Having not checked the map, I thought a hike to London Bald and back would make a good end to the last day of the trip. After more than 2 miles of leg ripping briers and undergrowth, I checked the map. Realizing that London Bald was much farther than I had assumed, I turned around for the hike back to the car. Less than 5 minutes later, all in a single instant I perceived movement and felt something strange underfoot and a brush across my right leg. The brain neurons that instruct flight reaction fired and I bounded a couple of quick steps before I understood that there was a rattlesnake in the trail. A short second later the snake was coiled and its signature buzz started. Realizing how close I came to the snake, I felt just a little queasy.
It had been almost exactly 6 years ago in the same month and only a few miles away that I first saw a large rattler on the trail. That time it was on Fires Rim Creek trail (video Rattlesnake on FRC trail) and I was fortunate to have seen the snake a few steps before reaching it. Not so, this time. I had been right on top of it. (video Rattlesnake on London Bald trail)
Short hike 2.6 miles out and back on the south end of London Bald trail.
View from London Bald Trail of ridge line that Fires Rim Creek trail traverses. Six years ago, another Rattlesnake was on the trail in those mountains.Broad burn areas on this end of London Bald trail. The burns opened the views.Trail alternates between burns on the south facing slopes and lush fern growth in east facing coves.
This loop hike includes unmaintained trails with sections that are difficult to navigate. Leg coverings such as gaiters or long pants are recommended for protection from heavy undergrowth in some sections. The area is remote and not frequently hiked, therefore precautions should be taken to avoid rattlesnakes. Headphones should not be used while hiking in this area, since rattlesnakes are nearly always heard before being seen.
View of ridge line that includes the section of Fires Rim Creek trail that I hiked. Tusquitee Bald is the peak seen between the fork of the tree. Weatherman Bald. (Photo taken from London Bald trail)
View from Fires Rim Creek trail on approach to Tusquitee Bald
May 28, 2016 – From Tuni Gap Road – Big Choga Road intersection to trail side camp on Chunky Gal trail via Old Road Gap and Fires Rim Creek trails.
Tuni Gap road was gated and closed. This may have been a temporary closure, because I later saw Caterpillar road equipment on the road along with a lot of evidence of recent road maintenance work. Old Road Gap road (FS 7099) is also gated and closed, but this appears to be a permanent closure.
Just before dark at my campsite on Chunky Gal trail, I heard a loud racket at the bottom of the hill. After listening a while, I was sure it was a group of wild pigs rooting around. There was plenty of evidence of pig activity along Chunky Gal trail on the section between Tuni Gap Road and Tusquitee Road.
That night while under my tarp, I was constantly brushing large black ants off my face and hair. With the headlamp I could see that the ants were swarming over my sweat soaked cap that sat on the ground next to my bag. There must be something nutritious about perspiration. I left the cap undisturbed, thinking that it would draw the ants away from me.
Other notable wildlife along the way was a Dark-Eyed Junco on Old Gap Road trail, a second sighting of turkey, and a grouse.
View from Tusquitee Bald.
May 29, 2016 – From campsite on Chunky Gal trail to Tusquitee Road, then forest service road back to car.
I didn’t encounter other hikers during the entire course of this 2 day hike including sections on Forest Service roads. In fact, the only people I saw were a few elderly gentlemen enjoying their Sunday morning coffee at a remote township along Tusquitee Gap Road (The only road open to traffic; I saw absolutely zero traffic on this road).
I enjoyed a pleasant hike down these remote unpaved mountain roads after bushwhacking and gotten off-trail a couple of times along Chunky Gal trail.
Having completed the last section of the Chunky Gal trail, I was able to celebrate (only in my mind) the milestone of having completed its entire 21.6 mile length from the Appalachian trail to Fires Rim Creek trail. I first hiked the 5.1 mile section from the AT to Glade Gap on US Highway 64 in 2004 and the next section hike was in 2014 from Glade Gap to Little Clay Knob. There is very little maintenance on this trail. I ended up “off-trail” on each of 3 section hikes I completed.Each trip on this trail was made exhausting by the deadfall that had to be crossed or scrambled around.
The Chunky Gal trail could be used as a “shortcut” on the AT by leaving the AT near Muskrat Creek Shelter and rejoining the AT 50 miles later just beyond the peak of Cheoah Bald. The shortcut would knock 12 miles (about a day’s hike) off the AT, but would involve plenty of trailblazing and deadfall scrambling hardship along with a few miles of walking Big Choga and Junaluska roads. Besides Chunky Gal, the connecting trails would include Fires Rim Creek trail, Old Road Gap trail / Old Road Gap road, London Bald trail, and the NC Bartram trail.
