Abrams Falls 4.2pd, Little Bottoms 2.3pd, Cane Creek 0.9pd, Rabbit Creek 7.8pd

None of today’s 15.6 miles were new; however, for Dennis McAdams 13.1 miles were new. Dennis has really helped me in the past; today I did a little payback.

I dropped Winston off at Cricket Lane Kennel at its 8:30 opening. I then went to the “Y” to meet Dennis; we left ~9:00 and got started on Abrams Creek Trail at 9:40. Not a soul was seen on this trail; however, when we got to Little Bottoms we met a family of three. When we got to Abrams Creek Campground we met a husband and wife and their daughter; one of the former camped in this area prior to an official campground being designated at this point. We then met a family of three.

We proceeded to Rabbit Creek trail head close to the Abrams Falls Ranger Station. We did not see a sign for the latter but I recognized the trail. I had done the Northern part of Rabbit Creek when I did Hannah Mtn with Lowell Reid; I had done the Southern leg on a solo that included Cooper Rd, Hatcher and Hannah Mtns (and the crossing of Abrams Creek) and then Rabbit Creek South. I had told Dennis it was mainly downhill; that was a mistake. Also, I had only counted on the stream crossing by the Abrams Creek parking area; we had one prior to that that also required water shoes. (Lowell Reid and TJ Solnas also had two crossings last winter; last spring I had only one crossing in which I had to use water shoes.)

When we finished and arrived at the Abrams Creek parking lot, it was ~4:30; it took us ~60 min. to reach my vehicle at the “Y”. It was the usual; many tourists had never seen a deer in the wild previously.

Cataloochee Divide 1.8 pd, Hemphill Bald 3.0 n, Caldwell Fork in & out 1.7 n & 1.7 pd, Caldwell Fork 1.4 n, McKee Branch 2.3 n (1.5 + 1.5 in/out Rd)

Dave Bassett and his son Stephen (~11 yrs and strong) arrived at my house at 7:00; we picked up John Kennerly at Lakeside Market on U.S. 129 in Louisville and after ~1 hr. Dennis McAdams at Shoneys in Newport. We arrived at Purchase Gap ~9:00 and then walked ~1.5 mi. on gravel road and then Manway to the Cataloochee Divide trail; ironically McKee Branch ends at this point. I had written out a hike plan wherein we would start McKee Branch at this point and then end with Cataloochee Divide (i.e., do a CC-loop {with an in-out leg} rather than do a C-loop); we did the latter and I believe this factor contributed to my error after finishing our last trail and then going to the Manway (to be described).

The first pic is of Stephen, Dave, Dennis, and John on the grounds of The Swag; when Cataloochee Divide ended at Hemphill Bald, we proceeded on the NW section of this trail which was relatively easy. At 3 mi. we turned on a 1.7 Caldwell Fork trail in a Westerly direction and ate lunch at Campsite 41. Dennis then proceeded to our terminus (he had done this 1.7 mi. section and planned to scout the grounds of the Applachian Highlands Science Learning Center at Purchase Gap. John, Dave, Stephen and I completed an in-and-out on this section; that is Stephen standing beside a giant poplar in this area. We then did a 1.4 mi. section of Caldwell Fork in a NE direction; this was followed by a difficult 2.3 mi. on McKee Branch Trail (1800’ gain in 2.3 mi. with very few switchbacks). When we reached Cataloochee Divide I took the lead again for I typically like to speed up towards the end of our last trail. Unfortunately we were already at the end and I had not even looked for the unmarked Manway. After John and I had gone ~0.25 miles, we looked at my map because things did not seem familiar. We then realized that we had already passed the Manway. We backtracked and John explored the 1st Manway leading off our trail; it was not the right one and I explored the 2nd one. I realized it was the correct one but I had to retreat to tell the others; this error which I led probably added ~30 min. to our hike. For Dave and Stephen who do not hike that regularly, it was longer hike than desirable. (One minor good point: Stephen set his own PR with a hike of ~16 mi.)

Dennis was waiting for us and we then trudged back to my vehicle. We stopped at the “apple store” in Cosby; I then dropped Dennis off at his car in Newport. We then proceeded to Louisville and dropped John off at his car at the Lakeside Market. As we came up my driveway at ~7:15, four deer ran in front of us just after I had told Dave and Stephen that I had my bright lights on to ensure that I had a better chance of seeing deer should they cross my path. Stephen was very impressed and this was perhaps one of the hi-lites of the trip for him.

