Laurel Falls Folks

The fine folks in this photo found this emaciated dog trying to make it's way somewhere. The dog was one like many that are often turned loose in the park by the local owners to run big game out of the park and/or training them to do so at a later date. These folks walked with, carried, and led the dog to the trailhead where I had contacted a ranger to pick-up the exhausted hound. Hopefully this dog will find another home other than where it came from. In the years I've been hiking this park I have had several similar experiences where I have come upon a lonely exhausted dog deep in the backcountry and had them follow me out. One hound followed me for a day and a half coming off Gregory Bald to the Twenty Mile ranger station where I found a boar cage to put him in with some water and then I contacted a ranger. Thanks to these folks this dog will know another day.

Blooms in the Smokies

These are just some of the blooming wildflowers I've had the pleasure of seeing in the last couple of weeks in the GSMNP. They were seen on the West and Middle Prong trails, and vicinity.

Some Trails Closed in the GSMNP

Great Smoky Mountains National Park crews are making needed repairs on both Chimney Tops Trail and Noland Creek Trail which received significant flood damage this winter. In North Carolina, Park crews will repair a slide area along Noland Creek Trail. In order to make the needed repairs, the trail will be closed to all hiker and horse use from April 22 – May 2, 2013 from the trailhead to Backcountry Campsite 64. Note that Campsite 64 will remain open, but Backcountry Campsite 65 will be closed during the project. In Tennessee, the popular Chimney Tops Trail has been closed since January when high waters destroyed the pedestrian bridge across Walker Camp Prong at the beginning of the trail. Crews are working to replace the 70-foot long bridge to allow trail access and estimate reopening the trail by June 30th, 2013. At that time, the Park’s Trails Forever Crew will begin Phase 2 of the ongoing full trail rehabilitation which will necessitate closing the trail each Monday through Thursday from Monday, July 1 through Thursday, October 17, while the trail continues to undergo a major facelift. For more information about trail closures, please visit the Park’s website atwww.nps.gov/grsm or call our Backcountry Information Office at 865-436-1297.

Some opening dates and closures for the Great Smoky Mountains 2013

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has altered the facility opening dates for many park facilities for the 2013 season. The delayed openings are a direct result of staffing and hiring limitations which impacted the Park’s ability to conduct preseason preparation work on its facilities. Because of the five percent budget reduction that is in place, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is closing three campgrounds, two picnic areas, one horse camp, and associated access roads, for the 2013 season. Facilities to remain closed in 2013 include: the Look Rock Campground and Picnic Area and the Abrams Creek Campground in Tennessee; the Balsam Mountain Campground and Picnic Area (including the associated Heintooga Ridge and Balsam Mountain Roads) and the Tow String Horse Camp in North Carolina. Secondary Roads are scheduled as follows: Round Bottom/Straight Fork Road will open April 1; Parsons Branch and Rich Mountain Road will both open on April 5; Roaring Fork Nature Trail and Little Greenbrier are set to open April 12. Heintooga Ridge and Balsam Mountain Roads will be closed for the season. Clingmans Dome Road has been open dependent on weather conditions since February 15, but will be officially open for the summer season on March 29. Operating Hours for Visitor Centers – The three visitor centers are open daily and the operating hours through March are as follows: Sugarlands Visitor Center, near Gatlinburg, TN, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Cades Cove Visitor Center, near Townsend, TN, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, NC, hours will be 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Operating Hours for Backcountry Office – The Backcountry Office located at the Sugarlands Visitor Center, near Gatlinburg, TN, is open every day from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Backcountry reservations and permits can be obtained online at www.smokiespermits.nps.gov or by calling 865-436-1297

Anthony Creek and Russell Fieled up to the Appalachian Trail

This 10.4 mile walk which took us up to the AT and the Russell Field Shelter for lunch began at Anthony Creek trailhead. We, the "Mysterious One" and I, parked at the trailhead located in the picnic area to the left just inside Cades Cove a little before 11am with cloudy skies and temperatures probably in the lower 50's. With the clouds and damp air from the rain the night before it felt cooler. The trails were somewhat muddy at times but that's why they make good boots! As we walked the 5.2 mls to the shelter at Russell Field, we made a few brief stops along the way one of which was at campsite #10, where we admired someones work from the night before in how they prepared their sleeping area. The leaves from some rodo's and a small perimeter ditch probably payed off handsomely with the overnight rains. After enjoying some leftover pizza for lunch at the shelter a through hiker (aka "The Yetti"), came through and asked about water availability between Russell and Spence Field shelters, as he had blisters and wanted to avoid hiking the .2 down to the water source for Russell. We told him that trailside water is scarce along this section and he'd probably be wise to fill up here. The "Mysterious One" offered to go fill it up for him but he went ahead and did it himself. She had spoken with his partner who had passed through about 45 minutes prior and who had told her of the "Yetti's" blister problem. As you see in one of the photos there was still some snow on the ground despite the warmer temps and rain. This route, in and out, is relatively moderate for those in good shape with a mellow incline most of the time, it has some views of Cades Cove in this season without leaves, and a not to much traffic. As we made our return down it began to rain lightly and we passed two men going up in jeans, cotton t-shirts and sneakers, one with a small pack?. I hope their day went well. Peace

A hike on Clear Creek Trail in Cherokee NF near Ocoee

This walk taken with the "Mysterious One", was up around the Ocoee White Water Center, and primarily along the Clear Creek Trail which we accessed off Hwy 30. The turn for highway 30 is on the left past the turn off for the Chilhowee Recreation area on Hwy 64. The seasonal Lake Ocoee was still holding some water though what remained had retreated far from it's banks. This trail is described by some as "moderately difficult", which is probably true for most, though anyone in good health could easily handle it at a steady pace. The inclines were fairly easy, though sometimes long with few switchbacks and the "rock-hoppin'" was not to difficult. The leaveless trees and shrubs gave way to some great views of the nearly dry lake below and big mountains in the distance which included the Big Frog at over 4000', and the big mountains over towards the TN/NC border, snow covered far off in the distance (probably the "Nani's"). It was another awesome walk with little human interaction to distract us from the song. Peace

Mt. Tamalpais State Park (CA)

The day began with a hike in Muir Woods as the goal however as we approached the area it was clear that we were not the only ones with that idea. The Mysterious One and I began to smile to each other, now being the "tourist", or at least for me being such. We drove by 3 full parking lots and began to notice cars parked along the side of the road for the next 1/4 ml+. As we did so I made a comment about Laurel Falls in the GSMNP, and the visitors there that use similar parking techniques. So as we continued along the parked cars we decided we'd see what else we could find to get into. A few minutes later we found a pull off for a horse camp and trail head in Tamalpais State Park, which would take us to a trail with a view of the Pacific Ocean in 1.3 mls. We followed this Connector Trail up a sometimes steep elevation from the start and after many switchbacks arrived at a turning point at the Coast View Trail.

We followed this trail another 1/2 ml+ gaining more elevation and some large comforting views of the ocean in one direction and mountains in the other.

This was a beautiful hike and one I hope to continue. Peace