A Frustrating Week Ends In Hiking Machine Style On Pinnacle Mountain!

I know all of you Peteaholics were worried since I didn't blog after going to the Smokies last week. First, it was a wuss trail at 2.6 miles and full of kids and mouthbreathers! I mean one dufus was pushing a f**king stroller up the trail. So, since then I really didn't feel like gracing these morons with a blog entry. Then the Lummox was the Lummox on Saturday as we were supposed to have members of CareNET bow before the Hiking Machine, but the big idiot (the Lummox) forgot his boots...GOOD LORD! 

What can make it better? Over eight miles up to the Pinnacle Mountain Fire Tower...HELL YEAH! That's what I did today and the Lummox remembered his boots (dumb ass). Well, I'm out...BITCHES!

Cades Cove Camping & Waterfalls Highlight Trip To Smokies

 What better to kick-off the 2022 Camping Season than in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) and specifically at Cades Cove. 

I had wanted to start the season in January or February but it never seemed to work out. However, the top destination was always Cades Cove Campground. In winter (the offseason) there are only two campgrounds open. Those are Smokmont on the North Carolina side and Cades Cove. Besides, it's closer, so Cades Cove made more sense. Plus, I haven't been through the Cove since December 2017, so to the Tennessee side of the Smokies, it is. 

Smokemont (T) & Cades Cove (B) in 2017

Anyway, before camping it was a trip around the Cades Cove Loop. The John Oliver Cabin, two old churches, and the best pull-off in the Cove...all before reaching the Cable Mill Visitor Center. After that, it was past three old cabins and a Bear Jam. Before long it was arriving at the Cades Cove Campground and site Number C34. It is an excellent campground and provided a restful evening and windy night.

John Oliver Cabin (T), Methodist Church (BL) & Primitive Baptist Church

From my favorite spot in Cades Cove

Cable Mill 

Dan Lawson Place (T), The Tipton House (L), Lawson Barn (MR) & Tipton Barn (BR)

Cades Cove Campground

Camp at night

After packing up it was on to the second half of the trip, a day hike to the Smokies' most popular trail Laurel Falls. Since it was a Tuesday in March I didn't think it would be busy...boy I was wrong. It looked more like July or October on a weekend. Parking was down past Mallory Point Overlook, which makes the hike three miles round trip. It was crowded, but the water flow was much better than on my previous trip in 2015. On the way back I thought about going to the Sugarlands Visitor Center, but it too looked like a summer weekend, so stopped at Nantahala Outdoor Center and later REI. It was a nice way to get back to camping in 2022.

Laurel Creek Cascade (T) & The Sinks (B)

The hike to the busy Laurel Falls Trailhead

On the way to...

...Laurel Falls

More Photos: SmugMug & Google Photos

There Is No Business, Like Snow Business At Rich Mountain

The surprising snow last weekend gave me, maybe, my last chance for a hike in the white stuff. So, Sunday as I like to say "there's no business, like snow business!

So, where to go? Just like my last snow hike, to Beauty Spot, my first thought turned to the Smokies. Like in February any trip to the National Park always depends on if Newfound Gap Road is open. Because of the winter storm Saturday it was closed and I figured it would be Sunday and it was. With sunshine and rising temperatures, I didn't know what would be there on Monday (which by the Newfound Gap webcam was not far off). The other reason is the price of petrol. It is a long trip to Newfound Gap and if it wasn't great I would have felt it was a waste. Because of the amount of snow, there were closer options. Plus in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) you can't fly a drone and I kind of wanted to take the Nostromo up again. So, I decided on a favorite place of mine...Rich Mountain Fire Tower. See it's 0.15 miles off the Appalachian Trail (AT) which means I can fly it there.

GSMNP 2018 (TL), Rich Mtn. (ML), Beauty Spot (BL) & Saturday snow (R) 

Anyway, it was forecast to be cold Sunday morning but I was getting up early with the time change it made it where I could run the drone for its first sunrise, and even with 12-degree temperatures the drone performed great and the pictures were amazing. When I arrived at Tanyard Gap it was much warmer as it was 15 degrees. While it was cold, I mean two-hand warmer cold, at least the wind wasn't blowing. There was also plenty of snow which is why I came. It took me a little longer to pack up because of the drone, but I finally started up the trail. Did I mention there was snow? Well, eventually it got to the point where I had to put my microspikes on. I don't know if it is just the snow or I am out of shape or both, but this trip up just gassed me. 

Sunrise over St. Clair

Pisgah National Forest (PNF) Snow Adventure

Start of day (T) & end (B) at Tanyard Gap

Snowy AT

Microspikes time

Up to...

...Rich Mountain Fire Tower

However, once there and got the Nostromo up it was well worth it. I mean the views from the tower are great, but with the drone, I got a view of the tower from above. This is why I wanted the drone to get pictures and footage like this. Because of running the drone, lunch, and just enjoying the tower, I spent an hour-and-a-half there. 

Tower from 150 ft.

Northeast Vista

East Vista

Southeast Vista

Southwest Vista

Me &  the Drone

In that 90 minutes, it was amazing how much the trail started to change. When it had been snow it was now slushy ice, which is actually slicker, so I had to put on the micro-spikes. Before long the trail transitioned from slush to mud and by the time I arrived back at Tanyard Gap half, the snow was gone. But I had one more thing to do. I got the Nostromo out and set it up far enough from the AT and got some nice shots from above. If it was my last snow adventure it was a great way to end it...

Slushy AT

The switchback early in the day & later

Tanyard Gap: Morning (TL), When I got back (BL) & above (R)

Rich Mountain

More Photos: SmugMug & Google Photos

Snow In March...HELL YEAH!

What makes a Hiking Machine happy? A snow hike anywhere, but when to Rich Mountain Fire Tower...HELL YEAH!

With that snow yesterday I hoped the Lummox was on the same wavelength as the Hiking Machine and he was so it was a Sunday on the trail. If bringing that stupid drone got me out on the snow, we'll I didn't give a damn! 

When we started it was 15 degrees, just like how the Hiking Machine likes it. On the trail, it was slick with snow and steep...I love this part of the AT (Appalachian Trail). On the way back I got to spread knowledge to thru-hikers. Well, that is all, so I am out...BITCHES!

Snow, Snow...It's A March Snow!

As a lover of snow, I thought my only way to see any was watching the end of the biathlon season. But to my wonderful surprise, we have snow...here at St. Clair!

I will admit I was really skeptical when the early predictions started for snow this weekend. I mean it had felt more like summer than winter recently. Last weekend it hovered near 80 degrees. Even yesterday, while we were issued a Winter Storm Warning, it was in the mid-60s.

Add to the number of times we were supposed to get snow we ended up with those "downsloping winds" and little more than a dusting. We have had snow in March with 1993 coming to mind, but in the Era of Climate Change, I see that becoming less likely. However, not impossible as we had between three and in spots six inches this morning which makes this the biggest snow of Winter 2021-22 here in the far west of Hawkins County. I enjoyed the snow and even got the drone up. Can't think of a better spring day...

More Photos: SmugMug & Google Photos