• Crimson Bee-balm and Wild Bergamot
• Two very rare mature American Chestnut trees which were in flower and were being hand-pollinated by volunteers from the American Chestnut Foundation
• Unexpected confusion about trail numbering and markings due to the rerouting of Fodderstack trail to accommodate the new Benton-MacKaye trail that runs thru this area.
  • Note that I have the most current map being sold by the Forest Service for use in the Slickrock and Citico Creek Wilderness areas.  That map has several errors due to the routing of the Benton-Mackaye trail thru these areas.  Trails were renamed, rerouted, created and generally messed-up to the point that the "current" map is not very helpful.
  • A stop at the Tellico Ranger Station to ask about new maps, changes to the trails, etc., didn't result in me being properly briefed on these changes even though I'd told the staffers my exact planned route, showed them my map and told them I'd not hiked that route in a few years.  Not one word was mentioned about trail renumbering, rerouting, the addition of Benton-MacKaye trail, etc.  Nothing.  Nada.  It was a worthless stop except that I learned a lesson which I can pass on to my website readers:  Hikers Beware!
• Strange mushrooms.
• Gigantic Turk's-cap lilies
• Fabulous views from the bald
• 1931 era Swan Cabin which can be rented for overnight stays!
• A large herd of European Wild Boar
• Miles and miles of walking along Forest Service roads during my return trip
• Ripe wild blackberries!
• Fabulous sunset from No Name Gap on the Cherohala Skyway
• Solitude and pristine conditions

• Started at Beech Gap on the Cherohala Skyway (22 miles from Tellico Plains, TN)
• Loop Route was Fodderstack trail #95-->Stratton Bald Spur trail #54A-->Stratton Bald trail #54-->Bob Stratton Bald-->Stratton Bald trail #54 to Wolf Laurel trail #57-->Forest Service Rd #81-F-->Swan Meadows/Swan Cabin-->FS Rd 81-F-->Santeetlah Creek-->FS Rd 81-->Stratton Meadows-->Cherohala Skyway back to Beech Gap.
• Distance walked was about 17 miles.  I'd intended to walk back down Fodderstack trail but because of the rerouting I found the trail condition (now trail #54A) to be very overgrown with blackberry vines and rhododendron.  I had to fight my way thru the brambles.  Accordingly, I elected to return to my car via the alternate route described in this journal.
• Elevation range was from a low point of about 3,200' at Santeetlah Creek to a high point of about 5,341' atop Bob Stratton Bald.
• Time on the trail was 8 hrs 40 minutes including several stops for exploring and wildflower photography.  And of course the many stops I made while eating wild blackberries!

Click to view the Stratton Bald hike photo gallery. (opens in a new window)

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Take this little quiz to test your knowledge about bicycling rules of the road:

1. Do bicyclists have the same rights to ride on the roadways as cars & trucks?
2. Must a slow-moving bicyclist pull-over onto the shoulder to allow cars to pass?
3. Are bicyclists allowed to ride two-abreast on the roadways?
4. Must bicyclists always ride as close to the right side of the pavement as possible (except when turning left)?
5. What is the minimum clearance motorists must allow between their vehicles and bicycles when they are passing a slow-moving cyclist?
6. Are bicyclists required to wear helments when riding on public streets in Tennessee?
7. Whenever there is a sidewalk, should bicyclists ride there instead of on the roadway?

Click here for answers to quiz (they'll be at the bottom of the page which loads)

I'll be posting some common-sense guidelines for bicycle riders in the coming days.  Meanwhile, I'd like to have some input from those of you who ride bicycles about what you do to minimize the aggravation to drivers while you are riding along the roadways.  Email me with your thoughts on this subject.

Rocky Top and Thunderhead Mtn Loop Hike (Smokies, November 2007, Anthony Creek, Bote Mtn, AT, Greenbrier Ridge & Middle Prong Trails)

Goshen Prong & Fish Camp Prong - Hidden Gems (Smokies, October 2007)

Chickens Along Thomas Divide Trail? (Smokies hiking, Sept 2007)

Cataloochee Divide Trail (Smokies hiking, May 2007)

Not Quite the Alps, but... (Smokies Hiking, Newton Bald, Thomas Divide, Kanati Fork, Deep Creek, Pole Road Creek, Noland Divide Trails, July 2002)

Clingman's Dome to Silers Bald via the AT, Overnight (Day 1, Hazel Creek area 4-day hike, Oct 2006)

Silers Bald to Bone Valley via Welch Ridge & Hazel Creek trails, Overnight (Day 2, Hazel Creek area 4-day hike, Oct 2006)

Gunter Fork Loop - (Smokies, November 2007, Those Nearly Impossible Smokies Dayhikes)

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