Daily Diaries (8/20/10 - 8/23/10)

Date:  8/20/10
Trail Section:  Sam's Gap - Spivey Gap
Distance:  13.4 miles

We have a long, foggy drive for parking the vehicles.  It's a beautiful day for a hike.  It's overcast when we start, and partly cloudy the remainder.  We have nice trails with open fields and a large bald (sort of a prairie on top of the mountain).  It was long and tiring, but good.

We encountered our first creatures that were satisfied to stand still for pictures today.  There were four doe and one fawn.  The deer, even though aware that we were there, did not feel the need to run off.  We spent several minutes looking at them and observing their actions (eating and looking at us).  We were fairly close to them.

Bambi says "hi"

After seeing the deer, we hiked on to Bald Mtn. where there were wild blueberries....which I partook of...they were delicious.  Bald Mtn. has two peaks, the blueberries were on the southern peak.  The locals knew of the blueberries.  We passed four ladies from the area who were on their way to the top to pick berries.  They didn't seem to have a problem climbing the mountain and talking at the same time.  Once on top of the peak, in addition to the berries were great views.

Bald Mtn.

Wild blueberries

It was a long day with the driving and the hike, but worth it.


Date:  8/21/10
Trail Section:  Spivey Gap - Chestoa Bridge (over the Nolichucky River)
Distance:  11.2 miles

It was overcast all day today with rain during the last half of the hike.  It was great for hiking, but not for viewing.  On this hike we passed areas that were filled with nothing but dead or downed trees....almost as if a fire had hit the area.  It was the typical up and down hike that the AT has to offer; green tunnel broken by the dead areas.  There were some great views of the Nolichucky River when we got near the end of the hike.

Nolichucky River

The shelter that we passed along the way was surrounded by large Fraser magnolias and mammoth hemlocks.  However, due to their size, location and the weather, was unable to get any decent photos.


Date:  8/23/10
Trail Section:  Indian Grave Gap - Chestoa Bridge
Distance:  8.3 miles

Clear, mild weather with a gentle downhill hike most of the time; some bad rock the rest.  What more can I say....Great!  Was not nearly as sweaty a hike as the other days.

I saw my first orange salamander and we crossed our first railroad track on the AT.  The hike was so easy, it was almost boring....not really.

Orange salamander

First railroad track encountered on the AT