Post 900 Hike #68: Lakeshore & Hazel Creek

Today’s hikes required an extreme amount of planning; Cecil Rowe and Jane Calfee did a most excellent job in setting up the logistical requirements. Three different hikes were planned that ended at Campsite 86 and the boat pick-up. Two of the three hikes started at Clingmans Dome; however, all hikes had to be completed by 17:30 since that was the latest that a boat pick-up could be made; thus a very early start was required. I had originally told Cecil that I could do any hike where needed or be a driver; Tuesday evening it appeared that I would be a hiker.

I arrived at Cecil’s home at 04:40. Already there were John Hutsenpiller and Bill Broome (a driver), Bill Woodrick (also a driver) arrived shortly. We reached Sugarlands Visitor Center in Cecil’s van ~05:40; already there were Scott Collins (who would also drive) and eight hikers. The three doing Hazel Creek started earlier; those doing Charlie Woodward’s, although they would end at Campsite 86, were taken by Bob Bolinger to start at a different point. Thus we had ~24 individuals who would get to Campsite 86 for the boat pick-up. It was then that I realized that I would be needed as a driver.

Our trip to Clingmans Dome took ~60 min. since it was dark and virtually no traffic for this 21 mile trip. At Clingmans Dome I found Frank March’s Highlander; it was the vehicle that I was to drive. Bill Broome, Bill Woodrick, and Scott Collins drove two vans and one sedan. Because these three drivers had not planned to do a long hike, our first stop was in Cherokee for breakfast; from there we drove to Fontana Dam and left three vehicles and went in Cecil’s to the parking area for the AT and Lakeshore trailheads (within 50 yards of each other).

At 09:20 we started our short hike (9.6 on Lakeshore & ~1.8 on Hazel Creek) with Scott in the lead; this was only his second hike since having total knee replacement surgery a few months ago. Unfortunately on the first downward stretch he had too much discomfort; thus he returned to the van and after finding some reading material, went to Fontana Marina. On an up section of Lakeshore Trail Bill B. encouraged me to get the aerobic workout that he knew that I usually try to get on each hike; although I pushed a little, doubt if my HR ever reached 140 (forgot my monitor). We ate lunch at Campsite 88 from 11:30-12:30; there was absolutely no hurry. We arrived at the boat pick-up point (~0.5 miles past Campsite 86—low water precluded boat getting to the campsite) at 14:30; thus we were there 3-hours prior to the scheduled boat pick-up. At this point I iced my knee.

A backpacker from Ohio arrived ~15:00; he was scheduled for a small boat pick-up at 15:30. When the latter arrived its driver wanted two of us to go back with him since his bigger boat might be too overloaded by our complete group for the 17:30 pick-up. I encouraged Bill B. and Bill W. to go, since someone had to stay and I had the complete list of hikers. At this point I soaked my feet in the nice cool waters; after drying them I thought that I would only have ~90 min. to wait. Carl Muse, the first arrival, came between 16:00 and 16:30; most of the remaining arrived by 17:00. However, it was ~17:40 that the last of our hikers arrived; we then embarked in the boat. I then collected $15. from each to pay for the boat trip.

Not sure when we arrived at Fontana Marina. Two of Cecil’s passengers went back to SVC in Frank’s Highlander; that enabled us to take the Dragon (U.S. 129) back to our cars at Cecil’s home. Believe I arrived home ~20:00; 15.5 hours since I had left.

Post 900 Hike #67: AT (13.2 mi. +Shuckstack), Russel Field & Anthony Creek (3.5 & 1.6)

Dick Ledyard planned today’s hike; it would be a key-swap with some of us going (1) South from Cades Cove campground to Fontana Dam road, (2) North from Fontana Dam road to Cades Cove campground, (3) AT to Twentymile Ranger Station, (4) Twentymile Ranger Station to AT & on to Cades Cove. I had planned to do #2; however, a pinched plantar nerve (i.e., a 50-year plus Navy football injury) came back to haunt me two days before this hike, making me wonder if my hike would be very short (e.g., a little AT from Fontana Dam road , a quick turn around, & an ultra-long wait for S-bound hikers).

