The Smokies Lived Up To Their Name On A Trip To Charlies Bunion

On Sunday I made my fifth trip from Newfound Gap on the Appalachian Trail (AT) to Charlies Bunion. This is my favorite hike in the Smokies and one of my top ones...period. I have done it in the summer, with the ice and snow of winter, the colors of autumn and the wildflowers of spring. But this time it was a misty mountain hike through a fairyland.

First, visit at the Bunion in June of 2015...

...second, February of 2016...

...third, October of 2016...

...fourth, April of 2017...

...& the fifth on Sunday.

The hike was with two other members of the Harvey Broom Group. One is a favorite of Pete's, Margaret and the other "the Hike Leader." The weather actually wasn't bad when I left the house, but by the time I got to Sevierville Mount LeConte was shrouded in clouds, so I knew that would be the case at Newfound Gap. While it was misty, wet and cold it didn't mean miserable, the fact was it actually enhanced the hike.

Sun started to peak out as I started out.

When I got to the Smokies LeConte was totally shrouded.

The view...

... at Newfound Gap.

Headed up the AT...

...the Hike Leader & Margaret.

I always look at this hike in three sections (see here for a more detailed description of this hike). The first is the 1.7-mile rocky uphill climb to the junction with the Sweet Heifer Creek Trail. Next is the one-mile pleasant ridgeline hike to the junction the Boulevard Trail. Finally, there is the 1.3 mile stretch that goes past the Icewater Springs Shelter down through a beautiful fir forest, across a knife-edge trail and finally to Charlies Bunion.

Rocky trail...

...on the AT...

...to the Sweet Heifer Creek Trail Junction.

On down...

...the misty path...

...through the "Land of Faires"...

...to the Boulevard Trail Junction.

The AT continued...

...northbound...

...to Icewater Spring.

Heading down past beautiful spots like this...

...then on the ridgeline...

...past the cool tree...

...to Charlies Bunion...

...in the clouds.

While there was not much of a view there was a beauty to the cloud-shrouded Bunion all its own. It was a beautiful scene, but it was windy and cold, there was even a little ice and snow in the air. We then headed up to the West Peak of the Fodderstack, which towers over the Bunion.

The Bunion...

...awaits...

...it was beautiful...

..even from the West Peak of the Fodderstack.

The return trip is just the hike in inverted, the only difference is the climb from the Bunion to Icewater Springs Shelter is the toughest section of the hike. After getting to the Boulevard Trail junction it is mostly downhill. One good thing it warmed up slightly once we got off the exposed part of the trail near the Bunion. This hike was proof that you don't need clear skies to have an incredible hike as this was one.

Headed back...

...up...

...& past the Icewater Spring Shelter.

Moss AT tree.

Looks like a mossy snake or dragon.

The moss was beautiful.

Misty Mountains.

Cool lichen.

There was still some fall colors.

Back at Newfound Gap...