Post 900 Hike #44: Eagle Creek, Bote Mtn, West Prong (18 mi.)

Today was the day that I met my challenge; more on this later. The group hike was from Eagle Creek to Cades Cove (~14 mi.); Cecil Rowe wanted to go from Eagle Creek to Tremont (~18). After getting a cold on the cruise my only workout in the last three weeks had been an easy 12 miler last week and my usual 30 min. run on the track on 6/21 with my running partner for the last 20 years. I went to Cecil’s at 06:25; John Hutenspiller, Cecil, and I then went to Food Lion. Our plan was to hook a ride with one of the key swappers doing the group hike and starting at Fontana; others in this group would be starting at Cades Cove and finishing at Fontana Marina.

Did not record the exact time of our arrival at Fontana Marina but assume it was ~08:30. Shortly after our arrival there 12 of us embarked on a pontoon which would take us to Campsite 90 on Lakeshore Trail; that is Gary Neibert (one with whom I have done many hikes but none in the past year) and Cecil Rowe (cannot identify other person). Most of us had our water shoes on already for we had ~15 crossings of Eagle Creek and they would start very shortly after we did a fraction of a mile on Lakeshore Trail. At this point in time Richard Ryburn had decided to join us on the longer hike and the remaining eight would be with us for ~12.5 miles. Initially I was with Gary Neibert and Andrea Borja. I had never hiked with Andrea previously.

After the first water crossing I led and was followed by Andrea and Gary; we sort of distanced ourselves from the others. On this part of the trek I noted that Andrea (vivacious, trim, & probably less than half my age) could keep with my pace; that sort of surprised me but then I learned that amongst her activities she taught Spinning at the Rush Fitness Center in Alcoa. After ~7.2 miles Gary and I put on our boots thinking that we had crossed the last stream; Andrea did not have water shoes but her light hiking shoes were not too much of a detriment for wading. We soon met those who started in Cades Cove (Lead Cove Trail); the other nine in our group joined us and we ate our lunch just prior to a stream crossing that we could rock hop. The first 7.3 miles of Eagle Creek had ~1600 ft of gain; however, the last ~1.4 miles has ~1800 ft gain. As ~one third of our group of 12 started, I asked Andrea if she would like to lead. Not before too long she and I had distanced ourselves from the rest; then much to my surprise the distance between Andrea and me increased. She ended up reaching Spence Field 10 min. before I did; although I was admittedly out of shape, until today I had thought that I was the fastest of any of the Wednesday hikers. Even after I get back in shape, I am not sure that I will be able to keep up with this young lady (that's Andrea standing by the Spence Field Shelter).

Andrea and I waited for everyone at Spence Field before continuing; Andrea and one other (Frank???) had decided to take the longer hike to Tremont. All 12 of us left Spence Field together; we had a smidgeon of Eagle Creek and the AT prior to getting on Bote Mtn Trail. Because the first part of this is primarily down on rocks (my knees' least favorite type of trail), I started out #11 in our group of 12. After the trail became more decent, I put it in a higher gear and passed a few folk. At the Lead Cove trail head Andrea stood waiting; the ones that she was hiking with had taken it. However, those of us on the 18 miler had 2.5 on Bote Mtn and 2.7 on West Prong to do yet. After coming around one switchback we met a deer; much to our surprise it decided to look at us awhile prior to getting off the trail (unfortunately she turned her head before my camera was ready). Except for a little stretch of up, Andrea and I stayed together; she is one strong young lady.

Cecil had given me the keys for his vehicle. When Andrea and I arrived there, I did my usual icing and had my ice tea (it started the day frozen so it was still tasty). After the remaining four straggled in, we departed Tremont and left for Food Lion.