We met at Food Lion at 07:30; I then went in one of the two vehicles going to Fontana Dam (ours had an intermediate stop at Twentymile Ranger where we dropped off Joan Tomlinson & Steve Edwards and picked up Ellie Doughty and Amy Howe). At the AT off Fontana Dam road Ellie and Amy would embark with the rest of us (i.e., Frank & Christian March, Jerry Roddy, Scott Elder, Richard Ryburn, & John Hutsenpiller).

At 09:23 we were on the AT; in the first 3+ miles we had ~2,000 ft. gain. In the first part of our venture Scott (who had never been in this part of the park) asked me if that was Shuckstack Tower (see pic #1, looks kind of far from here but only ~3 mi., double-click to enlarge it--it's neat).
In our AT climb Christian (Frank’s son & an Alaskan mountain tour guide/adventurer) passed us (not sure if he was running there but he ran quite a bit our 18.3 mi. hike). At 11:08 Scott and I reached the tower trail (this added an additional 0.4 mi. up & back to the tower). My 2nd picture is looking N just below the tower’s cabin (glass inside the cabin precluded taking pictures from within it).

Scott went ahead (he was getting cold from tower climb) and I then hiked with Ellie and Amy who were just going to Doe Knob (then they would go back to Twentymile Ranger Station); just after Shuckstack we met Steve and Joan, after visiting the tower they would reverse and end up with us at Cades Cove. Because of the sojourn to the tower I quit recording trail times.

I believe that I caught up with Scott at Doe Knob; he’s a fast hiker and he and I stayed together for most the remaining 11.5 miles of our trip. Somewhere South of Russell Field we met our compatriots who had started at Cades Cove; Dick took this picture of me (it in essence provides a good representation of the AT on a ridge). From a logistic perspective, this hike required complicated arrangements; Dick did one excellent job planning it.
We passed a few AT hikers and talked with some at Mollies Ridge and Russell Field campgrounds; at the latter one was astounded by how Christian had run by them on the trail.

Scott and I arrived at our two vehicles in Cades Cove campground at 18:00. (My Ibuprofen every 4-hrs. almost totally masked my plantar nerve problem.) I iced my knee and we both talked with Christian. Not sure when John, Steve and Joan arrived; they thought that they were about one hour ahead of our other cohorts. We then left Christian. (This was a great hike for John for all miles were new for him; I have a bit of interest in his progress since it was I who got him started hiking.) John dropped Scott and Steve off in Townsend and Joan and me at the Food Lion. I picked up a salmon dinner at Captain D’s and arrived home ~20:00.

Post 900 Hike #66: Wolf Ridge, Gregory Bald, Long Hungry Ridge, 20-Mile, Wolf Ridge

This is the hike Cecil Rowe had planned for the last two Wednesdays that were not done due to weather concerns. Cecil picked me up at the Lakeside Market; John Kennerly and John Hutsenpiller were with him. At the entrance to Foothills Parkway off U.S. 321 we picked up BZ Lane; next stop was at the junction of the Parkway with the Dragon (i.e., U.S. 129). Ellie, Charlie, and Janetta were there; although Ellie had planned to go with us, she went with Charlie and Janetta on an AT, Lost Cove, & Lakeshore hike. (We sort have a rule that there should be a minimum of 3 on backcountry hikes. I had committed to Cecil when I thought that I’d be his 3rd, thinking that Bob was going with Charlie and Janetta. Although I would have most willingly gone on Charlie’s hike, at it conclusion someone would have to drive >20 miles out of their way to get me to my vehicle.)

