Anthony Creek, Russell Field, Spence Field, Bote Mountain & Anthony Creek Trails

Anthony Creek, Russell Field, Spence Field, Bote Mountain & Anthony Creek Trails
January 31, 2016
13.2 Miles Total
6.4 New Miles
623.37 Total Smoky Miles to Date (Since November 2013)
24.4 Total Miles in 2016

Anthony Creek (1.6 miles) is a nice walk alongside the river, very enjoyable and plenty of beautiful sites to see.

Russell Field (3.5 miles) is very challenging.  It starts off with a steady climb then changes into a fairly strenuous climb up until you reach the shelter.  To add to the challenge we hiked it in the snow, which ranged from 6 inches up to 3 feet in some spots.  Several times I was walking along and my foot went straight down into the snow 2-3 feet.  

At the shelter you will go left to take the Appalachian Trail to Spence Field (2.9 miles).  Without the snow, this section would have been a nice easy walk with beautiful views!  By the time I got halfway to Spence Field I wanted nothing to do with hiking any further and wanted off the mountain!  We all have our limits and I found mine but luckily you only have one choice and that choice is to keep going so that's what I did.  ;)

Turkey Tracks

Had a lot of trouble staying on my feet

Bote Mountain (1.7 miles) is the next trail you will take to complete the loop, if you choose to make it a loop hike.  Anybody that knows me knows that Bote Mountain and I are not friends.  Luckily today though, we were going down it.  And we were happy to finally be getting out of the snow.

One more turn to get us back to Anthony Creek Trail (3.5 miles).  This section is not difficult but after the other trails it feels like this trail will go on forever!

We were so happy to finally see the parking lot and get to get out of our wet socks and off our feet.  Very sore and exhausted but still feeling so blessed to be able to spend our day in the Smokies!

"It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop." -Unknown

Ace Gap

Ace Gap
January 1, 2016
11.2 Miles Total
5.6 New Miles
615.17 Total Smoky Miles to Date (Since November 2013)
11.2 Total Miles in 2016

Ace Gap wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be from the description in the brown book.  The trail is kinda rolling hills so up and down, up and down, up and down.  Not real challenging but challenging enough to not get bored :)  

It is a great hike if you are just looking to get out on the trails and enjoy the Smokies.

"The quieter you become, the more you can hear."- Ram Dass

Little River & Rough Creek

Little River & Rough Creek
December 19, 2015
14 Miles Total
2.8 New Miles
603.97 Total Smoky Miles to Date (Since November 2013)
293.18 Total Miles in 2015

Rough Creek doesn't even want to be part of itself anymore!!!

To sum up rough creek:  the trail is washed away in sections, trees are down across the trail everywhere, there are 2 almost impossible creek crossings, multiple other creek crossings, limbs and thorns grabbing you from every direction and it is straight up until you reach the top.  But if you like a challenge this would be a good trail for you :)

Little River as always was a very enjoyable walk through the woods.

One of the creek crossings, we had to search for a place to cross.

Another creek crossing

And another creek crossing

3 out of 4 of us fell in at different creek crossings

And another creek crossing

"When something is important enough, you do it, even if the odds are not in your favor."- Elon Musk

Middle Prong

Middle Prong
December 5, 2015
4.6 Miles Total
0 New Miles
589.97 Total Smoky Miles to Date (Since November 2013)
279.18 Total Miles in 2015

If you are looking for a nice, peaceful, easy hike this is a great trail for that.  It follows the river the whole way.  It's a wide, fairly smooth path.  And there's a cool old car to see along the way.  We also saw a beautiful buck on our way back from the junction with Panther Creek Trail.

Smoky spotted the old car for us!

I think it may need a little work before I can take it for a spin

"I'll look back on this and smile because it was life and I decided to live it"