AT- Blue Ridge Gap to Wayah Bald

Day One: 8 Miles
Day Two: 11.9 Miles
Day Three: 12.2 Miles
Day Four: 12.4 Miles
Day Five: 1.9 Miles
Total:46.4 Miles

Our adventure started this time on the way to our trailhead. Charlies Creek Road (USFS 72) is listed as usually requires four-wheel-drive vehicles. We hiked down it last time to meet our shuttle.

It was bad then, but is worse now. A good test for the Outback. There was a large truck towards the bottom where he quit and walked up. When we got to the trail, there was another four wheel drive truck there. We talked to the guy that parked at the bottom. He was out for a day hike.

Shortly after we met Heading Out and Tagging-along. They were thru hikers, an older couple from Grand Rapids MI., we saw them a few times along the trail. They had registered in as number 197 and 198 leaving from Amicalola Falls. They figured that around 500 hikers have headed out for Maine so far this year. Some starting in Janurary because of the warmer weather. We never even thought about the thru hikers. We had alot of company on this hike!

Three miles in we crossed the Georgia / North Carolina boarder. There is a tree there with a piece of pipe nailed to it. I guess it used to hold a journal at one time. Now there is a simple sign there. From there you go to Bly Gap and we got our picture with the famous gnarled oak tree. Our first views were from Courthouse Bald. The climb from Blue Ridge Gap to Courthouse bluff was strenous.

We did the side trip to Ravenrock Cliff which adds 1.2 miles on and is well worth it. On the way to the cliff you pass an old plane crash site from the 1970's off the side of the trail.

When we got to the Muskrat Creek Shelter there were numerous tents plus four people sitting in the shelter. According to our description this is a better water source so we collected water and then moved on to Whiteoak Stamp where we camped in peace by ourselves. We were entertained by two owls talking back and forth with each other early in the evening. Sometime in the early morning we got some heavy rain but it cleared up by the time we got up.

The next morning we got up and headed out. We stopped at Deep Gap for a snack before the climb up Standing Indian Mt. Standing Indian Mountain is the highest point south of the Smokies and the southern most mile-high peak on the AT. Heading Out and Tagging-along stopped and visited with us for a while. Then we started the climb up Standing Indian Moutain. As we passed the Standing Indian shelter we could hear voices of other hikers taking a break there. We did the side trail up to the summit of 5498 feet. Here we took in the great view while we ate lunch and dried out the equipment.

After lunch we headed back down the mountain. We passed Heading Out and Tagging-along who were just stopping for lunch. We stopped for the night at Carter Gap Shelter. Here we set up our tent at the old shelter location where only a floor remains. We met Virgina who was hiking alone and had his wife resupplying him every three days. We also met Joe who was hiking 18 mile days.

Virgina owns a Bed and Breakfast in Virgina. We will cross him several more times. That night as we sat by the fire another thru hiker, an 18 year old from Knoxville, came to visit with us. He didn't really have any plan. Just gonna hike to Maine. We got to hear some coyotes that night.

We got up and headed out the next morning. Our 18 year old was still fast asleep. We stopped at Betty Creek Gap for a snack. The big feature of the day was Albert Moutain and the tower. You get some great views from Big Butt Mountain as you walk along the cliffs before you get there. We passed the barefoot hiker. Yep, there are some out there! As the book says "The trail becomes nearly vertical in spots, but log steps and well-placed rocks make good foot and handholds. (Fortunately the trail twists through the rhododendron thickets, so you never have to look at the whole climb all at once. It will seem like a long 0.3 miles." You gain 400 feet in that 0.3 mile. We passed Virginia on the way up. Once on top you can climb the stairs to the tower, but the observation deck was locked. You still get wonderful views all the way around.

