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.