MtLeconte.com Hike

Raven Fork Loop Joe Fleming 3-24-07

I Was up at 2:45 am and on the Road at 3:30 am, for a Big Day of Hiking near Cherokee. My Plan Was to Hike the Oconaluftee River Trail First Then Drive up to Big Cove Road, to Straight-fork Road and Head into the Park, Parking at Round Bottom. I Would Then Hike Hyatt Ridge Trail to Enloe Creek Trail Taking it to its End at Hughes Ridge Trail. I Would Then Turn Around and Hike Back to Hyatt Ridge Trail, Following it to its End at Campsite #44 at McGee Springs, Then Back to Beech Gap Trail. Hiking it down to Round Bottom and Then up to its End at Beech Gap on the Balsam Mountain Trail, Back down to the End at Round Bottom. This Was about 25 Miles Total.

I Was at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center at 5:50 am. It Was a Clear Night with a Fog Settling over the Grassy Bottom next to the Pioneer Farmstead, Behind the Visitor Center. I Left My Pack in My Truck Taking Only My Headlamp. I Was on My Way at 6:10, Heading to the Trailhead next to the Entrance to the Farmstead. It Follows the River Most of the Length Ending at the Sidewalk Across from the Flaming Monument at the Entrance to Cherokee. Heading Back, about 6:40, I Turned off My Headlamp. The Fog over the Bottom Was Thick as the Day Was Breaking. I Was at the Visitor Center at 6:55. I Pulled out of the Parking Lot at 7:00 as I Stopped to Turn; My Headlights Were Shining Across the Bottom. There Were about 8 to 10 Elk, Some Grazing, Some Were Still Resting on the Ground. I Had Just Hiked past These Guys in the Fog and Did Not See Them.

I Was at Round Bottom at 7:40. This Is Where the One-way Road Coming down from Balsam Mountain (Heintooga Overlook) Ends and Turns into a Two Way Road. I Had a Pleasant Surprise Waiting for Me at Round Bottom. The Little Brown Hiking Trails Book Said That There Was a 25 Foot Wide Wet Crossing of Straight Fork at Round Bottom. The Park Had Constructed a New Bridge to Drive Over. Yeah, I Did Not Have to Use My Watershoes. The Only Thing about Parking Here Is the Hyatt Ridge Trailhead (Where I Started) Is 1.5 Miles Back down Straight Fork Road. I Figured it Would Be Easier to Hike the 1.5 Miles First.

I am Hiking at 6:50 Across the New Bridge Heading to Hyatt Ridge Trail, and it Is about 45 Degrees. I Arrive at the Hyatt Ridge Trail at 8:15. It Was 1.9 Miles up to the Enole Creek Trail At 9:00. I am Heading down into the Raven Fork Gorge. This Was the Highlight of the Whole Hike. It Was Only 1 Mile to the Bottom (About 20 Minutes). As Soon as I Started down You Could Hear Raven Fork Below, Growing Louder as I Descended. The Gorge Was a Rugged Area. The Enloe Creek Trail Crosses Raven Fork on a Rustic Looking Steel Bridge. The Water Level Was Low, but You Could See Signs of How Violent the Creek Would Be During High Water, Crashing over and Around the Large Boulders on Raven Fork. The Best Part Was Crossing the Bridge to Find Campsite #47 at the End. It Was a Small Level Area with 3 Fire Rings and a Cable System for Food Packs Attached to the Bridge.

From Campsite #47 it Was about One Mile to a Footlog Crossing of Enloe Creek. Along the Way There Were Several Views of Falls and Cascades on Enloe, but They Would Require Some Scrambling to Get to Them. After the Crossing, it Was 1.6 Miles to the Junction with Hughes Ridge Trail. I Was There at 10:25, Turning Around I Was Back at Campsite #47 at 11:20. I Took a Break and Shot Some Pictures. I Could Have Hung out Here All Day.

I Am Back up to Hyatt Ridge Trail at Noon. Heading up Hyatt Ridge Trail I am at Campsite #44 at 12:55. This Campsite Is a Little over 5000 Feet in Elevation. It Was Bowl Shaped on 3 Sides with the Fourth Side Wet and Low. It Was a Large Campsite with Lots of Tent Sights but None Being Completely Level.

I Am Hiking at 1:00 Pm, Reaching Beech Gap Trail at 1:20. From Here it Was 2.9 Miles down to the Straight Fork Road. I am There at 2:10,then, it Was about .2 Miles up the Road, Across the New Bridge to Round Bottom.

I Take a Break and Debate Whether to Hike the Last 5-miles up to Balsam Mountain Trail and Back. I Decide to Go. I Drink the Last of My Gatorade and Leave My Pack in My Truck. I am Hiking At 2:25. This Was a 2.5-miles (2000 Feet) Climb to Beech Gap on Balsam Mountain Trail. When I Reached the Gap at 3:30, I am Feeling like I Had Bit off More than I Could Chew! The Climb Zapped Me. I am Almost Sick to My Stomach. The Gap Area Was Nice. It Was Covered With******you Guessed It! Beech Trees. The Ground Was Covered in Mountain Grass. You Could See the Remains of the Old Railroad Grade Coming up from Both Sides of the Gap. It Would Have Been a Nice Place to Kick Back and Rest. Too Little Time, I Turned Around and Headed Down.

Once I Started down I Began to Feel Much Better. I Was Back at Round Bottom at 4:20. I Was Whipped, but Glad I Finished the Last 5-mile Part. I Load up and I am Back in Kingsport, TN at 7:30 pm.