Post 900 Hike #29: Anthony Creek, Bote Mtn, AT, Russell Field, & Anthony Creek
It was our plan that Bob Bolinger and I would meet at the stoplight in Townsend at 9:00; although we usually met at the “Y” for hikes starting in Cades Cove, cell phones do not work there. That was truly fortuitous planning on Bob’s part. I was at the service station by the stop light in Townsend when I received a call from Bob that an 18-wheeler and a car side swiped on U.S. 321; this precluding his advancement. Although Laurel Creed Rd. was open (we needed it to get to our starting point in the Cove), River Road was closed so Bob did not have the option of turning around and entering the park via Wears Valley.
Bob arrived ~9:30; we then went in his car and were on Anthony Creek Trail at 10:15. We finished the first 1.6 mi. of this trail at 10:51. The 1.9 mi. section was a little slower because of climb; I finished it at 11:41. At 11:46 we started the 1.7 mi. section of Bote Mtn Trail; this is not only up but there was snow. Before long I put on my crampons for with snow and ice, the trail was getting much more difficult. It was not until 12:36 that I finished this section and started eating lunch. Not sure the exact time we started on the AT; the picture shows a section of it. We we finished the 2.9 mi. AT section that Bob needed for his 900 at 14:00. (We had removed our crampons prior to finishing it.)
On Russell Field Trail we met a young couple planning to do our hike in reverse. He sounded sort of English; we did not discern that much of an accent from her. We asked if they had crampons; they did not and they had just assumed that with the mild weather there would be no ice (they did not realize that altitude can make quite a difference). We told them to be very careful and to not hesitate to turn around. The fellow was carrying a small backpack (possibly he had a sleeping bag in it); she was just carrying a daypack. Both wore a light hiking shoe.
We finished the 3.5 mi. section of Russell in 62 min. (despite talking to them for at least 5 min.); it is mostly down and both of us cruised. We then redid the 1.6 mi. section of Anthony Creek (trail we started with in the a.m.) and arrived at Bob’s vehicle in 33 min. Parked next to it was the vehicle that we assumed belonged to the young couple. Because that section of the campground would be closed off at 18:00, we were concerned about them for unless they retraced their steps (or slept in a shelter), they would have problems (i.e., darkness, getting their vehicle out of the campground). For this reason we drove over to Ranger station and luckily caught a safety ranger (i.e., Park policeman) just starting his vehicle. He took copious notes; I hope that the young couple did not have any major problems.
Bob arrived ~9:30; we then went in his car and were on Anthony Creek Trail at 10:15. We finished the first 1.6 mi. of this trail at 10:51. The 1.9 mi. section was a little slower because of climb; I finished it at 11:41. At 11:46 we started the 1.7 mi. section of Bote Mtn Trail; this is not only up but there was snow. Before long I put on my crampons for with snow and ice, the trail was getting much more difficult. It was not until 12:36 that I finished this section and started eating lunch. Not sure the exact time we started on the AT; the picture shows a section of it. We we finished the 2.9 mi. AT section that Bob needed for his 900 at 14:00. (We had removed our crampons prior to finishing it.)
On Russell Field Trail we met a young couple planning to do our hike in reverse. He sounded sort of English; we did not discern that much of an accent from her. We asked if they had crampons; they did not and they had just assumed that with the mild weather there would be no ice (they did not realize that altitude can make quite a difference). We told them to be very careful and to not hesitate to turn around. The fellow was carrying a small backpack (possibly he had a sleeping bag in it); she was just carrying a daypack. Both wore a light hiking shoe.
We finished the 3.5 mi. section of Russell in 62 min. (despite talking to them for at least 5 min.); it is mostly down and both of us cruised. We then redid the 1.6 mi. section of Anthony Creek (trail we started with in the a.m.) and arrived at Bob’s vehicle in 33 min. Parked next to it was the vehicle that we assumed belonged to the young couple. Because that section of the campground would be closed off at 18:00, we were concerned about them for unless they retraced their steps (or slept in a shelter), they would have problems (i.e., darkness, getting their vehicle out of the campground). For this reason we drove over to Ranger station and luckily caught a safety ranger (i.e., Park policeman) just starting his vehicle. He took copious notes; I hope that the young couple did not have any major problems.
posted by Wendell Liemohn at 8:58 PM
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