For some, St. Patrick's Day weekend means corned beef and cabbage (also beer). While I enjoyed one of these the holiday also means hiking and I did that too, last Sunday at Chuckey Mountain.
I have wanted to do this hike the last few months because the description on the Greeneville Hiking Club page had this a winter hike and that was a true statement, which I will get too. Anyway, the trailhead for this hike is on the north side of the Meadow Creek Mountains chain which Chuckey Mountain sits at the eastern end of. I wasn't sure how the road would be to the trailhead, but it is paved all the way to and past the trailhead (Will you were right on about the distance). You know you are at the trailhead on Cave Creek Road when you see a small National Forest Boundry sign and to the left a jeep road with a yellow blaze which indicates the start of the Meadow Creek Mountain Trail.
This would be my second trip on this 14-mile trail, the first time I came up to this yellow blazed path about halfway on the Gum Springs Trail from Houston Valley Recreation Area on the south side of the mountain (see this blog for more). The first part of the hike is up an old Forest Service Road for seven-tenths-of-a-mile crossing a stream at the start. The trail junctions twice, but is well blazed so it is not hard to follow. It is obvious this Forest Service road is for jeep's only as it is pretty rutted. Finally one comes to a sign on that right as the trail leaves the road and starts up Chuckey Mountain.
The climb here is not too steep but before long the trail starts to narrow. That is the main feature of the trail up to the top of the ridge and at one point you have to rub against some rhododendron to stay on the trail. This is just one spot that must be way more difficult in summer. Finally, the trail comes to a gap that I am calling Dry Branch Gap (which I crossed the spring for so there is water on this trail) and the trail heads right with some blowdown. The path left is the remnants of the old Meadow Creek Mountain Trail, so don't head that way.
The trail heads up and cuts around a minor peak and drops into another gap I am naming...Carsile Hollow Gap. On the trail, there are some nice views, one of Rich Mountain and the other into the Tennessee Valley. Finally, the path heads up Chuckey Mountain and it is here that the trail becomes somewhat overgrown, with plenty of briars and old blow down. You are almost there when you come to the first summit marker, on the trail, which points the way to the main one. The one that marks the summit is just off the right, but I had to uncover it as it was obscured by leaves.
The hike back was a little quicker because once off Chuckey Mountain it was downhill. I did get a decent look at Camp Creek Bald and I punted a hidden tree root. I was okay (no black-toe) so, overall, it was an excellent hike and I agree is one for winter or early spring because the views are better and it might get a little overgrown. But, autumn might also be nice. Oh, and I didn't see any Leprechauns...oh well, but there were wildflowers.
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