October 16 2004, almost 2 years since we had hiked Porter’s Creek manway. Back then it was raining all day and then fog and then darkness over took us so it basically spoiled the trip. It was a good one, but there was something missing. The VIEWS, we had to go back and see if there were any views. Joe arrives around 5am, and takes the interstate all the way to Newport instead of through White Pine. He must have flown, because Cracker Barrel wasn’t open and we didn’t have time to wait. Joe knows that I hike slower in my old age. He he he! We go to McDonalds for a quick one. The sun had not even come up by the time we reached the trailhead. We started at 7:10 with headlamps shining. It seemed like no time and we were at the turn around on the old road leading into Porters Flats. Around 1.9 miles from the trailhead we rock hop Fern Branch, fifty yards up hill is Fern Branch Falls.  There were several huge trees along this trail that we did not even notice in the rain 2 years earlier. 

At 3.7 miles we reach campsite 31. Three tents were pitched, one family from Knoxville was out drinking coffee. We exchanged pleasantries, and continued our trip into the forest just beyond the upper campsite. from the start we could tell several people have been on the trail. It looked as though it was a continuation of the Porters Creek trail. A well worn path. After a half mile we come to the 1st of 13 creek crossings. Each one on a angle up hill from the other. We just had to stop at a rock cairn and look for the adjacent rock cairn on the other side. I think between the 8th and 9th crossing there is a small water fall created by a fallen tree. I’ll call it Blow Down Falls. For the most part the cairns that were in the creek had been washed away by high waters. However the ones on fallen down trees remained intact. Above the last official creek crossing, there had been a recent landslide from the top of Porters Mountain. The giant trees were scattered like toothpicks. From the washout there was a huge peak looming overhead, we thought it was Charlie’s Bunion. After several pics we climbed over the rubble and took a break. Just past the landslide was the big cairn that had gotten bigger. I had to had a rock or two myself. From the point the water is traveling under ground. Hence a dry creek bed. The terrain is also noticeably steeper. 

We came upon 3 rock cairns in the middle of the creek, looked to the left and there was cairns leading to a path. This is where we missed our turn. After about thirty yards on this path a worn path climbs up through the trees, but it lead to nowhere, unfortunately we climbed at least 200ft, before realizing this. I went right through the woods and Joe retraced his steps to find where we missed it. I made it over the creek bed we were climbing and waited for a signal from Joe. He yelled that he found it, but the trees were too thick for me to climb through so I had to make my way back down the dry creek bed to the three cairns. he was waiting on me at the base of the worn path we had just climbed. A tree had fallen and blocked the path that went over to another creek bed. this one was very steep it did have running water and the rocks were covered with moss. Through some of this section we were climbing on all fours while the water ran over our hands. Soon the path lead out of the water and began zigzagging up the mountain over terrain that was near vertical. Soon we topped out on the Appalachian Trail a quarter mile east of Charlie’s Bunion. We went on around to the Bunion, there was only 2 people there, unbelievable for a beautiful Sunday afternoon. They were from Charlotte NC. 

We also noticed the peak that was seen below was not Charlie’s Bunion, but a mere peak protruding out of the mountain some 200ft. below the Bunion. It was very clear, you could see Douglas Lake in the distance. Myrtle Point was clearly visible as was the Jump Off. We took several pictures, but we did not have time to eat, because we had taken too long to get up the mountain. We just knew it would be dark by the time we got back to our vehicle. The last thing we wanted was to find those rock cairns in the dark. On the walk back to the manway Joe was curious about the view from Fodderstack, the ridge just east of Charlie’s Bunion. just as we made it to the top, I heard girls voice, I thought it was some one on the AT, then I heard her say, there’s people here! There was a boy and girl working their way through the trees on top of Fodderstack Ridge. They had came up the manway behind us, but they missed the 3 rock cairns and continued in the main creek bed. It ended at the base of Charlie’s Bunion, They climbed the Bunion! They also solved a puzzle for us, we read in Johnny Malloy’s book where this was his first hike and it was in the fog. He said when they topped out they were 200ft. above the Appalachian Trail. We thought it was a misprint, but now we know. He climbed Fodderstack Ridge, therefore he was 200ft. above the AT. 

This young couple’s names were Sam and Jamie from Knoxville. It just so happens that she is the daughter of the family that we talked too earlier that morning camping at 31. They were wanting to go on around to LeConte and come down Brushy Mountain back to their car, but it was already 2:00. That’s what we did last time and we didn’t make it out until 9:30. They did have a flash light. She did not want to climb back down the mountain but who could blame her. We left a rock cairn at the top of the manway in case they chose to come down behind us. In some places coming down we just slid, dug our heels in and kept going. Once we leveled off and started our creek crossings we left several cairns for them along the way in case they did have to search it would not be hard to find them. Just past the slide we got another surprise, voices, there was two elderly men in shorts and golf shirts out for a hike. Some one was going to meet them at Newfound Gap. These men were from Kentucky, only one had a pack and neither had a light. They must have made it safely I haven’t heard any bad news. 

A couple more creek crossing and there is a group of five, they were the ones camping at 31 in the upper tents. they just decided to hike to Mt. LeConte shelter. They had full packs and tents. They were tough. They must have made it safely too. We met two young men at campsite 31 from Knoxville just setting up camp. At this point Joe was pulling ahead of me and eventually went out of sight. We were making good time. He wanted to go see the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club Cabin, and the Messer barn before dark. just past the turn around we noticed a small set of steps leading off to the left. They lead to the Owenby Cemetery. There were also rock walls that were evident of pre park farming. A little farther down another set of steps leads off to the left to a old home sight all that remains is a fallen chimney. The gate was a welcome sight for some tired bones. We hiked around 12 miles, and we did get the views we wanted. It was a perfect day.