![\"tyler\"](\"http:\/\/rattreks.com\/site_pics63\/0019.jpg\")
<\/a>My son Tyler on top of the world at Big Bald along the AT<\/p><\/div>\n
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Arriving at Spivey Gap by 9:30am it was not long before Doug`s little truck came rolling in and within an hour later we would be parking near the summit of Big Bald. The views were already looking very good and despite having been there a few times before, Tyler had never actually been to the summit of Big Bald so I decided we should all walk up there to spend some time to show him the breathtaking 360 degree views before heading towards Little Bald. He was impressed as I knew he would be and, was happy that we had taken the time to do so.<\/p>\n
<\/a>View from Big Bald (looking towards Johnson City) The Rich, Buffalo, and Cherokee Mountain ranges can be seen<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>View from Big Bald (still looking towards JC but can see some of Erwin \/ Unicoi in valley and starting to see Unaka on far right )<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Panning farther right can see No Business knob\/ Temple Hill, Little Bald, Unaka, and Iron mtns and the start of Roan.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>View from Big Bald – farther right can see Little Bald\/Flattop\/Unaka in a row and the rest of Roan and in the far distant on far right is Linville Gorge<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Same view as previous pic only closer<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>View from Big Bald, slightly more to the right we are looking straight towards Linville Gorge which is far distance out where the clouds are<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Slightly more to right still looking northeast towards Linville can start to see the Black mtn range on right<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>More to right can see almost all of black mtns where Mt Mitchell is<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>View east can see Mt Mitchell, highest point east of Rockies near center of this picture<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Tyler and Doug on big Bald (Mt Mitchell is between them)<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>View from Big Bald summit. Here Doug is pointing out some landmarks in far distance educating Tyler on what he is looking at<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Slightly zoomed image looking towards Mt Mitchell<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>View looking out over Big Stamp with Little Bald, flattop, and Unaka mtns lining up.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Another view towards Johnson City and Erwin<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Looking due South towards the Smokies and you can also see snow on the ski slopes of Wolf Laurel<\/p><\/div>\n
After spending time on the summit absorbing the immense views, we made the descent back to the truck, gathered up our tools and began the climb going North towards Big Stamp. More views from there before we descended again, this time into the treeline going towards the shelter. We always stop at the shelter for snacks and the coldest spring water on the AT before continuing towards Little Bald. Doug left a new Trail Register and retrieved his old one as after all, this would be his last one.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Looking back at Big Bald from Big Stamp. Trying to picture the Buffaloes that used to roam here<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Looking back at Big Bald<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Closer view of Mt Mitchell from Big Stamp<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>View looking towards Linville Gorge from Big Stamp. If you look close you can see Table Rock<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>One last view of Big Bald across Big Stamp before heading on to the shelter<\/p><\/div>\n
Three false summits later we would climb the real one to our usual lunch spot on the Carolina side of Little Bald where there is a small hidden cliff that gets the noonday sun. There used to be great views from there of Big Bald but, in recent years it has grown up. We had an extra long lunch there and took our last selfie together as we dreaded saying goodbye and going our separate ways. Although I am sure I will see Doug again in the future and we will stay in touch,\u00a0 it was still sad to know that we would no longer be sharing trail sections together again. We said our goodbyes and went our own ways as Tyler and I began the steep rugged descent of Little Bald knowing we still had a long 5+ miles yet to go.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Doug enjoying the view that he worked so hard to help me keep clear on the Tennessee side of the summit of Little Bald<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>View from TN side of Little bald summit (No Business Knob in center, Temple Hill Knob to left of that, Unicoi in valley in distance)<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Looking towards the Rich mtn range from TN side of Little Bald summit<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>View slightly more to right , seeing more of the Rich Mtn range<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>View from TN side of Little Bald summit (Temple Hill Knob in center)<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>View from TN side of Little Bald looking over Flattop mtn towards Unaka<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>View from TN side of Little Bald summit, looking far right can see Roan mtn<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Group shot of our very sunny lunch spot on the NC side of the summit of Little Bald (Doug, Tyler, and myself)<\/p><\/div>\n
We were fortunate that there were not too many major blow downs and we were able to remove several small ones, and we did take turns digging out several of the water bars as we slowly made our way towards Spivey Gap. There was a lot of limbs and debris that had to be cleared which is always time consuming and I took notes of many step-overs and a few larger trees that would need to be taken out by the chainsaw crews that were to be on my section the following week.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Tyler at one of the first step overs we left for the saw crew<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Looking back at the downed step over tree<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Tyler and yet another step over tree. Many were left over from last Fall<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>We made short work of these toothpick sized trees<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Tyler digging out a water bar above another downed tree. I had dug this bar out good last Fall so all that was needed was to clear the leaves out<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Me at a small blow down. We sawed this one out.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Looking back towards Little Bald at the section of trail where I met the ‘Children Of The Trail’ (Jonny and Mary Hart) This is just before the AT rock.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>A couple of large blow downs<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Getting closer tot he two large downed trees. Luckily these could be gone around fairly easy until the saw crew takes them out in a few days<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Looking back at the two downed trees. we took off some limbs to make it easier to cross. These are now completely gone thanks to the saw crews. (John Whitehouse and Co. of the CMC)<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>A large step over near Whistling Gap<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Someone decided to leave religious material on all the signs along my trail section. unfortunately for them that is not allowed as per ATC regulations so it all has to be removed. There is also ads for local hostels and shuttle drivers which also is not allowed.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>A large male tree between Whistling gap and High Rocks<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Looking back at Little Bald from the huge male tree !<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Tyler giving some scale to yet another one of many downed trees we had to leave for the saw crew<\/p><\/div>\n
It took the rest of the day to make it to High Rocks and this would be the first time that we did not take the time to climb to its puckering perch for the visuals and a much needed rest break. It was getting late and I had a long work shift ahead of me when I got home so we passed it by to make up some time as we did not know what we would find to be done between there and Spivey which is about 2 miles. There were a few more blow downs and more debris to clear so it turned out to be a wise decision.<\/p>\n
<\/a>More religious material and ads left on another sign, this one at High Rocks. Had to be removed.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Graffiti left on the base of High Rocks. Most likely someone young who doesn’t know any better or doesn’t care.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Close up of the graffiti, at least we know who it is !! I have seen this name used on a Facebook page for the AT<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Tyler clearing leaves from another water bar North of High Rocks<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>A now clean water bar. Thanks Tyler, I was getting tired by that time.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Another small head high tree we had to remove.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Tyler and yet another large blow down<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>The next step over as we make our way along the last mile of my section<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>A large fresh downed tree. The saw crew removed all downed trees only a few days after this work trip.<\/p><\/div>\n