Old Settlers Trail ~9n (also Manway 0.5 & ~3.5 my goof)

I arrived at Food Lion at 7:45; Kathy and Heather arrived shortly thereafter and advised me that they would leave early for the Greenbrier meet-up locale. TJ Solnas arrived shortly and he and I set out for Greenbrier in my CRV. Kathy Russell, Heather Crawley, Bill Broome, Tom Wainner, Dale Teague, Bob Bolinger, Scott Collins, Jim & Sue Hung and their daughter. (John Kennerly and Cecil Rowe joined us later.) We put Kathy’s and my vehicle at the terminus of Old Settlers Trail in Greenbrier. We then proceeded in Bill’s, Bob’s, and Jim’s vehicles to the Manway by Noisy Creek off U.S. 321.

In yesterday’s blog I reported that I had done the Eastern portion of Old Settlers Trail from Noisy Creek East to its terminus at Maddron Bald Trail. Other than the fact that John and Cecil had not joined us by the time we reached Old Settlers Trail via the 0.5 Manway adjacent to Noisy Creek, nothing else was eventful. Bill led us West on Old Settlers; after we started an uphill stretch, he suggested that I go ahead and get my aerobic workout. So I led our group (by this time it was just Bill and I, Dale, Scott, & Bob) for 3-4 miles. As yesterday, there were again some fireplace remains from early settler’s homesteads as well as some unique stone fences (1st pic--fence was not as long or neat as those seen yesterday). We came across one unique fireplace (instead of the usual arc it had an inverted “V” at the apex of its opening); the pic that I shot has Scott passing in front of it.

What happened next befuddles me; I evidently got off trail because of a blow down and everyone followed me. We realized shortly that we had lost the trail; I quickly surrendered being in the lead. We ended up outside of the Park. At one church we got some advice from two individuals who did not have license to give directions; at a church-owned motel like structure we got directions from someone who knew how we could get back to the trail. We retraced a bit and found a Manway that Bill had used previously; I went ahead and to my relief saw Tom, Kathy & Heather at the Manway's junction with Old Settlers Trail. Tom advised me that I was ~1 mile from the “V-fireplace”; not wishing to spend a few hours getting that section on some other date, I set out alone to get it for I assumed that I could eventually catch most everyone for I would not stop for lunch. I put it in high gear and when I arrived at the fireplace my pedometer registered 0.84 mi. (it probably was a greater distance for I over-strided in my endeavor to go fast); as I viewed the area I could not imagine how I could have led astray those that were with me earlier. I took another picture of the fireplace in hopes that lighting would be different than first one because of an ~2 hr. time difference. I then put it in high gear; Bob had waited for me and in the last 4-5 miles of the trail we passed most everyone. Although my blunder did not affect our departure time (we needed to wait for everyone to shuttle back to cars), I still have difficulty trying to understand how I could make such a colossal goof.

I took 4 drivers back to their cars at Noisy Creek, and on my return picked up TJ at the entrance to Greenbrier. The best thing that I can say is that yesterday and today I completed the 15.8 miles of Old Settlers Trail; however, because of my goof today I hiked an extra 2.5-3.5 miles.

Old Settlers Trail (Eastern part) 7.5n (+0.5 Manway & 1.2pd Maddron Bald)

Arrived at a resort campground off U.S. 321 about 7:50; momentarily Dennis McAdams’s wife dropped him off there (she had picked him up at our terminus of the Maddron Bald trail where he had left his car). We then walked down U.S. 321 to the Manway close to Noisy Creek that would take us to Old Settlers Trail; the latter is ~0.5 mi. off the highway. The entrance that we made is at the approximate midpoint of the 15.8 mi. length of Old Settlers.

We arrived at Old Settlers Trail ~8:20 and started our trek East. (Very possibly I will come to the very same point tomorrow and travel West on this trail; thus over the two consecutive days I will have covered Old Settlers entire 15.8 mile length.) However, on today’s hike I did not carry my hiking poles; instead I carried one of the two tools that Dennis uses on the Eastern part of Old Settlers in its maintenance. We cleaned up ~23 water bars on our trek today.

