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.