Spring-Thru '16

Well, it is June and that means summer is here. While I have been busy to start summer, I haven't forgot spring and to be specific Spring-Thru '16. It was a hiking season of ups and downs. It started good with hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) and the Humps on the Roan Highlands. Then I got sick and was out for almost a month. After a doctor visit and some shots I was ready to go in April. You can call this the Smokies month as I visited the GSMNP on five separate occasions including hikes to Silers Bald and Ramsey Cascades.

May was about the Appalachian Trail (AT) as I helped with some Trail Magic, hiked the AT on Camp Creek Bald and went to Damascus Trail Fest. Even one of my Smokies hikes for May was on the AT to Shuckstack Mountain. So, with all of that said here is a review of Spring-Thru ’16.

Total Days Out: 21; Hiking Days: 15

Total Hikes: 26; Hikes; 18; Urban-Other Hikes; 8

Total Miles: 110.05; Hiking Miles: 98.85; Urban-Other Miles: 11.2

Longest: Clingmans Dome to Silers Bald - 10.5 Miles (04-18-16)

Shortest: Noah "Bud" Ogle NT - .75 Miles (05-19-16)

Warmest: Fontana Dam to Shuckstack FT - 85 Degrees (05-24-16)

Coldest: AT to Big Firescald Knob - 35 Degrees (05-07-16)

Mountain Peaks: 16

Highest: Clingmans Dome - 6,643 ft. (04-18-16)

Lowest: Gillenwater Ridge - 2,020 ft. (04-29-16)

Lookouts & Towers: 5

Highest: Clingmans Dome Tower - 6,643 ft. (04-18-16)

Lowest: Look Rock Tower -  2,650 ft. (05-24-16)

Tallest: Shuckstack FT - 60 ft. (05-24-16)

Shortest: Camp Creek Bald FT - 21 ft. (04-30 & 05-07-16)

Cliffs & Outcrops: 17

Highest: Mt. Buckley - 6,537 ft. (04-18-16)

Lowest: Ramsey Prong - 1,661 ft. (04-26-16)

Overlooks: 30

Highest: Clingmans Dome VC Overlook - 6,318 ft. (04-18-16)

Lowest: Foothills Parkway Smokies Overlook - 1,440 ft. (05-24-16)

Waterfalls: 11

Tallest: Ramsey Cascades - 100 ft. (04-26-16)

Shortest: Ramsey Prong Falls - 8 ft. (04-26-16)

Bodies of Water: 23

Largest Lake: Lake Lanier - 59 Square Miles (05-31-16)

Smallest Lake: Davy Crockett Lake - 383 Acres (04-30 & 05-07-16)

Highest Lake: Fontana Lake - 1,703 ft. (05-24-16)

Lowest Lake: Douglas Lake 978 ft. (Four Times)

Highest River: Little Pigeon River - 1,661 ft. (04-26-16)

Lowest River: Chattahoochee River - 912 ft. (05-31-16)

Trailheads: 28

Highest: Clingmans Dome Trail - 6,311 ft. (04-18-16)

Lowest: Gatlinburg Trail - 1,381 ft. (04-15 & 04-24-16)

Gaps: 28

Highest Hiking: Double Springs Gap - 5,507 ft. (04-18-16)

Lowest Hiking: Allen Gap - 2,234 ft. (04-30-16)

Highest Road Gap: Newfound Gap - 5,046 ft. (04-18-16)

Lowest Road Gap: Moccasin Gap - 1,266 ft. (Four Times)

Shelters: 4

Highest: Double Springs Shelter - 5,507 ft. (04-18-16)

Lowest: Little Laurel Shelter - 3,620 ft. (04-30-16)

Gift Shops & Visitor Centers: 13

Highest: Clingmans Dome Visitor Center - 6,383 ft. (04-18-16)

Lowest: Gatlinburg Welcome Center - 1,235 ft. (05-19-16)

Recreation & Picnic Areas: 5

Highest Dillard Place - 2,578 ft. (05-07-16)

Lowest Greenbier Picnic Area - 1,678 ft. (04-26 & 05-19-16)

Major Trails: 23

Appalachian Trail: 6 Times

Benton MacKaye Trail: 1 Time

Mountains to Sea Trail: 1 Time

Virginia Creeper Trail: 1 Time

GSMNP Trails 14