Mount Cammerer

Dudes! and Dudettes!, so "The Mysterious One", joined "Deep Dave" and I and we hiked the Low Gap trail out of the Cosby Campground up to the AT and on up to Mount Cammerer, and an elevation of 4920'.

We had spent the night in the tent camping area in the Cosby Campgrounds, our stay at Cosby was very peaceful and enjoyable.
This, and any other route to Cammerer, can be difficult given the amount of vertical footage one gains in a relatively short distance.

For example the Low Gap route we took gains approx. 1600' in elevation over the first 2.5 miles+, making for a continually strenuous hike, but doable, excluding any serious physical challenges. The roundtrip hiking distance along this route is over 10mls.
We had passed a couple with 3 kids all probably under 14 years of age, about halfway up Low Gap trail.
They were diligent and ended up joining us at the Low Gap, while we rested and readjusted before moving east/north on the AT towards "cammerer".
From Low Gap we went east towards Mt. Cammerer which, including the .6 ml. spur off the AT is 2.7mls, primarily uphill.
Once we returned along the same route we had hiked 11mls+ of the beautiful Appalachian Mtns. and were very grateful for the experience.

Ramsey Cacscades....a few weeks later.

Wow! This hike up the trail to Ramsey Cascades is challenging in dry weather or wet. A few weeks ago "Deep Dave" and I stopped our ascent up this trail just before the falls due to the high waters at the last stream crossing.

And, after reaching that same spot on this hike to the cascades we were both glad we did use caution that day. As there were several deep holes in the rock bottom of this streambed we would have likely stepped in as we made a blind crossing given the depth of the water.Now we wouldn't have been swept away by a rushing current, however these divots were deep enough that we would have risked injury in the form of breaks, bruises, and sprains.

Anyway!! awesome hike, with cooler weather and blooming plants!

Once we arrived at the falls we had a few minutes of quiet as the other visitors there at the time were just enjoying the view and sound of rushing waters.
As we began our descent we made the acquaintance of a couple who were visiting from middle TN, and one was a descendant of the Husky's. A family whose homes and lands were given up for the creation of the GSMNP.
We saw this bear below about 1 mile from the TH as we were walking out and decided we'd wait for our new friends as the bear had bluff charged us, while it was still probably 65 yards away, and then cut up and off the trail into a rhododendron thicket. But not hearing any sounds indicating that it had continued well off the trail I assumed it was still close by.  It was, sitting on and behind some rodo's  about 30 yards off the trail just watching us go by. We spoke to the bear and continued on our way.