We hiked on. We stopped at a campsite on the ridge and walked through to see the view on the other side. After we walked on a mile we realized that that was supposed to be our campsite. Oops. We decided to go ahead on to the Rock Gap shelter. We passed a couple coming up the mountain carrying duffle bags in front of them and heavy sleeping bags on their backs. They were wearing blue jeans and said between the teeth that they had left "we heading to pringer." Not sure that is going to happen?

Further down the trail we came across a tote hanging in a bag on a tree. A trail angel left food in it and a sign telling her story of hiking last year and that she was trying to give back. She was congratulating hikers on passing the 100 mile mark on the AT. Another switch back and we came across the angel coming up with a couple of Kroger sacks to refill her tote. She had hiked the trail last year and was now going to Park Ranger school. Thank you Gingersnap.

At Rock Gap shelter the folks started pouring in. We ended up with two girls that had hiked 24 miles that day, four guys, our 18 year old stopped by and then hiked on, and two older guys that walked in late from the road carring beer. More trail angels. They just came for the stories and left. One girl was from California, one from Wisconsin, one guy from Pennsylvania, one from Atlanta, one from Florida.

At the bottom of Rock Gap at the edge of the woods is an old AT sign that lists Mt. Oglethorpe as the final AT destination to the South. The present southern terminus is Springer Mt. and has been since 1958.

The next day we hiked down to Winding Stair Gap. A black man looking like Rambo walked up from the road and asked if anyone else was coming. I was thinking "Here we go!" Luckily he was just needing to use the privy. He had been dropped off with two girls and they were heading North too. We stopped at the water fall to cool down before the steep climb up Siler Bald. Hawk, a man with a mohawk, who had passed us at Albert Mt passed us again. He had gone to Franklin for supplies and a cold hotel room. During a rest period another heavy set couple went by. After passing I look and yes, he was wearing a skirt! Lora said it was a kilt, but to me it was a skirt. We saw them again at the top of Siler Bald. Not the summit. They said that it was not on the trail.

Another Michigan man stopped by for a visit before we left. He said he hadn't been serious about hiking the whole trail until his family and his church threw him big send off parties. Now the pressure was on.

We left skirt man and his girl on the trail and began the 0.2 climb to the summit. Siler Bald sits at 4900 feet. Another couple doing a day hike, Rebecca and Paul, joined us after we had everything spread out for lunch. 360 degree view at the top.

We hiked down to Wayah Gap and started the steep climb up to Wayah Bald. There was a tent and a hammock set up about half way. I think they gave up in the heat and finished later that evening.

We made camp at the Bartram Trail intersection where there is a nice campsite and a good spring at the bottom of a hill. As soon as we got the tent out, in came the other folks. Four more tents went up. One lady who quit her job, sold her house and furniture to hike the trail, two guys from California, and one sick guy who had been to the walk in clinic in town for antibiotics. Feel better dude. One guy started to bed before dark and we told him he had to wait for the stars to come out. He looked around for a couple minutes, said I see a star, goodnight.

Last morning on the trail. Fog had rolled in during the early morning hours and we were worried about Mom and Dad driving up the mountain to pick us up. We had a small descent then the rest was uphill in the fog. You come out of the woods onto pavement??? The parking area for Wayah Tower is to the right and the tower is to the left. There is an upscale privy in the parking area, block walls and skylights! The observation tower was built in 1935 at the 5342 foot summit. We climbed the tower so we could see the fog from a higher location. After a short wait Mom and Dad showed up at the parking lot and walked back to the tower with us. The fog had lifted a little and we could see some of the mountains in the distance. They told us it was bright and sunny all the way there until they got to the top of the mountain.

We loaded up and headed down the mountain to the sunshine and a picnic table. Mom had fixed a WONDERFUL picnic lunch, sandwiches, potato salad, brownies, and strawberries. They are the best shuttle service ever!

After we got back to Blue Ridge Gap, we took Mom and Dad for a hike up the mountain to our car. Then we gave them a joy ride down. Weeeee! A turkey crossed the road as we were loading from one car to the other.

