MLK Smoky Mountain Weekend 2019

Time for another gathering in the beautiful cabin in Pigeon Forge. Garnett  secured our home for the weekend of food, hiking, food, games, food, hiking, and more food. 12 ladies: Amy,  Betty, Cathy, Dianna, Garnett, Gloria Dale, Kathy, Linda, Lora, Marietta, Nancy, Sue.

Nancy scheduled some great hikes. I didn't make the one on Thursday at Little Briar Gap, but the one on Friday made up for it. Rainbow Fall/Bullhead Loop. We got into snow and ice in the higher elevations. It was slippery and treacherous in places, making it difficult to stay upright. It was beautiful though, with the frozen timber and snow on the branches. Eerie in the fog especially the burned area from the 2016 fires. I leaned up against a rock that looked clean, and the black streaks on my pack and pants told a different story. There's ash/soot on everything, thought the rainy season we've had would wash it all away. There's growth sprouting from the burned rhododendron and mountain laurel, and little pines popping up all over. Beauty from the ashes. The icy conditions had us coming out after dark so a few of us got out a little earlier and got dinner started. I waited for the others to cross the log bridge at the end of the trail to make sure everyone had a light. They all did because they are always prepared (good hiker rules.) It sure was good to get to the cabin and find food! And a hot tub (Linda)!

Saturday morning we went back to Cherokee Orchard Road to hike Baskins Creek since the planned hike (Trillium Gap) was a little too long after yesterday, and rain was scheduled to come soon. At the trailhead the wind was howling and the area had been burned so the trees swaying made us change our minds and get down in elevation for a hike along the Gatlinburg Trail. Then coffee and hot chocolate at Ober Gatlinburg and a little shopping, back to the cabin for a relaxing afternoon. Cathy blessed us with music and singing, with Betty's sweet soprano accompanying. I took a drive on Walden Creek Road. There's a pretty horse farm, Walden Creek Stables, and some interesting buildings and barns. Laurel Grove School and Church. When I got back the ladies had planned a surprise for Betty. We toasted her engagement with some champagne and joy.

Sunday we returned to Cherokee Orchard Road for Trillium Gap. We used the spur on the Motor Nature Trail Road to make the hike a little shorter. I was determined to get past Grotto Falls this time. At the Falls, it was icy and I thought we were going to have to abandon it again. Nancy said "if you can get across and get past those icy rocks on the other side I will follow you." I attacked the ice with my hiking pole and busted it loose from enough places to step and stayed low just in case, and I made it! and Nancy, Dianna and Garnett followed! Everyone else waved bye and went back down the trail. No one had been on this side of the falls, walking in the pristine snow untouched except for critter prints was breathtaking. Creek crossings made ice stick to our boots and pant legs, everyone was bundled up climbing higher and higher. My camera was too cold for the battery to work, so I got my phone out to take pictures at the junction with Brushy Mountain. Nancy had a thermos of hot Emergency C and toasted the completion of getting this segment done! Now we just had to get back down before we froze. Same creek crossings added to the ice on Diana and Garnett's gaiter strings and boot laces, cute little pom poms. Our poles tips were frozen. My nose was frozen until the sun broke thru. Glorious sunshine, and sunshine songs from Nancy! Sparkly diamond crusted trees. Happy Hikers! Back to the cabin for snacks, then Amy and I cooked tacos for dinner with margaritas and Jose. Ole'. Watching football made for a rowdy bunch with a little cough medicine and gambling.
Me and Dianna and Betty took a brisk evening walk, waiting for the moon to show up. It did, but I didn't stay up to watch the Blood Moon eclipse. The plans for Monday was supposed to be, pack up close the cabin, Cades Cove, Wet Bottoms Trail, 1 mile, or two out and back. Everyone decided to go home instead. I got up early and had to thaw out my car doors to get them open. It was 14 degrees.

Beautiful weekend, great friends, food and conversation.

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MLK 2018

Garnett scheduled another great long weekend at Roscoe's Retreat. 12 hiking ladies: Nora, Marietta, Cathy, Dianna, Nancy, Gloria Dale, Sue, Kathy, Linda, Betty, Carol, and me. Garnett's recent knee surgery kept her from being there and we missed her so much. We Face timed with her to keep her updated on activities. Nancy did a super job scheduling hikes but Mother Nature decided to throw a few snow showers and a little rain in the mix and the Park decided to close some roads. Thursday's hike was part of Old Sugarlands Trail. I didn't get there early enough for that one. I did get there in time for supper.

Friday we hiked Twin Creeks, and then the Gatlinburg Trail which somehow led to a rustic restaurant for some hot coffee and hot chocolate and the BIGGEST cinnamon roll I have ever seen. Almost like trail magic.

Saturday Plan B due to road closures, was Cove Mountain, passing pretty Cataract Falls, seeing views of Mount LeConte  and following the boundary of the Park. Not sure how far we hiked in, and then back out. The snacks were ready for us when we returned to the cabin and a few ladies got a little hot tub soak in with the refreshing 18 degree air out on the deck.

Sunday we drove to Tremont Institute to leave cars for a shuttle. There was a lot of snow on the road driving in, but the closed gate kept us from getting to the Middle Creek Trailhead. Plan B, no shuttle required. Lumber Ridge trail out and back. This is really pretty winter time trail, with the views into the Middle Prong of the Little River Valley, and Walker Valley. Not too far from the saddle of the ridge, I spotted 3 wild hogs, big and solid black. Marietta and Betty were with me, ahead of the others, so we were the only ones to see them. We turned around at Buckhorn Gap at the junction of Meigs Mountain, and Meigs Creek Trails. It was a quick lunch stop, as was all the other lunch stops, too cold to sit for long. Back at the Institute, 3 of us wanted some more hike time, so Marietta, Nancy and I hiked to Spruce Flat Falls. The Falls was just beautiful with all the ice. But the views along the ridge line were worth the climb up. All the timber in the upper elevations was frozen and snow covered and the sun was making it sparkle. Breathtaking! We had to stop and soak up this scenery.
Back at the cabin, more snacks awaited the hungry hikers. A little football watching and some Mexican Train domino action made a great evening. And a little Victoria on Masterpiece.

Monday's forecast was more snow coming to Nashville, so we packed up, cleaned out the leftovers for breakfast, some of our ladies headed for home. The rest of us headed to Trillium Gap Trail. Gloria Dale and I both need this one for map marking, to the junction with Brushy Mountain. It was another cold start but the sun was shining. We saw a large buck, 6 point I think, and a few does. After climbing for a while, 3 of our ladies said goodbye and turned back, and 4 of us kept trekking along. We got to Grotto Falls, which was absolutely gorgeous, and ice covered behind the falls, and  ice and snow covered part of the rocks intended for rock hopping across the creek, and 4 wise ladies decided it wasn't a good day for crossing the creek. We turned around with lips pooched out, disappointed at not being able to finish this trail. The pouting didn't last long, it was too beautiful of a day to pout. We started back carefully crossing the smaller creek only to see Marietta jump in the creek to save her hiking pole. Tough ladies, my hiking friends are. We met a lot of people hiking up while we hiked down. Saw the deer again at the bottom. We said our last goodbyes at the parking lot.

Another great weekend filled with good friends, good food, and fun times.
And I got two more trails marked off my map!

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