday morning

Sunday, 11/2/14 – Storm Damage

·         Cades Cove Loop Road cleared and opened.
·         Laurel Creek Road cleared and opened.
·         Little River Road cleared and opened.
·         Cherokee Orchard Road cleared and opened.
·         Cades Cove campground cleared
·         Gatlinburg Bypass cleared and opened
·         Elkmont campground cleared (not open – downed power lines/waiting on Sevier Co Electric)
·         Elkmont Entrance Road cleared (not open – downed power lines/waiting on Sevier Co Electric)
·         Newfound Gap Road clearing – in progress.
·         Foothills Parkway East & West – in progress.

 

Monday, 11/3/14 – Objectives:

·         Clear and Open Newfound Gap Road (early)
·         Clear and open Elkmont Road
·         Clear and open Clingmans Dome Road (mid-day)
·         Close Laurel Falls Trail for repair.
·         Foothills Parkway West open by COB.
·         Foothills Parkway East open by mid-day.
·         Begin High Priority Trails assessments.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, pretty much closed today

Hello. Due to the snow which began falling around 10 pm last night here in the Tuckaleechee Valley (Townsend), and likely began much earlier in the higher elevations of the GSMNP, the park is pretty much shut down today, Saturday, November 1st.

The following is the latest from the park and the park website is provided at the bottom for further information. 10:00 AM update: All park roads are closed and conditions are hazardous throughout the park, even in lower elevations. Trees at lower elevations still have leaves which are holding the snow, causing many of them to fall or break under the weight of the snow. Rangers are working to get roads cleared of downed trees. GSMNP Website - http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm