Short Walks

Today was really nice w/ temps in the upper 60's and clear skies! Yesterday the weather was nice as well, all things considered, yet time only allowed for a short walk on the west prong trail/loop each day. Today I bushwacked a short route off the trail that connected back with the unmarked loop. Earlier this week I walked around the middle prong in the snowfall.
Haa! That was fun, as I sat looking at a Topo at the trailhead, 6 backpackers came down the trail from #28. They stopped and we started talking. Seems they were going to walk to the road and make their way back to Elkmont where they had parked a couple of days ago. I kindly pointed out to them the difficulty with that plan. To make a long story short they waited while I took a short walk. When I returned they loaded all six of their packs and themselves into my 240 DL wagon and off to Tremont we drove. Once there 4 of them got out with the packs and I took the other 2 over to Elkmont, via Wear Valley due to the rock slide, where they got the vehicle and I assume headed back to their mates.
Interesting thing was these guys seemed relatively prepared by looking at the gear they had and clothes they were wearing but apparently did not look at the map closely enough, or were hoping for a fellow backpacker to give them a ride. They left me with the welcome to hike Michigan; from where they had driven, and they'd give me ride if they see me. Well, I thanked them and thought that may happen after Big Ben, the Sawtooths, Tetons, Glacier, Ozarks, ..... Peace

Today Was Sunday

So today I get out in a light rain w/ temperatures in the mid 50's, to do a couple of miles on the West Prong loop. As I'm walking out of the parking lot I notice 2 of the 3 cars there are from Indiana, and the third from Mississippi. Hmmm? I say to myself, "wonder if these folks are day hiking". As I approached the first streams coming off the steep gorges on the left I see this wood sitting as it is in the picture, and I chuckle.
The trail was slippery and quiet, with no human contact and a soft rain the meditative qualities of the walk were wonderful! In a few weeks it's going to be getting so green and w/ so many shades of green, it'll be much to wonder at, the degree of change in such a short time. Looking forward to it!
OK, so after I return to my car and I am getting my boots off; there's still a light rain falling, some folks pull up and begin getting some stuff out of their vehicle. I notice the one guy's got jeans on. as there are two adults and a young teen, and they start pulling out plastic trash bags and putting them on for rain gear. Once their "rain suits" are in place they gather up the paper and plastic bags they had in the car and began walking up the trail. I silently wish them luck....noticing the tag on the car is from Indiana, I wonder if they'll pick up the wood sitting on the log. Once in my car I chuckle out loud! Peace and Safe hiking.

Rich Mtn. to Indian Grave Gap

This walk (8mls RT) began like the previous entry in that it started at the Rich Mtn. trail parking where the Rich Mtn. road exits the park. Today the visibility was much better and the temperature was a little warmer except when walking along exposed points of the ridge line. The trail was muddy in places along the route and frozen in others.
On this day once I reached the ridge at campsite #5, I drank some fluids, ate some junk, and turned left along the Indian Grave Gap trail for 1.8 mls. A few hundred yards after taking this turn the trail splits. I chose the one less traveled (made the choice while planning the route) and was rewarded with some beautiful views and pictures. This spur takes you to the location of an old fire tower and if you keep following it, as I did, it reconnects you w/ the Indian Grave Gap trail.
This path drops occasionally and probably loses several hundred feet in elevation before it terminates at the junction w/ Scott Mtn. trail and the Crooked Arm trail. The latter which drops you down into Cades Cove and the Rich Mtn. Loop trail.
I followed the Scott mtn. direction about a Qtr. of a mile to campsite #6, where I sat on a log ate some stuff, drank some fluids and appreciated the gifts.
Once done I filled my Nalgene at the water source below the site and returned to the trail. Through this hike I saw several birds of various sizes and colors out taking advantage of this relatively warm day. Enjoy!

School for Turkeys...along the Trails

This was a great hike under the canopy for the most part and thanks to early morning weather I was alone until the last 3 miles. When I awoke the first time at 4 something, a.m., it was raining and I thought great I'll just stay up have some coffee, bananas, and get on the trail around six. I quickly rethought that after checking the weather on the computer and went back to sleep.
Shortly after 9am I got up, had some coffee, Bananas, a Lara Bar; or 2, packed a shoulder bag and got in the car for a trailhead yet to be determined.
I chose the School House Gap Trail; via Tuckaleechee Cove, and followed this to Turkeypen Ridge Trail, 1 ml. I followed Turkeypen down 3.4 mls to the intersection of 3 trails which included Crib Gap, Lead Cove, and Finley Cane trails. I was looking for the latter in order to continue an 11 mile+ loop, counting the walk from the car.
Finley Cane begins through the tunnel pictured or up and over to cross Laurel Creek Rd. The walk through the tunnel was not difficult and there were rocks to hop when needed. This trail became a wide dual use route w/ a steady incline up to a connection w/ Bote Mtn. Trail just under 3 mls from the start.
From the beginning of Turkeypen Trail, and onto Finley Cane, there are beautiful forest. These forest cover some relatively open areas underneath the canopy and at times I would have to stop, listen to the silence, absorb the colors, and feel the peace. Mushrooms were frequent w/ the recent rains and small blooms old and new, were as well. And large trees!
When I connected w/ Bote Mtn. trail I sat on a fallen tree and retied my boots in an attempt to prevent blisters. I was beginning to notice a hot spot on my right heel (got one anyway). From here it's .6 ml to the next left turn just as Bote Mtn. Trl. runs into the West Prong Trail. If you continue to walk it in that direction, down and to the right you'll come to a great campsite along the West Prong, #18, in less than a mile. The continuation of Bote Mtn. Trl. drops me off the Mtn. and hooks me up w/ School House Gap Trail, about 2.5 miles from my starting point. I picked up a small bag of garbage along the way and just can't figure out why some feel the need to leave cigarette butts, styrofoam cups, plastic baggies, and other non-perishable items. Damn, even your toilet paper which will be gone after a rain or two, you can at least bury it under some mulch or leaves. Better yet! Take it out w/ you and Leave No Trace! Peace