Your HostYour Host
Big Gee in Action
 
Visitor Map YouTube Channel Home Backpacking Caving Climbing Travel Mountaineering Rappelling email Me       
Links Disclaimer Credits

Index   AT   AZT   Ciudad Perdida   CdS   CP   CT - GCL   Inca Trail   JMT   LT   [Mountain to Sea Trail]   Other Trips   Gear
Intro   Gear   Trip Index   [Journal & Photos]   

Notice: Undefined index: PATH_INFO in /home/restlessadva/public_html/include/stdBigG.php on line 828
Previous Day   [Today]   Next Day   

Album: journal:20070421

21 Apr 2007: day 71
Start Destination Daily Miles / Total
Jenkins Ridge Newton Bald Campsite 17.5 today / 895.7 total

Since I didn't have any water to cook I just had some snacks before hitting the trail. That's okay because essentially all 8.5 miles to the Smoky Mountain Visitor Center were downhill and on the Parkway. Easy. Three more tunnels and a bunch of overlooks and I was at a bridge over the Oconaluftee River which is the southern terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hurray! From there .8 miles on the River Trail took me to the National Park Visitor Center.

The visitor center was my midday break. I threw out garbage, got water, made lemonade, washed up, filled out a backcountry permit, made phone calls, and ate a Latin Express meat and rice dish. Smoky Mountain National Park is my last section of trail. I'm hiking to Clingmans Dome where the MST finishes then north on the AT out of the park to Davenport Gap where I'll overnight in a hostel.

I began the last bit by leaving the visitor center on route 441 which I'll cross in a few days at Newfound Gap. Fifteen minutes later I was at Mingus Mill, a fully operating flour mill. That was interesting but my campsite was over 3,000 ft higher so I had to get going. The Mingus Creek Trail starts gentle but soon climbs up, up, up. Steadily I moved higher and higher and could see more through the bare trees. Although I had been damp with sweat initially the cooler air began to make it more comfortable. Giant salt stains began appearing on my shirt as it dried. There were many spider webs across the trail but I cleared most with my outstretched pole.

Lo and behold there was another tent at the designated site. Jason is a loadmaster on C130 cargo planes and is finishing an 8 day loop through GSMNP. We shared many stories about backpacking and world travels and gave each other new ideas for future adventures. He also had too many MRE crackers, peanut butter, and jalapeno cheese spread which I was all too happy to accept. Gatorade also. This is my first social campfire experience of the whole trip. I'm hoping to have a couple more before the bus ride home.

Available Images:




IMGP3310 IMGP3311 IMGP3313 IMGP3314




IMGP3315 IMGP3316 IMGP3317 IMGP3318




IMGP3319 IMGP3320 IMGP3321 IMGP3322




IMGP3323 IMGP3324 IMGP3325 IMGP3326




IMGP3328 IMGP3329 IMGP3330 IMGP3331




IMGP3333 IMGP3334 IMGP3335 IMGP3337


Notice: Undefined index: PATH_INFO in /home/restlessadva/public_html/include/stdBigG.php on line 828
Previous Day   [Today]   Next Day   
 
 
 
Photo album generated by photo album generator from Marginal Hacks by DavidSun Apr 8 12:17:17 2018



Activities discussed on this site are often dangerous and ill advised.
You can do everything right and still die or be seriously injured. Such is the nature of adventurous pastimes.
The people affiliated with this site make no claims regarding the safety or veracity of information.
Caveat lector. Think for yourself and make your own decisions.


index.php last modified on 09 April 2018 08:04:31 UTC