Sunday, April 30, 2017

This Is A Three-Day Blog On Weekend With Sierra Club


Well, this weekend I attended my first Sierra Club Tennessee Chapter Meeting at Pickett CCC Memorial State Park. Starting Friday and end Sunday around lunch means there is more to cover than a Day Blog or one over three days. However,  I will touch on a few highlights, on Friday I got to pass through Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (NRRA) and some star gazing. 


On Saturday, two hikes, first in the morning to Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area and then in the afternoon into the Big South Fork NRRA and a hike to the Twin Arches. Then that evening we had a silent auction (I was the Big winner) and bonfire. 






On, Sunday the main event was the Executive Committee meeting, which I might be a part of (more later).  Let me finish by saying it was a great weekend with even better people.



Wednesday, April 26, 2017

A Change Of Plans Takes This Day Hike To Two Charlies Bunions in The GSMNP


Well, the original plan wasn't hiking at Charlies Bunion, it was going to Indian Flat Falls out of the Tremont section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). However, since it was a fabulous day and I wanted to do a Spring hike to the Bunion, so I headed to Newfound Gap and jumped on the Appalachian Trail



Today, I didn't go to the Jump-Off, but the Bunion wasn't the only destination as I headed up to what I call the Fodderstack (above the Bunion) and found something that shouldn't have been there (more later). I also hiked to the junction with Dry Sluice Gap Trail and on the way back I headed up to what is called the "Original" Charlies Bunion. Oh, and I mingled with plenty of thru-hikers, overall a great day on my favorite hike in the Smokies.










Friday, April 21, 2017

Viking Mountain From....




Camp Creek Bald is the most famous peak (and easiest to spot) in this section of the Bald Mountains locals call Viking Mountain, but there are other peaks found in this stretch. Because the blog for Camp Creek Bald was so large, I decided to do a separate From....blog on these peaks. I shouldn't say peaks because a couple of places are cliffs. Anyway, featured here are Big Firescald Knob, Bald Mountain, Andrew Johnson Mountain, Coldspring Mountain, Big Bald, Jones Meadow, White Rocks, and Blackstack Cliffs. Anyway, here are the spots that make up Viking Mountain From....

Jones Meadow From...

....Jones Meadow: August 29, 2016 

....Jones Meadow - Old Valhalla Inn Site: April 11, 2015

....Jones Meadow - Vista: April 9, 2017

....Bald Mountain Rd.: November 26, 2016 (0.2 Miles)

....Blackstack Cliffs: April 9, 2017 (.27 Miles)

....Summit Road: May 7, 2016 (0.3 Miles)

....Camp Creek Bald Fire Tower: May 7, 2016 (0.8 Miles)

....Camp Creek Bald Fire Tower: January 2, 2021 (0.8 Miles)

                            
....Shelton Mission Rd.: September 15, 2019 (3 Miles)

....Tristan Way: September 15, 2019 (3.45 Miles)

....TN-107: Mar. 28, 2019 (9.4 Miles)

....Greeneville: March 16, 2017 (12.5 Miles)

....Mosheim: March 16, 2017 (16.6 Miles)

White Rock Cliffs....


....White Rock Cliffs (Lower-SE): May 7, 2016 

....White Rock Cliffs (Lower-SW): November 26, 2016

....White Rock Cliffs (Upper-SE): October 15, 2015

....AT Junction: May 7, 2016 (60 Yds)

...Baxter Cliff: March 31, 2018 (.45 Miles)

....AT Camp Creek Bald: November 25, 2017 (1 Mile)

....AT Camp Creek Bald FT: November 25, 2017 (1.1 Miles)

                             
Blackstack Cliffs/Little Firescald From....

....Blackstack Cliffs: May 7, 2016

....Blackstack Cliffs - Vista: May 7, 2016

....Blackstack Cliffs Marker Site: April 9, 2017 (50 ft)

....US Geological Marker: August 29, 2016 (50 ft)

....AT Junction - Old Sign: April 5, 2013 (0.1 Miles)

AT Junction - New Sign: April 9, 2017 (0.1 Miles)

....Near the Mud Hole: August 29, 2016: (0.2 Miles)

....Jones Meadow: November 26, 2016 (.27 Miles)

....Jones Meadow: April 5, 2013 (.28 Miles)

....Big Firescald Knob: August 29, 2016 (.73 Miles)

....CCB Parking Area: October 31, 2018: (1 Mile)


....Camp Creek Bald Fire Tower: January 2, 2021 (1.1 Miles)

                           
....Margarette Falls Parking Area: October 31, 2015 (2.7 Miles)

....Shelton Mission Rd.: September 15, 2019 (3.1 Miles)

....Tristan Way: September 15, 2019 (3.6 Miles)

....Greystone Rd: May 3, 2017 (5.3 Miles)

....TN-107: March 28, 2019 (9.1 Miles)

....Greeneville: March 16, 2017 (12.5 Miles)

....Mosheim (left): March 16, 2017 (16.5 Miles)

Big Firescald Knob From....

....Howard's Rock - Summit Site; October 31, 2018

....Howard's Rock: May 7, 2016

....Big Firescald Knob - Vista (NW): November 26, 2016

....Big Firescald Knob - Vista (SE): October 31, 2018

....AT: November 26, 2016 (20 ft)

....AT: May 7, 2016 (20 yds)

....AT: October 15, 2015 (40 yds)

....AT - Vista (SW) (40 yds)

....Bearwallow Gap: November 26, 2016 (0.3 Miles)

....North End of Ridgeline: October 15, 2015 (0.4 Miles)

....Blackstack Cliffs: November 26, 2016 (.73 Miles)


....Camp Creek Bald FT: January 2, 2021 (1.78 Miles)

                           
....Greystone Rd: May 3, 2017 (5.6 Miles)

....TN-350: May 3, 2017 (7.7 Miles)

....TN-107: March 28, 2019 (8.6 Miles)

....Tusculum Trail - Footbridge Trailhead: Nov. 11, 2016 (10 Miles)

....Tusculum Trail - Greene Valley Trailhead: March 11, 2017 (10.1 Miles)

....Glenfield Subdivision, Greeneville, TN: December 30, 2012 (10.5 Miles)  

....Greeneville: March 3, 2017 (11.7 Miles) 

....Max Patch: February 24, 2017 (22 Miles)

Bald Mountain From....

....Near Summit: August 29, 2016
....Camp Creek Bald Fire Tower: January 2, 2021 (2.43 Miles)

                           
....Middle Spring Ridge Trail: March 9, 2017 (2.7 Miles)

....TN-350: May 3, 2017 (7.6 Miles)

....Glenfield Subdivision, Greeneville, TN: December 30, 2012 (10.3 Miles)

Andrew Johnson Mountain From....

....Summit: August 29, 2016 

....Summit Vista: September 21, 2016

....Middle Springs Ridge Trail: March 9, 2017 (2.5 Miles)
....Camp Creek Bald Fire Tower: January 2, 2021 (4.0 Miles)

                          
....Glenfield Subdivision, Greeneville, TN: December 30, 2012 (10.4 Miles)

Coldspring Mountain From....

....Summit?: September 21, 2016 

....Coldspring Mountain: September 21, 2020 (0.1 Miles)

....Coldspring Mountain: September 21, 2016 (0.15 Miles)

....Coldspring Mountain: September 20, 2020 (0.3 Miles)

....Round Bald Trail: August 29, 2016 (1.7 Miles)

....Jennings Creek Trail: May 1, 2019 (1.9 Miles)

....Middle Springs Ridge Trail: March 9, 2017 (2.0 Miles)

....Big Firescald Knob: September 20, 2020 (2.7 Miles)


...Camp Creek Bald FT: January 2, 2021 (4.80 Miles)

                            
....Chuckey, TN: March 17, 2017 (6.7 Miles)

....TN-350: May 3, 2017 (7.7 Miles)

....TN-107, Tusculum, TN: March 17, 2017 (8.5 Miles)

....Tusculum Trail - Greene Valley Trailhead: March 11, 2017 (9.6 Miles) 

....Tusculum Trail - TN-107 Footbridge February 14, 2017 (9.7 Miles)

....Glenridge Subdivision, Greeneville, TN: March 11, 2017 (10.6 Miles)

....Beauty Spot (far right): Oct. 23, 2019 (18 Miles)

....Pleasent Garden, Unaka Mtn. (far right): Oct. 19, 2019 (19.5 Miles)

Big Butt From....

....Big Rock Summit Marker: September 21, 2016 

....Big Rock Summit: September 21, 2016

....Big Rock Vista (SW): September 21, 2016

....Big Rock Vista (NW): September 21, 2016

....Big Rocks By-Pass Junction: September 21, 2016 (0.1 Miles)

....Big Firescald Knob: October 15, 2015 (3.3 Miles)

....Big Firescald Knob: October 15, 2015 (3.7 Miles)

....Blackstack Cliffs: August 29, 2016 (4.4 Miles)


....Camp Creek Bald FT: January 2, 2021 (5.5 Miles)

                       
....I-26 (W) Metcalf Overlook:  February 6, 2016 (6.2 Miles)

....Chuckey, TN: March 17, 2017 (6.4 Miles)

....Rich Mtn. FT: February 9, 2020 (13.6 Miles)

....Beauty Spot (middle peak): Oct. 23, 2019 (17.2 Miles)

....Pleasant Garden, Unaka Mtn. (middle peak): Oct. 19, 2019 (18.6 Miles)

....Mt. Cammerer: October 19, 2018 (36.2 Miles)