Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Elkmont to Tremont one way hike

Fun to do a one way hike.  

So Friends of Smokies arranged rocky top tours pick up 50 of us at Tremont to then get dropped at elkmont.   Ed Flemmimg told us about the man meigs Mnt named after.
 He came down here early 1800 to do some surveys and hiked around Tremont over to elkmont and that is where meigs mountain and meigs creek comes from     We saw some old pictures of elkmont which was lots of buildings and no trees from the little river logging co using up all the virgin forest.  Same true for Tremont area  
 We hiked up jakes creek to meigs mountain and hung a right.  Along the way we saw old wash tub and wagon wheel close to a campsite 20. Then rested up a little at curry mountain intersection.   A small gravesite is close by w some huskeys buried there.  Long time hiker and friend glen Cantrell wife hazel was born closer to Tremont end of this hike.  
  At meigs creek trail junction we had lunch and ed whipped out some trail maps from early 1800.   By the civil war this area had lots of settlers and we talked about where the "new world " area  is off middle prong trail and how we want to venture to see it w a good guide like Ed one winter.  
Going down lumber ridge trail we hit some spectacular color and it took our minds off our sore legs from steep downhill last two miles    Many visited the Tremont store and purchased some books and pamphlets about school and adult progress that go on year round on this pretty section of Smokies 

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Fall Get on Trail w Friends & Missy 2014



17 year of Get on Trail hikes and still going strong.  50 plus signed up for all 4 hikes and now close to 180,000 raised for Friends of The Smokies 
 1 hike. Andrews Bald w side trip to see old Boiler left on Forney Creek area by 1920 loggers 
Then week two we had 50 plus on trillium gap trail to Grotto falls part of Roarinh Fork area of park.  Then another 1.6 up the steep hill to junction w Brushy Mnt bald area and back.   A bald w lots of short thick brush.  But interesting views looking over to Porters creek Mnt area