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Hidden Passage Trail

I hiked Saturday with Nancy Juodenas and Amy Sutton from the Nashville chapter of TTA at Pickett State Park. It sure was a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky, and warm sunshine. This trail is also part of the Sheltowee Trace Trail so you see the white turtle blazes along with the green blazes. Right away we saw a small arch and overhang and then Crystal Falls. The trail then takes you across the top of the falls, watch your step, it would be a quick decent. We saw lots of rock shelters and overhangs, some look like you could explore if you’re willing to crawl. We walked along rock walls for a while. The colors in the rock are so pretty with so many patterns. We saw trailing arbutus blooming among the ledges in the rock walls.

We decided to take the side trail to Double Falls. We had to wade across Thompson Creek to get to the Falls. OMG that water was COLD! I didn’t even notice the rocks I was stepping on crossing; my feet were numb halfway across. The falls were spectacular. One hiking pole was dropped and had to be retrieved. My hiking pole was missing….left it by the creek while putting my boots back on. Found it when we stopped to take our boots back off to cross back over the creek. I told them any time we stopped to make sure I have it when we take off again, that’s usually Craig’s job.

We stopped for lunch at Thompson’s Overlook and kicked back on the warm rock for a little while. We saw 2 backpackers and 2 hikers on the trail.
Wildflowers seen: bluets, wild strawberry blooms, yellow violets, and trailing arbutus.

It was a 10 mile loop including to side trip to Double Falls which is 2 miles (out and back). There is also another side trail to an abandoned railroad tunnel that would be another option. We hiked past the Group Camp and then along the top of a rock wall and across another small arch.

We drove around the park, Nancy pointed out the cabins that she and her family have spent vacations in, and seeing where all the trailheads are. It’s a really pretty State Park.

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Maudes Crack

Old Parch Corn Road 2.5
John Muir to overlook 6.6
John Muir back to No Business 1.3
No Business 0.1
Longfield Branch 0.7
Terry Cemetery Road 1.1
Total Miles: 12.3

Lora and I started out our hike on the Old Parch Corn Road. This is an unmarked unkept trail, which trail head is 0.6 miles from Watson Cemetery Road. As soon as you cross the downed trees look for the old road bed going off to the left. If you miss it like we did, then you will follow the other road until you loose it. Turn around and try again. Most of this old road bed is somewhat clear. You do have to leave the trail in a few spots to find your way around dead falls and briers. On this trail you will see many rock formations and rock shelters. The last part follows the Parch Corn Creek down to the Big South Fork Cumberland River. The John Litton Cabin remains are seen at the end of the trail.

We followed the John Muir trail along the Cumberland River until you go up Big Branch and made camp along the creek. It was a clear night with lots of stars. We enjoyed the peace next to the campfire.

The next morning we followed the John Muir up to Maudes Crack. It is not marked at the bottom, but if you follow the trails to the rock formation just before the trail leaves it you will find Maudes Crack. This crack was used by "Maude" as a short cut into the gorge. We climbed up the crack and took in the views from the overlook. We then climbed back down the crack and took the John Muir trail down to No Business Creek. We checked out the old remains of the community and a wild turkey. From there we took the trail to the John Muir overlook.

The John Muir overlook is a rock outcropping that looks down on the No Business Creek Gorge. On the way back down from the overlook we ate our lunch by the staircase. We did our second Old fashion foot washing crossing the No Business Creek to follow the Longfield Branch trail. The Longfield Branch trail is now a gravel upkept road that will take you back up to Terry's cemetery. Then we walked the Terry Cemetery Road back to our car.

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Oregon 2012

Made a trip out to Oregon to see the girls and grandbabies. Had a great time. Took in a NBA game and did the Portland nightlife. Enjoyed Salem.

