AT section, Welch Ridge, Cold Spring Gap, Hazel Creek (18.3 miles)

Hike 9-28

This was a long hike so we met at Food Lion at 5:30. Those meeting were Mike Miller, Lowell Reid, Amy, Frank, and me; we picked up BZ Lane at Sugarlands and proceeded to Clingmans Dome. We got on the AT at 7:15; after ~0.5 on the path to the Dome, we went on the AT in a westerly direction for 1.9. We then went south on Welch Ridge Trail for 5.9 (just prior to the end of Welch Ridge we went 0.4 up and back to High Rocks for lunch). Shortly after lunch we got to Cold Spring Gap; it was then 3.5 on Cold Spring Gap Trail (some say it is the hardest one in the Park—much is on a dry creek bed and all your feet touch is rocks). We then hit the lower portion of Hazel Creek Trail for 6.6; it included our only major creek crossing and I baptized my water shoes. Then this trail follows an old road and is boring as it can be. BZ and Amy were in the rear; when I looked back and did not see them I thought it was to soak their feet; the rest of us proceeded on and soon reached Lakeshore Trail for our final mile.

We arrived at the beach and met the 6 others who had done the shorter hike. The pontoon arrived and we loaded about 5:15; then around the curve came BZ and Amy. They had not stopped to soak their feet; they saw a bear and watched it for a few minutes. The bear was similarly interested in them.

Two cars were waiting for us at the boat dock driven by Helen Schaich and Gary Nieberg (both had completed the 800—Gary just completed all trails this summer for I had hiked with him several times).