Here is a plan to connect the 36 miles of trails from Arkaqhah to AT to Coosa Backcountry Trail into a loop. Might need about 10 – 15 miles of trailblazing and road walking. The video is a 3D Aerial of a portion of the route from Arkaqhah parking to Hwy 19/129 near Beasley Knob.
Category: Hiking
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Arkaqhah Trail Hike
Arkaqhah Trail Hike
November 26, 2008
Started at Track Rock Gap at 8:30 AM. The temperature was 24 degrees. The trail starts uphill and after a few hundred yards turns left following the hillside and angling upward. Within 10 – 15 minutes at a big rock just to the left, the trail crosses from one hill to another at the head end of a gully. From there, the trail soon begins to climb steeply straight up the fall line with a break of a climb not quite as steep and followed by another, but shorter straight up the fall line steep climb. The trail takes a couple of turns, perhaps switchbacks, then climbs straight up the fall line again. The trail turns right onto the first of 12 switchbacks leading to the first ridgetop and a view of Brasstown Bald. The 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 7th switchbacks are shorter. All of the switchbacks rise quickly.
At the ridge summit to the right of Brasstown Bald you can see a broad, high cliff on the facing mountain. It might be an attraction to rock climbers. Only about 100 – 200 feet down the ridge there is a rock outcrop with the first of many nice views of toward the valleys of the north.
Continuing on the trail, I noticed that the steep heights overlooking the broad valley on the north side could attract hang gliders. At one point it seemed as if I could step off the side of the trail and land in a parking lot about 1000 feet straight below.
After the ascent to the peak of the first ridge the trail follows ridges and skirts peaks with no major ascents or descents. With views of the ridge to the south it seemed that I could pick out Blood Mountain, Hogpen Gap, the Blue Ridge Swag, and a probable Unicoi Gap. Looking back more to the southwest, I thought that I could see Coosa Bald and even Flat Top Mountain (Cohuttas) toward the west.
Saw two couples on this out and return trip. The first couple was a man and wife trail maintaining crew. They were armed with a hand saw that could handle branches as large as 8 inches. I gave them info on a large tree that had fallen right on top of the first ridge top. On my return from Brasstown, I saw that they had cut a pathway under the suspended tree.
I wore gloves, hat, coat, and wind pants and made adjustments by partially unzipping my fleece part way and stuffing in my gloves and/or hat when I started heating up. Inevitably, with wind or shade or easier slope, the fleece would get zipped back up and the gloves and hat would return to their places on my hands and head. My steps crunched as I stepped on the frozen ground. No water on this trail, but there were icicles.
At the Brasstown tower, I ate a couple of old bagels with honey and strawberry jam that I saved from my Chik-fil-A breakfast this morning.
On the return I revisited a sloping south facing rock face that was heated by the sun and sheltered from the breeze. Using my pack as a pillow, I pulled my black fleece hat over my eyes and took a nice warm nap. As I woke up, I opened my eyes to a clear view of the ridges of the Appalachian.
View northward. Ridge extending just below the level of my eyes is another trail access to Brasstown Bald. 
View northward. Ridge extending just below the level of my eyes is another trail access to Brasstown Bald. 
Resting at first ridge top with a view following an uphill hike. 
The view at the rest stop. -
What Growls in the Dark?
This is a 5 day backpacking hike from Round Bottom along trails between Mount Guyot and Cataloochee.
November 4th, 2008 – Beech Mountain Trail and Balsam Mountain Trail
I was all packed and ready to drive directly from work to Round Bottom where my plan was to night hike 4.5 miles to Laurel Gap Shelter. Traffic on I-85 in Atlanta was awful, but I was on my way soon enough. After a wrong turn in Cherokee and some wandering through the Cherokee Indian Reservation on a night time search for the the Straight Fork Road turnoff I finally made it to Round Bottom much later than expected. By the time I started hiking, it was nearly midnight.
I set off at a quick pace with my headlamp guiding the way. The woods seemed to close in on me and I didn’t feel relaxed. It didn’t help that in the dark the starting point seemed a particularly remote spot located miles up a gravel road. This night hike was a climb of over 2000 feet and soon I was high enough to make out the large dark form of a mountain opposite the mountain I was climbing. I reached a freshly fallen tree that as luck would have it fell lengthwise across the trail. The side of the mountain was very steep so going around was nearly impossible. Going through the maze of branches was equally difficult in the dark. After much struggling, I managed to climb through the fallen canopy and skirt some areas by climbing around on the steep bank.
