sweetwilder

July 17, 2023

I am not entirely sure of the genesis of the word “goshen”. Biblically, the land of Goshen was the Hebrew name for an area of the Nile in ancient Egypt. A goshen point is a lance-liked, concave projectile point used by Paleo-Indians. According to Appalachian Trail Names: Origins of Place Names Along the AT, by David Lillard, “Goshen [Prong]… is a biblical reference to fertile ground.” 

Goshen certainly is a lush and fertile area for plant life. The southern trailhead is located about 1.9 miles from Clingmans Dome. The total length is 7.6 miles and depending on direction gains (or loses) 3,037’. I chose the descent route on a weirdly odd Smoky Mountain day. Firstly, it was frigid starting out. Not literally cold, but when you are used to 100 degrees F, 47 F feels oddly chilly. I went ahead and grabbed the Clingmans Dome Bypass Trail, since I was in the area. It is not but ½ a mile and you join the AT after a small ascent. 

I made it a practice to not watch the news during my sabbatical. So, I was blissfully unaware of the Canadian wildfires and the smoke wafting down south. I emerged onto this beautiful section of the AT and encountered smog. It was thick up top. 

The descent was nice, albeit extremely slick. The trail for the first 2 miles coincides with several small creeks flowing over stones. I nearly slipped before absolutely wiping out. When I say wiping out, I mean feet flying sideways and my back landing on the trail, very Looney Toonsesque. 

By the time I reached the junction, most of the smoky air was gone and the weather was hot. In 5 hours and after the descent, it was 40 degree F hotter.

I liked Goshen a lot. It would be a tough trek from Elkmont up the ridge, but for me, I thoroughly enjoyed the ferns, creeks, and foliage of the hike. There is a very special portion of the trail from campsite #23 to the junction of Goshen and Little River Trail. It is flat, and the forest is so verdant, and the creeks are amazing. I would seriously consider returning to camp in this area in the fall.

Total mileage is 15.4 miles.