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.