Old Settlers is an interesting and fairly well marked (at least on the Eastern section) trail; most water crossings were very easy with one possibly moderate. As a hiker that uses his poles more than most (as a carry-over from my cc-skiing), an axe-like tool (axe blade plus a scrapper appropriate for water bars) required me to use a total different strategy on a few of the stream crossings. On the last and most difficult one Dennis gave me the rake to use as a hiking pole.

Since early settlers often built their homes close to the creek, we saw a few chimney remains and on two an old wash tub as well. However, the most unique thing seen was the stone fences. One section of the trail was parallel to one of these fences; it was at least 50 yards long and perhaps closer to 100 yards (the distance perpendicular was less). Unfortunately I did not have my camera. (If I had picked it up from its resting place before I left my home I would have awakened Winston (my 8-month Airedale Terrier) at 6:15 a.m.; he in turn would have awakened Meredith who would not have been too appreciative).

We finished the trail ~3 hours after we started; we then walked 1.2 miles on Maddron Bald to Dennis’s car. On this trek of the journey we met an apparent husband and wife (the only other hikers that we saw); they were wearing fairly heavy coats while Dennis was in short-sleeves and I wore a long sleeve T. After Dennis dropped me off at my vehicle, he went to Cosby and I ate part of my lunch prior to starting the return trip to Louisville.

Wolf Ridge 0.5pd, Twentymile 2.6pd &1.9n, Lost Cove 2.7n & 2.7pd, Twentymile 1.9pd, Twentymile Loop 2.9n, Wolf Ridge 1.1 & 0.5pd

I arrived at my Louisville neighbor’s (Jim Harb's) home at 06:40; we went in his car and met Dennis McAdams at the Foothill Parkway entrance at 7:20. We then proceeded in Jim’s car to the trailhead at Twentymile Ranger Station and arrived there at 8:20. We covered our first 3 miles in one hour. At 10:16 we began our trek on Lost Cove; according to the Brown Book it has 13 stream crossings. We rock-hopped the first ones and then put on our water shoes for the last three; at our junction with Lakeshore Trail we turned around and kept our water shoes on for the first 5 on our return. We then put on our boots and shortly thereafter ate lunch at Campsite 91 (see pic).

The return on Lost Cove is primarily “up” and our pace slowed. We met an apparently husband and wife couple and they planned to do Lost Cove without having water shoes; I hope that they made it. At 2:00 we finished Lost Cove for the 2nd time; our 1.9 mile trek on the Twentymile trail took us 42 min. We then went on the Twentymile Loop trail (2.9 mi.). We had one rock hopping crossing but we had expected a major one just prior to this trail’s junction with Wolf Ridge; to our surprise a relatively new log bridge had been installed.

We then reached Wolf Ridge (a trail that I had completed on 2005); on this trail there were 6 log bridges. Some were relatively new and "cabled to trees" to better withstand floods. I do not remember seeing so many in my trek in this area in 8/06. Thus we had an easy trek back to Jim’s car. Our 15.6 mile trek ended at 4:30. However, after Jim and I left Dennis at the entrance to Foothills Parkway, we arrived in Louisville ~6:00.

Baskins Creek 2.7n & 2.7pd

Today our Christmas luncheon preceded our hike. Monday eve Amy Howe was so nice to call and state that she (1) thought that I needed Baskins Creek and (2) would hike it with me if I wanted to do it after our Christmas luncheon. She then put out an announcement that she and I would be making this hike in case anyone else wanted to join us; that was great since I was doing a Deep Creek hike Tuesday and would not have the time to organize Baskins Creek.

At the luncheon I learned that Liz Etnier, Anne Phillips, BJ Perlac, Kathy Russell, and Nancy Olsen would also join us. This is a short and relatively easy hike (2.7 in and 2.7 out) and is very close to Bill Broome’s house. We left our cars at the last parking lot on Cherokee Orchard Rd and walked to the Baskins Creek trailhead; latter is close to the start of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. The latter road is one of those in the park that closes on Dec. 1st; if this road were open, one could start at either end of the trail and just hike 2.7 miles if someone were to pick them up.

