Post 900 Hike #47: Big Creek, Camel Gap, Gunter Fork, Balsam Mtn, & Beech Gap

John Hutsenpiller picked me up at Lakeside Market at 06:20; we proceeded to Food Lion. I ended up riding with Richard Ryburn to Sugarlands Visitor Center (SVC) and John rode with Dick Ledyard. At SVC those of us who decided to do the purported more difficult hike starting at Big Creek Campground (i.e., Big Creek 5.1, Camel Gap 0.7, Gunter Fork 4.1, Balsam Mtn 2.9, and Beech Gap I 2.5) were John Hutsenpiller, Richard Ryburn, Dick Ledyard, and Frank March. Those that we would be doing the key swap with and going North on the same trails (in reverse order) were Bob Bolinger, Janetta Baker & her son Devon, BZ Lane, and Amy Howe.

Richard drove BZ’s van and we started out on Big Creek 09:20; Dick, John and I completed this 5.8 mi. section at 11:30. Much to our surprise we met a Doe and Fawn who were quite surprised by our presence. The fawn left before I could photo it, the doe presents one of the closest encounters that I have ever had with a deer. After we finished this section we snacked and waited for our cohorts; at 12:00 we started out on Gunter Fork (4.1 mi. and 5 stream crossings); the picture is of the cascades on Gunter Fork. We Gunter Fork at 14:14; just prior to finishing this trail we met our cohorts (BZ & Devon first, then Bob, Janetta & Amy). Although I used my water shoes for most of the trail, I really should have put my boots on sooner for only the first 3-4 crossings required water shoes. At this point we had lunch. As we waited we became a little concerned about our cohorts and I retraced our steps for 0.25 mi. They had taken a sojourn to a falls and also had had lunch.

We began the 2.9 mi. section of Balsam Mtn Trail at 15:30 and finished it at 16:30. We started the 2.5 mi. Beech Gap I Trail at 16:35 and finished it at 17:25. I iced my knee and Dick provided us with cold drinks (e.g., ice tea, soda). After Richard and Frank arrived we set out for Cherokee; here we stopped and had sandwiches prior to driving through the GSMNP from South to North on US 441. We stopped at SVC; Dick, John and I proceeded in the former’s car to the Food Lion parking lot. John dropped me off at the Lakeside Market and I arrived home ~21:00.

Post 900 Hike #46: Goldmine, Cooper Rd., Beard Cane, Manway, Cane Creek, Cooper Rd., Coldmine Trails

Arrived at Cecil Rowe’s house early (~7:10); John Kennerly and John Hutsenpiller arrived shortly. Although I had planned to drive, Cecil thought that it would be better for him to drive and to leave his van in an out-of-the-GSMNP parking place rather than my SUV because it was less likely to be disturbed. At Food Lion we met a host of other hikers; some doing shorter hikes and eight (see pic for all hikers) planning to do ours. In part because Richard Ryburn had obtained permission for us to use a trail outside of the Park on Cecil’s requested hike, he rode with us in Cecil’s van to our Top of the World starting place.

Cecil as well as the two other drivers parked their vehicles on private property at Top of the World. We then walked ~0.2 mile to the GSMNP and the start of Goldmine Loop trail; next we then proceeded on a 1.8 mi. section of Cooper Rd trail; we then did the 4.2 mi. Beard Cane trail. On this trail Cecil and I separated ourselves from the rest of the group; although there were numerous water crossings, we were able to rock-hop each. The remaining 10 of our group arrived sporadically; some ~50 min. after our arrival. A big reason for this is that a hiker inadvertently placed his hiking stick in a yellow jacket nest; he as well as a few others were stung more than 10 times; I believe everyone in this group of 10 was stung at least once. (The 11 hikers in the picture are: John Kennerly, Richard Ryburn, John Hutsenpiller, BJ Perlack, Ann Richards, Diane's grandson, Ellie Doughty, Diane Scarbrough, Barbara Slover, Martha Norton, and Cecil Rowe.)