At 08:20 we set out on our hike from the Twentymile Ranger Station on the 6.8 mi. Wolf Ridge Trail. Initially John H. and I led; however, as I usually endeavor to do on trails with a bit of gain (this one had 3,000+), went ahead. At 10:39 I had reached Parson Bald (~0.4 mi. from Wolf Ridge’s terminus with Gregory Bald). Although I never noted that my HR exceeded 142 (while Cecil was driving the Dragon its lowest was 58—I need to check it at a more relaxed rest), I had sweated a bit and was getting cold. I stayed there for 10 min. and then went to the Gregory Bald trailhead (arr:11:02). At this point I donned my old winter Gortex running jacket and put my extra pair of socks on my hands; it was cold (~37). When John H. arrived, he loaned me a vest that he was not using; I had expected a sunny day and it was not. I had had my aerobic workout and was ready to do remaining trails (mostly “downs”) at a leisurely pace.

The Gregory Bald 1.2 mi. section we were doing initially has a little bit of gain, then it's fairly level where the Azaleas bloom in late June, and then a bit of down. The picture shows my cohorts (John H., Cecil, John K., BZ)at the start of the 4.6 mi. Long Hungry Ridge Trail at 12:24(my pic. taken at Gregory Bald was even more foggier. BZ and I were leading when we came to a serious water crossing; while BZ was looking for a rock-hopping place the others arrived and I was almost ready to don my water shoes when BZ yelled that he had found a place to cross. I re-laced my boots. BZ crossed initially (I did not see him do it but it had to be quite a feat); he then assisted John K. and me, while John H. and Cecil chose to wade with water shoes. Remaining crossings were mild in comparison.

We then did the 2.6 mi. section of the Twentymile Trail; it is essentially an old road bed and it was from it that I took the two pictures of small water falls--the 2nd one was like a series of dams. Then it was the 0 .5 mi. section of Wolf Ridge (the one that we started on). We arrived at Cecil’s van at the Twentymile Ranger Station; I am not sure of the time. Then the long ride home; Cecil dropped me off at Lakeside Market ~17:45.

Post 900 Hike #65: Ace Gap (in/out, ~10.8 mi)

Our Wed. hike was cancelled because it appeared that rain would not make it very pleasant; although it cleared up at home, it is kind of hard what to predict in the GSMNP. I hate to have a week without a hike so I called John Hutenspiller and told him that I would be happy to go with him on short hike such as Ace Gap in and out off Rich Mountain Road. I also notified Dick Ledyard to see if he was interested.

John came to my home at ~0855 and I then picked up Richard at a Fort Sanders Clinic on Topside Road; we then went to the Rich Mountain entrance to the Park so we could do Ace Gap Trail. (Dick's picture shows me at the trailhead with my Highlander in the background just off Rich Mountain Rd; although we preceded South until we reached this point, from this point in the GSMNP it is only one-way North). The exact distance of this hike is somewhat of an enigma; the Brown Book lists it as 5.4 mi. while the map and relatively recent trail signs indicate it is 5.6 mi. As one makes the hike one notices that parts of the trail have obviously changed as signs indicate which trail to take; the reason for this signage is that parts of Ace Gap Trail used to be on private land and that had to be corrected. However, those changes should have been incorporated at least in the 2008 Great Smoky Mountain Trail Map that I have.

At 09:57 we embarked; Ace Gap is a relatively easy trail with little in the way of ups or downs. About half way through I decided to speed up a bit; I completed the 5.4 (or 5.6) miles at 11:47. However, my pedometer only registered 3.49 miles for the hike; because the hike was quite easy, I probably took bigger strides than I usually take. John & Dick are standing by the sign indicating we had reached Beard Cane junction & end of Ace Gap Trail.

After a brief respite (we snacked rather than eat a lunch per se), at 12:05 we left. Because Dick had forgotten his knee brace, it was wise for him not to attempt to break any records; John said that he would hike with Dick freeing me to push it a little. We left at 12:05. The second picture was one of the few times that peaks were visible; I am guessing it is either Thunderhead or Rocky Top. The trail is somewhat unique in that one can see 2-3 very nice homes on private property since Ace Gap Trail is at the edge of the park. I reached my vehicle at 13:48; my speed for the 5.4 (or 5.6) mi. this time was 3.14 (or 3.26 mph). Because my pedometer only registered 6.96 mi., I determined that each stride was ~0.1 foot longer than the 2.5 set on my pedometer (i.e., stride length was 2.61 instead of 2.5 ft).