June 26th - Laurel Falls & Cove Mountain - No Pictures
Description: 12.4 mile hike that involves a car shuttle between Laurel Falls trailhead and Sugarlands Visitor Center. We will hike up Laurel Falls (4 miles with 1700 foot climb). Then down Cove Mtn. (8.4 miles with a decent close to 2550 feet). We will meet at 8:30 at Laurel Falls Trailhead. Depending on our group size, we may need to leave more than one car behind the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Hikers: Mary D., Jen K., Rebekah B. & Elise E. Post-hike notes: Thought I was going to be sore after hiking Roan but I wasn't. Thought the rain was going to really it us hard with maybe some hail but it wasn't too bad. Really enjoyed hiking these trails since the other two times have been in the winter months. That was great too but it's fun to see how different Cove Mtn. is this time of year. For the trail being so close to the Smky. Mtn. Visitor Center, I note how few hike it and what beautiful, unspoiled flora and fauna awaits you if you do.
Description: 12.4 mile hike that involves a car shuttle between Laurel Falls trailhead and Sugarlands Visitor Center. We will hike up Laurel Falls (4 miles with 1700 foot climb). Then down Cove Mtn. (8.4 miles with a decent close to 2550 feet). We will meet at 8:30 at Laurel Falls Trailhead. Depending on our group size, we may need to leave more than one car behind the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Hikers: Mary D., Jen K., Rebekah B. & Elise E. Post-hike notes: Thought I was going to be sore after hiking Roan but I wasn't. Thought the rain was going to really it us hard with maybe some hail but it wasn't too bad. Really enjoyed hiking these trails since the other two times have been in the winter months. That was great too but it's fun to see how different Cove Mtn. is this time of year. For the trail being so close to the Smky. Mtn. Visitor Center, I note how few hike it and what beautiful, unspoiled flora and fauna awaits you if you do.
June 24th &25th - (NOT IN GSMNP) Roan Mountain State Park (TN) - Section hiking the AT with Mel H., Cindy S., Judy W. and Deborah B. - stayed at Overmountain Shelter on Friday night... lots of bald hiking offering oustanding views with the AT trail providing the boundary line between TN and NC most of the trail. If you can, try to get up to Roan the 2nd or 3rd week of June to see the rhododendron as well as the azaelas. Pictures
June 19th - Cucumber/Little River - No Pictures
Since Big Creek/Baxter Creek Hike had to be canceled due to weather, I opted to battle a few showers and at least get in a few miles. Hiked close to 5 miles (Jakes Creek (from Elkmont) to Cucumber Trail and back to car via Little River. Hikers: Mary D. & Elise E.
Post-hike notes: Several rhododendron were in bloom - saw some jewel weed as we started up Jakes Creek. Visited for a brief moment with a rabbit and heard a woodpecker in the distance. At the Cucumber/Little River junction we opted not to travel on to campsite 30, which is the end of the Little River Trailhead, due to the rain pouring down on us.
Sunday, June 12th - Gregory Bald - Pictures This was a shuttle hike b/t the Gregory Ridge Trail and Gregory Bald Trail. Distance - 10.3 miles (+ 4 miles for Elise and anyone else interested for an in/out to Doe Knob once we get to the bald - see guide books for this segment. Gregory's Bald will be up - close to 2200 ascent - see your guide books. Anyone who wishes to hang out at the bald in lieu of hiking to Doe Knob can do so and we'll all head back down the trail together. Hikers: Jennie F., Randy H., Mary D., Elise E. and Jen K. (Jen opted out of Doe Knob).
Post-hike notes: After hiking up to Gregory's Bald area from the Gregory Ridge trail (with the SMHC) the past two years, it was a nice treat to head up from the Bald trail. A few azaleas were in bloom along the trail up hinted at what was to come... We started a little after 9am and the cool breezes provided a wind in our sails to get to the top. Hiking to Doe Knob was a pleasure - we call the up and down 'undulating' and that means the up is not too terrible and the down isn't long enough. Along this section we saw some fire pinks and and a few brightly colored azaleas that were so easy to spot in a sea of green. It's so fun hiking a section of the park I haven't been too before. Hogs and been digging along parts of the trail.. I saw evidence of that as we were finishing up the Hemphill Bald Trail on the way back to our cars. At Doe Knob (where Gregory's Bald junctions with the AT ) we met a through hiker who was having a hard day... and had had just about enough hiking uphill. Gave him some cherries and crackers. Wondered if he has stopped or preserved.
