Diane planned a week long trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, once again gathering the ladies and planning trails to mark off maps. I was planning to finish my last two trails so I can get that elusive 900 Miler sticker to put on my car. Since this was to be a celebration, Craig was allowed to attend our Ladies Easter Smokies get-together, privileged, honorary guest.
Judy met us at Cades Cove, but didn't want to hike Wet Bottoms with us, can't imagine why, it had only rained a little :) So we left one car on the road where we would exit and took the other car to the trailhead by Abrams Falls trail. Wet Bottoms earned its name, it looked like a stream. This trail is only 1 mile long, but when we ran out of trail at the creek, there was a path leading to the road. Since the creek was about 3 to 4 feet deep, no one wanted to cross so we hiked out to the road and walked to the Oliver place and went back on the trail. Hiked to the creek, turned around and hiked back to the exit. Turned a one miler into a two-three miler. Wasn't interested in swimming today.
We drove to Elkmont to camp only to find barriers at the entrance. Elmont was flooded and had been evacuated. The folks in charge told us to go to Sugarlands and wait, or go to Cades Cove to camp. We drove to a pull off where we could see the barrier, Gloria Dale pulled in. She had been at Elkmont earlier and tried to catch us before we left Cades Cove. She got there in time to see us go by, and tried to catch us before we got too far to no avail, even with flashing her lights at Nancy all the way to Elkmont. Diane chased down Judi at Sugarlands and we went back up that curvy little road thru the bear jam, again. Two campsites next to each other, 8 cars. We took over the pavilion for our fiesta fajita dinner with margaritas. Back to camp for a wonderful campfire.
Saturday, the big day for my last trail! Only the mountains conspired against that idea, SNOW on the mountain tops closed 441 and Clingmans Dome Road. So we hiked one of Linda's trails for her map. (thru the bear jam.) Chestnut Top Trail with lovely wildflowers. We hiked into White Oak Sink to view the gorgeous yellow lady slippers, thanks to dedicated searching. Then out on Schoolhouse Gap Trail. And back thru the bear jam. We got a fire going, and set up for dinner believing the rain to be finished. Jim, Carol and Lynelle came to join us and Carol was carrying a cake! She had it made for my celebration, cake was decorated with mountains, stream and wildflowers. We lifted glasses in celebration anyway because we had cake, champagne and Prosecco, wine and beer. And gifts from my sweet friends. And then the umbrellas popped open. What a rainbow of colors.
Sunday morning dawned bright and clear. 441 would probably open later today, maybe, not Clingmans Dome. So let's go to Deep Creek. Craig, Gloria Dale, and Linda headed home. The caravan headed to NC along the Foothills Parkway and the Dragons Tail. Merciful heavens.
We arrived at Deep Creek Campground, tents popped up. Garnett went toward trails she needed there, Diane, Amy, Nancy and I headed to Cooper Creek and the trout farm. Only the trout farm says no you can't park here. You can drive down this other road and find parking area to get you to Deeplow Gap. Only we searched and searched and the only parking we found was Thomas Divide trail, too far from Deeplow to hike today.
We found a sign for Hemlock Inn, and found a beautiful place (I just needed a place to pee). Somewhere we might like to stay sometime. Gorgeous mountain views from the porch and dining room. The proprietor answered the door and showed us around. Cool place.
Back to the campground we went. The other ladies took off to hike, I took off for more driving. Headed to Watts Bar Lake, Fooshee Pass Campground to meet Craig. He had set up our camper there for the next three nights. I had a beautiful drive, longer thanks to the GPS which led me Southwest, not NW. Over another curvy mountain road with beautiful views of mountains. The other ladies have many trails to cover the next few days, Happy Trails!
Thanks my friends! Diane, Nancy, Gloria Dale, Garnet, Linda, Amy, Judi. Y'all are the bestest!
Thanks to my sweet husband, Jim, Carol, and Lynelle, for coming to celebrate.
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