This 2 day solo backpacking trip covers a walk from the road below Purchase Knob into the GSMNP to Mckee Branch and Boogerman trails returning via Caldwell Fork trail to camp at Caldwell Fork (Campsite 41). Return the next day via Hemphill Bald and Cattaloochee Divide trails. This hike had several areas with enormous Poplar trees (Boogerman and Hemphill) and open views at Double Gap and the Swag. Historic piled rock walls could be found along Boogerman. Purchase Knob area included old Ferguson Cabin. [caption id="attachment_1098" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Giant...

This outing had two parts with two locales. First, I day hiked a loop from Twenty Mile ranger station to Gregory Bald and back. Next, I hopped into the mini-van and drove to Abrams Creek ranger station and finished the day by packing to Little Bottoms campsite for the night. The next day and half were spent hiking parts of the Abrams Creek, Cooper Road, Hatcher Mountain, Cane Creek, and Hannah Mountain trails that I hadn't already hiked. All that is left for me to hike in the...

This 3 day solo backpacking trip covered trails on the north and west ends of Cades Cove including Rich Mountain Loop, Ace Gap Trail, Hannah Mountain Trail and Rabbit Creek Trail and comprised 38.9 trail miles. My van and bicycle was used to position among trailheads on Cades Cove Loop road and Parson's Branch road. Getting There: Nearing midnight on Thursday, I drove past Tremont and on to the end of Middle Prong Rd where I slept in the rear of my Sienna mini-van. It was a dark starry night...