It's the Hiking Machine's time to shine as I am out on a backpack in the Mount Rogers NRA! I met up with my old friend Will and party at the Overnight Backpacking lot at Grayson Highlands State Park. Oh, I forgot the Lummox came too. It was a typical Petepack...I crushed miles, hauled dead weight, scared off some worthless Ponies and the Lummox whined like a baby. Well, that is all I am here, and your not...BITCHES!
It is High Summer...if you don't believe me just go outside. While the thermometers regularly hover at or above the 90-degree mark most days (the low 80s is considered a cooling trend by weatherpersons). No, this isn't a rant about Climate Change and whether it is happening. I am not going to argue whether the Earth is flat (it isn't), was the Moon Landing is real (it is), is the world is 6,000 years old (it isn't it is far older) and Climate Change is happening (YES).
Sam's Gap & I-26: (Top) 11-2017 & (Bottom) 07-2021
It's easy to see the difference of haze & no-haze of Big Bald
Unaka Mountain wasn't even visible on my July trip
With that out of the way I just want to say that while haze is bad because of pollution it has been exceptionally bad because of the wildfires burning in the Western United States. Yes, I said the western part of our country which has had even worse heat, remember it was 115 degrees in Portland, and it has been incredibly dry. Lake Mead and other reservoirs are at record low levels and the Great Salt Lake is causing Salt Lake City to have the worst air quality in the country. When I went up to White House Cliffs it was obvious the air quality was bad and then when I got to the vista it was about five miles. It is just a visible reminder that what we do as humans has consequences...
It is true I have visited Rocky Fork a few times lately, but it is my favorite Tennessee State Park. This trip was different as I planned to camp in the park backcountry. On two previous backpacks, I started from the Rocky Fork Parking Area but camped outside the park. There were three choices but because of a number of factors (number one is it is summer and hot), I decided on the closest, Flint Creek.
I have passed the site and even visited it back in late June on the Care NET hike I led at Rocky Fork. It is a straightforward mile-and-a-half hike up the Rocky Fork Trail and the Flint Creek. Yes, you go by the pond (where I saw a mud turtle) and the Flint Creek Battle Site (you know my opinion) before getting to the campsite.
Winter 2019 & June 2021
Up the Flint Creek Trail
The pond & Mud Turtle
Flint Creek
Battlesite (Slaughter)
When I visited in June I only knew of one site but when I walked to the back I discovered one I liked even better. Also, its fire ring had stonework around the metal liner unlike the other site, but like the one at Headwaters Trail Backcountry Campsite. Like I wrote before about the Flint Creek Trail Backcountry site has a tent platform, privy and bear box but when of the best things is water is very close by the best spot right at the footbridge where the sign for the site is. It is a wonderful site, so I got my tent up and then decided to go on a hike.
Clockwise: Sign, Site #1, Site #2, Bear Box & Privy
Water source
I continued up the Flint Creek Trail, hiking across a number of footbridges I went to where the state parks end and National Forest land began. On the way back I went a short distance up the Blockstand Creek Access Trail before heading back.
End of the Park
Once back I gathered firewood and made dinner. I was trying a new Good To-Go flavor...Chicken Pho. To boil my water for it I decided to try a new backpacking stove the Esbit Pocket Stove. This is actually the first backpack stove I acquired. I tested it way back in March of 2013. I wasn't too happy with it so I got the Snow Peak stove. Going through my stuff I found this old Esbit stove and I thought why not try it out. This stove use little tablets that burn for about 15 minutes and it did its job & boiled a pot of water. Funny thing while these tablets burn clean before they are lit they have a strong fishy smell. The rest of my evening was relaxing by the fire.
Esbit at work
Dinner
On Friday I had some unfinished at the White House Cliffs Trail. If you have read this blog over the last month you will know my first attempt was turned back because of a Mama Bear and cubs. Then my second trip was stopped in the parking area, as the trail was closed because of the same bear. But on this day it was open and I decided to head up.
This is a great trail which I did last year. I will say that it didn't seem this hard, but it was hotter and the air quality was bad. This would become evident when I reached White House Cliffs as the haze was undeniable. Usually, the Big Bald, which is about five miles away usually clear on this day just an outline. Anyway, I didn't stay long because it was hot!
White House Cliffs Trail has had issues
Today it was clear
No Bears today
Made to White House Knob...
...& Cliffs
Yes it was hazy
While no bears they have been around
The Rocky Fork Garden has a fence
On my way out I had noticed that a waterfall I like has a name. It is part of Blue Hole. Park officials have even put up a sign. So, that was my first camping trip in Rocky Fork State Park and I will say I will be going back.