Tuni Gap Road at Big Choga Road. I parked off to the side of the closed gate. Looking very closely, you can see Old Road Gap road about 100 feet on the right.This turkey on Old Road Gap road seemed confused. It ran around in circles back and forth across the road before finally disappearing off to the right. I wonder whether it had a brood of poults hidden to the left of the road.This sign is at the top of Old Road Gap trail to warn hikers considering the hike from Fires Rim Creek trail down Old Road Gap trail.
Chunky Gal trail was very overgrown and hard to follow. I found this blaze on the ground and put it back on the tree. If considering a hike on Chunky Gal trail, be prepared with a GPS track. You will encounter a lot of uncleared downfall.
Clear Creek township on Tusquitee Road consists of 2 cabins and some vegetable gardens about 15 miles into the mountains down gravel road. Here is the only place I saw people over the course of 2 days.
Overview: Trail with as much as 5 inches snow. Hiked to Pinnacle with 360 degree views and camped at site 3 on Pinnacle trail. Hiked beyond Blackrock Mountain.
After hiking the Oconaluftee River Trail, I headed to Sylva to hike to Pinnacle overlook. After a stop at Subway to get a sandwich for the trail, I got started about 11 AM.
There is self registration at the parking lot. This area has plenty of trail signs.
My intent was to hike to the Blue Ridge Parkway and beyond to Waterrock Knob. I didn’t have time to make it that far even without the fact that I made a wrong turn and got off the trail for a mile.
Open ridge leads a few feet to the Pinnacles.
Lunch. Ate my tuna fish sub on this rock. Soaked up the sun.
Looks like I should take wide path/road to right. Wrong! Take narrow path to left that goes straight up.
After a mile of this on a false trail, I checked my GPS and I was at 5480 feet and beyond Blackrock Mountain going in the right general direction, but below the trail. I turned around when this old road reached a dead end.
Though unseasonably warm, I suppose most people spent their weekends at Christmas parties rather than on overnight hiking trips. I was the only overnight hiker. I met a day hiker on the 2nd day and a trail runner on the first day.
The trail ran over the ridge crossing knobs and peaks so that there were more ups and downs than I expected. Even the “down hill” return hike had steep climbs. I counted a total of 13 ascents on the return to Wallace Creek. The “up hill” direction would have had 14 ascents with the first and last being the longest and most difficult. Wallace Branch TH is at 2240 ft. Wayah Bald, the highest point on the Bartram Trail is at 5342 ft.
Waterfall on Wallace Branch
The trail was steep, but smooth with the occasional rock, root, or stump marked with red paint. This was evidently to make the ultra-distance runners aware of tripping hazards. This trail is the site for the Naturalist Epic 25k and 50k runs. Naturalist Run . I found the steep ascents and descents exhausting. It is hard to imagine running this trail all of the way to the top of Wayah Bald or in the case of the 50k event, running round-trip.
Near top of Wayah Bald. It is 12 miles back to Wallace Branch THA forest service road crosses trail at Harrison Gap.
Nearly all this section was open oaks and hardwoods. The trail alternated between the east side of the ridge and west side of the ridge, but just as often went straight up the ridge. There were many long distance tree obstructed winter views of Wayah Bald, Wesser Bald, Standing Indian, and Albert Mountain. I could just barely make out the fire tower on Albert Mountain.
Having completed this section, I have now hiked the entire 100 miles of the Georgia and North Carolina Bartram trails.
In hammock.My feet at Wayah trail shelter on AT. Had the shelter to myself and dozed off next to the campfire.Abandoned tent. Unlucky camper?This 75 foot deep mine looked like a natural opening so I thought it might be a cave.
– Hiked on December 12 – 13, 2015
– About 25 miles round trip.
These two trails are similar in that they are short easy walks and very accessible. The Tow String trail is near the North Carolina park entrance at Hwy 441 and the Twin Creeks trail only a few miles from the Tennessee park entrance at Hwy 441. Both trails are a couple of miles long. If attempting to hike the “map” of the Smokies, both trails are easily overlooked. So was the case with me. I ran these last 2 trails to finish up my 900 miler qualification.
Well, once again, I returned home only to discover that I had overlooked yet another trail. I will need to return one day to hike the Oconaluftee River trail. This 2 miler starts at the Oconaluftee visitor center not far from one end of the Tow String trail.
Here I am after running the trail. I discovered that I had already hiked the section from the church near the Smokemont entrance to Bradley Fork trail, so I ran the remaining 1.2 miles toward the east trailhead of Tow String. Sandra waited in the car at the other end. While exploring for this trailhead, we discovered the hidden away community of Tow String and got directions from a couple of its friendly residents.
Sandra and I celebrate my 900 miler accomplishment, but now I realize I have 2 miles left. Twin Creeks trail is up Cherokee Orchard road out of Gatlinburg. No signs at the upper trailhead. Where the road becomes one lane, park at the Ogle place historic cabin and take the nature trail loop (counterclockwise or lower part of loop). Look for the Twin Creeks sign several tenths of a mile into the nature loop trail.
