Post-900 Hike #11 (Anthony Creek, Russell Field, & AT to Fontana Dam)

Barbara Slover picked me up at Food Lion a little before 7:00; we arrived at the Walland Post Office by 7:00 and there met Bob and Martha Frink and Treena Paulus (this was Treena’s 1st hike with our Wed. group; she recently joined the UT faculty and I had met her at a common friend’s place). Bob drove us in Barbara’s van to Cades Cove to the Anthony Creek trail head; I estimated that we should finish at least by 5:00 where AT’s park section segment ends near the Fontana Dam. This was a hike that Barbara needed for her 900; Martha is working on her 2nd map and Treena at this point just likes to hike.

At 7:40 the four of us set out on Anthony Creek; this trail has ~500’ gain in its 1.6 mi. segment and then intersects with Russell Field. Had a chance to talk with Treena; we finished this segment at 8:12.

The Russell Field segment is 3.5 mi.; it is a little tougher for it has ~1800’ gain. The picture is of Treena standing by rhododendrons. This segment took 1 hr. 23 min.

The section of Russell Field to Doe Knob is 6.4 mi.; it’s a little up and down but not too hard. We set out on this section at 10:30; I completed the 3.3 mi. section to Mollies Ridge at 11:45. We ate lunch there. Met a couple of through hikers; the park is so dry that they got their water from in essence a mud puddle (that’s where filters have it all over tablets). I completed the remaining 3.1 mi. to Doe Knob in 1 hr. 03 min.

The segment from Doe Knob to Lost Cove (Gregory Bald also intersects there) is 3.1 mi. and although mostly down, it had a few ups. I completed this section in 1 hr. 02 min. While waiting here several through hikers (two singles and a group of 4) reached this junction. The second single hiker was concerned about water; Treena gave him some since trail water sources were very poor. The next four were from Raleigh and had left one vehicle at Davenport Gap; although they got a late start they knew about the water shortage and were prepared.

The last segment is 3.7 mi. and takes us to Fontana Rd. Although it is most down (~1800’), the first part of it has a bit of up. Treena had not been to the Shuckstack fire tower so she and I took a sojourn there; I think that I took the picture from the 4th or 5th landing of the 6-7 landing tower (with slight thunder and potential lightning, I decided that I had gone high enough). I neglected to look at my pedometer or the time for this trip; going in and out on it probably added 0.4-0.5 mi. Shortly after I passed Barbara and Martha, it started to rain; Martha was close and she pulled emergency rain parka over my pack. The rain did not last too long and then my plastic parka began roasting me. I finished this 3.7 mi. segment (plus the side trip) in 1 hr. 24 min. Bob Frink was waiting and I iced my knee and had a Mellow Yellow; the latter really hit the spot.

Just prior to embarking Martha noted some blackberries next to the road; although I had only one, it was really good. We then proceeded to a picnic area; Bob provided barbecue sandwiches, chips, and root beer floats. Then it was the dragon and Foothills Parkway; Bob, Martha, and Treena got in their vehicles at Walland; Barbara and I proceeded to my CRV at Food Lion.

Post 900 Hike #10: Gregory Ridge & Bald

Today I took my Pastor (Eric Murray) on a hike to see the flaming azaleas on Gregory Bald. Eric arrived at my house at 07:40; because of Cades Cove traffic we did not get started at the trailhead until 9:20. (I had never seen the parking lot that full.) Eric has done very little hiking; however, he is young, wiry, and an avid bicycle rider. I set a rather rapid pace (with which he was fine) going up and we passed several groups of hikers and covered ~5.7 miles (5.0 mi. for Gregory Ridge & 0.7 to the Bald) in 1 hr. 51 min. (Although I think that was the time to the Bald, it might have been the time for only the 5 miles of Gregory Ridge trail.)

After eating lunch, taking several pictures, and talking to others who had just completed this trek, we departed Gregory Bald at 12:00 and arrived at the Gregory Ridge trailhead (0.7 mi.) at 12:18. The pictures include two of the flame azaleas (not as good as my last year's) and one of Eric standing on a rock to the right of the individuals with whom we ate lunch. Along the way back to my car we met a number of hikers wanting to see the flaming azaleas; however, there were several that I doubt ever made it because of their apparent physical condition. We arrived at my car at 14:00, thus covering the 5.0 miles of Gregory Ridge in 1 hr. 42 min.

