AT Hike in Bear Creek

Friday, I took Amaroq to Virginia for his first camping trip.  We got off I-81 near Rural Retreat and parked at the trailhead for Appalachian Trail.  Hiking northbound, we first went through an open area with nice views.

After the open area, we had to cross a stile that was very much not dog friendly.  But Amaroq is a great hiking dog and we made it.  The trail headed through the woods and entered Bear Creek National Scenic Area, passing a campsite in just over a mile.

The trail headed up a ridge and there were nice views.  The trees hadn't leafed out at this elevation yet, so we could still enjoy winter views. 

The trail eventually descended via switchbacks to Reed Creek and intersected Crawfish Trail.  We turned on the horse trail to make a loop.

The trail followed an old road for a while, eventually crossing Bear Creek.

After this, the trail got off the road and started heading up very steeply.  At least it wasn't too hot, but it was a strenuous climb.  At the top, the trail paralleled the AT closely for over half a mile.

We took a nice break back on Appalachian Trail and then started heading back.

Some nice wildflowers were blooming along the trail, a lot of fringed polygala.

Most of the hike back was downhill, which was nice after the steep climb on the horse trail.  There were some cows grazing in the open area when we passed through, but Amaroq was pretty tired and not too interested.

From here, we headed into Wytheville and got lunch from 7 Dogs Brewing.  Then we drove to Claytor Lake State Park and set up camp.  It was still early so we went for a short hike from camp, first on Shady Ridge Trail.

Then we took Hidden Valley Trail along the north side of the park.

There was an overlook with a view of the lake but it was pretty overgrown.

We took Claytor Lake Trail back to camp.

Amaroq laid under the picnic table while I made a campfire.  The campground host and another camper commented on what a good husky he was, but of course he was very tired from his long hikes.  After sunset, we went to bed and Amaroq did very good his first night camping.

Watauga Lake AT Hike

Saturday morning, I got packed up and checked out early and started heading east.  I stopped at the Appalachian Trailhead along US-321 at Watauga Lake around sunrise for a hike before driving home.  Heading northbound along the AT, there were a couple spots to go out on the lake.

The lake was really beautiful in the early morning light.

There are several backcountry campsites along the trail here and those campers really had some great views to wake up to.

I saw more lilies blooming along the trail.

The trail then started heading further away from the lake.

In about 3 miles, I crossed the Watauga Dam.

The dam had great views of the lake and looking downstream towards Wilbur Lake.

In about another mile, I crossed a road and the trail entered Big Laurel Branch Wilderness.

From here, the trail headed steeply up the ridge.

I went about a mile or so and turned back.

The hike back was mostly downhill and I made it back to the car around 1130.

I drove back into North Carolina and stopped at Little Richards for barbecue in Yadkinville before finishing the drive home.

Dennis Cove Hike

Monday, I had breakfast at the hotel and headed towards Hampton and up into Dennis Cove Recreation Area in Cherokee National Forest.  I was determined to get the waterfalls up Laurel Fork.  We had been here more than once but had to turn back due to the difficult creek crossing.  I got my stuff together and set off once again on Laurel Fork Trail (#39).  In about half a mile, I got the first creek crossing which is as far as we had gotten in the past.

The cable is too high to be of use and the crossing was very deep and swift.  I scrambled upstream to a small cascade above the crossing and carefully crawled across.  The water has been low, so I don't see how this is possible in even normal water levels.  But I finally made it across.  The second crossing was right after and wasn't as bad.

The trail then climbed up through an area that had been blasted for the logging grade and then the third crossing.  This was also pretty tough and I had to scramble on the boulders.

All three of these had cables strung across that were way too high to be of use.  I think maybe they're the remnants of the old logging railroad maybe.  The trail then followed the creek on river right side with some scenic cascades.

In about a mile, a side path led down to the creek at the base of Lower Dennis Cove Falls.

It's about ten feet and nice, but probably wouldn't be worth the difficult crossings if the bigger one wasn't upstream.

I headed back to the trail and right where it passed the top of the lower falls, another side path led down to the base of Dennis Cove Falls.

I thought this one was really scenic and took a snack break to enjoy the falls.

Back on the main trail, it got really overgrown past the waterfall spur.  But it wasn't beautiful wildflowers this time, just rhododendron and dog hobble.  There were another five fords to cross as well, all requiring wading.  Unlike the first three, it was fairly shallow but no rocks.  I don't think the water level is ever low enough to rock hop the many fords on this trail.  After the eighth crossing, FR-50F came in from the left.  I followed this road up to the parking area past the gate.  A side trail led to Little Laurel Fork and Firescald Branch Falls.

This waterfall has three main sections.  The lowest section was just a short ways from the parking area.

A steep but obvious path on the left climbed up to the second and third section.

This waterfall would definitely have looked better with higher water, but coming in from Laurel Fork would mighty difficult.

But it's possible to drive to this one.  I climbed back down and hiked the road back to Laurel Fork Trail and continued on.  After the next ford, I came to Frog Level, a cleared area for wildlife.

There was another ford and then Lacy Trap Trail split to the right.  After two more crossings for a total of twelve, a short scramble path led down to Upper Laurel Fork Falls.

The water fell through a narrow rocky gorge and I thought it was really nice.

Glad it was worth all those water crossings.  On the way back, to make a loop and avoid the fords, I took Lacy Trap Trail, which headed steeply up.

There were a number of swallowtail butterflies puddling near the start.

It was only two fords to get back to this intersection.

The first part of Lacy Trap followed an old road for about two miles, then spit onto a single track and continued up to the Appalachian Trail.

From here, I followed the AT back down to Dennis Cove Road and took the road back to my car.

It was a tough hike, but glad I finally made it to the waterfalls.

I headed back to Johnson City and had dinner at Mulligans and then headed back to the hotel.

AT Hike to Mount Cammerer

Saturday, I headed to the mountains solo as Sandy was unable to get away for the long weekend.  I left early and headed to the Big Creek area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Despite what the website said, there are no pay stations at Big Creek to get a parking pass and I wasn't driving to Gatlinburg as suggested by the sign so I drove out and parked near I-40 and Pigeon River to access the Appalachian Trail.

The trail headed up through forest lands and then came out at Davenport Gap to enter the national park.  A short spur led to the shelter.

The trail was quite steep heading up the mountain, passing the intersection with Chestnut Branch Trail to Big Creek and then Lower Mount Cammerer Trail to Cosby.  After a grueling climb up, I reached Mount Cammerer Trail and turned to head out to the lookout.  Some red elderberry was near Shapton Gap.

The last section of trail went through an open heath area.

At the end, I made it to the lookout and had lunch here to take a break.

The views were great though impact from the wildfires reduced visibility.

The hike back from here was all downhill, but it was still hot and muggy.

Back at the car, I drove to Maggie Valley and checked in to the Quality Inn.  For dinner, I went to BearWaters and had the parkway burger before going to bed after a very long day.