AT- Wayah Bald to Fontana Dam

Wayah Bald to Rocky Bald 8 Miles
Rocky Bald to Jump Up 14.2
Jump Up to Brown Fork Gap 11
Brown Fork Gap to Cable Gap 6.1
Cable Gap to Fontana Dam 6.9
Total Miles: 46.2

Well we finally got another five day section of the AT in.  We started back at Wayah Bald where we left off last time.  This time we actually had a view from the tower as last time we were clouded in.  It was around two o'clock when we headed out.  We stopped by the Wayah Bald shelter to check it out and then headed on down the mountain.  We crossed 1397 and started climbing Copper Ridge Bald.  The Cold Spring Shelter is right on the trail.  They have just finished remodeling it and it looks good.  We really appreciate the trail maintainers and volunteer workers.  We climbed up Rocky Bald and took the side trail up the rock to see the views.  Then we hiked down to the campsite just down and on the left with the spring at it.  This was night one right at eight miles in.  We saw some giant grasshoppers, a turkey, and one hiker in this section.  We heard owls that night as we set up camp and were sitting around the campfire.

DAY TWO
We got up in the morning knowing that we had 12 miles to make today.  When we got to Tellico Gap we found a couple of trucks with hunters and dogs.  They were hunting bear and as we started up the trail we heard the dogs doing there tracking.  We listened to them for quite some time as there path was heading the same as the trail.  We climbed up to Wesser Bald and climbed the lookout tower.  It was another beautiful 360 degree view.  We had to get a picture of all the moss growing on the trees by the tower.

We stopped for lunch and while we were visiting, I heard a noise in the leaves.  I asked Lora to be quite and we listened as it got closer.  A gray fox walked right up to within ten feet of us.  He stared at us for a while and did the head bob thing.  After he didn't get anything out of us, he turned around and went back down the side of the mountain.

After lunch we came to the "Jump up" or boulder outcropping that had a great view of the valley below.  We passed a father with two sons doing a backpack.  We continued the steep descent down to the NOC.  We saw a building that was right off the trail which we first thought was a shelter and then decided that maybe it was a fancy hunting blind.  Later on down the trail we found the Rufus Morgan Shelter.  When we got to the NOC we were tired of going downhill.  The NOC is seasonal so the store and restaurant is the only businesses open in the winter.  We were going to use the restroom facilities across the river but we found those locked as well.  We crossed the railroad tracks and start the climb out of the river gorge.  This is when we thought about the water that we were going to get at the NOC.  Well, we counted on the spring at the campground before Grassy Gap.

We passed another couple hiking the other direction.  The lady had sprained her ankle and was hopping slowly down the trail.  Not a good day for her.

When we got to the campground we realized that there was no water.  Our next choice was to keep going until we found some.  We finally found a spring coming out of a rock area across the trail.  We filled up and then the hunt was on for a flat spot with our headlamps on.  After we climbed the "Jump Up" there was a flat spot next to the trail and we called it a night.  Our twelve mile day had turned into a fourteen mile day.  No fire, just rest tonight.

DAY THREE
We slept in this morning.  We had cut our eight mile hike today down to six miles so we slowly got ready and climbed toward Cheoah Bald.  We stopped at the Sassafras Gap shelter and filled our water up.  Cheoah Bald, the last time I was up here with Dad and Steve was a beautiful cloud.  This time you could see for miles and miles.  The sun was shining and the views were wonderful.  We took us a good rest before we descended to Locust Cove Gap.  We passed some more bear hunters and their dogs.

It was lunch time now so we studied the map and trail descriptions.  We were feeling good and there was a piped spring at Stecoah Gap.  It would only be an eight mile day, nine if we went to the next level spot.  Off we went!

After the major descent into Stecoah Gap we were pretty much tired out.  We went in search of our piped spring.  We searched and searched to no avail.  Finally we broke out the map and found the 2.5 miles to Brown Fork Gap shelter the next water.  We started the climb and came across two backpackers coming down the trail drinking beer.  Wow, they are good!  After talking to them, they told us there was beer just ahead on the side of the trail.  No, I did not run Lora over......it was more of a push.  After my beautiful wonderful beer, I was in happy land hiking up the trail wondering why Lora was not so happy.

