Cumberland Trail

This day hike ended on the side of Hwy. #27, where the Tennessee River Gorge Segment of the Cumberland Trail crosses this highway and continues across the bridge over Suck Creek and up Signal Mtn. Well, actually we hiked from here down the side of #27, about 1/2 mile back to the car (Not recommended). This because not being familiar w/ this trail we started at the first obvious marked trail we saw going in the direction we wanted (towards Prentice Cooper SF/WMA). This trail turned out to be a spur from the Cumberland Trail that came out on the road this distance from the formal trail crossing. The only thing I can figure for that would be for the small parking area here allowed beside the road. Of course, as I noted my lack of experience here, there may have been something I missed or was not told about.
Meg the Hiker and I enjoyed some beautiful rock formations, cliffs, and views as we ascended and descended on this section. Oh, if you haven't noticed I forgot my camera...again. Too bad, guess now you'll have to hike it to experience the appreciation. We saw the biggest mushroom I've ever seen! This thing was at least 8-10 inches tall and the of the hood was probably 7 inches in diameter. This ' shroom was alone and just beside the trail, "standing proud".
The hike; approx. 5+ miles, would probably be considered difficult due the fact that from the starting point your immediately gaining vertical, though once the initial climb is done the trail is fairly moderate w/ as mentioned, great views and big rocks to enjoy. This will be a portion of a long day hike beginning at Signal Mtn. and ending at some point like the Indian Rock House or Snoopers Overlook on Waldens Ridge, within the Prentice Cooper SF/WMA, to be made later.

New Experiences

This is my first blog entry of my life. I don't spend too much time in front of a computer when not at work. Fitting that my first blog should be about my first backpacking adventure. I have enjoyed hiking since I was a child but haven't had the opportunity to get out in the woods for an overnight adventure until the fantastic three day walk that I enjoyed with James the Walker and Meg (the mysterious) hiker. These two showed me the ropes of backpacking for which I am extremely grateful.
The adventure was described well in the previous entry. The number one highlight from my perspective was what I have lovingly termed the Rhododendron Forest. All along the Jonas Creek trail and beyond, white rhodis were in bloom, leaving a carpet of blooms on the trail and a canopy of limbs overhead. This path was traveled by a bear not long before we arrived. I met a brown snake with orangish markings on my way.
The lightening the first night was remarkable. It reminded me how bright our cities burn. So bright that we often miss nature's light shows.
Once I learned what to expect, I rather enjoyed hiking in a downpour.
Word cannot adequately express the joy felt and memories treasured from our trip. I hope to be back out there soon.
Peace.

