Post 900 Hike #52: Noland Divide, Pole Rd Cr, Deep Creek et al.

Today’s hike required logistics for a bus from the Cherokee Indian Reservation would pick us at Deep Creek and take us back to our cars at different sites on U.S. 441. I left for Food Lion ~06:35. I rode with Richard Ryburn and we picked up Jerry Roddy (new to our group) in Townsend. Dick Ledyard drove his van and Bill Jacks (I had hiked with him only once previously) rode with him. We arrived at SVC ~07:55 and met up with Frank Marsh and Steven Edwards (more on him later. Although they did not start with us, four others were doing hikes that would end at Deep Creek and will be mentioned later.

Our group arrived at the Noland Divide trailhead at ~08:45 and we got started at 08:50. I tend not to push going down (i.e., an aerobic workout is not feasible) and covered the 3.7 mi. in 78 min. We started the 3.3 mi. Pole Rd Creek trail at 10:30. On this trail we also met 3 of our cohorts (Jane Calfee, Debbie May, & Vicki Watkins) who had come down Deep Creek Trail and were now going up Pole Rd Creek; they were doing a longer hike but would meet us at the Deep Creek pavilion after coming down Noland Divide. We arrived at Deep Creek Trail at 11:55 and stopped for lunch at 12:30 at Campsite 57. Since I forgot my camera, Steven and Dick were gracious enough to provide me with some pictures. The first two were taken at lunch just after crossing Deep Creek from Pole Rd Creek Trail; from left to right at lunch are Bill, Steven, Frank, me, Jerry, & Richard (Dick took pic).

At 12:50 we continued on Deep Creek; however, when we hit Martins Gap trail Frank, Steven, Jerry, Richard, and Dick went on it while Bill and I continued on Deep Creek. We did this because Glen Howard was ahead of us on this trail and alone. We finished Deep Creek between 15:00 and 15:30; Bill is quite a photographer and we stopped for a number of pictures. Since Bill had not done Juney Whank Falls Trail, we came back on it and then redid part of Deep Creek (our hike totaled ~15 miles). The 3rd pic is of the small falls feeding into Deep Creek near the trail's terminus.

When we arrived at the pavilion, Jane, Vicki, Debbie, and Glen were already there; our other cohorts arrived shortly and the bus picked us up at 15:30. Because our passenger list was low, we each had to pay $20. for the bus. On the bus I had a chance to talk to Steven although I had talked to him a little on the trail too. Steven endeavors to use vacation days to get off work in order to do hikes that require logistics; he is a strong hiker despite the fact that he does not use poles. (I guess that this old Norwegian is going to have to sit down with him and explain why we Nordics use poles.)

The bus dropped Jane, Vicki, and Debbie off at their vehicle just below Newfound Gap and then carried us on to ours just below Clingmans Dome; although it was only 38 degrees, it was cold and windy (I did not bother digging either my vest or coat out of my pack). It was dark by the time we arrived at SVC; I believe that I arrived home shortly after 19:00. (I forgot my camera; if a fellow hiker forwards me any pictures, I will add them.)