There is one hell of climb to get up to Brown Fork  from Sweetwater Gap.  It was killer after a long day.  We got into the shelter just as it got dark enough to use a headlamp.  Our short day had now been eleven miles.  We did a campfire and watched the shooting stars for a while before bed.  

DAY FOUR
We slept in and then enjoyed breakfast around the fire.  We packed up and hiked about three miles then took a break at Cody Gap.  After a short nap we continued our hike.  We stopped for lunch and if someone would have hiked by us he would have though that we were in a wreck.  Our shoes were off, our packs scattered, and we were laying by the trail fast asleep.  The last couple of days had caught up to us.  We only had six miles to do today to get back on our schedule so we took advantage of it.

Cable Gap shelter kind of sneaks up on you.  Your walking the side of a mountain and all of the sudden there it is.  We set up camp, gathered wood, and collected water.  It wasn't long before we had a fire going, dinner done, and watched the stars come out.  We slept well again, except for the one visitor that got my full attention in the middle of the night.  I heard it coming from the shelter and walk around the tent.  It walked away for a few steps and then nothing.  I listened and listened.  I knew I needed to use the bathroom now, but I waited.  Finally I unzipped the tent to find that it was gone and we were all alone.  It had to be a bear with as heavy and loud it was walking.

DAY FIVE
This was our final day.  We had 6.9 miles to Fontana Dam.  Another beautiful morning and a hiking we went.  I did have to make contact with our shuttle as there was no service last night.  After a few different attempts, I finally got to leave a message for them.

Somewhere before Walker Gap we came across a thru hiker.  As he was talking he said that he had got caught in the Smoky's in a snow storm.  Lora of course said that she had read in the news paper where a hiker had to be rescued by helicopter from the AT and he said yes, that was him.  Solo has a journal that you must read of his survival in the shelter.  He went to sleep in the shelter to wake up to over four feet of snow when hurricane Sandy went through.  Check out his link!  He was now finishing the trail with two very injured feet and with a very positive attitude.

We began the long decent down to Fontana Lake.  By the time we got to the bottom the knees and feet were hurting a bit.  Another mile and a half and we made it to the dam where Mom and Dad were waiting for us.

We did a late lunch at the NOC and then they took us to our car.  We walked back out to the tower so that they too could see the view that they missed the last trip.

Pictures:

Roaring Creek - Cumberland Trail

Lora and I headed out to hike the Roaring Creek segment of the Cumberland trail.  This trailhead is in Graysville off Brayton Mountain Road and is a two mile section that has not been connected yet to any other section of the trail.  We met the Plateau Chapter of the Tennessee Trails Association at the trailhead.  They had just finished the hike.  The trail follows Roaring Creek and then turns uphill and ends currently at an overlook of Graysville.  From the overlook you can see the mountains of East Tennessee and the Soddy Nuclear Plant.  We got to watch a hawk flying over while we were eating our lunch.

Pictures:

Map:

Pilot/Wine Loop Trail - Big South Fork

Day One:
Pilot / Wines Loop 8.2 miles
Day Two:
Pilot / Wines Loop 5
Dome Rockhouse 1.2 miles
Pilot / Wines Loop 1.6
Bronco Overlook trail 1.8 miles
Total Miles: 17.8

Lora and I headed out for an overnight hike.  We went to the Big South Fork area and hiked the Pilot Wine loop plus a little extra.

We started out at the Station Camp East trailhead and hiked counterclockwise.  We passed a quite a few horse riders out this time.  The last time that I hiked this trail with Troy, we missed Pilot Rock.  I was determined not to miss it this time.  Once again as we hiked through the rock wall section when the trail turned steeply downhill off to the right, I pulled out the trail description.  There is no trail to Pilot rock.  There may have been at one time, so Lora and I headed straight out the ridge and BANG, there it is.  You cannot see it from the trail, but a few yards in and there is a huge rock sitting on top of the ridge.  I was excited to find it this time!

After Pilot rock we headed down to Grassy branch where we followed the horse trail off down stream to find a place to camp.  If you stay to the right and go upstream on Williams branch there is a place in the woods that makes a good campsite.  We did some exploring in the area after we set up camp and collected firewood.  We heard a couple of owls that night.

