Post 900 Hike: X-C Ski Interlude

I apologize to regular readers of my blog for this hiatus. With Xmas and New Years Eve falling on Wednesdays, doubt if anyone hiked. I believe we had bad weather on 1/7; my presentation at Wilderness Wildlife Week on X-C Skiing & Hiking in the Snow in the G.S.M.N.P. on 1/14 precluded hiking that day.

Most all hikes this week were cancelled because U.S. 441 was closed because of snow and ice; however, this did not stop Manfred Grote and me from going to the Park in hopes that this road would open and allow us to get to Newfound Gape--our X-C ski starting point on the road to Clingmans Dome.

Manfred picked me up at Lowes on John Sevier highway at 9:30; at this time U.S. 441 was still closed. When we arrived in the G.S.M.N.P., it had opened with caution warnings; Manfred’s 4-wheel drive Jeep made the trip to Newfound Gap quite comfortable. At 11:30 we embarked on our skis on the Clingmans Dome Road.

Although we were the first skiers on the most recent snow, there was only ~a 4” base; in the picture of Manfred you'll note that the sun sometimes plays havoc with snow conditions. Thus my usual goal of trying to reach Clingmans Dome had to be put aside. After lunch I suggested to Manfred that we endeavor to reach Fork Ridge Trailhead (which is directly across the Clingmans Dome Road from Sugarland Mountain Trailhead). I forget what time that I arrived there; Manfred arrived a few minutes later—he was pleased that he had made it that far since he was dealing with a hip adductor strain.

On the way down we met a fellow taking a break; I did not even note his skis at first and thought he might be a backpacker or just out for a walk. When I saw his skis, I suggested to Manfred that he continue for I wanted to talk to this fellow. Since my wife thinks that it is inappropriate for a 74 year old man to try to ski to Clingmans Dome alone, I am always looking for new ski partners. His name is Maurizio Conti; he identified himself as my hiking buddy Jim Harb’s Italian friend; I hope that Maurizio and I can ski together in the future.

I then proceeded to catch Manfred; however, I then met Christopher Hibbard walking towards me armed with photographic equipment. Although I did not know him nor had I hiked with him, he is a very interesting fellow who I found had happened to read a few of my hiking blogs and knew some of my hiking friends. Although not a potential recruit for skiing, I assume that he and I will cross paths again.

I caught Manfred shortly after Indian Gap. In my last picture I was looking down at U.S. 441 in North Carolina; the small white stretches indicate its presence with switchbacks. Even though the snow conditions were not nearly as good as I had anticipated, Manifred and I got a fairly good 8+ mile skiing workout; I also met two very interesting people.