Cool temps on a hot day
64 degrees F. Honest, that was the reading at 10:30
am when I arrived at Newfound Gap in the Smokies to begin my hike along a route that includes one of the most-hiked sections
of trail in all of the Smokies followed by a couple of the least-hiked trails. My hike on this day will begin on the
AT and go to Charlie's Bunion for some nice views and then continue to Dry Sluice Gap trail where I'll turn south to Grassy
Branch trail and descend to the newly renovated Kephart shelter and then finish with several creek crossings on
ancient footlogs and then thru the ruins of the "Lost CCC Camp" along Kephart Prong trail.
...All of this during a day when the valley temperatures were
forecast to be in the mid-90's !
Here's the elevation profile:
Busiest trail in the Smokies?
Perhaps hundreds of tourists each day hike at least a few
hundred yards along the Appalachian Trail (AT) segment between Newfound Gap overlook and Charlie's Bunion (some
4.2 miles away). I've come to expect that section of trail to be "loved to death" but on Sunday I found this AT trail
segment to be in perhaps the best condition I'd ever seen for this popular path. Good job AT trail volunteers!
Eye-to-eye with falcons
Hikers who manage to walk at least 2.5 miles and climb the
nearly 1,000' of elevation gain to the peak of Mt. Amber often continue another couple of miles to Charlie's Bunion where
they are treated to one of the best overall views in the Smokies. Around noon on Sunday I joined a small group of folks
enjoying the views and then I continued toward Dry Sluice Gap. Above us near the bunion were a few peregrine falcons
soaring playfully together and calling loudly--perhaps these were juveniles practicing their flying skills.
Treats for the adventurous
Immediately after turning off of the AT onto Dry Sluice Gap
trail I knew from the look of this little-used trail that I'd left the crowds behind. Soon the canopy opened-up and
I started seeing highbush blueberries and wild blackberries hanging at eye level all along the trail. Some berries were
ripe enough to eat but most were still green. Shortly after passing a very large mudhole that was obviously used
by wild boar, I turned downhill along Grassy Branch trail. Grassy Branch drops nearly 1,800' enroute to Kephart Prong
trail. Much of this trail follows an old RR grade. Someday I plan to attempt to follow an old (off-trail/unmaintained)
RR grade across the Hunter Creek drainage over to its connection with the Sweat Heifer trail. Today I'm treated to nice
displays of coneflower, bee-balm, Turk's-cap lily and lots of Southern Monkshood. Monkshood are somewhat rare and the
displays along this trail are the most abundant that I've found in the park.
Renovated Kephart Shelter and the Rug Rats
Kephart shelter is one of only three Smokies hiking shelters
not along the AT (the others are LeConte & Laurel Gap). It (Kephart shelter) has been renovated and looks much different and
less rustic than in earlier days. I took several photos which have been posted with others for this hike. If you'd
like to read more about the hiking shelters in the Smokies then visit my hiking shelters webpage where you can read about
their history and see photos of all the shelters in the park. During today's visit I was entertained by two families
complete with six "rug rats" ranging in age from 2 to 10. I teased them about my "Bumble Bee" salad and said it didn't
really taste like bumble bees--I had them going for about 30 seconds until one of the older kids pointed out that Bumble
Bee was the name of the company--not the food (which was actually ham salad).
Old footbridges built by the CCC
Those who've never walked along the 2 mile length of Kephart
Prong trail have missed some of the most rustic and beautiful footbridges in all of the Smokies. There are also ruins
of the "Lost CCC Camp" which was active in the 1930's. Perhaps some of those old footlogs are the original ones built
by the CCC!
I was given a ride back to my car at Newfound Gap by a friendly
couple from Miami Lakes, FL whom I'd met along Kephart Prong trail. Thanks folks.
