New trails added to HikingintheSmokys.com

New trails added to HikingintheSmokys.com

Monday, June 1, 2009

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I just wanted to let everyone know that I've added three new trails to my website. As with all the trails covered on my site, the reports for the new trails include trail descriptions, key features, pictures, maps, elevation profiles, hike statistics and difficulty ratings.

Here are the links to the new reports:

* Brushy Mountain - relatively easy hike to a mountain top summit with outstanding views of Mt. LeConte and the entire eastern flank of the Smokies.

* Silers Bald - hike along the Appalachian Trail, with plenty of panoramic views, to a shrinking bald.

* Sugarland Mountain Trail (upper) - great trail for those seeking solitude, with a few views to boot.

If you get a chance to take a look at these, please feel free to let me know about any comments you might have about any the hikes or the information provided in the reports.


Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com

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History of the Grassy Balds in Great Smoky Mountains NP

History of the Grassy Balds in Great Smoky Mountains NP

Sunday, May 24, 2009

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For anyone interested in learning about some of the history of the grassy balds in the Smokies, there's an excellent report (it's called a report, but reads like an article) published online by the National Park Service.

Grassy balds are the treeless, grassy meadows that occur below timberline and mostly on ridge tops in the southern Appalachian Mountains. No one knows for certain how they came into existence. Even their age is unknown. The report discusses in detail the many theories for the origins of the balds. The general consensus, however, seems to be that the early settlers of the region cleared these areas for grazing purposes so that the lower elevations could be used for growing crops during the summer months.

Some of the best examples of grassy balds in the Smokies include Gregory Bald, Russell Field, Spence Field, Silers Bald, Andrews Bald, Parsons Bald and Hemphill Bald. Andrews Bald and Gregory Bald are the only two balds maintained by the park; both are now popular hiking destinations. The others have been left to be reclaimed by forest.

The report, written by Mary Lindsay in April 1976, summarizes the historical use of the grassy balds in the Great Smoky Mountains by settlers before the establishment of the National Park. In addition to using published papers and books, unpublished material in the GSMNP library and old photographs, Ms. Lindsay relied heavily on interviews with people who knew the balds before the establishment of the Park or immediately afterwards.

The report includes the transcribed tape recordings of the in-depth interviews of people like Kermit Caughron, the last person to live in Cades Cove, and who remained there until his death in 1999; Asa Sparks, son of Tom Sparks who actually herded cattle on Spence Field; Paul Adams, a pre-park Smokies hiker and founder of the LeConte Lodge; and Arthur Stupka, the first Park Naturalist for Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

To see the full report, please click here.

Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Smoky Mountain Cabins Check out our new page for cabin and chalet listings in the Smokies!

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Silers Bald Hike Photos

Silers Bald Hike Photos

Thursday, May 14, 2009

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This is the second in a series of three blog postings that highlight our recent hiking trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. The photographs below are from our hike to Silers Bald, which is located about 5 miles west of Clingmans Dome on the Appalachian Trail.

The forecast for this past Monday indicated that we would have some lingering rain and clouds early in the morning, but we could expect some clearing by mid-day. With that forecast, we agreed that we might have some questionable weather on the way out, but hoped that the clouds will have passed by the time we reached the bald.

Driving up Newfound Gap didn't look promising. Extremely thick fog made for a very slow drive. As you can see from the first couple of photos, the fog was fairly thick on the trail as well.

Interesting rock formations at the junction the Appalachian Trail and the spur trail from the Clingmans Dome parking lot.

You've probably heard of the movie "Gorillas in the Mist." How about "Squirrels in the Mist!"

Double Spring Gap shelter - roughly the half-way point to Silers Bald.

A little bit of clearing! That is a ridgeline coming off the northern side of Silers Bald. Unfortunately the clearing didn't last. Before we could reach the summit, Silers Bald was completely socked in again. As you might expect, we didn't see anything from the summit.

We passed several Appalachian Trail thru-hikers along the way. All of them complained that they hadn't seen anything for days. Several of the hikers were making their first trip to the Smokies (we meet hikers from CA, WA, MD, PA and MO), and were quite dissapointed that the only thing they had seen so far was fog.

On our return, roughly a mile from Clingmans Dome, the fog cleared out on the North Carolina side of the trail. For a brief window we had some dramatic views that made the whole hike worth it. Within ten minutes of shooting the pictures below, strong winds kicked-up from the north and blew fog back into the southern Smokies. Just like that we lost our views again. We saw fog the rest of the day until reaching the lower portions of Newfound Gap Road.

Tomorrow I'll be posting pictures from our hike to Grotto Falls and Brushy Mountain.

Jeff

HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Smoky Mountain Cabins Check out our new page for cabin and chalet listings in the Smokies!

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