The next morning we got up and started the steep climb out of the river gorge.  The leaves that were still hanging on were green or red making a pretty picture.  There were so many leaves on the trail that we didn't hear much wildlife let alone our conversation with each other.  When we came to the second connection with the Big Island Loop we meet some horse riders that were trying to figure out what to see today.  We told them about stuff in the area and they too took the trail to the Dome Rockhouse.

The Dome Rockhouse is like a large room in a cave with a large opening.  It is really cool with the rock being different colors in the dome part.  After that we hiked back to the Pilot Wine Loop trail and made it back to the parking lot. 

We dropped the packs and hiked the Bronco Overlook (Station Camp East Overlook) trail.  This is an easy walking trail through the woods to a good overlook of the Big South Fork Gorge.

Pictures:

Father / Son Trip 2012

Day One: 9.3
Mt. Sterling Trail 0.5
Long Bunk Trail 3.6
Little Cataloochee Trail 4.1
Palmer Creek Trail 0.8
Pretty Hollow Gap Trail 0.3
Campsite #39
Day Two: 8.4
Pretty Hollow Gap Trail 0.3
Palmer Creek Trail 3.3
Balsam Mt. Road 0.7
Balsam Mt. Trail 4.1
Laurel Gap Shelter
Day Three: 8.7
Balsam Mt. Trail 0.2
Mount Sterling Ridge Trail 5.8 to tower
Mt. Sterling Ridge Trail 0.5
Mt. Sterling Trail 2.2
Total Miles: 26.4

We started out with the family get-to-gather at the ponderosa.  The ladies didn't wait for us to get on the trail this year.  They started early heating up the credit cards.  Steve and Dad were doing chores before I arrived and somehow I missed out on the work.  We ate lunch and discussed how we could make a simple hike difficult.  We had two hikes on the books this year and they had settled on a loop hike.  I had figured a good loop with a big climb on the front end and the rest down hill.  Who would have thought about doing it backwards.......well I mean besides Dad?

We headed out on Thursday for the Mt. Sterling Gap trailhead.  After we shook off Dad's van racing, we hiked up the Mt. Sterling trail to the Long Bunk trail.  The first people we passed were an older couple who were doing a sixteen mile day hike.  That was only about the same as our first two days.  They were the heroes today.  When we got to Little Cataloochee trail we got to tour a few buildings and grave yards.  They have restored a couple of cabins and a church from a former life.  It is always fun to see history in the Smoky's.  Somewhere along this trail Dad mumbled something about not remembering this trail being so steep.  As we were climbing we heard and saw two Hawks flying overhead.  That was followed by an owl doing some talking.  Towards the end of the trail, on a down hill section, a turkey walked across the trail dragging his beard.

Just before we got to our campsite we met the older couple again heading down the trail.  They might have made it out before dark, but not by much.  When we got to camp there was a woman camping alone.  She went by the trail name "Sunshine".  She visited with us around the campfire that night.  She had a history of hiking including a thru hike of the AT.  She was a nurse from the Asheville North Carolina area.  She was going to meet up with her boyfriend at the Laural Gap shelter the next evening.  Surprise, that was where we were going.  We had a clear night with lots of stars. 

Sometime in the night a very strong wind came through.  I woke to my tarp beating my hammock.  I heard Steve getting up to adjust his tarp.  I got up to cover my pack as I figured the rain would be blowing hard soon.  The wind died out and later we got a light rain which was all done by the time we got up.
We got up and headed out after breakfast.  Sunshine caught up to us and hiked with us for a time before heading on.  For some reason there was alot of climbing today.  We hiked up into the clouds and the scenery was limited.  We had a good climb up to our shelter.  When we got there Sunshine and her boyfriend Chris were there.  We did some searching and came up with enough fire wood.  Slowly but surely people started showing up.  We ended up with 12 in the shelter and three pitched a tent.  We were entertained with lots of stories and with a beginner hiking trio.

