Round Knob Was Closed So I Went To Squibb Creek Falls

 

On the first Tuesday in February I planned to drive up to Round Knob for a hike out to my section of the Appalachian Trail (AT) that I am becoming caretaker of. It goes from Big Butt to the Round Knob Connector, a two-mile-old road from the picnic area I was headed to. But on the way up I saw a sign that said Road Closed, but the Forest Service website said it was open...I will let you guess which is right. 

So, about a mile or so where the road splits, there was a truck and road closed sign. I guy told me that there had been slides on the road and it was closed. So, I turned around and headed back the way I came. I took my Dad's Jeep because I wasn't sure about the road, which turned out to be a good choice. I hope they also fix the road when they open it back up. 

So, what to do? It was too late to drive up to Jones Meadow and it is almost four miles to Jerry's Cabin.  Or I could hike a steep 4.5 miles just up to the Coldsprings Mountain Meadow (on Horse Creek Road) out of the Horse Creek Recreation Area which still left a mile to Jerry's Cabin. I just didn't have time to do this, so what to do? 

Anyway, I decided on a hike to Squibb Creek Falls. I have gone on this 4.4 miles in the past, the last time in March of 2021, so I won't go over the hike. One thing the old viewing deck at the Horse Creek Trailhead had been removed. The last time I was here, December 2021, it has been roped but now...gone. Overall, it was a nice hike and I ran the drone above Horse Creek (and on the Round Knob Road), but not getting to the AT was disappointing, but there is next time.

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Chasing Snow Trip...This Time At Sams Gap

The weekend before last it was supposed to be a significant snow event. Well, Heat Miser had other ideas and while it didn't turn out to be the amount first forecast there was some. Let me just say that the 'some' was in the mountains, so it was on the road, last Monday, to find some. I thought about the Roans, but since it wasn't a heavy snow (about 4-to-6 inches there) and I wanted to avoid driving the two hours. Newfound Gap Road (US-441) wasn't open so I wasn't going there. Then I thought about Beauty Spot, but I went there a year ago, but one place I haven't Sams Gap to Street Gap. I have done this as part of the Sams Gap to Spivey Gap over the Big Bald section hike in July of 2018. I worried about snow all the way to Erwin because I hadn't seen any. On the way up I-26 I didn't see snow until I closed in on the Metcalf East Overlook. 

So, once at the Sams Gap Parking, there was snow, about an inch. As I started up, the trail was on the ridge's sunny side, meaning there was decent snow or melting spots. Once the trail started up towards the meadow, which I have since seen called Street Bald, I saw more snow...about three inches. I sat and enjoyed the incredible view of Big Bald. It was here I met my first thru-hiker of 2023, I mean literally because Kenny had the AT Registration Tag #1. 

AT Thru-Hike Tag (Photo by Kenny Marney)

After he departed I headed to my turnaround point of Street Gap. Boy did it look different than summertime! It took, less than an hour, to get back to Street Bald it was amazing how much melt had happened. That was even more evident when I got into the woods. I mean there were spots completely devoid of snow. This was the case all the way back to Sams Gap. I was glad I came on this day as it would have been all gone Tuesday.

Summer of 2018 & Winter 2023

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For Once I'm Not Laughing At The Lummox Misfortune

Okay, when misfortune finds the Lummox it's usually a good day of hilarity for the Hiking Machine. But, not on this day as I was cheated out of a day on the AT (Appalachian Trail). I mean that is why it has taken me a few days to share with my Peteoholics. See we were supposed to drive up to Round Knob and then hike to the AT to take care of part of the trail. But when we got over there and started up Round Knob we found out that the damn road was closed. So, we decide to go to Horse Creek and hike to my falls. But instead, the Lummox whined and said let's go to Squibb Creek Falls. By this point, I didn't care as long as we hit the trail. That's all I got so I'm out bitches...

It's Early February & That Means Maple Sap Season!

It is February, bringing a late winter tradition, the tapping of Maple Trees. This is my seventh season tapping Sugar Maple Trees. Unlike last year when I tapped them late, I started this year in the first week of February. However, this year makes the first time I didn't tap the big Sugar Maples out front. Last year I didn't tap one of them because it had limbs cut out and the second, next to it, didn't produce. Because of a late start and lack of production early on I needed more to make syrup last year. The tree that was produced was one of the younger ones and because of this, I tapped two of the smaller ones. First I tapped the second of the twin tree (I did the other half last year) and the other was a virgin tree about 10 feet from the first tap tree. 

(Above) Drilling the sap hole. (Below) The two trees I tapped.

The earlier start plus cold temperatures have brought an early bounty of sap. However, with 70-degree temperatures, sap production has ground to a halt. Here's hoping colder weather this weekend will translate to more sap. When it is time to cook sap I will have a blog on the all-day event that cooking is...

Saturday Shredding In The CNF

Well, Pete here, and the Hiking Machine was FINALLY back on the trail in the CNF (Cherokee National Forest) on Saturday. 

Yeah, I hiked at the Cabin, but that was last weekend and that is wayyyy too long!

We went to the Margarette Falls Trailhead and hiked up the Bullen Hollow Trail to the Deer Pond. I wanted to hike down to Kennedy Cabin and then to Reynolds Ridge but the Lummox was his usual wussy self and we didn't. Add to that he brought that damn drone, but I got to shred six miles of trail, so I was happy. Anyway, with that, I just have three words for you...I'm out BITCHES!

It Isn't Winter Until A Snow Hike On The Roans

It is the first weekend in February and that means the last month of winter. While mild would be an understatement for this winter and contradicting outcomes on Groundhog Day (Punxsutawney Phil predicts more winter and Beauregard Lee an early spring) So, back in January when I had the chance to hike in the snow I jumped at the chance and I headed up to my favorite places for white stuff..the Roans.

Heading into a weekend in mid-January I waited to find out about snow.  On Friday night and Saturday, we only had a dusting in Hawkins County, but from what I can gather above 4,000 feet, it was six inches or more (Mt. LeConte in the Smokies got 16 inches). Since Newfound Gap Road was closed and I had heard the road to Cavers Gap was clear, at least on the North Carolina side, I decided to head up Sunday morning. It was a chilly 19° when I started out and was about that when I reached Carvers Gap, except it was really windy.

Because of that and knowing how snow works on the Roans, I declined a trip to the Balds and headed up the road to the Rhododendron Gardens. Because I was trying to stay out of ski tracks, I put on the snowshoes and used the edges where deeper snow is. It was between nine inches and more than a foot with drifts in spots nearly 20 inches.

I visited the old hotel site (where I ran the drone), the Rhododendron Gardens, and then on to the Appalachian Trail (AT). I eventually made it to the Roan High Knob Shelter, and I made right the crash of the drone from June.

Getting back to Carvers Gap, I was surprised to find it packed like it was Rhododendron season. Anyway, it was a great day of snow and ice on the Roans in the wintertime.

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