Post 900 Hike #40 Middle & Lynn Camp Prongs, Miry Ridge, Panther Creek (14.9 mi.)

Today’s hike was one that Cecil Rowe needs for his Geezer 900, John Kennerly needs for his 2nd 900, and John Hutsenpiller (relatively new) needs for his 900 (neat thing in John’s case is that any trail done to date is a new one for him). We left Cecil’s at 08:00 and arrived at the trailhead in Tremont at 09:00.

I went a little ahead and completed the first section of Middle Prong (2.3 mi.) at 09:48 and the 2nd section (1.8 mi.) at 10:25, and Lynn Camp Prong (3.7 mi.) in 87 min. The last two had nominal “ups” and I got a slight aerobic workout (max HR ~134). Then John K. and I completed Miry Ridge (2.5 mi.) in 62 min.; then we had lunch at Jakes Gap (L-R: K & H Johns, Cecil).

Shortly after starting on Panther Creek (2.3 mi.) at 13:40, Cecil suggested we that we go off trail a few feet for the view presented in 2nd pic (biggest Mtn is Thunderhead). Panther Creek is essentially a “down” trail (I do not like to speed on these). A few feet before this trail’s terminus one has to cross Panther Creek; it was an easy crossing but we had to don our water shoes to do it. After crossing I dried my feet, put on socks, and since my water shoes are quite comfortable with socks, put them back on and carried my boots on the 2.3 mi. of Middle Prong (a level old road) that we had done earlier in the morning 15:30. We arrived at Cecil’s ~16:30.

Post 900 Hike #39: Misc. Hikes at Tunnel

Cecil Rowe and I left the Market at 06:35 (John H. had to cancel) and arrived at Central Park ~6:45. In addition to Cecil, Richard Ryburn, Becky, and Vicky also became my passengers. Janetta Baker and Ellie Doughty also drove; not sure exactly when we arrived at Fontana Marina. (Cecil and I realized then that there was room for Becky and Vicky in the other two vehicles so we would be free to work on trails that Cecil needed.) The major goal of the boaters was to hike up Cold Spring Gap, part of Welch Ridge, and then down Bear Creek (Richard would leave them on Welch Ridge and take latter to the AT, and then on to Clingmans Dome where a car would be waiting for him). After a few minute stop, Ellie, Cecil (driving Janetta’s SUV), and I drove to Bryson City, and then Lakeview Drive (tunnel & road to nowhere); we started hiking on Lakeshore ~09:30.

Ellie was going to meet the boaters on Welch Ridge after she did Bear Creek (she is going to Maine later on this summer to do the Northern most trails of her quest of completing the AT—this was a training hike for her). Cecil and I went with Ellie 3.3 miles on Lakeshore Trail to the Bear Creek trailhead. We then retraced our steps 2.7 miles and took the 2.0 mi. Goldmine Loop Trail (one of the trails that Cecil needs for his Geezer Map—it has a little bit of up to it) and then 0.4 mi. of the Tunnel Bypass Trail. We then drove back to Bryson City and on to Cherokee and U.S. 441.

Cecil originally had hoped to do Smokemont Loop but there was not enough time so instead we did Oconaluftee River Trail (1.5 in and 1.5 out). Thus our total mileage hiked was only 11.4. We then set out on our long trip home ~15:30. I dropped Cecil off at the Market ~17:45 and I was home a few minutes before 18:00. If I had been needed to take all my original passengers back to Maryville, I probably would not have arrived home until after 20:00. My trip today was a little over 190 miles; it does take a bit of time to do some of the North Carolina hikes.

Post 900 Hike #38: Beech Gap II, Hyatt Ridge, Enloe Creek, Chasteen Creek, Bradley Fork

Arrived at Cecil Rowe’s home at 06:40; Bill Broome and John Hutsenpiller were already there. We then went in Cecil’s van and picked up Bill Woodrick; from there it was on to the GSMNP via Sevierville and Pigeon Forge. We arrived at SVC a little before 08:00; there we picked up BZ Lane and headed South on US 441. Just prior to Cherokee we got on Big Cove Rd that took us through the Indian Reservation (saw an awesome K-12 school under construction) and then got on Straight Fork Rd (which is 2-way) to its terminus at the bridge (after the latter it becomes Balsam Mountain Rd—it is a one-way beginning at Flat Creek). At this point Cecil turned his van around and he, BZ, John, and I donned our backpacks.

We started on our hike at 09:18 on Beech Gap II; Bill B. and Bill W. took the van to Smokemont Campground (our hike’s terminus—they would hike towards us). Beech Gap II has close to 2,000 ft gain in its 2.8 mi.; BZ and I went a little ahead and arrived at its terminus (Hyatt Ridge Trail) at 10:33 (1st pic is BZ by HR trail sign). At 10:48 we set out on the 1.7 mi. section of Hyatt Ridge; this trail had ~1500 ft. gain and we reached its junction with Enloe Creek Trail at 11:28.

We started on Enloe Creek trail at 11:30; its first mile of drops ~1000 ft. to Campsite #47. The next pic shows my cohorts on one of the most substantial trail bridges in the park; the next one is Cecil on the bridge. (When we completed Enloe Creek Trail Cecil had completed his second 900 Map. For the last 1-2 years he has been working on his Geezer Map; believe it was John Kennerly who suggested this goal for Cecil after latter reached age 75.) We ate lunch on the campground side of the bridge from 12:00 to 12:14 . The last 2.6 mi. of Enloe Creek has ~1250 gain; after ~0.6 mi. on this trail I decided to get a little aerobic workout and pushed. I arrived at its junction with Hughes Ridge and Chasteen Creek Trails at 13:57. We then set out at 14:15 on Chasteen Creek; we finished this somewhat rocky trail at 15:31 and immediately set out on Bradley Fork. (Bill B. and Bill W. had left a neat marker at the point that they had turned around and gave us directions to the van.) We finished our 2.2 mile section of very smooth and easy Bradley Fork Trail at 15:55; my pedometer registered 13.18 miles for a hike that was actually 14.7 mi. (When I push my stride length increases; that probably accounts for most of this disparity.)

We then walked to the site in Smokemont Campground where the two Bills had indicated where they and the van would be. We then set out on our trek home; I arrived there at ~18:20.