We had two retired police officers from Atlanta to tell stories.  They had a son in law with them.  The three hikers from Chicago were fresh to hiking.  We tried to help them out with some tips for their next trip starting with some real clothing.  They had eaten granola and jerky for the first two days.  Tonight they were going to try Mountain House meals.  They pulled out their two liter nonstick stove top pan and started trying to make a fire.  Someone finally felt sorry for them and heated some water on the stove for them.  They were trying to save weight by not bringing a stove.  The other one pulled out a full size bottle of Gold Bond to cover his feet.  They had blisters on their blisters.  They pulled out their pocket knives to use as spoons, but they really were impressed with Mountain House.

After a night of rolling from one sore spot to the next, like shelters make for some reason, we got up and headed out.  We hiked the Mt. Sterling Ridge trail up to the tower on Mt. Sterling.  We got some good views from the tower and then ate lunch at the base.  We saw another couple as we headed back to the Mt. Sterling trail and down to the car.

We stopped for a celebration ice cream in Wears Valley and headed home for the pizza celebration at the ponderosa.  After dinner we had a serous card game while we waited for Marco and Natalie to show up.  Then we celebrated their wedding with another party.

The next day we headed out to Metcalf Bottoms for a hike and picnic.  Lots of people were out enjoying the wonderful fall colors of the mountains.  We enjoyed the love of family.

Pictures:

Cataloochee, Smoky Mountains

Rough Fork Trail 2.9
Caldwell Fork Trail 1.5
Campsite #41
Day one total: 4.4 Miles
Caldwell Fork Trail 2.1
Boogerman Trail 4.1
Caldwell Fork Trail 0.8
Road walk 2.7
Day two total: 9.4
Total Miles: 14.1

Lora and I went to Cataloochee in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  This was the first time in that area for both of us.  She wanted to see the Elk and old growth trees.  We went in on Cove Creek Road and the colors were wonderful.  On the way in after you pass the campground, there is the Ranger House, a church, a school house and another house that have been restored.  When we got to the fields the road was lined with cars and people setting out in lawn chairs.  It looked like they where waiting for the Elk to be released.  We drove to the end of the park to our trailhead for the Rough Fork Trail.

After we packed up, we headed into the woods and within the first hundred yards we had seen six Elk.  The first three were laying by the side of the trail.  It was funny to think that all those people were in the fields waiting.

We did do a tour of the Woody house, another restored structure on the trail, on the way through.  Campsite #40 is a smaller campsite covered with large downed trees by the creek.  It has three different small sites.

We got to see some large trees, but also an incredible large poplar tree off the trail before campsite #41.  Campsite #41 is a large campsite along the creek.  There were four other groups in the campsite before we got there.  We got to listen to an owl during the evening hours while setting around the campfire.  We had a very peaceful night with lots of stars.

The next morning we headed out again.  We got to see more large trees, many rock walls, and old home sites.  There is one section of the Boogerman trail that has numerous large old growth trees.

When we got back to the valley we got to see two different herds of Elk and a flock of turkeys.  Cars were once again parked all along the fields with people in lawn chairs.  This time they did have something to look at.  We got in the car and then took the Mt. Sterling road on the way out.  It is a long mostly one lane gravel road that curves through the mountains.  A very beautiful trip.

Pictures:

Soddy Creek - Cumberland Trail

After church Lora and I decided to hike on the Cumberland trail.  We were already in Soddy so we headed up Hotwater road to the trailhead.  We headed South on the trail through the old mining area.  We didn't get,   but a couple of miles in and my foot started bothering me again so we headed back.  It was a beautiful day to be on the trail.

Pictures:

Honey Creek - TTA

TTA hike with Upper Cumberland. Pete K. was our leader for the Honey Creek Hike. I drove thru fog, mist, sprinkles and cloudy skies to the trailhead. It was a cool fall day. 12 hikers set out to see the best that Big South Fork has to offer. It stopped sprinkling before we started.

We started at the overlook, and then climbed down the ladders to the trail. I took my crocs just in case the creek crossings were high. We found a couple of places that the trail was too muddy and the rocks too slick to climb down, but not to worry….Pete had a rope! He tied off to a tree and we used it to descend. I didn’t need my crocs, the creeks were low, just rock hopping.

