Post 900 Hike #95: Low Gap II, AT, Mt. Cammerer, and return

The Mount Cammerer hike has been on the agenda for some time. On 1/6 we planned to do it but the Cosby road was closed this date as well as 1/13. Last week rain canceled our plans. Today we did it! Originally it was just Bob Bolanger and BZ Lane and I that were going to do it; however, last evening Cecil Rowe and John Hutsenspiller indicated that they wished to make this hike too. I picked up John and Cecil at the latter’s house and we proceeded to Sevierville. From there we proceeded in Bob’s SUV to Greenbrier and picked up BZ Lane; it was then on to the Cosby Campground to begin our hike on Low Gap II.

We began on Low Gap II at 09:20; this 2.5 mi. trail has ~2000 ft. of gain. BZ and I led this segment; we waited for our cohorts at the AT. Then either Bob or I took up the rear as we proceeded on a 2.1 mi. section of the AT; my goal was to take more pictures that might be used in a Wilderness Wildlife Week presentation should I make one again. In the first picture Bob is on the AT; both rime and snow are evident.


The next segment was the 0.6 mi. trail to Mount Camerer (~750 ft. gain). This hike was the No. 1 rated hike in Southern U.S. by National Geographic Magazine. Because of the many pictures that I took, Bob and I arrived at the Lookout Tower ~12:15; BZ, Cecil, and John had almost finished lunch. The Mount Cammerer Lookout Tower is perhaps pictured more on brochures than any other picture from the GSMNP; on this venture I did not take its picture but I did take pictures from it. In the first one looking E., the bald with snow is Max Patch; in the second one looking N., I-40 can be seen.





Bob and I decided to put on our STABILICERS Ice Cleats before heading down and took them off while on Low Gap. On the way down I again shot pictures; however, a camera-setting dial changed unbeknownst to me and I lost a few pictures.

Post 900 Hike #94: Twin Creeks, Bull Head, & Horse trail

Bob Bolinger, BZ Lane, and I decided to hike Bull Head Trail rather than today’s group hike. I went via John Sevier, Chapman Hwy., Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg, and arrived at Mynat Park in Gatlinburg ~08:10 (often times I travel through the GSMNP to get to same destination); Bob (from Sevierville) and BZ (from Gatlinburg) arrived shortly. We had planned to drive to the Rainbow Falls Trail parking lot; however, since the road was closed due to snow, BZ had to park his SUV ~2 miles from the Bull Head trailhead; our start time was ~08:45 on the Twin Forks Trail. In our little 2-mi. jaunt we decided to don our crampons; all of us were using STABILicers Ice Cleats. Somewhat to my surprise, although my little finger of each hand was cold (undoubtedly due to the fact that each had been broken), after removing my jogging glove/X-C ski-mitten combo, my little fingers warmed up (possibly the tight gloves reduce circulation to each?).

Believe that we reached the Bull Head Trailhead ~09:30. Overall this trail has ~3,000 ft. gain prior to LeConte; however, because of our late start and the fact that there were many blow-downs (or snow-downs) on the trail, we only reached “The Pulpit” at ~12:00. That's BZ and Bob at The Pulpit.



After lunch we went a bit further but then once we realized that reaching LeConte was out of the question, we turned around and retraced our steps. In the second picture BZ and Bob had just passed a rock wall that had icicles hanging on it.



The last two pictures present an example of the blow-downs (because of the heavy snow last month, maybe they were snow-downs). In the first of the two BZ had just navigated through the first part of this obstacle course; in the second picture Bob has arrived ~where BZ was in the prior one, and BZ can be seen to Bob's left.




When we reached the Bull Head trail head, we decided to take a horse trail that eventually would take us to Mynatt Park where Bob’s and my SUV’s were located rather than the less then fun route taken in the morning. We arrived at 15:15 and our mileage (by my pedometer) was only 11.5 mi. Bob then took BZ to his SUV and I headed home; ironically, BZ's home was within two blocks of Bob's and my vehicles.

After stopping for a cup of coffee, I arrived home ~16:50; my Airedale Terrier Winston of course expected me to play frisby with him in the yard (in one of his catches he went high in full stride—he looked like a great end).

Post 900 #93: Old Sugarlands and Twin Creeks +

The hike that Bob Bolinger, BZ Lane, Charlie Woodrick I were planning to take to Mt. Cammerer had to be canceled because the road leading to Cosby Campground was closed due to weather. Bob who lives in Sevierville (very close to the Park) and BZ who lives in Gatlinburg (immediately adjacent to the Park) came up with an alternate hike that included Old Sugarlands Trail (3.9), a tad on Cherokee Orchard Rd & a Manway, Twin Creeks Trail (1.9), a walk into Gatlinburg to Calhouns for lunch, a short walk through part of Gatlinburg, and then the Gatlinburg Trail (~2.0).

Charlie rode with me from Food Lion in Maryville and we met Bob and BZ at SVC at 09:00; I think temperature was ~25 degrees. Old Sugarlands Trail is rather scenic and has a bit of rise towards its conclusion. The first picture is of BZ; the second picture taken a few minutes later is of Bob and Charlie. It was still brisk and at this juncture the snow was at its deepest.




Shortly after this we were on a short segment of Cherokee Orchard Road and then by Bud Ogles 19th Century home we reached Twin Creeks Trail. After we completed this trail we walked into Gatlinburg for lunch at Calhouns. Since it was not very crowded, we were able to use one booth for packs, sticks, and extra clothes.

After a nice lunch we walked ~0.3 mi. to the trail head for the Gatlinburg Trail. The last picture is of the West Prong of Little Pigeon River; you'll note that the white "lumps" are snow intermingled with the rock.



When we arrived at our vehicles at SVC, we had walked 11+ mi. (my pedometer reading). Bob and BZ headed for their relatively close homes; Charlie and I headed for Maryville. I dropped him off in the Food Lion parking lot (he had ~25 mi. to go to his home in Vonore) and I headed for my home in Lousville; I arrived there ~16:00.