This past week I decided to go on another adventure on the first day of February, but it would be on January snow. Where did I choose to go? Up to Indian Grave Gap for a hike up the Appalachian Trail (AT) to the Beauty Spot.
This wasn't the original destination because after the snow last weekend (really Friday) I decided I would go to the Smokies and up to Newfound Gap. I haven't done a snow hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) and Newfound Gap since March of 2018, just shy of four years. I like hiking out of here because will tough the climbs are brutally steep and snow can make it twice as hard. Since I am still getting into shape, again, going somewhere else like Mount LeConte was a little too ambitious.
Smokies March 2018
As I have said before big snows close Newfound Gap Road and since the Park Service only plows this route, don't salt. So, it can be closed for a couple of days and that was the case as of Sunday night. I was planning to go on Monday but when I got up and checked the GSMNP Road Twitter page nothing was said about the road being open. It was way too long and far of a drive to get there and it is closed. I will admit I did think about going to Beauty Spot on Monday but decided to give it one more day... I mean the road had to open later in the day? Well, it didn't and as I prepared for the morning I knew I probably needed to go with the backup plan because if I was going out it was Tuesday. See Heat Miser was bringing weather Wednesday of warmer temperature and rain. This meant by the time the rain passed nearly all of it would have melted. Also, I was going to the Cabin on Friday, so it was Tuesday or bust!
GSMNP (T) & TDOT (BL & BR)
Since it hadn't opened on Monday it most likely would be late morning before it would Tuesday. Since it is a two-hour drive, one-way, to Newfound Gap and the hike was at least six miles I really didn't want to start at 11 am. That means when I got up Tuesday morning hoping that the GSMNP Twitter would have news but it didn't and when I got home I checked the Newfound Gap webcam it opened around 11 am. What all of this means it was off to Indian Grave Gap. I will say on my way I got a little worried about snow. I didn't see any before finally seeing some just before reaching Johnson City. From there a little more, some on Buffalo Mountain and even more in Erwin. By the time I made a pit stop at Rock Creek Recreation Area, there was snow around. This is the final stop before heading up the last three miles to my destination. The snow got better with each mile and was good at Indian Grave Gap. There wasn't as much snow as Newfound Gap (there is over a 2,000-foot difference) but like the road to Roan Mountain, TN-395 is plowed and salted.
Speaking of Carvers Gap, something Indian Grave Gap shares is wind. So with temps in the 20s, it was a cold start. The first half of this hike saw the trail go in and out of snow, and at times even half-and-half. So, when I reached Unaka Mountain Road it had plenty of snow (I made note of this). It was then up and I did hit a couple of spots that for Sun, so less snow. However, I finally reached a section where it became all snow when I reached the west end of the bald known as the Beauty Spot.
Cold start at Indian Grave Gap
Snow (T), Half Snow (BL) & almost No Snow (BR)
Cutline with a view of Pinnacle Mountain
Crossing Unaka Mtn. Road
As readers of the blog know the Wood Booger has a long history with this accurately named place. Back to when I use to go here when I was in college to several visits in recent times, including camping here in the summer of 2020 and returning later in the fall. The fun thing was there were spots with no snow (like the actual summit) and others with eight inches and drifts in places north of afoot.
Summer 2020 (T&M) & October 2020 (B)
There were deep spots of snow
July 2020 Campsite
At the summit, I had lunch and took care of a foot issue I had with my boots. For this trip, I decided to wear my leather L.L.Bean boots. I usually only wear these in cold temperatures, snow, and with blister socks under my wool ones. While there was snow, it wasn't super cold and I didn't bring blister socks. So I probably should have worn another pair of boots and you can guess what happens...blisters. But, not just one heel, but both heels.
Green & Gravel Knobs
Big Bald
Unaka Mountain
Pleasant Garden
The Roans
Lunch: Soup & "the Steak of the Woods"
The Devil Boots with YakTrax
Because of this, I decided to not go back to the AT because it hurts more climbing than going downhill, which Unaka Mountain Road does. Still, I had planned to go the road back because I thought it would have more snow and it is also the former route of the AT before it was moved across Beauty Spot in the mid-70s. Instead of going down to the parking area and down to the road, I decided to go down an extra two-tenths of a mile to where the AT meets its former route at the stile. When I got to the road I was right about the snow. After a short uphill, I started down where the road from the parking area meets my route.
Parking area
Down the AT
Where old & current AT meet
Snow-covered...
...Unaka Mtn. Road & the former AT
On the way down I noticed something that I had thought of as there were ski tracks. I have said that the road up to the Roan Rhododendron Garden is one of the best spots to cross-country ski in this area, but it can get crowded. Well, there will always be a lot fewer people here.
Old AT Blaze (L) & Ski Tracks (R)
Where the current AT crosses
There was plenty of snow until about the spot where the cut line goes overhead. About here I started seeing some of the gravel road, and then more until most were gone when I arrived back at the trailhead. I will say my feet were happy to see the car. A five-mile day in the snow, while tough (not to mention the blisters) was well worth the effort.
The gate for the road which crosses the AT
The cutline tower is seen from two different views
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