Lynn Camp Prong Loop Hike, July 18, 2008
I last hiked Lynn Camp Prong trail in 2001 and it
was in awful condition due to multiple mud bogs and just horrid conditions in general due to overuse by horse riders.
I've been pooh-poohing the trail ever since. Things have changed.
Friday, 7/18/08, I joined my hiking buddy Janice for a loop hike along
Middle Prong, Lynn Camp Prong, Miry Ridge and Panther Creek trails. We found the Lynn Camp Prong trail to be a lovely
route that gently climbs along the cooler north face of the mountain out of Indian Flats in Walker Valley enroute
to Miry Ridge trail. Nary a mud bog was to be found! The trails are steeped in history with stories about the
"Lynn Trees", Mellinger Death Ridge and more. Our route passed an old C.C.C. camp, two lovely campsites (#28 & #26),
Jake's Gap and Blanket Mountain. The grades were gradual and temperatures mild for the middle of July when the valley
areas were experiencing nearly 90 F temperatures and high humidity.
There was only one significant creek crossing which was at the bottom of Panther Creek trail where we were
able to rock-hop across Lynn Camp Prong (normally this is a wet-foot fording but today the lower water levels allowed us to
keep dry).
Neither of us much cared for the steep and rocky nature of Panther Creek trail and the route along Middle
Prong trail seems to get more rocky each year. However, all-in-all, this was a very pleasant hike which also just happens
to be in our backyards (relative to other Smokies trails).
Hike Statistics
- 14.8 miles
- Elevation range from 1,926' at the Middle Prong trailhead at the upper end of Tremont Road to 4,691'
near campsite #26 on Miry Ridge trail.
- Grades were generally 10 - 12% with Panther Creek being the steepest at 14%.
- Our average hiking speed was just a bit faster than 1.9 mph and we took lots of breaks for exploring campsites,
photography and looking into one another's food supply for something to eat.
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