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Scott's Gulf

Yellow Bluff Trail 2.2 Miles
Polly Branch Falls Trail 0.9
Jenny Branch Falls Trail 0.4
Caney Fork River Trail 3.5
Total 7 Miles

Lora was supposed to be backpacking, but it got cancelled due to weather. I was going to hike with the Plateau Chapter, but they cancelled due to weather. We decided to just go anyway and enjoy the snow.

We headed out to Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness Wildlife Management Area in Sparta. There was about an inch of snow on the ground and the temps around 25 degrees.

We parked at the Yellow Bluff Trailhead and headed North on the trail. We took some pictures from Boar Hog Gap Overlook and then headed on. The water falls were looking good. We got to see the Upper Polly Branch Falls, Jenny Branch Falls, Lower Polly Branch Falls, and Bee- Branch Falls.

We startled a few deer and got to see the Red Cardinals flying around in the snow. We stopped at Joe Holloway Rock House for a couple of pictures too.

Most of these trails are old road beds. They are very well marked at intersections and sights with metal signs. There is not a sign at the intersection of Yellow Bluff and Caney Fork pointing towards Yellow Bluff and at the end of Yellow Bluff where it turns before you hit the road, the trail fades out. I guess most people take the road back to the trailhead.

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Chilly Chili Hike

January 28
The last few days had started out at 50 degrees and got warmer thru the day. I was wondering how the Chilly part of the hike would turn out. Saturday dawned at a chilly 28 degrees and partly cloudy sky. I guess the Poteets have a lot of pull with the Man in charge of the weather. 32 hikers showed up at the trailhead for Bridal Veil Falls. I met some for the first time, and reconnected with a couple of ladies I had hiked with a while back. Hi Denise and Cathleen!

This is a really pretty trail on the grounds of the Sewanee Domain, University of the South. The trail was a little slick thanks to the heavy rain the day before. Bridal Veil Falls was beautiful, lots of water that tumbles down the bluff and then goes underground. We hiked back up the hill and around the bluff line looking into the beautiful valley below.

Back at the cars we headed to the Poteets lovely home for the Chili part of the hike. Lots of wonderful chili, cornbread, and lots of side dishes,and so many desserts..brownies, cake, breads, cookies, green fluff,.mmmmm sugar high. While we were eating Jim pointed out a hawk sitting on one of their birdfeeders, waiting for lunch I think.

Thanks to Marietta and Jim for the hike and the Southern hospitality. It sure was a beautiful day.

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Samantha's Birthday

We got to have the Grandbabies over the weekend. We celebrated Samatha's birthday and our Nephew's birthday as well. A great time was had.

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Joyce Kilmer Wilderness Area

Joyce Kilmer Memorial trail 2.0
Jenkins Meadow trail 0.9
Connector trail 0.9
Naked Ground Trail 1.6
Day one total: 5.4 Miles

Naked Ground Trail 2.7
Haoe Lead Trail 0.6
Stratton Bald Trail 7.9
Road Walk .25
Day two total: 11.45 Miles
Total Hike: 16.85 Miles

Lora and I headed to NC for the weekend. We had heard about the Joyce Kilmer Wilderness Area and wanted to check it out.

The Cherohala Skyway is worth checking out by itself. A beautiful drive with views of mountains as far as you can see. As soon as we crossed the boarder the roads were covered with packed snow and ice. We figured that we would be in snow as we were going to hike up to 5336 feet.

Our first stop was the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. There is a two mile figure eight trail which covers the biggest trees in the area. Well worth the drive. After that we went to the Jenkins Meadow Trailhead to park. We took this trail to the Naked Ground Trail.

The Naked Ground trail climbs along the Little Santeetiah Creek up to Naked Ground Gap. There are many huge trees all along this trail. We camped just after the Adamcamp Branch.

We got some flurries as we hung out around the campfire. We got to see some clear stars early in the night before the flurries. Sometime in the night we had a visitor. Not sure what critter it was. Lora said she heard clucking noises, I heard some kind of snorting noise, and something bumped our cooking pot. We didn't find any tracks in the morning.

