Post-900 Hike #147:

After the aggravation of my neck problem on a relatively easy AT, Lost Cove, and Lakeshore hike that I did on 6/6/11, a hiatus from hiking seemed in order because (1) I wanted to see if rest and PT would help me resolve my head-neck posturing issue, (2) our Russian trip would take me out of the loop for 3-wks, and (3) latter would be immediately followed by cataract surgery. Even though I did a fair job of keeping up with my running and to a lesser extent lifting on the cruise, I did not wish to bite off too much on my first hike after a 2-month lay-off. My good friends Bob Bolinger and BZ Lane were most accommodating to my needs.

I met Bob in Sevierville and we met BZ at Mynatt Park in Gatlinburg; from there we took a manway to Twin Creeks trail. As we approached Elijah Oliver's cabin we caught up with Mitzy Cain and ~6 of her hikers; I had not seen her for quite awhile and it was interesting to meet a few of her hikers (her group tends to hike on Wed. too). We then took Cherokee Orchard Rd., Sugarlands Trail, a stop at SVC, Gatlinburg trail, through a corner of Gatlinburg and back to Mynatt Park. (It was on the Gatlinburg trail that I took the picture; although 3-streams merge at this point, I was able to only get two of them.)



(We had originally planned to have lunch in Gatlinburg at one of our usual spots as we walked through it on the way to our vehicles; however, when BZ mentioned the Mountain Lodge on the E. Parkway, I asked about it. Bob was also familiar with it; when he and I drove to it, he said that is was a place that I would never pick just by looking at it. He was correct; nevertheless, I had one of the best Reuben sandwiches that I have ever had. I recommend it.)

Although I am probably destined to always have to contend with a neck issue, today's hike of 9.8 mi. was not uncomfortable. On 9/12 my son Kirk from Johns Creek GA is making a special trip (i.e., no family) to hike with me; I plan to take him on one of the GSMNP's most scenic hikes (i.e., Low Gap II & AT to Mt. Cammerer). If my head-neck posturing does not give me a problem on that hike, I might do one of our group's (i.e., Margaret Stevenson's Wed. Hikers) boat hikes on 9/14.



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