We had lunch on an open area of rock. We were amazed at the rock bluffs on this trail. Such a cool area to hike. The sun finally broke thru and warmed us up a little. You have to watch for the blazes on this trail, some are painted on the rocks you have to climb thru and around.  This is the 4^th time I’ve hiked Honey Creek and I always manage to lose the trail. Pete kept us on track and we climbed back up the ladders to the overlook to finish the hike. It was great. I love this trail.

I wanted to stop in Allardt for the Pumpkin Festival. I got right to town and the highway was shut down for the parade. I watched folks get out of their cars and walk up to the street to watch the parade. This is a main highway! I got out and walked up to the police officer stopping traffic to let the parade out of the side street, and said “so in this town it’s alright to park my car in the highway and leave it to watch the parade?” and he says “No ma’am, it’s not ok” and I asked how long we would be sitting still, “about 45 more minutes” he said. It only took about 15 really when we started moving. I had to go around 2 vacant cars, wonder where those folks were? hmmm. I parked in a field and walked thru the craft areas. SO much BBQ cooking, all pork, no chicken. So I got a Nathan’s hot dog smothered with grilled onions and mustard and a big glass of fresh squeezed lemonade. Mmmmmm.

Coming into Pikeville I saw the sign for the Harvest Festival happening today. I missed it, but caught the last few minutes of the music. Cody McCarver was singing, glad I stopped by.

It was a great day.

Pictures:

Possum Creek

Lora and I headed out after a rainy morning to do some canoeing.  We went to Possum Creek RV Park and Campground's boat ramp on Lee Pike.  It cost $3 for a pass, but is a good safe place to put in.  We went under the bridge and followed the coast line around and then up to the Creek.  We went up the creek until we got stopped by a bridge for a driveway next to McCallie Ferry road.  We did have to navigate under a big tree and break some branches off another.  We came back out and followed the opposite coast line back to the boat ramp.  Another great place for canoe or kayaking.

Pictures:

Hornsby Hollow - Watts Bar Lake

Lora and I headed to Watts Bar Lake for the weekend.  We got a site at Hornsby Hollow Campground and canoed for two days.  The campground is great!  Friendly owners, clean bathrooms, clean campground, great boat ramp, good campstore, and its on the lake at a great location.

The first day, after we set up camp, we canoed South along the shore.  When we go into the big lake, the wind was whipping and the waves where high.  We ended up turning North and going around the big Island and back into the covered inlets for calm water.  We had a great time.  Sat out on the dock for sunset and enjoyed a fire under the stars that night.  The next day we got up and did some more exploring along the coast heading North again.  Light winds today so it was more enjoyable.  Made it back for our three o'clock checkout and headed home.

Pictures:

Colorado 2012

This was Lora and My first trip to Colorado.  Steve and Kathy invited us to join them on their vacation trip that they take every three years to Colorado.  We took a flight out of Nashville to Charlotte.  Who knew North Carolina was between Tennessee and Colorado?

I do have to tell you about the guy that sat next to me on one of the flights.  You know you always get one.  Well as soon as he sat down, he went into a coughing fit.  I mean a serous one.  I was thinking that I was on vacation and this guy is going down.  Anyways he got control of himself for a couple of minutes and then did it again.  Now I'm thinking he probably has something contagious and I'm going to die.  He gets control again.  After we take off he buys a lunch from the airline.  You should of heard this guy as he eats;  smacking, sucking, slobbering, and chips are going everywhere.  Well he finally finishes and gets up to go to the bathroom.  He seat is full of chip crumbs.  He gets back and pulls out a meal from a fast food joint and it all starts over again.  I can feel biscuit crumbs hitting my leg as he makes all the awful noises again.  Finally he is done.  Yep, the coughing fit again.......AHHHHHH!!!

We flew into Montrose Colorado where Steve and Kathy met us at the airport.  I texted them saying that we will just meet them out front.  Well we get out of the airplane and walk across the ramp.  They open a door and there they stood.  It is also the same room the luggage pickup is in.  Small airport!  We stopped and had dinner at a Mexican restaurant in town. Then we head to Ridgeway State Park where Kathy gave us a thorough tour of the park looking for the trailer.  We even got to see the boat ramp.  Anyway this is where we set up our base camp.  They have a new trailer that they are in the process of building into a camping trailer.  We sat around the campfire under the beautiful stars and discuss our plans for the following day.

