Post 900 Hike #56: Deep Creek & Tunnel Area

I told Frank March that I could help him with logistics on hikes that he and others needed to qualify for The 900 Mile Association; although I had hiked with him previously, this was the first time that I was a vital cog for logistics (i.e., taking hikers to Fontana Marina in order that they could take a boat close to Campsite 77 to get on Lakeshore Trail and hike latter to the tunnel that goes nowhere). Although originally scheduled for 12/17, rain strongly encouraged us to do the hike on 12/18.

I arrived at Food Lion at 06:50; already waiting there were Cecil Rowe, John Kennerly, Frank March, Dick Ledyard, and a fellow from Cookeville (David Starnes—one whom I had not met); Debbie May arrived shortly thereafter. Although Frank offered to let me drive his Highlander for the trip, I chose to drive my own. Dick and David rode with me; the rest rode with Cecil to the marina. At ~08:35 we completed the 60 mi. trip to the marina. It was at the marina that I realized that (a) John did not need Lakeshore Trail for his second map but did need trails near the hike’s terminus and (b) Cecil basically wanted the hike only as a conditioner since he did not need any of the area trails for his Geezer Map (i.e., >75). After we drove the ~30 mi. to Bryson City, we decided to drive the 2-3 miles to Deep Creek and pick up some trails that John needed for his second map; we would then go to the tunnel that goes nowhere on the other side of Bryson City, do the Tunnel Bypass and Goldmine Loop trails, and then wait for our passengers.

At Deep Creek we did Indian Creek Motor Trail (1.1), Stone Pile Gap (0 .9), Indian Creek (1.6 in & 1.6 out—at this point Cecil went back to his van so he could pick up John at the 1.2 mi. Loop Trail terminus (also the locale of my Highlander). Much to our surprise John and I arrived at this point precisely at the same time that Cecil did. We then drove back to Bryson City and on into the Park in two vehicles.

From the tunnel parking lot we first did the 1.2 mi. Tunnel Bypass trail, then ~0.3 mi. on Lakeshore Trail, then 2 mi. on Goldmine Loop trail, and then 0.4 mi. on Tunnel Bypass trail (i.e., back to the Parking Lot at the end of the tunnel). I had gone ahead of John and Cecil when Goldmine Loop had a bit of up (i.e., ~550 gain in ~0.5 mi.) to get a little aerobic workout. When I reached the 0.4 mi. sign I sped up even more; I’ll swear that this was the longest 0.4 mi. that I have ever hiked.

I had completed the icing of my knee when Cecil and John arrived. It was ~30 min. later that the first of those completing the "boat hike" came out of the tunnel; the rest followed shortly. The consensus was to stop for dinner in Bryson City; because Cecil and I drove, we were treated. On the way back we took U.S. 19 until its junction with U.S. 441 just South of the Park below Cherokee. Believe it was ~21:00 when I arrived home; although I had only hiked in the low teens, I had driven 201 miles.

Post 900 Hike #55: Jakes Creek (2.9), Miry Ridge (5.0) & return (15.8)

Must preface the hike with something that happened at the dog park on Tues. afternoon; one Great Dane with the assistance of another did a cross-body block on my left knee (my right knee is the one that I always wear a brace for my patellar tracking problem). Tuesday evening in bed I made a wrong movement and it was quite painful; at this point in time I doubted that I’d hike Wed. and was concerned that this latest strain might relate to an ACL injury. I arrived at our meet-up at Food Lion ~06:50 intending to drop out; before I could do so Charlie Woodward said that it was just he and I from the group there that was going to do Jakes Creek and Miry Ridge to the AT, so I decided that I should at least try to hike. Although John Hutenspeler had planned to do the Old Settlers Trail hike with the others there, I talked him into going with us. That provided me with a caveat; I would drive too in case I had to turn around due to my new knee problem. We arrived at the Jakes Creek trailhead ~07:50; Bob Bolinger joined us there and we were on the trail at 08:00.

After putting on our crampons in route (snow was ~2-4"), we arrived at Miry Ridge Trail ~09:30 and my knee very seldom sent me signals. At 09:40 we set out on the latter and covered 5.0 mi. to the AT by 12:00 for lunch; here the snow had a good 6" depth. During lunch I told Bob about the neat GSMNP painting that was ready for me at some art gallery in Sevierville, for at this point I thought that I might be able to pick it up today rather than make an extra trip Sat. as originally planned. Bob surmised that it was the Robert A Tino Gallery; to me that name sounded familiar. He gave me directions to it and offered to drive there with me.

At 12:30 we started retracing our steps; John and I covered the first 2.5 mi. at 13:35; in the snow one has to be a little more careful in stepping. I had decided that I should make haste to ensure arriving at the Art Gallery by 17:00; so John waited for Charlie and Bob and I did not stop. I completed the next 2.5 mi. section at 14:35. including time spent in taking off my crampons and repacking. As I was taking a picture of the next trail sign three individuals from Indiana came up from the Panther Creek Trail; being an ex-Hoosier I talked with them for a few minutes (they were doing an in and out on Jakes Creek and Panther Creek trails).

I arrived at the Jakes Creek trailhead at 14:35 and pulled out of the parking area at 14:45 and made it to the Art Gallery at 16:40, only to find that on this particular day they were remaining open until 20:00.kes Creek (2.9 mi.) & Miry Ridge (5.0 mi.) and return (15.8 mi.)

Must preface the hike with something that happened at the dog park on Tues. afternoon; one Great Dane with the assistance of another did a cross-body block on my left knee (my right knee is the one that I always wear a brace for my patellar tracking problem). Tuesday evening in bed I made a wrong movement and it was quite painful; at this point in time I doubted that I’d hike Wed. and was concerned that the strain to my left knee might relate to an ACL injury. Nevertheless I arrived at our meet-up at Food Lion ~06:50 intending to drop out. However, Charlie Woodward informed me that it was just he and I from the group there that was going to do Jakes Creek and Miry Ridge to the AT, so I decided that I should at least try to hike. Although John Hutenspeler had planned to do the Old Settlers Trail hike, I talked him into going with us. That provided me with a caveat; I would drive too in case I had to turn around due to my new knee problem. We arrived at the Jakes Creek trailhead ~07:50; Bob Bolinger joined us there and we were on the trail at 08:00.

After putting on our crampons in route, we arrived at Miry Ridge Trail ~09:30 and my knee very seldom sent me signals. At 09:40 we set out on the latter and covered 5.0 mi. to the AT by 12:00 for lunch. During lunch I told Bob about the painting that was ready for me at an art gallery in Sevierville; he surmised that it was the Robert A Tino Gallery and gave me directions to it and offered to drive there with me.

At 12:30 we started retracing our steps; John and I covered the first 2.5 mi. at 13:35; in the snow one has to be a little more careful in stepping. I had decided that I should make haste to ensure arriving at the Art Gallery by 17:00; so John waited for Charlie and Bob and I did not stop. I completed the next 2.5 mi. section at 14:35. including time spent in taking off my crampons and repacking. As I was taking a picture of the trail sign three individuals from Indiana came up from the Panther Creek Trail; being an ex-Hoosier I talked with them for a few minutes (they were doing an in and out on Jakes Creek and Panther Creek trails).

I arrived at the Jakes Creek trailhead at 14:35; I pulled out of the parking area at 14:45 and made it to the Art Gallery at 16:40, only to find that on this particular day they were remaining open until 20:00.