16 mile Hike to Thunderhead Mt. Starting from Lead Cove Trail off Laurel Creek Rd, Townsend, Tn.
Drove to the Lead Cove Trail-head off Laurel Creek Road in Townsend. These pics are on the way to Townsend, you can see the fog between the mountains on the way!
Got there around 9:00 am and strapped on my backpack, grabbed my hiking stick, and off I went.
Now first of all, let me mention it is a strenuous uphill hike almost all the way to Thunderhead Mountain with only a few spots being level, did I say it was strenuous?
Most of the trail is very rocky with some roots mixed in, some sun, some shade! Did I say it was strenuous? Lots of wild flowers blooming this time of year along the way.
The trail name is supposedly derived from the lead ore that was extracted here in the 1800s.
The trail follows along the Sugar Cove Prong for about three-quarters of a mile before branching off and climbing steeply up to the Bote Mountain Trail. At 1.8 miles the trail ends at the Bote Mountain Trail. At this point you will have climbed nearly 1300 feet. To go to Spence Field, you turn right at this junction.
As you hike up the Bote Mountain Trail you'll be hiking through a fairly open pine and oak forest, with some views of Defeat Ridge towards the left.
At roughly 3 miles you come to the Anthony Creek Trail which will branch off to the right, but continue going straight here.
As you continue up the Bote Mountain Trail, you'll begin walking through a long stretch of trail where the rhododendron forms a tunnel like canopy over the trail and the trail is several feet below ground level. They say that this is from a combination of erosion and the trampling of the sheep and cattle that were driven to and from Spence Field prior to the establishment of the national park.
At about 4.7 miles you'll reach the Appalachian Trail and Spence Field. I did not go toward the shelter there, but turned left and came upon a series of small grassy meadows, a welcomed sight, almost wanting to kiss the ground after such a climb to get there. But instead, decided to stop and sit in the grass, enjoying some lunch and a nice drink of cold water from the backpack, along with the picture perfect view of Fontana Lake in N. Carolina, trying to muster up the energy to continue on to Rocky Top and Thunderhead Mt. Peak.!
If you go to Spence Field in June, you'll have some nice displays of mountain laurel, but they weren't in bloom yet, I was to early. But there were plenty of wildflowers in bloom, as I stated earlier!!
Spence Field is named after James Spence who built a cabin in this area in 1830. The History of the Grassy Balds in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, an online book on the Park website, states that Spence Field is not a natural grassy bald, but was actually cleared by settlers for the purposes of grazing sheep and cattle.
The view from where I ate lunch! |
After a short meal and rest, I headed from Spence field continuing eastward along the Appalachian Trail for another 1.2 miles to reach Rocky Top, in this climb you will have ascended another 550 feet. The views from here are just spectacular. Worth the hike to get here? Oh my tired weakened legs, yes!
Only about .4 miles to The Peak of Thunderhead, to or not to go? Can I possibly make it there and back to the car? I took the chance and struggled up to the summit. Now the views here are not that good because of all the shrub growth being at eye level. Someone had stacked some rocks on which you could stand on and get a better view though. I think Rocky Top and Spence Field had the best views in my opinion, but I did get to the summit where they have a geological marker stating you are at 5527 feet above sea level, yea, I made it!
Now, to only make it back to the car! The climbs back down from the three peaks were slow, let me tell you! I say three peaks because I forgot to tell you that between Rocky Top and Thunderhead, there is another peak, some call Rocky Top two.
Of course I had to backtrack back down until I reached the Anthony Creek Trail , and decided to go that way to check it out. From the tracks you can see that a lot of horse riders use this part of the trail. And there was also other evidence you didn't want to step in, lol!
Looks like fresh Tracks! |
Feels like fresh Tracks! |
Tastes like fresh Tracks...they must be fresh Tracks! |
This trail ends at the Cades Cove Picnic area, so from there I walked back to the car via Laurel Creek Rd instead of some side trails which I could have taken, but didn't bring a trail map with me. Yes, I know that wasn't very smart of me.
Now don't think the hike back was a walk in the park, no pun intended, it is as steep going down as it was going up the trails, putting a lot of pressure on your knees and toes from the constant downwardsness, is that a word?
In spite of it being strenuous, in case I haven't said that before, It was a great hike and would love to do it again sometime. Just not to soon, lol!
Thanks for checking out my blog again, I hope you are enjoying my adventures and pics! Now go take a hike!
Video of the hike, watch and enjoy the pics!