Eric drove initally so that I could ice my knee as we set out on Forge Creek Rd; traffic was very bad on Cades Cove loop road. I had decided that we would take the first cross road North, and then take the loop road West for a smidgen so that we could take Rich Mtn Rd out of the Park. I resumed driving at this point for I wanted him to better see the landscape and homes. After we had driven a few miles a very good size bear came down the bank on our right, darted across the road (~20-30 ft in front of us), and scurried down a very steep embankment; he evidently had an appointment. I am glad that he did not broadside us; with his velocity and mass he might have knocked us down the embankment. We arrived at my home ~16:00.

Post 900 Hike #9: Middle Prong, Greenbrier Ridge, AT, Miry Ridge, Lynn Camp & Middle Prongs

Met Bob Bolinger at the Townsend Y at 08:30. We proceeded in his vehicle the short distance to Tremont, and then took a gravel road to the Middle Prong trailhead.

We started on Middle Prong at 08:45 and finished its first 2.3 miles at 09:31; we finished the remaining 1.8 miles at 10:11. I finished the 4.2 miles of Greenbrier at 11:44; I pushed at the end because it was getting very monotonous. At Greenbrier’s junction with the AT we ate lunch.

At 12:10 we proceeded on the AT; we finished this 2.4 mile section at 13:09 and then proceeded on the 2.5 miles section of Miry Ridge and finished it at 14:18. (In the latter stretch I had a stomach problem; although it slowed us down, it was resolved.) We then attacked the 3.7 mile section of Lynn Camp Prong Trail and finished it in 1 hr. 15 min. We then redid the 4.1 miles of Middle Prong Trail and reached Bob’s vehicle at 17:00 (1 hr. 27 min.) for this section. Thus even though we were a little tired, we did not slow down too much.

This was a very good day! Of the 21 miles hiked, all but the 2.4 mile section of the AT were new miles for Bob.

Post 900 Hike #8: Bradley Fork—7.8, Hughes Ridge—2.2 & return (20 mi.)

Met Dennis McAdams at SVC at 08:00; we proceeded in his car to the Smokemont Campground. At 09:00 we started on Bradley Fork. The first part of the trail is quite easy and we moved at a brisk pace; I noted that I was taking longer strides than had been set on my pedometer (later I noted that it shorted me by ~1 mi.). The latter portion of Bradley Fork is mostly up; it was here that I decided to lead. It seems that it is easier for me if I push a little on “ups” for I believe I get more from my poles if I get in “my rhythm” on this type of terrain (there was slightly >1500 ft climb in the last 2.3 mi. on this section--at one point my heart rate reached 138--not nearly as high as it was in my last road race). I arrived at Bradley Fork’s junction with Hughes Ridge at 11:32; thus I averaged slightly more than 3 mph on this up.

Hughes Ridge Trail is relatively level; I thought that Dennis should lead on these 2.2 miles for that was the only new mileage he covered on our 20 mile sojourn. At 2 miles we stopped at Pecks Corner for lunch; when we were about to leave a young male AT hiker stopped. He wore hiking shoes (doubtfully waterproof), shorts, gaiters, and a waterproof nylon skirt. I just had to ask him about the latter for it was the first hiking skirt that Dennis and I had ever seen. I guess he thought that we were interested in purchasing one, for he told us the company in Florida that made it; he said that he uses it in summer mornings when there is a lot of tall grass and/or other tall and wet vegetation on the trail. After removing his skirt, gaiters, and shoes, he rung out his socks. At this point we left and proceeded to do Dennis’s last 0.2 miles of Hughes Ridge; we reached the AT 13:02.

We then turned around and retraced our steps the 10 miles to Smokemont Campground; we reached the end of Bradley Fork at 16:10, thus we averaged more than 3 mph on our return too (my pedometer was ~2.5 miles low). Although we met a few on the way out, we only met two horse riders and their mule on the way back (at Bradley Fork—Hughes Ridge junction). They had to give their animals a break after the Bradley Fork up for each was carrying a big load.

We then proceeded back to SVC; the repaving on US 441 in NC did not enhance our time. I forget when we arrived at SVC; however, I did not arrive home until 18:20. I had a quick sandwich for I wanted to walk Winston for ~1 hr. and still get back prior to the start of the Lady Vol softball game.