Post 900 Hike #110: Newton Bald--5.4 + 0.7, Mingus Creek--5.7

This is a hike that I elected to do after determining that my first choice (a longer one) would be more apt to upset the problem that I have been having with my feet. This is a hike that John Hutsenpiller and Judy Gross needed for their 900; I needed it for my Geezer 900. Dick Ledyard also did this hike; the latter finished his 900 last year and I believe that about every hike taken since has only been taken to help others achieve their 900. Although I also endeavored to help others achieve this goal, my efforts pale when compared with those of Dick.

John picked me up at Lakeside Market ~07:10; we arrived at SVC ~one hour later. Dick drove his vehicle too to facilitate logistics; Nan NLN met us at SVC; although she was not hiking with us, Dick helped with her logistics too. Dick left his vehicle at Mingus Creek Trailhead and dropped Nan off there; Judy, coming in from Ashville, met us there and we proceeded in two vehicles to the Newton Bald Trailhead by Smokemont; the four of us then proceeded up Newton Bald Trail (~2800' of gain). I took it relatively easy at first and stopped to nurse one foot; ~4 mi. up I decided to give it a go and got my HR up to 151 prior to reaching Mingus Creek junction. We then proceeded to Thomas Divide Trail, met Nan, and then all five us returned to Campsite 52 for lunch. It was a quick lunch for it started to rain quite heavily and we donned rain gear and proceeded on our quest. We did not try to break any records; the trail was relatively nice but had shades of Cold Spring Gap in a few parts (i.e., nothing but rocks to step on). The picture is one that Dick took; from L-R it is John, me, and Judy. (I did not take any pictures because I had a dead camera battery; because I did not bring a pen, I did not record times either.)



Dick and I dropped Judy and John off at the S-end of Tow String trail; we then proceeded to the Bradley Fork Trail in Smokemont Campground (Tow String feeds into it) and waited for John and Judy. (I originally considered doing this trail too but I thought I'd be pressing my luck with my bunion and blister problems.)

When our cohorts arrived Dick took us to Judy's and John's vehicles on U.S. 441; John had some refreshing sodas or tea for us. Then Judy proceeded South on her way back to Ashville; Dick in his vehicle and John and I in his then proceeded North on U.S. 441. John dropped me off at my vehicle ~17:30. In essence it was a good day; both Judy and John got some good mileage towards their 900. I was pleased that my feet did not give me too much of a problem (used my old broken-in boots again); moreover, I got some good miles for my Geezer Map.

Pedometer Trivia (will complete after I download):
Steps:
Aerobic steps: 22,453
Miles:
kcal burned:

Post 900 Hike #109: Roundtop--7.5 mi.

After last week's ~15-mi. hike in which I used new boots and my feet took a beating (despite feeling very good on ups, on downs my toes and my bunion suffered), I did not plan on hiking this week. However, my feet started feeling better Tues. (primarily because of jell-type band aids). Thus I decided to go on the group hike because it was quite short and I felt that my feet could handle it (I also needed Roundtop Trail for my geezer map).

I arrived at Food Lion ~07:50. Because ~16 hikers were doing the hike and a little logistics was required, four of us drove. My passengers were Jim and Nancy Carmen, Diane Scarbrough, and Becky Brown. Those that I conversed with the most were Bill Broome and Jim Carmen (latter in vehicle as well as on trail). Bill was on my very first hike in 2005, and when I did the hike that completed requirements for my memberhip in The 900-Miler Association in 2007, he went above and beyond in providing key logistics in facilitating my last hike (it was from Clingmans Dome to Cades Cove via Thunderhead and Rocky Top). Jim, also a X-C skier, gave me some very good info on Elder Hostel's (now has a new name) X-C ski packages in the West; he also gave me some key info on kayaking. I have acquired a vast diversity of friends in our 240+ hiking group; although I really like to hike, getting friends like Bill and Jim make me all the more thankful that I am a hiker in a great group.

Although Roundtop Trail is a nice trail and relatively scenic, I did not take many pictures. The only one I am posting is Tom Wainer (I believe) crossing Little River at the Townsend Wye as he completed the hike. (When I did this hike in 2006 the water was up to my crotch; today it was no higher than my knee.)



After taking this picture I took a few more bites of my lunch, and then with three other drivers, went in Lloyd's car to pick up our own vehicles so that the three of us could return to the Wye and pick up our passengers. When I got back to the Wye there was a little consternation for a hiker riding in another car had not yet completed the hike. Fortunately he arrived shortly and all three cars then headed back to Food Lion in Maryville.