Long Loop Thursday the 29th

This 14 ml. excursion took place last Thursday, the 29th, on a partly cloudy, cool to cold day, depending where I was at the time, w/ a light wind. I began this excursion from the parking area just beyond the Old Sugarlands Trail junction w/ Bull Head, and the Rainbow Falls trails, following Bull Head trail as it made the 7 mile+ ascent, w/ an approximate 4500' elevation gain, ending atop Mt. LeConte. I was distracted shortly after the incline began as a Whitetail grazed just above the path among some trees and boulders barely paying me any attention as I fumbled for my camera. This trail was moist from recent precipitation with, I noticed several times, cliffs just off the right side of it hidden amongst the rodo's. Speaking of which! The "rodo hells" I saw on parts of this trail and parts along the Rainbow Falls trail which I returned on, were some of the thickest I've seen yet in the park. Of course I still have got a lot to see but damn they were thick!
Once I reached the "Pulpit", about 4 miles from LeConte, (described in the "lil' brown book" pg. 145) I rested for a few minutes, took some pictures, and ate some "fodder". Just before here and several times after your have views down on Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and distant points beyond.
It was just past here where snow and ice began appearing on the trail. Something which obviously increased along w/ the elevation. The last mile plus going up, and about the same distance coming back down the Rainbow Falls Trail the ice and snow on the trail required Extra attention and caution!
After arriving at LeConte lodge I sat the porch of one of the buildings ate a "gourmet roast beef sandwich", some carrots, and some chocolate. Not having a lot of time to sit around, as I had started later than expected, I walked very carefully up to "Cliff Tops" and got some great pictures. I say "very carefully", due to the fact that most of the trail was covered in a thick sheet of moist ice and snow. This done I gathered my gear and began my descent from the lodge the .6 back to the Rainbow Falls trail head.
This trail was more rocky and rough than Bull Head, w/ some panoramic views of scenes as far off as Wear Valley and Townsend it appeared. About a quarter mile or so before rainbow Falls I began crossing some large streams which increased my eagerness to see these falls which until then I'd only heard others talk about and seen as a spot on maps.
I apologize to all the novices I've sent here when I'm acting as a Volunteer at one of the park Visitor Centers. This 5.4 ml. round trip walk from the parking lot ain't for sissy's !
After I stopped by the falls, appreciated the moments, got some picture's, and continued down, I passed a family coming up the mountain still a half mile plus out. Dude and Dudette! With 3 kids ranging from early teens to one about 3-4 years old. Damn, I hope those "young ens" remember that day as good and if they reached the falls they probably will.
This was a difficult route for obvious reasons and one I hope to do again w/ some variations such as doing Trillium Gap trail or reversing this route which is the way the trails are described in the "lil' brown book". Good exercise, Peace.

One Way

Today was a wonderful day to hike w/ temps in the 40's, PC skies and, and not a lot of tourist out of their cars. When a friend dropped me of at the sinks and Meig's Creek trail there was no one there. A fella w/ Ohio tags on his car pulled in after us to take some pictures as I tied my boots, but I was quickly on the other side of the rock and beginning another awesome day in the woods! Damn I forgot to check my camera for space on the memory and so I missed some great vista's as I made the descent along Lumber Ridge trail into Tremont. Oh well, I guess you'll have to take my word for it, or come join us on a walk.
This one way excursion began at the Meig's Creek Trail and Little River rd. The trail has numerous stream crossings 16-20, and tested my rock-hopping skills and will yours, if your lucky enough to "walk this way"! For more information on the name of this trail, Meig's Creek, see the book 'Place Names of The Smokies',(Coggins'99), and learn some about Mr. Return Jonathan Meigs.
The trail was untouched it appeared by human traffic since most of the snow melted and was not too muddy w/ the difficulty up to Lumber Ridge Trail moderate to difficult depending on your fitness and pace. The cascading fall just under 2 mls. into the walk was partially frozen as you can see in the picture. The incline is moderate over the 3.5 mls, and as noted the frequent stream crossings keep your attention. Today there were several beautiful vista's, streams, cascades, large trees, open forest, and "rodo tunnel's", w/ fresh sign of what appeared to be bear skat and paw prints from what looked like some sort of "k-9", coyote or fox I'd hope.
Lumber Ridge Trail was moderate to easy once I started down Meig's Mtn. w/ views of the Middle Prong of the Little River and Walker Valley. Peace

Frozen Rainbow

Rainbow Falls that is, or frozen they are. Today I walked w/ a friend visiting from Michigan, to the sinks where she got to experienced some of the magnificent small parts of Southern Appalachia. And since she's only visiting it will not be consistent traffic in this location.
The frequent hikes I've taken along this route over the last few months have brought beauty and wonder in how as I've noted before, the familiar becomes new. It was also fun to note the changing temperatures as the wind blew from different directions and as we began the descent into the sinks. We passed a couple of folks coming out of the sinks as we made our way along one of the ridges on the spur and they were the only people we saw in the sinks. We both noticed squirrels throughout the walk foraging for firewood or maybe food. Peace

Snowy Trails

This walk was really cool with several inches of snow already on the ground and some falling as I walked a familiar trail made new again by the snow cover. I was the first on the trail even though a couple was putting their boots on when I arrived. Their out of state tag and blue jeans, indicated to me that they were gonna enjoy the day as much as I was, probably. My route along the West Prong trail was similar to others. I took the trail to campsite #18, sat on a rock in the stream, returned to the spur about halfway back and followed it along it's untouched snow cover.
I was on this trail because access to trail heads was limited w/ the roads in the park closed as they were yesterday around mid-day. The weather is probably going to allow melting over the next few days w/ re-freezing occurring overnight. HP willing I'll be out again Wednesday looking for a new route. Peace

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!

Frozen Springs

Brrrrr! Y'all know it's Cold! May be why your inside looking at the computer. My sister "L.A.", and I ventured into the gorge which holds Hidden Springs today, and were treated to the scenes partially shown in this picture. Our arrival was just in time for lunch with Hector, Suzie, and Jan, a "Woofer" who is currently helping on the farm. She has a wealth of experience in the woods and I hope she'll contribute some of her knowledge with us either on 'wemaybeback' or joining us on a walk. I may have the name wrong but she knows who she is. And if your reading this...Welcome! Our friend Sydney had just arrived and was getting out of her truck as "L.A." and I were beginning our walk to the falls. The process for protecting this immediate area of the gorge is underway. Peace.

WWW...and I ain't Wrestling!

That is Wilderness Wildlife Week, happening in Pigeon Forge this week, thru Saturday evening at the Music Road Hotel and Convention center complex. Henderson Chapel Rd., I believe, Ruby Tuesday's on the corner and turn left if your coming from Gatlinburg. I've attended several informative presentations including Mr. Arthur McDades' on Horace Kephart. This one included some of Kepharts personal history and his influence on the creation of the GSMNP. There still remains many good activities to participate in at WWW, and the price is great! It's free. Peace