And Then it Rained....Tuesday the 8th

Another wonderful learning experience in the GSMNP! "Meg the (Mysterious) Hiker", a friend in from NYC (aka momma bear), and I, began this excursion from Clingmans Dome late in the afternoon last Tuesday. Look for Momma Bear's first entry soon regarding this hike. She also day hikes in the Northeast and we hope to have her share on her hikes from this region and the challenges they face.
We took the CD bypass to avoid unnecessary steps and the bypass also gets you in the woods quicker. As we made our way to the connection w/ the AT we passed two younger folks, one of which was carrying a fern that had been pulled up. Meg made a comment about it to which the person replied "somebody else picked it I'm just carrying it". Oh really?... A few minutes later 3 older ladies are sliding down this rock facing which the trail crosses and was slick from an earlier rain. One of the women is carrying a platter size slab of rock from this area. You know, those slabs you see w/ multiple shades of brown, black, purple, and some tinges of yellow and orange, all mixed in intricate designs by nature and it's geographic brush. They passed w/ some non-essential statement of trail information acting as if the rock they had removed from the spot it belonged was invisible. Hmmmmm!!!
People, "this is not my park, it is ours" I have No right to remove anything except myself and what I can record on camera, paper, or in my memory! Go to the Lincoln Monument in D.C. and chip off some of ol' Abe's shoes and see what that'll getcha'!!
Once on the AT we were blessed w/ bright floral greens of different shades, some flowers, occasional views looking through the clouds into North Carolina and Fontana Lake. Soon after reaching the AT we met some hikers who were staying at Silers Bald that night which is also where we were headed. As we approached Double Springs Shelter we met up w/ them again and they said they may stay there in hopes both parties would have a shelter alone. This was not going to happen as Double Springs was crowded w/ 7 or 8 people, and water was scarce we later learned.
We passed through Double Springs w/ a greeting and continued onward to the Silers Bald Shelter where we were met by two men quietly checking equipment as another couple was already trying to sleep. It was after 8 pm. We got some grub and some sleep. The spring here, located on the TN side of the shelter and down the Mtn. about 35 yards, was running well enough, though not much more volume than last summer during a much dryer period. It's important to remember the large rainfall deficits we have had recently and that this years seemingly plentiful rain (we are below average rainfall in '08 ) does not make up for the past deficits, thus we are still in drought.
Wednesday morning we got up to no rain currently falling, though the night before was very different. Tuesday night into early Wednesday we were "treated" to neon bright lightening, Sharp roaring thunder and heavy rains. I guess the forecast changed....oh, right, we are in the Smokies. As we got some breakfast and packed our gear we met several folks who were stopping in for water after not finding any at Double Springs the night before. We walked back to Welch Ridge and followed this to Jonas Creek Trail, then down through some awesome forest and 4+ miles later an intersection w/ Forney Creek Trail. We followed this "hiker only" trail through often strong rains and numerous stream crossings to campsite #69.
Now let's go back a few miles to campsite #70. A dual horseback and hiker use site. Littered w/ assorted garbage in fire pits and along the open area. This ain't your backyard! I have an idea!! Anyone who wants to walk or ride anywhere in the park be required to attend the "Leave No Trace" program. Just a suggestion. And let it be noted as well that at site #68 (a & b) we saw a large can of baked beans unopened, various pieces of clothing, and assorted other trash.
Damn, despite these man made intrusions upon our "appreciation" we enjoyed wildflowers, cascades, some small animals, reptiles, birds, and challenges of the wild world such as rain, numerous stream crossings and steep terrain. This same route was taken by myself earlier this year and can be reviewed (see 5/05/08). It is a great 2 night route for the physically fit and agile. Peace

School House June 25th

Hello, this walk took place a few weeks ago though I've been reluctant to post it because I forgot my camera...well I remembered it this time along the walk then left it in Townsend when I drove to Nashville to finish up some work.
This walk began at the School House Gap Trail Head, from the Tuckalechee Cove side, and was fairly strenuous. The first 2 miles are along open moderate trails w/ the 2nd mile dropping down to Laurel Creek road. At the crossing of Laurel Creek rd. I turned left walking along the side of the road and back over a stream, crossed the road, and hooked up w/ the Bote Mtn Trail on the other side. The next 1.2 miles was a steady incline along a wide path to an intersection w/ the West Prong trail which can hook you up w/ the AT and an wide assortment of other routes.
I made it point of walking to this crossroad then returning back the way I'd come about 50 yards to rest and eat some gorp. While doing so some folks passed by on horses. We greeted each other and I sat back down to enjoy the soothing "greens and noises of nature". Just as I stood up to gather my hat and day pack I heard a large animal moving in the undergrowth about 30 ft. below me. I quickly got my camera ready as I noticed a "shadow" of a what appeared to be a bear, or boar, moving through some brush. I say shadow because I only saw for a moment a large dark spot moving amongst the green leaves. About this time I was also becoming consciously aware of the fact that whatever this large animal was it was very close and may not know I am present. So I whistled and said hello, to which it scruffled through some more bushes and then stopped. I never got a clear view as it moved in short burst for a a minute or more then stopped hidden under the bushes and trees below where I was standing. It might have noticed, as I did, the approach of more riders. I spoke w/ them briefly as they stopped and I briefed them on what was just occuring. They dismissed my information after a short talk and continued on. Much to my delight I'll add, as the woman rider was telling me how to behave around her _____ horse because my hiking poles were scaring it. This route is a dual use trail though I had it all to myself for the first hour or so. Water was plentiful though even w/ a filter it would be wise to "locate areas of gathering less polluted by horse run-off".
Peace.

