Rabbit Creek Trail

Dudes and Dudettes! The bridge is still out when accessing the Rabbit Creek trail from the Abrams Creek trailhead which made for a cold crossing on a cool day.  Well I took off my boots and got in the water just up from where the bridge used to be before it was washed out in a flood over a year ago, seems like. It was cold with the water above my knees and flowing pretty strong.
Once across I continued up the trail at good pace noticing among the deer and small game prints in the mud, one set of boot prints which were less than day old.
What a beautiful day! I ended up finding a nice sunny spot on top of a saddle, laying back against a moss covered slope, covering my eyes with my hat and just absorbing the energy for a half hour.

This trail is cut to accommodate much horse traffic and so switch backs do not exist. Instead there are long straight inclines at times and thus could be challenging for the inexperienced hiker.  That said I would rate this trail as moderately difficult though doable by the beginner who sets a safe pace, is willing to rest often and has some good shoes as this trail was worn rough in places.

GSMNP Announces schedule for road work

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that a paving project will begin the week of March 12 on Laurel Creek Road between the Townsend wye, and Cades Cove.

The project should be completed by June 15, though work schedules are subject to revision as needed for inclement weather.  

Visitors traveling to Cades Cove should expect weekday, single-lane closures and traffic delays throughout the project. Single-lane closures will be allowed for up to two miles at a time on Laurel Creek Road and half a mile on Townsend Entrance Road and Tremont Road. The lane closures will be managed with flagging operations and a pilot car to lead traffic through work zones. In addition, some parking areas and pull-offs will be closed intermittently. Contractors may elect to work during the evening and nighttime hours as needed. To better accommodate traffic during periods of heavy visitation, there will no lane closures on weekends, holidays, or the time period from March 26 through April 6. 

Great Smoky Mountains NP Announces fee increases for 2018, for frontcountry camping and picnic facilities.

It cost nothing to enter the GSMNP. 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced a fee increase for frontcounty campgrounds and picnic pavilions effective March 1, 2018. 

The rate increases are necessary to meet the rising costs of operations, reduce a backlog of maintenance requirements on park facilities, and initiate needed improvements.

Park officials are also improving the efficiency of campground management by adding three campgrounds to the national reservation system through Recreation.gov.

Those being added to the national reservation system are Abrams Creek, Balsam Mountain and Big Creek campgrounds.  This will help reduce cost. Beginning in early March of 2018, all sites will require advanced reservation and payment prior to arrival in the park through Recreation.gov either online or by phone.

“Park visitors have long enjoyed camping and picnicking across the park in spectacular settings that offer space for relaxation and renewal,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “Maintaining and servicing these facilities in the mountains presents a unique set of challenges and, with increasing costs, these fee increases are necessary to ensure the continual care and operation of these special places.”

The park operates nine open campgrounds, seven group campgrounds, six picnic pavilions, and five horse campgrounds. The current fees have not been increased since 2006 or earlier at any facility aside from Cataloochee Campground. 

Over the years, the park has had to compensate for rising costs from inflation by reducing visitor services, delaying maintenance repairs and improvements, and, at many sites, shortening the length of the season when facilities are open.

Even with the fee increase, park campgrounds will remain among the least expensive in the area.

For more information about campground facilities in the park, please visit the park website at https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/carcamping.htm.

West Prong

Dudes and Dudettes! Another great day in the woods!
West Prong was one of my default day hikes when I first moved to Townsend, some 10+ years ago.   As it was close to my house, I saw bears frequently on this trail and it was less traveled by visitors as well.
The rain was sporadic and the temperature was in the 60's around 11:30 when I began my hike.
Today it was as enjoyable as I let be, with several groups of hikers passed along the way to campsite #18, and a large group of children being led from the Institute at Tremont who were gathered at the intersection with unmarked manway about 1/2 way up. They were heading back to Tremont.

I continued past and on to the campsite where I enjoyed the rushing water and the calming sounds made by it's flow. After resting for a bit, having a snack and water I began my return up the trail.
About a 1/4 mile up I spotted 2 furry and fluffy bears trotting up the side of one of the ridges. They had seen me first. 
They moved out of sight as it began to rain again so I continued on my way grateful for the opportunity to experience this.

Some Suggestions for being outside...

Click here for some of the  Basics for Staying Alive  in the outdoors.
If you'd like to see reasons why the Park Service encourages folks to seek information on trails from a qualified park employee; they can usually be found in the Backcountry office in most Parks, before they start, read this article.
More Americans Head Into The Wild Unprepared For ... The Wild
Thanks and enjoy your hikes Wisely and Safely!

Road Closed...for now.

Good Morning!
US Hwy 441/Newfound Gap Rd from Gatlinburg TN to Cherokee NC is temporarily closed due to snow/ice. That is as of 7:44 am Wednesday Jan. 4th, 2018. 
Be careful folks, driving, hiking, and camping.

The Forecast was for clear and cold!

This hike up the Lumber Ridge Trail was on Friday the 8th of this month and the forecast was calling for clear and cold conditions. Well as you have probably noticed from the photo's things changed! Though it was a surprise to some degree to notice snow flurries as the "Mysterious One" and I left the house and to arrive at the trailhead where the snow was falling steady, we just got more excited and appreciative for the unique nature of the Appalachian Mountains.
That "unique nature" being that you just really never know what could happen with the weather in these awesome mountains.

So we began up the trail with the understanding that we would just go as far as we could in our hiking shoes and turn around if needed.  Our original thoughts were to hike up to the junction with Meigs Creek Trail (4.1mls), and then down the manway to Spruce Flat Falls (approx. 3mls+), and back to trailhead.

We had not worn footwear for hiking in several inches of snow which is what we were encountering as we made our way past the first saddle and continued towards the intersection with Meigs Creek Trail.
After hiking in about 3 miles we decided it would probably be smart to turn around because the snow was still falling and I was beginning to notice the weather in my feet. Also the light gloves we had on were intended for protection from wind and mild exposure, not the snowy damp conditions we were involved with.

So rather than put ourselves at some potential risk of frostbite etc...we turned around. 
We thoroughly enjoyed the hike and wished, as usual, that we had more time in the woods!