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Hike ** * 06/20/09, Hike 9 and 11 This hike was planned and named to assist in uniting Bob and Lisa's sons, Austin and Charlie with Aunt Peggy for their summer visit in Chapel Hill, NC and to honor Charlie's 9th birthday and Austin's 11th birthday, Our son Bill rode up with us and we met Peggy, Laura and Mike at the Days Inn in Cherokee, NC. As we drove into town, I noticed the large crowd in the Parking Lot of Granny's cafe. As we checked in, I asked about the best place to eat locally. Granny's was the choice. We ate there and were most pleased with the buffet. I chose to go to bed early but the younger, more daring folks, went across the street to the Harrah's Casino. Bill staked Laura and the nephews with ten bucks or so each with the stipulation that he got half of the winnings. There was no beginner's luck! I took a picture from the parking lot before retiring.
The next morning, we went to Hardee's and grabbed breakfast and food for lunch at the lodge before heading for the trailhead. I took a picture, near Newfound Gap we continued up the mountain. There was a nice crowd awaiting us as we arrived at the Alum Cave Parking lot. Some of the hikers, shown right to left in the above picture are: Peggy Haythorn, Charlie Wright, Bob Wright, Austin Wright, Beverly Humrichouser, Lucas Bohanan, Laura Haythorn, Cindy Wisnieski, Tillroe Smith, Johnny Scheiman, Mike Williams, Connie Houk and two of her friends Liz and Beth, Mike Haythorn and yours truly. Brian Shackleford and others joined us along the trail. Connie brought the 75 anniversary quilt for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
We left the trailhead at about 7:15 under mostly clear skies and 62 degrees. I have been feeling weak lately and decided to take it easy. I paused long enough to take a picture of hundreds of small mushrooms growing on a rotting stump. Brian Shackelford overtook us before we reached Arch Rock. I found this to be a spot to take a break and watch Austin and Charlie look for salamanders. They found too many for me to photograph but I will include some taken by Bob, Connie and Cindy. The crew was ready to press on so I felt obligated to start moving.
The Mountain Laurel was putting on a good show so I took lots of pictures of these beauties. The flowers were abundant all along the trail so I took lots of pictures of them. They are beautiful, delicate flowers and range in color from pure white to pink. Inspiration Point was a great place for a rest and snack. Lucas, Mike, Cindy and Bob posed for a picture. Lucas works with Connie at the bank in Sevierville, TN.
I took pictures of a couple more mountain laurels, as we moved on up the trail. I took the opportunity to photograph the Eye of the Needle. One picture clearly shows both Little and bid Duck Hawk Ridge. Before reaching the bluff we saw a Carolina Junco fly out of the bank and her nest and egg was close by. I also photographed Galax in bloom, below the bluff.
We arrived at the bluff and took a rest. I think that Austin and Charlie enjoy kicking up dust at the bluff more than looking for salamanders. Too bad that the bluff is too dry to be a likely habitat for these water seeking creatures. In addition to being entertained by Austin and Charlie, I watched a young guy fashion a hiking stick. As much as I hated to start climbing again, we did take off for Gracie's Pulpit. I of course took the usual picture from above Little Duck Hawk Ridge. There are many shrubs that produce blue berries hanging below the leaves. I took a picture of a plant in bloom. The berry does not have a navel end and is not as sweet as a regular blueberry. The fruit grows where the blossoms are. We started meeting overnight guests descending from the lodge near and at Gracie's Pulpit. Peggy chatted with two guys. I forgot their names and where they are from. We took a snack break and visited with other hikers at Gracie's Pulpit. We met more folks and continued our hike. At this point we headed down for about 100' during the next 1/2 mile.