It was a lovely day; unfortunately I did not take my camera along so I have no pictures.

Deep Creek H-T—2pd, Indian Creek--4.4pd, Martins Gap—1.5pd, Deep Creek—4.3n, Loop Trail—0.5n & 0.5 pd, Indian Creek--~3.0pd

Arrived at SVC at 7:15; much to my surprise Dennis, Marti, and Fran were waiting for me. (I had not seen their e-mail indicating that they would arrive by 7:20 instead of 7:30.) I had not hiked with Marti and Fran previously but they (particularly Marti) had hiked with Dennis previously.

We arrived at the Deep Creek Horse Trail trailhead ~9:00. This hike completes bits and pieces for both Dennis and Marti in the Deep Creek area; it also completes more than half of the bits and pieces that I have left in this area. Saw one coyote and several turkeys on the way to the South side of the park; for this hike one has to leave the GSMNP and travel to Bryson City NC. (Latter is new U.S. Representative from NC and former UT football player Heath Shuler’s hometown; he is a strong supporter of the GSMNP.)

This hike presented no unique challenges; however, coupled with the long commute to the hike and return, quite a bit of time was expended. The picture is our lunch stop at the beginning of the Deep Creek segment of our hike; from left to right are Fran, Dennis, and Marti. On the long drive back after we had re-entered the GSMNP, we saw 5 Elk shortly after we had passed the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Quite a few cars were parked on the shoulders of U.S. 321 at this time; although we did not see the buck, this "family" is believed to have moved to this area of the park from the Cataloochee area (the area that their parents were deposited in the re-introduction of Elk to the GSMNP). Although the number of offspring of the original herd placed in the GSMNP was originally disappointing, this year is believed to be a good one.

Maddron Bald—7.3 n, 7.3 pd, & Albright Loop 0.7 n

Amy Howe called last night to see if I was going to the Cracker Barrel pickup (typically Knox Co. hikers meet there) or the Food Lion one for Blount County folk; I decided then to go to Food Lion for I knew that I would have at least one person hiking with me (either meet-up place works for me). I picked up Amy at 7:30 at Food Lion; however, no other Blount County folk were there to join us. We reached Jellystone (a commercial place where we would meet hikers from Knox Co.—it is close to Cosby) at 8:50; Tom Wainner pulled in with his big van with John Kennerly, Bill Broome, Dale Teague, and Cecil Rowe.

We got started on our trek ~9:20. Cecil and John, both working on their 2nd maps as is Amy, advised me that they wanted to do the hike that Amy and I were undertaking rather than the shorter one to Albright Loop and return; thus they would ride back with me. The first 1.2 miles of the Maddron Balk hike follow an old road and were very easy. Although this is primarily an “up” hike that ends at its junction with Snake Den Ridge, it is not nearly as steep as the former. However, there were 4-5 challenging stream crossings that we were able to do without putting on our water shoes; they included the traditional rock hopping with one spiced with some fallen log walking. Of course we had to cross the same streams coming back; this slowed us down for we were very careful but there were no mishaps.

Shortly prior to reaching Snake Den Ridge trail we met a crew of trail workers; these were seasonal rangers who were retained because of the big storm damage occurring in October. One was carrying a big chain saw and others carried gas cans; they said that they came up Snake Den Ridge and did not work up a sweat. They then informed us that horses took them up. When we reached Snake Den Ridge the wind was a little uncomfortable so we backtracked to a more sheltered place for lunch. The picture is of my cohorts just after we had lunch (from L to R, John, Cecil, & Amy).

On the trip to the trailhead I talked with my passenger Amy. On the first leg of our hike John and I were together; on the way out Cecil and I were together. Obviously we get to know each other quite well since we often hike or travel together. On our return trip we did Albright Loop; this added about 0.7 mi. to the hike. This area is unique in that it has a lot of old growth trees (i.e., Cecil told me that the owner of 20-30 acres in this area would not sell to the lumber companies—in many areas of the GSMNP you only see growth since the 20’s and 30’s).
We did not get back to my vehicle until ~4:15. I asked John to drive so that I could ice my knee; on our way back we stopped at an apple place (Cosby is known for its good price on apples). We then returned on I 40 to Cracker Barrel; Cecil took Amy to her car and John and I went on our ways.