We got on the trail and not far after that we came across the hollow yellow poplar approximately 16 feet in circumference. Yea, we had to get inside it.

The snow got deeper as we climbed and we saw coyote tracks, mouse tracks and bobcat tracks. There was one tree down that, yes, I got stuck with my turtle shell. Lora, after finally getting over the laughing fit and taking pictures, had to push down on my pack so I could get through.

The total climb on this trail was 2560 feet. The last section was 1060 feet in 1.2 miles. Now that will work those legs and lungs! We had about three inches of snow on the top and it felt like a twenty degree drop in temperature. We got in some good views and then topped off our water at the spring. It doesn't take long to filter water when you have no feeling in your hands.

We took the Haoe Lead trail to the Stratton Bald trail and up to Bob Stratton Bald. There besides all the views, we got to meet a group of hikers from UTC. They were doing two nights out. We headed back down Stratton Bald trail and dropped down off the side where we ate lunch.

On the way down we met a father and two sons that were backpacking up. On the lower half of the trail you get some wonderful views off Horse Cove Ridge. Then you cross back over to the Joyce Kilmer side for some more huge trees. The trail continues down till you get back to the road. You have a quarter mile walk back to the parking area.

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Rock Creek

January 7, 2012
Rock Creek Hike

Soddy Daisy TTA had a hike at Rock Creek scheduled for today and it's just 20 minutes from the house to the trailhead. Nine hikers showed up in the parking lot. We took 2 cars to Retro Hughes trailhead for the shuttle back. Back at the Lower trailhead, we started out with
George Bonneau leading the hike. It rained on us for a little while and two of our hikers turned back. Two more were only going for a while and then going back. So the other 5 of us hiked thru the shower and on down the trail. It was a beautiful day to be in the woods. The creeks were all flowing and the water cascading down the falls was so pretty.

We stopped for lunch at the Rock Creek bridge then hiked up out of the gorge. This is one of the prettiest sections of the Cumberland Trail. You get it all on this trail: ups, downs, rock walls, overlooks, creeks, cascades, hardwood forest, pine forest, rocky trail, pine needle covered trail, swimming holes if you want to get wet, birds singing, ice falling.......beautiful in every season.

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AT- Neels Gap to Blue Ridge Gap

Day One: Neels Gap to Whitley Gap Shelter 6.7 Miles
Parking to Neels Gap 0.5
Day Two: Whitley Gap Shelter to Blue Mt. Shelter 11.8
Low Gap Shelter 0.2 Miles
Day Three: Blue Mt. Shelter to Swag of the Blue Ridge 11.1
Tray Mt. Shelter 0.4 Miles
Day Four: Swag of the Blue Ridge to Plumorchard Gap 11.6
Deep Creek Shelter 0.6
Day Five: Plumorchard Gap to Blue Ridge Gap 1.2
Road walk 72 and down Upper Hightower Road 2.0
Total Miles: 46.1

Lora and I headed down to Georgia to Neels Gap where we left off our last AT hike. The trailhead parking is 0.5 miles before you get to Neels Gap. We had a light mist going on which turned into sleet the higher we climbed up Levelland Mountain 3900 ft. It is good to have a warm up at the beginning of the trail.

Day One:
Cowrock Mountain has a beautiful view, but no pictures due to the moisture. The views are wonderful as you descend down to Tesnatee Gap. The climb up Wildcat Mountain is tough, especially at the end of the day. There is a great view from the top as well. It was getting dark and we set up camp at the trailhead leading to Whitley Gap Shelter. The sleet and wind were both getting stronger. We cooked from the tent and ate in bed.

Day Two:
The wind blew like a Banshee according to Lora that night. We woke up to a white winter wonderland. It snowed during the night. We had breakfast in bed with the wind still blowing at gale force. We packed quickly and headed down to Hogpen Gap. We were surprised to see the amount of cars at every trailhead that we came to. Lot's of hikers out.

