Reflections Of The Smokies
It was a beautiful week on the AT here in our Smokies. Fineally a dry week! It was so nice to have dry feet this week. Clear skies offered fantastic views everywhere I looked.
A The View From Mt. Buckley, On The AT
Here's what I was up to this week!
Day One: Trey shuttled me around to Cades Cove. I hiked up
Anthony Creek to the Bote Mt. Trail and up to the AT. It was a hot and humid
climb. I hiked out to Rocky Top and then back to Spence Field Shelter for the
evening. There were a lot of horse riders coming up out of Cades Cove today. I
saw my first Timber Rattler today. He was about three feet long and really fat.
He didn't like me and I didn't like him! There were three young men tented
illegally on Spence Field. I had the opportunity to explain to them why people can't
camp anywhere they want in the Smokies. There was a lot of Hog sign from Bote
Mountain to Rocky Top. There was about six or seven pounds of trash left at the
Privy. There was a Boy Scout group at the shelter that helped me hike it
out.
Day Two: I hiked from Spence Field shelter to Cold
Springs Knob and back to Derrick Knob for the evening. I encountered Hog
rooting the whole way. I cleared a blowdown at Briar Knob. The shelter and
grounds were clean and beautiful. The Bee Balm was in bloom and looked amazing
out in that green field.
Day Three: I hiked form Derrick Knob Shelter to mt.
Buckley and back to Double Springs Gap Shelter for the night. It was a big day
for hikers on the AT. I talked to more than 30 hikers today. There was a lot
of great Trail Work from SWEAT crew. Great job! I cleared a blowdown one mile
south of Silers Bald. The Spring at Silers Bald Shelter is still running slow.
Day Four: Double Springs Gap Shelter to Mt. Collins
Shelter. It was another big day for hikers. I talked to 23 dayhikers alone! I
ran into Jim Huff and got an awesome history lesson about LeConte Lodge. It's
always awesome to run into AT Maintainers on the trail. I mowed the Briars back
around the shelter. The shelter was clean and the grounds look great!
Day Five: Mt. Collins Shelter to Newfound Gap. HAPPY
4TH OF JULY !!!!!!!!
Hiking Goes As Slow As A Snail On These Hot and Humid Days
I wish you a safe and relaxing 4th of July !!
