Just A Bear On A Backpack: August 2015

Little River Trail
August 22, 2015
12 Miles Total
7.2 New Miles
497.09 Total Smoky Miles to Date (Since November 2013)
186.30 Total Miles in 2015

Little River Trail is an easy walk through the woods with the Little River beside you the whole way. There are a couple creek crossings but only 2 were difficult to cross. It was so peaceful with only the sounds of the birds and the river.

8 trees in 1

We had to finish up part of Huskey Gap Trail that we had missed last year.

This reminded me of the book "Fern Gully"

Orange Mushrooms
"Don't bite me snakes"

Lovely flowers along the trail

You want me to cross that?????

Campsite 30! No way I would make it across there to touch the sign so I just threw a rock onto the campsite :)

Sooooooooooooooooo cold

Sally the salamander

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step"- Lao Tzu

Appalachian Trail, Sweat Heifer, Grassy Branch and Dry Sluice Gap
August 1, 2015
13.6 Miles Total
6 New Miles
485.09 Total Smoky Miles to Date (Since November 2013)
174.30 Total Miles in 2015

We started out on the Appalachian Trail at Newfound Gap. We took the AT until the junction with Sweat Heifer. One of my new favorite trails. There were waterfalls, creeks and flowers all along this almost fairy-tale like trail.

We took a lunch break at the shelter at the junction of Sweat Heiffer, Kephart and Grassy Branch. Then we were on our way for the 3 mile climb up Grassy Branch. Not an easy climb but not one of the hardest climbs we have done either. Grassy branch still offered some beautiful views, flowers and creeks.

The bird that was sitting on these eggs flew out and gave me a heart attack as I passed by

Onto Dry Sluice Gap we went. The climb wasn't over but we knew the climb on Dry Sluice was shorter than the climb we had just made.

We finally were back on the Appalachian Trail. Still had 4.4 miles left of our hike but we knew this was the final stretch and that we would get to see the view from Charlie's Bunion on one of the most clear and beautiful days I had ever experienced in the Smoky Mountains.