There are two kinds of trails in Colorado, Steep and Granny gear steep.  You go by altitude instead of miles. The mountains are actually falling apart all the time.  I give credit to the trail keepers as that has to be one of the toughest groups I know.  They have to clear landslides, rebuild cliffs, and I don't know how they hang off the sides of the trails to do all that.  Anyone that has climbed the 14ers......you are tough.  Mt. Sneffels is one that you don't have to use a rope.....right!  Don't buy that one!  I asked Steve about the trails that we were backpacking on.  He said that the Bear Creek trail did have a cliff that you walk next to for a half mile.  I spent the next few days worrying and asking questions about this one.

Our first hike was the Blue Lakes Trail in the Mt. Sneffels wilderness area.  This was for us to get used to the altitude.  It was amazing how quickly you go into panting mode sucking for oxygen.  I did get a mild headache that first day.  We worked those leg muscles pretty good.  Everywhere that you go in this area you are in a picture.  Everywhere you look is just beautiful.  All the way!  We started at 9200 feet.  Lower Blue lake is at 11000 feet which we just had to get in to cool off the feet. As we sat at the Lower lake we heard a land slide up on the mountain face across the lake.  Falling apart I tell you.  From there we hiked to Upper Blue lake which is at 11760 feet.  Lora and I decided to go ahead and climb the Blue Lake pass that is at 13000 and we were about two switch backs from the top when the trail became to dangerous to stay on.  There was no more flat trail at all and the sharply slanted trail was covered in loose rock.  Not good for the pace maker!  We quit and got our hearts stabilized before heading back down.  It was 5.7 miles to the pass.  We got to see deer, chipmunks, marmots, squirrels, and trout in the lake.  That was enough to wear us out.  Back to camp and drinks around the campfire.  We cooked out some burgers.

On our second day we went into Ouray.  It is known as little Switzerland.  It sits at 7792 feet in a canyon surrounded by mountains.  It is an historic Gold and Silver mining town with a natural hot springs.  Very beautiful.  We hiked the 2.2 mile Sutton Neosho Mine trail.  That gave us great views of Ouray and Bear Creek where we were going to do our backpack trip later in the week.  We got to see the Nesosho mine and buildings.  It is known for the Antique sign that you can see from the Million Dollar Hwy.  We ate lunch there at the mine and then hiked back.  We took the  Perimeter Trail which  heads to the Box Cañon high bridge. Cross the suspended bridge over Cañon Creek's spectacular gorge to Ouray's old water tunnel. (The ceiling is low; watch your head.) Past the tunnel, steep stairs lead down the cliff along the gorge.  We ended up in town where we took time out for an ice cream.  Afterwards Steve and I hiked back to the truck and met the ladies  back in town where they managed to get a little shopping in.  We hiked up to see the Cascade falls and watched the impressive deer walk through town.  We did manage to stop at the Buen Tiempo for some margaritas before we headed back to camp for a cookout and fire.

On our third day they were calling for rain.  We took the Million Dollar Hwy to Silverton.  The Million Dollar Hwy goes through the mountains and there is no guard rail.  Kathy had a gravity problem with that.  She leaned into the corners like we were riding motorcycles.  One time I told her to just put a pillow in Steve's lap she got so far over.  We stopped along the way for pictures and looking at some old mines.  

We dropped off the trailer at South Mineral Campground near the trailhead for Ice Lake.  Then we headed into Silverton.  We did a tour of the old mining town and did lunch at the Handlebars.  After that we headed out to see the abandoned mining town of Animas Forks.  It is on one of the four wheel drive tours and really cool to see.  Lots of history in this area.  On the way up, Kathy spotted some sheep up above us.  Well before long we were surrounded by sheep.  They were herding 1200 head down the road into town for transporting.  It was really cool to watch them work the sheep.  After touring the old buildings, we headed back to town for ice cream and then to the campground where we spent the evening visiting in the trailer listening to the rain.

