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.