We saw our first person, who was packing up, on our climb out of Hogpen Gap. During our hike today there are wonderful views of the the surrounding mountains through the trees. You could see Mt. Yonah all day, which pokes up with a rock face.

We stopped at Low Gap shelter and visited with Keeps and his brother who were thru hikers coming South. We didn't even think about the Southbounders, but this is the time of year that they finish their six month hike.

From Low Gap you follow an old road bed up to Poplar Stamp Gap. We stopped and ate our lunch here. We passed another thru hiker who was hiking with Keeps and passed a message on for him. We saw another couple who were backpacking and a family group that were backpacking.

We saw a few more backpackers at Chattahoochee Gap, where the spring is actually the head waters for for the Chattahoochee River.

It felt like a twenty degree difference between the sunny side and shady side of the mountains. The snow has started melting on the sunny side. We continued the climb up Blue Mountain and stayed at the Blue Mountain Shelter. We had time to dry out the tent before we set it up and gathered firewood. There was a young couple that stopped by that were day hiking in from Unicoi Gap.

We sat by the fire and enjoyed a beautiful star filled sky.

Day Three:
The wind was blowing strong and cold when we got up. We pulled everything into the shelter and packed in there. As we ate breakfast a couple of backpackers came into camp. One had actually built the shelter that we were standing in. We finished the climb of Blue Mountain and started the long descent into Unicoi Gap.

Again there were many cars in the parking lot. From there we did the steep climb up Rocky Mountain. We met two more thru hikers that were hiking with the previous group. When we got to the top we stopped for a break. There were two young boys from Atlanta that had stayed out overnight here and froze. They found out that they were not prepared for this temperature. I had to take a picture of the fire ring here. It came up to Lora's knees. Why do people build such big fire rings? There were some great views from on top.

From Rocky Mountain you have a very long and steep decent into Indian Grave Gap. Here we met a couple of day hikers. One was from Appleton, Wisconsin, where my sister had lived. We ate lunch on our way up Tray Mountain. We met alot of people on our way up. We got to the clearing where a Cheese Factory had been located in 1840. NO cheese!

After a strenuous climb up Tray Mountain, we got some wonderful views. There were two guys and a dog hanging out at the top. We had lots of ice on the rocks during the climb. There are alot of blackberry briers all over this mountain. We saw alot of Galax growing all along this section of the trail.

We stopped at the Tray Mountain Shelter for water. There was an old man and a grandson staying here. From here we started the long descent down Tray mountain. There is a marked water source at Steeltrap Gap that is not noted on the map. The two guys and their dog from the top of the mountain were setting up camp here. We went on to Swag of the Blue Ridge to make camp.

The wood was wet and we had a cold fire. We were tired anyway and didn't stay by the fire long.

Day Four:
Kelly Knob was rough. They didn't waste any time making switchbacks here. Straight up. Good views and you could see Chatuge Lake to the East. After another deep descent we stopped at Deep Gap Shelter for some water. This is an old well built shelter that actually has windows in the loft.

We got spooked twice. Once by a Grouse and the other time by some day hikers as we were stopped for lunch at Wolf Stake Knob. They came up behind us and we never heard them till they were on us. We then spent the afternoon descending from Powell Mountain to Dicks Creek Gap. Another pile of cars here. We got out of site from the road and stopped for a nap in the sun.

There is a steep decent into and climbing out of Cowart Gap. It seemed like we climbed Buzzard Knob forever. Finally we started down to Plumorchard Gap were we spent the night. Another peaceful night by the fire with the stars shining from above.

The wind picked up that night. It woke us a couple of times hollowing through the night.

Day Five:
We got up and ate breakfast. We got our water from the spring and then headed up AS Knob. We got off the trail at Blue Ridge Gap and hiked down Forest service road 72 to meet our ride. We were early so hiked another mile down Upper Hightower Creek road to get to a phone service. We used Sam Duke 706-994-6633 again for our ride.

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