Rich Mountain then OTG

This is a route which I tried last year about this time I think and today was as challenging as I recalled, and more. I started at the Rich Mtn. trailhead and climbed this strenuous route at healthy clip stopping once to lose a layer early into the climb and another short pause to take some pictures. The OTG section takes one down into a deep and steep drainage off of Rich Mtn trail about a 1/2 mile from the top. As the stream grows and the drainage widens becoming a hollow it is possible to follow closer to the stream, which I did not always do. Doing this you may avoid some of the very steep grades however in doing so you have some rock hopping and rodo's to deal with.

This is some beautiful forest! Trillium was blooming and there are numerous waterfalls some bigger than others. For instance the one in the photo is probably 15' cascading over and down the face of a boulder while others were not as big, though as pleasing to the senses. This stream parallels Rich Mtn. trail for part of the way and also the route taken into and over the Rich Mtn. Gap pass into Cades Cove.

Snow Walking

Dudes and Dudettes !

The snow showers continued today (1/12/11) in and close to the mountains leaving another inch or more accumulation in some spots. This after the inch or two added overnight Tuesday. Anyway, today I hiked up Rich Mtn. trail for about a mile and got some more schooling in hiking in a relatively deep snow, probably 8-10 inches, while ascending a sometimes steep path. I had plenty of fun and appreciation with and for the views I had, the small paw prints which led me up the otherwise unmarked trail; much like yesterday on the loop I walked, and the need for training in the snow.

I stopped to visit "John Deer Bill" as I drove down the Mtn. and he asked if I had already hiked because he was going to lend me some snow shoes. Now that would have been something new! And probably something I should try on level ground first because on the Rich Mtn. trail there are some tight spots where a misplaced step could have me sliding or tumbling down some steep slopes. Another awesome day for walking in the snow!

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.

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

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.

Blooms and Snow Along West Prong

Wow, what a great day to spend part of in the mountains! The blooms along this trail are just increasing with more Flame Azalea, Trillium, and various other flowers and colors! Here are few that are new along this route to me anyway.
As I almost reached my halfway point, 3 mls, a frozen precipitation began to fall on me and it did not appear to be hail but rather sleet or a heavy wet snow. This was above 3000', late in the afternoon, and in the Smokey Mountains. I experienced this frozen moisture for a few minutes on top of Rich Mtn. and again briefly as I began my descent from campsite #5. Days like this are when I'm glad I was a Cub Scout and my brothers were Boy Scouts so I learned to "be prepared" because I had grabbed some work gloves out of my trunk and put on a jacket as I prepared to start the hike.










The jacket tucked under my shoulder strap of my bag and the gloves went in the jacket pockets when not in use. Though both items became very useful several times along this 6 ml. walk.
From what little I know about specific wildflowers I can say this with confidence and that is there will be blooms of various sorts along the West Prong for several weeks. Peace

Blooms and Bears

Todays afternoon walk which took me up the Rich Mtn. trail on a great day to be appreciating the wild life was altered just before the half way point. This mother and cub were on the trail just before the final turn bringing you to campsight #5. They didn't move except the cub started up the tree beside them a few times only to come back down after climbing up a few feet.
I saw only blooms and these bears along the trail. Peace

Friday Afternoon on Rich Mountain

Hello! This day hike began at the Rich Mtn. trail head off of Rich Mtn. road, which is still closed for the Cades Cove work expected to wrap-up on the 24th of this month, April. The weather was wonderful as it actually cooled in the last few days. So with temperatures in the 60's up here and skies PC, and a nice breeze I enjoyed an undisturbed walk for approximately 5 mls. roundtrip. The route today took me to Cerulean Knob where I got this photo of LeConte I believe.
I've taken pictures of this peak before and figured it was either Clingmans or LeConte, and assuming what I saw on another web site is correct, and reviewing the pictures I'd say LeConte. (http://solitarywalker.com/rich_mtn_loop.htm)
Along the walk I noticed streams in places I'd never seen or heard them despite being 3 inches below average for the calendar year in these parts. As Meg the Hiker noted in her last entry with temperatures above the norm; 20 degrees plus on some days, earlier this week and last, this has cut short the time of some early blooms. However this Bloodroot looks great!

Spring into Wild Life!

The weather is taking a step towards the warmer seasons, at least during the day. Small blooms are starting to emerge at different elevations so enjoy the vistas while you got 'em and prepare for the equally wondrous spectrum of colors just beginning. This walk along Rich Mtn. trail (Saturday 3/21), and a short part of Indian Grave Gap trail, over to the site of the former fire tower, was done so in partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid 60's. The trail was in good shape and I encountered no one over the 5ml+ route I chose.
On the return trip, after carefully reviewing my maps, I dropped OTG about a quarter mile down from campsite #5, and into a Steep ravine which brought me to the stream shown on the map. I bushwacked fairly easily, keeping the stream close by for reference, out to the Rich mtn. rd, coming out of Cades Cove, where the stream crosses over the road. I went right at the road crossing about a 1/2 ml. to the parking area picking up empty cans and bottles along the way.

A Wet, Wintery, Walk

This walk (4.4mls) took place Sunday afternoon when I parked at the park boundary and gate on Rich Mtn. Rd and accessed the trail as a light frozen drizzle seemed to be present. Precipitation falling yet so light I sensed it mainly by the sounds of icy slivers bouncing off my jacket and occasionally a flake big enough to see would catch my eye in the cloud shrouded air. The visibility after the first half a mile was sometimes less than 75' w/ fog or clouds keeping much out of vision. Days like this help me appreciate the practice of keeping the focus on my current environment or world I'm in. Be it a grocery store or at a meeting w/ friends. Staying in the moment as I walked the 2.2 mls up this trail helped avoid slipping in the mud and also make some "great saves" when I did. Really relaxing hike and the silence was phenomenal. I would stop, close my eyes, and listen and would hear almost nothing. Sometimes an occasional bird or something hitting the forest floor. Saw only one man who passed me just before campsite #5. When I was beginning my return the thick cloud cover, fading afternoon light and cover from "rodo's" and pine prompted me to pick up my pace before it became dark. Peace.

Along The Trail

Well OK, it's no big thing. I saw one Bear about 6 miles down the trail where I had seen the two noted on this blog, w/ pictures, July 19th. I was on the same route of that previous entry only at opposite ends of it and nearing the end of my 6 mile RT walk. Fresh and frequent bear scat was seen beginning about 1.5 mls up the trail from the parking area though the bear seen here was closer.

The trail was dusty and dry yet water was still flowing in the stream, what say, about a quarter of a mile before campsite #5. The water source at the campsite may have had water but I could not find it. I say "may have" because I'm still not sure if I'm looking in the right area where the sign points me. Maybe these Tropical storms and Hurricanes will spare our friends on the coastlines and bring us some moisture in the form of rain. I did find, and carry out, a crushed bud light can, a power bar wrapper, and some assorted plastic garbage. Including a sign warning of bear activity that had been torn off a tree and left in little pieces. Hmmm? Peace