Another Bax Day Out On The AT To Cliff Ridge

 

Well, it has been four months since I last took Bax out on the trail, but that changed Tuesday as we went out on the Appalachian Trail (AT) above the Nolichucky Gorge.
The first time I took him out was back in May to Margarette Falls, but I hadn't had him out since, but I am babysitting him so I thought another trip out would be good. So, where to go? I thought about Beauty Spot, but that is over five miles and Bax is a little wider than May. 

Back in May at Margarette Falls.

Beauty Spot.

That is where I thought about hiking out of Chesota up Cliff Ridge. While still on the AT it is around a mile less and not as hard. Plus I could take him down to Chesota Recreation Area for a dip in the Nolichucky River.
This wasn't the first time I have hiked out of Chesota, just outside of Erwin. The last time here I hiked the opposite way toward the Nolichucky Gorge Campground back in January. My first time out of Chesota was February of 2016 going the way Bax and I did today. 

The bridge in on my last visit...

...& above on my first visit to Cliff Ridge.

The hike starts in Chesota on the north side of the bridge where the AT crosses passing  Uncle Johnny's. Luckily we didn't meet anybody on the bridge as he sometimes has problems with strangers. Bax did well for the first half-mile of the hike, bouncing and sniffing. The trail switchback a lot unlike the climb to Beauty Spot, however by the time reached the first outcrop Bax was feeling it. It was here I realized I made the right choice on the hike. 

The AT crosses the Nolichucky River on this bridge...

...on the bridge where we are headed, Cliff Ridge...

...past Uncle Johnny's.

Bax is now an AT dog.

The trail sign.

Bax waiting for me.

Headed up...

...the AT.

The first outcrop.

There was also something I discovered Bax didn't care for nights, so when I went to take pictures on the outcrops I left him on the trail. The last time here I did over six miles (close to seven), but I knew Bax couldn't do that, so when we passed Cliff Ridge and before the trail headed uphill we stopped at a small campsite to turn around. It was a good thing because Bax had finished most of his 32 ounces of water in Big Orange (my large water bottle). 

Bax wasn't comfortable on the outcrop.

Next outcrop, Ewrin...

...& the Nolichucky Gorge.

Up the ridgeline....

...& another outcrop/

Our turn around spot.

On the way back Bax' s Germany temper came out as he barked at the only hiker who passed us, a nice woman who was headed southbound to Springer. Bax had cut a slow pace, but I think he realized we were getting close to the car as he picked up the pace, once about pulling me off my feet. 

Headed back...

...past outcrops...

...with a view of Unaka Mountain...

...the bridge...

...Pinnacle Tower.

Fall mountains.

Headed back...

...to the river.

We finally made it back and Bax was feeling, but I decided to drive down to the Chesota Recreation Area and let Bax get on the river, he liked that. On the way back I got Bax a treat...Pal's hotdog and some of my pumpkin donut from Dunkin Donuts. Overall it was a good Bax Day Out.

I took Bax here...

...to the Nolichucky River