Moving on I continued to ascend. Suddenly I heard several loud deep grunts just above me. I kept walking and turned my headlamp to the brightest setting and looked through the woods above in search of the source of the warning call. Whatever it was, it was along side me, neither in front or in back. I continued moving up the trail only to be further rattled when the deep grunting sound followed along above the trail. I scanned the woods with my headlamp several times. Never seeing anything, I kept moving. The sound kept moving along with me while maintaining its distance. Not wanting give the impression of prey, I moved deliberately. Before long the sound stopped and I moved faster to put distance between myself and whatever had been lurking up above me. As I hiked, now moving faster than ever I wondered what it could be. I thought perhaps a deer that was defending territory. Once while hiking near Grayson Highlands I had a deer (in daylight) make a similar sound as it stamped a hoof to warn me away. Maybe I was just hoping my creature was a deer. It could just as well have been a bear, but by the sound of it, it was definitely a large animal, either dear, bear, or wild hog.
I finally topped out and reached Balsam Mountain trail after some flat terrain and easier climbing I found the turnoff sign for the shelter. A man and his son were surprised to see someone hike up after 1 AM. They had a fire going in the fireplace and the shelter still had fencing and gate across the front. After my earlier encounter, I was only too glad that the park service had not yet taken down the chain link fencing from the front of this shelter.
My route is traced in red. Started and finished at Round Bottom. November 4th – Beech Mountain and Balsam Trail to Laurel Gap Shelter (4.5 miles). November 5th – Mount Sterling Ridge, Baxter Creek, and Big Creek trails to CS37. (16.5 miles) , November 6th – Camel Gap Trail, AT, Balsam Mtn Trail to Laurel Gap shelter (16.9 miles), November 7th – Gunter Fork Trail, Swallow Fork Trail, Pretty Hollow Gap Trail to CS39, November 8th – Pretty Hollow Gap, Palmer Creek Trail, Straight Fork Road to Round Bottom (approx. 9 – 10 miles) November 5th – Mt Sterling Ridge
Mount Sterling Ridge is the kind of hike that I like. It is a high elevation relatively flat ridge walk with cool breezes and views. In addition, it leads to the attraction of a fire tower making it a top spot to hike in the GSMNP.
Big Creek Trail was another easy hike. This wide flat trail follows the creek and would be make an ideal beginners horse trip. I hiked quickly in order to push out the last 5 miles as a thunderstorm threatened.
Mt Sterling Fire Tower 
The prettiest yellow autumn colors I have ever seen are on Baxter Creek Trail. SO YELLOW, the light filtering through the trees seemed yellow. November 6th – Camel Gap Trail and Balsam Mountain Trail
Camel Gap Trail involves a climb that leads through open mountain laurel tops. Balsam Mountain Trail is all high elevation with some narrow ridge walks making it another of my favorites. I was often stepping off the trail to check out views from open ridge spots.
Returning to Laurel Gap Shelter, I took down food supplies that I had cached on the bear cable the day before. Someone had stolen my boxed wine and left me some undesirable food that they must not have wanted to eat or pack out. I spent a 2nd night at Laurel Gap Shelter. The shelter, one of 3 that are not on the AT has a grassy area and sits at a spot over 5000 feet making it my favorite shelter. Another reason I like this shelter is that it has Mt. Sterling Ridge and Balsam Mountain trails nearby.
November 7th – Ups and Downs
Down Gunter Fork Trail back to where I had camped 2 nights ago, then up Swallow Fork Trail crossing Sterling Ridge Trail. Finally down Pretty Hollow Gap Trail to my campsite.
At CS39, I built a campfire and laid down next to it until late. For the first time on this trip, I was camping without any other campers in the area.
November 8th – Hiking out to Straight Fork Road
It was a cold morning, but the climb up Palmer Creek Trail warmed me up. Later, when during what seemed like an endless walk down Straight Fork Road, I was cold, particularly my hands.
Not sure where I am, but I am obviously worn out. This may be when I took lunch at Pretty Hollow Gap after climbing Swallow Fork trail. I was pretty worn out by that point.
