Great Day of Hiking!
What a great day I had hiking in the Smoky's Saturday. I had to go alone...could not find anyone who could or would go with me, ha-ha, your loss! It was a little drizzly throughout the day, but I never really got wet, so that was cool!
Started the hike at Newfound Gap, N.C. You get on the Appalachian trail at that point. It starts out with an uphill climb for quite a while. Why do they never seem to give you a warm up first? The trail was really pretty nice and well kept, of course it was a little rugged, but that is the terrain in that area.
Some really nice views on the way up. I stopped at the Icewater Springs Shelter just to check it out. It was a pretty nice shelter to stay at, Had a privy, hanger for your backpacks and food..to keep the bears from getting away with your goods, lol! and the shelter itself. In the front of the shelter there was a great view of the surrounding mountains. They have a water source there, and of course recommend that you treat or boil the water first.
Forgot to mention, just before the shelter you can cut off to the Jump Off, but I chose to go there after going to Charlies Bunion. And you get the Boulevard Trail to Mt. Leconte there also. From that point I believe it is about 5.3 miles to the Lodge.
So on to Charlies Bunion I went. As you approach the Bunion Trail, they have a sign posted to have control of your Children, highly recommended. The trail is narrow in spots and a pretty much straight drop off. And I would not personally recommend young kids climbing out on the rock outcrop they call Charlies Bunion. The views up there were fantastic, as in most of the Smoky's.
While up at the Bunion, I met a through hiker who started out in Spring Mountain, Ga. in March on his way to the Northern end in Maine, if all goes well he said! Offered him some boiled eggs and a banana knowing how hard it is to pack a lot of stuff for a through hike like that because of weight, and just thought I would be nice...imagine that! And yes he was very appreciative of the offer and took me up on it!
After a bite to eat, I headed back down to the Boulevard Trail to pick up the Jump Off Trail. And don't you know more climbing. I would highly recommend anyone who goes to Charlies Bunion not to miss the Jump Off the view there is just as nice if not nicer than at Charlies Bunion.
From there, it was back down to the car, a Five hour round trip hike for me...I stop and take to many pictures, just can't help it!
Below are a few video's of the trip. The first one is a video of pictures I took, the second is a video of video's I took, which I must apologize for, It came out a little shaky from holding my camera and hiking at the same time...I'll get the hang of it next time, I HOPE! Again thanks for checking out the blog, and I hope you well watch the videos anyhow! Remember, on the video click on the gear icon and under quality click for HD and watch in the large screen is probably the best, not full screen on these!
Some really nice views on the way up. I stopped at the Icewater Springs Shelter just to check it out. It was a pretty nice shelter to stay at, Had a privy, hanger for your backpacks and food..to keep the bears from getting away with your goods, lol! and the shelter itself. In the front of the shelter there was a great view of the surrounding mountains. They have a water source there, and of course recommend that you treat or boil the water first.
Forgot to mention, just before the shelter you can cut off to the Jump Off, but I chose to go there after going to Charlies Bunion. And you get the Boulevard Trail to Mt. Leconte there also. From that point I believe it is about 5.3 miles to the Lodge.
So on to Charlies Bunion I went. As you approach the Bunion Trail, they have a sign posted to have control of your Children, highly recommended. The trail is narrow in spots and a pretty much straight drop off. And I would not personally recommend young kids climbing out on the rock outcrop they call Charlies Bunion. The views up there were fantastic, as in most of the Smoky's.
While up at the Bunion, I met a through hiker who started out in Spring Mountain, Ga. in March on his way to the Northern end in Maine, if all goes well he said! Offered him some boiled eggs and a banana knowing how hard it is to pack a lot of stuff for a through hike like that because of weight, and just thought I would be nice...imagine that! And yes he was very appreciative of the offer and took me up on it!
After a bite to eat, I headed back down to the Boulevard Trail to pick up the Jump Off Trail. And don't you know more climbing. I would highly recommend anyone who goes to Charlies Bunion not to miss the Jump Off the view there is just as nice if not nicer than at Charlies Bunion.
From there, it was back down to the car, a Five hour round trip hike for me...I stop and take to many pictures, just can't help it!
Below are a few video's of the trip. The first one is a video of pictures I took, the second is a video of video's I took, which I must apologize for, It came out a little shaky from holding my camera and hiking at the same time...I'll get the hang of it next time, I HOPE! Again thanks for checking out the blog, and I hope you well watch the videos anyhow! Remember, on the video click on the gear icon and under quality click for HD and watch in the large screen is probably the best, not full screen on these!
It's your sister again and you are so lucky to be doing that hiking. One of my dreams his to walk the whole of the Appalachian Trail. Nice photo's as always.
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