Past The People

Today after speaking with a Ranger at Sugarlands, where I volunteer 1 day a week, who told me of an old growth forest, I decided to hike the Laurel Falls trail and go beyond the falls, and all the holiday traffic on this trail. The pavement ends at the falls but the trail continues which I followed to the intersection with Little Greenbrier trail(3.1 mls) and just about a quarter mile towards Cove Mtn. Making this a RT hike of approximately 7 mls, with a gain in elevation of about 1300'. Though a thousand of which was gained in less than 2 mls after passing the falls.
After getting a hundred or so yards past the most visited waterfalls in the park I only saw 3 people and was able to enjoy; without distraction, the area of old growth less than a mile beyond the falls. Pretty awesome trees and in a relatively lightly traveled area. Beyond the falls that is.
On October 4th of last year I had come from the Little Greenbrier trail head near the Metcalf Bottoms area up to the intersection with Laurel Falls trail and had wondered if I'd ever see the section of trail between there and the falls. Well I have and enjoyed the walk a bunch! Peace.
(Just to note, to avoid any affiliation between wemaybeback and the GSMNP I have chosen not to post the pictures I took of one of the large trees, w/ me beside it for reference, because I was wearing my park uniform)

Lil' Greenbrier Trail

This 8.6 mile excursion, RT, began at the trailhead located just inside the Park border w/ Wear Cove. I followed Little Greenbrier Trail "the distance" until it connected w/ the Laurel Falls and Cove Mtn. trails which was approx. 4.3 mls. This trail gains elevation for most of the 4.3 but does so at a relatively modest and consistent incline. The only place I found water was in a spring along the trail about a mile+ past the intersection w/ Little Brier Gap Trail, or, over 3 miles into the walk. About a 1/4 mile+ before this spring, on may way in I caught up w/ a couple who had just seen a black furry creature. The lady showed me the picture. She was proud! It was great to see the excitement because it will help them appreciate the experience and could, in the future, encourage them to protect the wild life in some way.
I moved on and soon heard a large animal moving above me in the thick brush. It was a deer (doe) cruising through unaware of my presence, well unaware of my location, because it appeared to have heard or smelled me in how it kept looking in my direction and moving it's nose around trying to pick up a scent. I put a tree between her line of vision and myself so I could watch further and try and get a better photo but she stopped moving and disappeared into the scenery.
The trail continues along Chinquapin Ridge after the crossing w/ Little Brier Gap Trail and increases noticeably in the degree of incline. It also contains several great views even in the summer, as you may agree from the pictures here. Once I arrived at the turn around point I sat and drank some water, ate some gorp and and was soon joined by two individuals who arrived a few minutes apart and appeared to be going on to ascend the Cove Mtn. Trail. I gathered my stuff and returned to from where I'd come.