Bald River - Tellico

The Tellico River drainage is better known for it's put and take trout fishery on the main river itself, but there are opportunities to tack some wild trout fishing and a hike together. The North River contains wild trout and a few hold overs that swim in from the Tellico River stocking. Although most opportunities will be in the 7 inch or smaller range there have been Browns of over 20 inches taken.

Another wild trout opportunity is the water above Bald River Falls. The falls itself is one of the more scenic stops in the Tellico watershed and is therefore often crowded. The trail to the top of the falls begins in the parking lot and is a rather strenuous climb for the first 400 feet or so. Then you are above the falls and normally almost totally alone.

We hiked two miles above the falls before stopping for lunch and a dip to cool off. Then despite the experiene of non-productive trips in the past an ant pattern fished dry and a blood red San Juan worm both proved good choices.

Abrams Creek

This outing began with a trip to an old car camp ground I have not visited in many years. I have in years past visited this drive in camp ground of approximately twenty sites and been the only one there. This was not to be this time however. I grabbed the next to last spot a 2:00 in the afternoon and before I had my tent set up the last spot was taken also.

Abrams Creek is far better known in it's upper portions within Cades Cove but winds its way out of the cove and empties into Chilhowee Lake near the intersection of the Foothills Parkway and Highway 129, which is known to bikers as The Dragons Tail. Chilhowee Lake covers the site of an ancient Overhill Cherokee village and is thought to be the site of the Creek village "Chalahume" visited by Spanish explorer Juan Pardo in 1567.

After the put in and within a quarter of a mile of paddling the creek beds curves and immediately all sound of traffic is forgotten. On this particular trip we encountered several other canoeists/kayakers, but none ventured further than the referenced quarter mile cutoff which is a shame. It was a little past the optimum blooming of the rhododendron, but their spent blossoms floated on the water, reminiscent of cherry blossoms in Japan.

I highly recommend the trip up the creek, where an easy paddle can be turned into a multiple mile excursion. A side trip up Panther Creek for a short distance is also available. Although I was not fishing this time I did see activity and the gravel bed evidence of spawning.

South Cumberland Recreation/Stone Door

"Meg the mysterious Hiker" and I began this day hike from the Stone Door Ranger station on Saturday the 7th, around 1 pm. Weather conditions were hot, humid, partly cloudy, and little wind in the trees. We descended from the "door" to the Big Creek Gulf and Connector trails intersection, and chose the connector. This trail is 6.7 miles one way and is described as the most physically challenging of the Savage Gulf State Natural Area. I've hiked the majority of the trails in this area and this is correct in the sense of the rocky trails, extended inclines and declines, and little noticeable access to water though there were several spots which appeared to be "wet springs", meaning tey have water after rains and moist times. At this point of 2008, the eastern parts of the state are beginning to show signs of "sub-normal rainfalls" ,(approx. 5 inches below average). We had both worked hard over the last week and decided we would stop at Cator Savage Cabin eat some and decide what to do next. Just before we arrived at the spur to the cabin we heard rumbles of thunder and Meg's earlier observations of dark clouds began to seem more immediate. Just as we were approaching the cabin the rain began. We were protected by the forest canopy for the most part and made it to the covered porch before it busted loose. OH! Damn if you haven't noticed yet I forgot my camera, again. It was a splendid time on the porch of this cabin experiencing the rain, the forest, the peace, the butterflies, and the friendship. After relaxing for a while and the rain letting up we began our return, though we made this decision to return when we got back to the connector trail. Along the path we both experienced some of the changes brought by the new rain. The way the leaves hung from the bushes and trees, the newly opened blooms, the silent trail and of course the lower temperature. Along the walk we enjoyed Flame Azaleas, and some Mountain Laurel, and various small but intricately beautiful blooms. A great walk for folks in fair to good health who are looking for a trail less traveled in a busy area.