We then hiked a manway (i.e., a trail not maintained by the park); most of the first mile is maintained by Blackberry Farms (a very ritzy Inn recognized nationally). However, most of the remainder of this ~3 mi. trail is not maintained and there were many blow-downs that impeded our progress; there were also many stream crossings. I put my water shoes on for only one of these; if I had to do it over I would have hiked most of this trail with my water shoes on beginning with the first major crossing. There were many incidents; one hiker sustained what appeared to be a compound fracture of his ring finger.
Eventually we reached Cane Creek Trail (2.1 mi. trail); we were caught in a heavy rain and thus there were many water crossings here too. We finally reached Cooper Rd. Trail; however, on our return we only were on it for ~0.5 mi. until we reached the 0.8 mi. Gold Mine Trail (the one we came down at our start and now we went up it at our finish). Those of us riding in Cecil’s van (+Ellie) arrived there ~17:00. I arrived home ~18:45 after picking up my supper at Buddies Barbecue.

Hyponatremia in Hikers (comments welcome)

A few months ago a very good article by the GSMNP Service was forwarded to all hikers by Tom Wainer concerning problems such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. There is another problem that can be associated with heavy exertion in hot and humid weather; the problem is hyponatremia. Hyponatremia is an abnormally low concentration of sodium in your blood; it has also been referred to as water intoxication.

Although organic conditions can be the prime cause of hyponatremia, its occurrence in athletes was first written about in 1985 after it was noted that ~30% of the athletes competing in the 1984 Ironman Triathlon had symptoms of hyponatremia. The causes include excessive sodium losses (e.g., sweating & urination) and replacement with sodium-free fluids. Heavy exercise typically exceeding four hours in hot and humid weather sets the stage for hyponatremia; this is one reason why novice marathon runners are much more apt to have a problem with it than elite runners.

How does this relate to hiking? Even though our 20-mile+ hikes may not be as stressful as running a marathon, they take a bit longer than 4-hours; furthermore, I don’t think that that hikers train for their hikes quite like runners train for their races. Thus even though I have not read of a hiker sustaining hyponatremia, I posit that the challenges to the typical hiker-trained body could cause hyponatremia if one is not careful. I became interested in this topic after another hiker told me of an incident wherein a hiker collapsed on a particularly arduous summer hike; I felt his description fit the definition of hyponatremia (muscle weakness & cramps could be symptomatic too). On one of my long hikes I became flat-out scared when a cohort filtered and chug-a-lugged ~3 liters of water from a stream; all I could think of was hyponatremia and we were ~8 miles from hike terminus. (The electrolyte Stamina was subsequently given in both cases.)

If you take a long hike in the summer, the fluids that you drink should contain electrolytes (e.g., sports drinks). Sodium is a required element for normal body functions but it is lost in sweat and urine; if it not is replaced in the diet and excess water is drunk, theoretically this can upset body chemistry to the point that hyponatremia results. In addition to a sports drink, I also carry electrolyte Stamina packets (each contains 134 mg. sodium) for first aid purposes (it can be mixed with most any drink). Sports drinks and salty foods should negate the need for salt tablets (e.g., 8 oz. Gatorade has 110 mg. sodium, one Baked Rold Gold Hard Sourdough pretzel contains 220 mg.).

Wendell Liemohn

Sources: MayoClinic.com; medlineplus; McArdle, W.D. et al.: Exercise Physiology—Energy, Nutrition, and Human Performance, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2001; Porth, C.M.: Pathophysiology—Concepts of Altered Health States, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2002.

Post 900 Hike #45: Huskey, Sugarland, Rough Creek, Campsite 30, Little River

Today’s hike was a key swap with several permutations. Cecil Rowe, John Hutsenpiller, and I did Huskey Gap Tr. (2 mi. from US 441 to Sugarland Mtn Tr.). Concurrently BZ Lane and John Kennerly started on Sugarland Mtn Tr. from Little River Rd (3.1 mi.). After BZ and John K. met us, the five of us set out on the 4.1 mi. leg of Sugarland Mtn. Tr.; I had not hiked with BZ for some time so we were able to get caught up on our more recent endeavors. We met two Rangers who check on bear activity by determining how long it takes them to locate sardine tins (bears love sardines).

We met up with our key swappers after reaching the 2.8 mi. Rough Creek Tr. (from L-R, all in our combined parties: Lloyd Lutekin, Cecil, John H., Dick Ledyard, Dale Teague, John K., Bill Broome, BZ). After we reached Little River Tr., BZ proceeded on it since he needed to be back to Gatlinburg shortly; Cecil, the two Johns and I went to Campsite 30 (1.8 mi.) and return. We then proceeded 4.4 mi. back to Elkmont and Cecil’s car. Today’s hike was relatively easy for a 16.7 mi. hike and because of the leisurely pace I did not keep track of times.