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.