The next morning we got ready and hiked up to Ice Lake.  Another beautiful trail through the mountains.  We  started at 9860 feet and went up to 12257 in six miles.  We got to see many waterfalls and glacier lakes along with lots of wildlife.  It started raining just as we got to Ice lake so we had to huddle around a large rock to protect ourselves from the wind.  We did lunch under ponchos which is always exciting.  It stopped raining as we headed down with a little on and off showers.  Beautiful area and another great workout.  When we got back we took the Million Dollar Hwy back to Ridgeway with a stop at O'Brien's Pub for some dinner in Ouray.  We spent the night back at our base camp.    

The fifth day was the start of our backpack.  We loaded up and went to the Bear Creek trailhead.  We left Kathy with the packs, drove back to town and dropped off the truck and trailer.  We hiked the Perimeter Trail to Ice Park trail to Old Hardrocker's trail to the Bear Creek trailhead.  Then we were ready to start hiking.  Bear Creek trail is noted for it's drop offs and is not for the weary or weak of heart!  The trail is carved out of the side of a cliff for one portion.  You start right out with a 1000 foot gain on switch backs with a total gain of 4200 feet up to Horsethief trail in 4.2 miles.  The cliff walk that I so worried about was not as bad as I pictured.  It was alot like our hike in the Grand Canyon.  You passed people in corners coming the other way and you know who didn't go to the outside.  We took a break after the cliff to eat a snack and get our nerves calmed.  Did a little exploring at Grizzly Bear mine and then climbed up to the Yellow Jacket mine for the night.  After a serious climb like today we didn't stay up long at the campfire.  The stars were beautiful and the sky's clear.

The second day we hiked Horsethief trail to Difficulty Creek where we stayed a night.  This trail crosses the American Flats and hit's an elevation of 12700.  It seems like you can look forever in the wide open area here.  There were alot of ups and downs going across the tundra.  Lora showed us up taking a side trail to the top of another mountain.  I had to drop my pack to chase her down and get her on the right trail.  You really got to keep an eye on her!

We stopped for a snack break and a little chipmunk came by just screaming at us.  I couldn't understand him, but Kathy came back and told us she about used the bathroom on one.  OH!

We searched around a little while on Difficulty Creek, but found an established site in a nice location.  There was an Elk head tied to one of the trees.  The sun was still hot so we had the chance to wash up in the creek before dinner.  We had a nice campfire as the temperature dropped down to freezing that night.  Sometime in the night we got barked at.  Not really sure what it was, but it sounded like a little dog out here in the middle of nowhere.  We scared it off the first time, but it came back two more times to bark that night.

On the third day we climbed up to the Bridge of Heaven where the spectacular panorama of mountains makes the climb worthwhile. Here, for a short distance, the trail follows a ridge with a steep dropoff on each side. The elevation of the Bridge is 12,300 feet. Lora and I were the first up there and when we got there all we could see was a thin trail walking the narrow ridge of the mountain.  We were trying to figure out how we were going to manage to be able to walk this trail, when Lora went further and saw that the main trail dropped off to the left.  Got some good pictures there before we started the long down hill back to Ouray.   I managed to only fall once and it was on this trail on some loose gravel.  At least it wasn't over a cliff.  We stopped along the cliff side to eat some lunch.  Afterwards we found the Old Horsethief trail which led us steeply down to town.  

We met an old man that was climbing up to the top.  Somehow he managed to make it to the trailhead and then passed us on the way back down.  Yea, didn't make us look too good.  We definitely didn't look as good as the naked man in sandals that was heading up for a day hike.  OK, he wasn't naked but didn't have anything on but a pair of shorts with a small pack slung over his shoulder.  He was one of those long haired guys that think highly of themselves.  When he asked where we hiked in from he was impressed with of those "OH!" 

The Old Horsethief trail was a beautiful, but steep trail.  The bottom half was washed out in many places and lots of loose rocks close to very steep edges.

Once in Ouray we stopped at the Buen Tiempo for some margaritas to celebrate the wonderful trip and Lora's birthday.  Steve and Kathy dropped us off at our hotel in Montrose where we took the shuttle the next morning to the airport.

We used the Ouray Trail Group for trail information.

Pictures:

My Brothers Story and Pics: