Spring-Thru '17

As June starts that means the beginning of Meteorological Summer, but before we move on let us look back on Spring-Thru '17. It had few cold days, but it was mostly a warm one, feeling like mini-summer at times. As with past Spring-Thru's, the hiking season was dominated by wildflowers. There also were a lot of great hikes with a number in the Smokies with the Harvey Broome Group. Also, I had a spring return to Charlies Bunion (meaning I have hiked it in four seasons). However, the highlight of the month was my first trip to Virginia's Highest Point Mount Rogers. Oh, and I crossed paths with plenty of thru-hikers, which made Pete happy! Overall, it was another successful Spring-Thru...

Total Days Out: 25; Hiking Days: 18
Total Hikes: 25; Urban-Other Hikes: 10
Total Miles: 118.26; Hiking Miles: 102.26; Urban-Other Miles: 16

Longest: Smokemont to Campsite #49 - 11 Miles (04-15-17)

Shortest: East Rim Overlook - 2.5 Miles (04-28-17)

Hottest: Panther Creek S.P. Hike - 90 Degrees (05-15-17)

Coldest: Jones Meadow AT Hike - 28 Degrees (04-08-17)

Mountain Peaks: 12

Highest Peak: Mount Rogers - 5,728 ft. (03-24-17)

Lowest Peak: Point Overlook - 1,460 ft. (05-15-17)

Highest Point: AT-Boulevard Trail Junction - 6,036 ft. (04-26-17)

Lowest Point: Leatherwood Ford - 874 ft. (04-30-17)

Fire Lookouts, Towers & Water Towers: 1

Pickett Fire Tower: 1,720 ft. & 60 ft. (04-30-17)

Cliffs & Outcrops: 42

Highest: West Peak of the Fodderstacks - 5,522 ft. (04-26-17)

Lowest: Cherokee Lake Trail - 1,077 ft. (05-15-17)

Overlooks: 20

Highest: Newfound Gap - 5,046 ft. (04-26-17)

Lowest: Stencil Overlook - 1,364 ft. (05-15-17)

Waterfalls: 23

Tallest; Laurel Fork Falls - 50 ft. (05-17-17)

Shortest: Little Laurel Run Falls - 8 ft. (04-05-17)

Bodies of Water: 20

Largest Lake: Lake Lanier - 59 Sq. Miles (05-12-17)

Smallest Lake: Davy Crockett Lake - 383 Acres (04-05-17)

Highest Lake: Ft. Patrick Henry Lake - 1,283 ft. (03-19-17)

Lowest Lake: Douglas Lake - 876 ft. (05-07-17)

Highest River: Little Pigeon River - 1,675 ft. (05-07-17)

Lowest River: Big South Fork - 874 ft. (04-28 & 30)

Trailheads: 36

Highest: Newfound Gap - 5,046 ft. (04-26-17)

Lowest: Laurel Run Trail - 1,364 ft. (04-05-17)

Gaps: 10

Highest Hiking: Dry Sluice Gap - 5,398 ft. (04-26-17)

Highest Road: Newfound Gap - 5,046 ft. (04-26-17)

Shelters: 3

Highest: Ice Water Springs - 5,935 ft. (04-26-17)

Lowest: Laurel Fork - 2,126 ft. (05-17-17)

Gift Shops & Visitor Centers: 26

Highest: Mt. Rogers Outfitters - 1,940 ft. (05-20-17)

Lowest: Panther Creek S.P. - 1,161 ft. (05-15-17)

Wilderness Areas: 3

Highest: Lewis Fork - 5,728 ft. (03-24-17)

Lowest: Pond Mountain - 1,983 ft. (05-17-17)

Recreation & Picnic Areas: 3

Highest: Mt. Rogers NRA - 5,728 ft. (03-24-17)

Lowest: Big South Fork - 874 ft. (04-28-17)

Major Trails: 7

Appalachian Trail: 6

Benton MacKaye Trail: 1

Virginia Creeper Trail: 1

GSMNP: 13