My legs bothered me during this downhill section and after climbing for another 1/2 mile. I told Peggy that I was going to turn around. I was not sure that I could do the five miles down from the lodge. After much encouragement, I convinced Peggy to go on and enjoy the boy's birthday party at the top that Cindy had arranged. It was not long until Bob returned to hike down with me. It took lots more persuasion to convince him that I was OK and knew the way down. I encouraged him to continue the two miles to the lodge and enjoy Austin and Charlie's Birthday cake. Eventually he started back up the trail.
While I was having my snack, Ron Valentine and a hiking friend came down the trail and visited for a while. They volunteered to escort me down but I convinced them that I was OK. They gave me a cold V8 drink and told me where their stash was at the lodge. I took it easy on the way down and stopped at Gracie's Pulpit and took a picture of Cliff Top with Paul's face showing.
I took many pictures of Carolina Dwarf rhododendrons and mountain laurel. The mountain laurel continued its dazzling display as I descended toward the bluff. The dwarf Carolina rhododendrons were also very colorful and at spots, fallen blossoms' covered the trail. I stopped at the bluff for a while wan watched a couple of "Young Lovers" visit and do their thing. I photographed a few more Carolina rhododendrons. I also took a couple of views of the Eye of the Needle.
On the way to Inspiration Point I took five photos of mountain Laurel. Photo 1. Photo 2. Photo 3. Photo 4. Photo 5. A short distance below Inspiration Point, I met Whit Strickland, Roe Strickland, Theresa Sprain, Mary Evelyn Sprain and Robert Sprain from Birmingham, AL. They were heading for the LeConte Shelter and were Auburn fans. Whit's grandfather graduated from Auburn (Alabama Polytechnic Institute) in 1909. Nice folks.
I photographed a large fungus before reaching the first footlog. I also found a yellow ragwort along side the trail. I saw a buckeye leaf on a rock at Styx Branch and took a couple of pictures of it. I found one more fungus to photograph before reaching the trailhead. Bill was at the trailhead working away on his consulting work. Peggy, Laura and Mike showed up at about 3:00. Turns out that Peggy turned back about a half mile further up the trail than I did. It was well beyond 5:00 p.m. before The rest of the crew reached the trailhead.
After everyone assembled at the trailhead it was time to say our good byes and to divide the Wright grandsons to go to chapel Hill with Peggy, Laura and Mike. Connie gave me a pin celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the park. Thanks Connie. I gave everyone a couple of apples and a peach that I had bought at a fruit stand in Hendersonville, NC yesterday. We said out goodbyes and Bob, Bill and I headed to the Days Inn in Spartanburg, SC. After a good night's sleep and the complementary breakfast we headed down I 26. Bob Pulled into Clinton, SC for me to reminisce at the Presbyterian College there. During World War II I volunteered for the US Army Air Corps program. In January 1944, after basic training in Miami Beach, we were shipped to Presbyterian College for a semester to better hone our skills to become a pilot, navigator or bombardier. Although there is a new campus, the old administration buildings and the down town campus were the same as I remembered 65 years ago. Here is the administration building in January 1944 and here it is in Mid June 2009.
I intend to do more editing on the hiking journal including Bob, Cindy and Connie' pictures of the birthday luncheon as well as salamanders. I suffered congestive heart failure during this trip and my energies have not been anywhere near normal. Please be patient.
Bob took lots of interesting pictures. I will include a few here to supplement my effort. Cindy had the Lodge bake a birthday cake for Charlie and Austin. Charlie will be 9 years-old on July 2, 2009 and Austin will be 11 on June 21st (Tomorrow), Hence the theme 9 11. Bob took a picture of the cake. Bob then proceeded to cut the cake. Cindy, her friends including Austin and Charlie looked on with eager anticipation. Charlie and Austin posed with the baker of the cake. The apple spiced cake that the lodge makes is delicious. Wish that I could have made it to the top for the celebration.
Bob took a picture of a bug disguised as a rock and lichen. Looks like a creature from the Flint Stones. He also took more pictures of Charlie searching for the elusive newts and the captured salamanders.
