Work Trip on my section of the A.T. – 3-1-2011

It`s that time of year again, after the snow finally melts enough to get up to the high country to do a walk through of my trail section to see what work needs to be done in preparation for the herds of thru-hikers that will soon be be trekking Northward. I usually try to get on the section in February but this past Winter has left plenty of snow so this was the earliest I could get up here. Many early birds have already came through. It seems they get earlier each year with some that left Springer Mountain Georgia as early as January 1st. I met my friend and fellow trail maintainer Doug Corkhill at Spivey Gap where I left my car and rode with him to the top of Big Bald where his section starts. It was a beautiful morning and we stopped at the Big Creek Falls on the North Carolina side to take in the beauty that the high water levels had to offer. I could see the incredible water flowing from the Spivey Falls on my way up but did not have time to stop and get any pics. I would try and check them out on my way home if I got out before dark. It is nice to be able to see some cool waterfalls when going on a trip of any sorts.

 

Big Creek Falls

Big Creek Falls (North Carolina)

It is a nice drive down by the Cane River towards Burnsville, North Carolina and especially when the water is flowing like it was this day. It did not take us long to get to the back entrance to Wolf Laurel Ski Resort after a short delay at a portable red light where some bridge construction was taking place. We could see glimpses of  Big Bald shining in the bright morning sun and we noticed there was still some patches of deep snow on the West side. After stopping to get our pass at the gate, we proceeded to the summit and decided to take advantage of this wonderful weather and hike up to the top to enjoy the views. It was very clear with not much haze and there were some clouds wrapped around the mountains in the distance which made for some decent pics despite the bright sun. On our hike up, we had to walk through the DEEP snow drifts which we had seen from below ! These were at least 4 feet or deeper and still froze hard enough so we were lucky enough to be able to walk across without sinking. It was nice to be on top and the visuals were incredible. Just like the song says, “I could see for miles and miles and miles,,,” .

 

View from our approach to the summit of Big Bald

View from our approach to the summit of Big Bald

View from Big Bald

View from Big Bald

View from Big Bald

View from Big Bald

View from Big Bald

View from Big Bald

I managed to get some pics of ‘Stonehenge‘ in Rocky Fork as the ‘big picture‘ is definitely visible from Big Bald. We spent some time enjoying this place before heading back down. The birds were out taking advantage of this early warm weather as it seems they were everywhere, one on every post ! It was a nice hike going back down and out past Big Stamp and then on to the shelter. We stopped there for a snack break before moving on out the ridge to Little Bald (aka ‘Big Harry’ aka ‘El Grande Chi Chi’). The ridge trail was in great shape all the way to Little Bald which is where my trail section starts and I could only hope that my section would be in this good of shape too. We got some great visuals from the summit of Little Bald on the Tennessee side and I could hear some huge waterfalls in the valley below that I have never heard before which really peaked my interest. Since the leaves were still not on the trees, I could even see High Rocks from there. (zoomed shot) We then ate lunch at the summit rock on the Carolina side. After this, Doug headed back to work on his section as I began my long journey the other way down the steep descent of my section.

 

Bird on Big Bald

Bird on Big Bald

View from TN side of Little Bald

View from TN side of Little Bald

sign on top of Little Bald

sign on top of Little Bald

I feel lucky as there was not a lot of major damage and the dozen or so blow downs were all step overs or easily passable. I cleared some limbs and debris as there have been some major storms this past season, but overall it was not bad considering. I made good time getting down the mountain enjoying this awesome day and it was not long before I was at the upper relocation trail where I stopped at the campsite below there for a short snack and water break before heading on down to the AT rock. I stopped for a minute at the quartz rock that marks the spot where we met ‘Children of The Trail’ (Jonny Bluegrass and Mart Hart) before moving on. I always spend some time at the AT rock before going on to Whistling Gap as it is a good break spot.

 

Shadow of myself

Shadow of myself

The AT Rock

The AT Rock

There were several blow downs between there and the gap and a few more after that going towards High Rocks but all were easy to step over or walk around so there is no urgency for any saw crews anytime soon. I made really good time getting down the mountain since there was not a lot of time consuming work to be done so, I decided to climb up the steps to High Rocks to enjoy the views and have a rest there. The sky was postcard blue and there was no haze so the visuals were spectacular all day. I took several pics from the top of the monolithic rock that juts out of the top of the mountain there.

 

View from High Rocks

View from High Rocks

View from High Rocks

View from High Rocks

View from High Rocks

View from High Rocks (over Flattop Mtn. with Unaka in background)

To get down from High Rocks, I decided to take the shortcut trail off the backside, down the steep drop off and through the briers there and checked out the cool rock overhang just before it comes out on the trail again just after the summit crossing. It cuts off a lot bypassing the steps down the blue-blazed trail and then all the steps under the rocks and then up the AT to the summit crossing. After that it is all downhill to Spivey Gap. As I neared the bottom, I could hear water coming out of all the wet weather springs there and before I knew it, I was at the deer browse field and was soon crossing the rock bridge over the creek leading back to the car at Spivey Gap. It had been a great day to be in the woods and the first in a long time without walking in snow all day which made this trail maintainer very happy.  I was out long before dark and would have time to stop at the waterfalls on my way home. I need to get back here soon to clean out some water bars and maybe take out some of the blow downs. This is also the year that the white blazes will need repainting as it has been nearly 4 years since I did that last.

 

Upper part of steps we helped build in '93

Upper part of steps we helped build in '93

I could not get a clear view of the largest Spivey Falls (which I call the middle falls) and I did not feel like checking to see if there was anyone at the cottage there to get permission from in order to gain access to them.  (You are no longer allowed to walk down the trail to these falls so it makes it kinda hard to get to them). You can thank the people who do stupid things like trashing the place or getting hurt trying to climb the falls for that.  I did stop at the lower Spivey Falls and take a few pics because although they are also on private property, you can see them from the road. The sun was shining too bright for good photos but the water was rocking ! There are several falls below those but most are inaccessible.

 

Lower Spivey Falls

Lower Spivey Falls

It had been a great day of hiking and trail maintaining but I was tired and ready to get home as I had to work that night. I would like to extend a big thank you to my friend Doug for going the extra miles to pick me up at Spivey to give me a ride to the top of Big Bald, making it much easier for me to work on my trail section. I am sure we will be doing this again sometime very soon.

Posted on 29 April '11 by , under RATtreks.

One Comment to “Work Trip on my section of the A.T. – 3-1-2011”

#1 Posted by RATtreks » Trail Maintenance Trip – 7-13-2011 (11.11.11 at 03:45 )

[…] haven`t been back to my section of trail on the Appalachian Trail since the early Spring walk-through in March of this year and it was now time to cut the annual growth. My friend Doug Corkhill was […]

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