February 11, 2023 Abrams Creek Ranger Station is a wonderful area. Nestled below Happy Valley and the Chilhowee Mountain plateau, it is isolated and unique. Departing on foot from the parking area, wisps of 1970’s nostalgia waft in the air. The signs have moss on them, and I half expected to see a placard with … More Hatcher Mountain Trail, Little Bottoms Trail
October 3, 2022 We needed a reprieve from all the bears near Mt. LeConte. They had not been bothering us per se; I just yearned for a hike without my heart racing at what seemed like every turn. Gatlinburg surely has drawn the bears in close this year, obviously from the buffet of eating options. … More Road Prong Trail, Chimney Tops Trail
September 14-15, 2019 Looking at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Smoky’s) map, Spruce Mountain Trail is intriguing. It is a 1.2 mile, in-and-out hiking destination located off a one-lane Balsam Mountain Road. Campsite #42 is the terminus of the trail. My desire to hike and camp here is because of this solitude, as it … More Spruce Mountain Trail
April 27, 2019 Many fire towers were built as recovery efforts during the Great Depression. At a time of hunger and desperation, the government developed work relief programs, enabling unemployed men the ability to earn a living. The results were some of the 20th century’s greatest engineering feats. Fire towers defy logic. Brut, manmade strength … More Shuckstack Tower
July 28-29, 2018 Johnny and I have a tradition that we will go camping/backpacking at least once a month. For July, we chose the 13-mile Hemphill Bald Loop in the North Carolina section of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park (GSMNP). The loop and this area of the GSMNP is fascinating: giant poplars, abundant wildlife, … More Hemphill Bald Trail
June 22-24, 2018 Big Cataloochee and Luftee Knob are the last two (2) peaks I had to climb for the South Beyond 6000 Challenge, a series of forty (40) peaks over 6,000 ft. in North Carolina and Tennessee. Over the past several years, I have made several attempts to climb these last summits. One time … More Big Cataloochee, Luftee Knob
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