Saturday, June 11th - Newfound Gap Area - Pictures
Start at Kephart Prong, go up Grassy Branch, Dry Slucie Gap, and hit the AT, follow it back to Sweat Heifer Creek and back out Kephart. Kind of a "back way" to Charlie's Bunion and we wouldn't need to shuttle. Mileage = 14.2 Elevation - Kephart to Grassy Branch = 800 gain over 2 miles; Grassy Branch to Dry Sluice = 1800 gain over 2.5 miles; Dry Sluice to AT - up 400 feet and then down 300 feet over 1.3 miles; 2.7 along the AT (review your guide books); AT down Sweat Heifer - close to 2400 down over 3.7 miles; and then down Kephart Prong to cars at 2 miles.... Hikers: Mary D., Jen K. & Elise E.
Start at Kephart Prong, go up Grassy Branch, Dry Slucie Gap, and hit the AT, follow it back to Sweat Heifer Creek and back out Kephart. Kind of a "back way" to Charlie's Bunion and we wouldn't need to shuttle. Mileage = 14.2 Elevation - Kephart to Grassy Branch = 800 gain over 2 miles; Grassy Branch to Dry Sluice = 1800 gain over 2.5 miles; Dry Sluice to AT - up 400 feet and then down 300 feet over 1.3 miles; 2.7 along the AT (review your guide books); AT down Sweat Heifer - close to 2400 down over 3.7 miles; and then down Kephart Prong to cars at 2 miles.... Hikers: Mary D., Jen K. & Elise E.
Post-hike Notes: Gorgeous hike and a nice view from Charlie's Bunion. The mountain laurel and azaleas were out and we saw some white bee balm and purple fringed orchids. Saw a mother bear and at least two of her babies - the small ones were climbing up a tree while the mother moved away from our direction. Despite the name, the Sweat Heifer trail was a special treat... just lovely and comfortable - of course we hiked down it so you may want to look at the elevation when creating your route.
June 5th, 2011 - 1st official hike and celebratory pot luck lunch!
Hemphill Bald Area - (Rough Fork to Caldwell to Hemphill Bald) - Pictures
Hikers: Lorelei J., Mary D., Melanie H., Lynn K., Cindy S., Rebekah B., Lori H., & Elise E.
Hemphill Bald Area - (Rough Fork to Caldwell to Hemphill Bald) - Pictures
Hikers: Lorelei J., Mary D., Melanie H., Lynn K., Cindy S., Rebekah B., Lori H., & Elise E.
Description: Loop hike that was 13.7 miles with an additional 2.6 miles hiked. Hikers: Mary D. & Elise E. on the Flat Creek Trail.
Post-hike Notes: Great hike but if you would like to eat lunch on Hemphill Bald then hike this loop counter-clockwise. We saw azalea's, mountain laurel and a few columbine! Don't forget to stop off to see the last remaining large poplar tree along the Caldwell Fork Trail (there is a sign and the tree's location is not far off the main trail). It's so worth it! I also hiked a portion of the Hemphill Bald Trail a few years ago and on a clear, cool, fall day you should consider hiking this trail. I highly recommend hiking the Flat Creek Trail (Mary and I worked out a shuttle to hike it after the loop hike.) - I can't even describe how lovely it is. One of the most unspoiled and unqiue parts of the park.
Original Hike Description: This will be a loop hike that covers 13.7 miles. My suggestion would be to take the trail loop in a clockwise fashion - starting at Rough Fork, connecting to Caldwell Fork and then on to Hemphill Bald. We'll lunch at Double Gap or at least plan on taking a break there if we've already eaten. We will then continue on down Hemphill Bald to the cars. Elevation: Rough Fork to Caldwell Fork - close to 1100 foot decent in 3.5 miles; Caldwell Fork to Hemphill Bald - b/t 600-700 foot decent in 1.7 miles; Hemphill Bald to Double Gap - 1800 foot ascent in 3.0 miles; Hemphill Bald to Heintooga Road (Polls Gap) - up and down for 5.5 miles with no uphill or downhill greater than 500 foot change in elevation (The elevation is the same for Double Gap and Polls Gap (where our car is) - both are listed at 5100.)
