2002 GSMNP - 8. Post-AT Hikes

“Links to previous segments:
2002 GSMNP - 2. Introduction
2002 GSMNP - 3. Pre-GSMNP
2002 GSMNP - 4. Pre-AT Hikes
2002 GSMNP - 5. Backpack Contents
2002 GSMNP - 6. Food
2002 GSMNP - 7. AT Hike

Oct. 8, 2002, Tues. - Called and cancelled the rest of my reservation on the AT. Made a new appointment for wheel bearings to be installed on the car. (Mon., 10/18) Made hiking plans. Thought that I did good yesterday, but today my legs are kind of wobbly. At dusk as fog appeared, bats by the thousands flew out of the Caldwell Place. Boy, can they move! There should be a way to get them into the gambling industry. 'Hey man, I've got the fastest bat in town.'

Oct. 9, 2002, Wed. - Killed the morning drinking coffee with the CG Host and two of his brothers, and collecting firewood. At 12:30 p.m. I started a hike past the horsecamp and up Little Cataloochee Trail to Davidson Gap, about 2.4 mi. each way. Once, a little further up the Pretty Hollow Gap Trail, I unknowingly walked under a large Black Bear in a tree. I was about 10 yards past, when he dropped out of the tree with a large thud directly on the trail. I raised my arms and hollered at him. He took off up a steep hill faster than Jesse Owens could run on the track.

Little Cataloochee Trail became pretty steep before the top was reached. Two horsemen, whom I had met while collecting firewood in the morning, reported a bear at the top in a tree near the trail. I did not see the bear, but heard a plenty of noise from the woods on the other side of the trail. It had to be the bear eating nuts. (Bear Lunching) I learned that the shells come out of the sides of the bear's mouth, almost like a machine, as the bear eats the meat. The trail was nice in a few places, but erosion left a lot of it rocky, and in places it was part of a watershed with running water. It took two hours to reach the top and a little more to return. This was not too impressive, but it was a difficult trail.

Oct. 10, 2002, Thurs. - Rain likely today and a little more tomorrow. Saw 7 wild turkeys and 3 deer today. The CG became full and many were turned away. One camper shared his site with a party with a large trailer. I shared with a family with a smaller trailer. They did not stay the night, but had wanted to have a place for the weekend. The man had to work on Friday and knew the CG would be full before they could return. Elk and October colors bring a lot of people to this popular place.

An environmental study was started three years ago. They plan to add 10-12 more tent sites to the 27, another bathroom, a picnic area, and more by 2008. It is just another step down the deteriorating trail of progress and development. Had a good fire, but rain drove me into the car. A woman came over and offered me some special, fried chicken. I declined because of my diet.

Oct. 11, 2002, Fri. - Heavy rain experienced during the night. Moved from CS#27 to #9. Many people are being turned away today. By 12:50 the sun was shining. I would backpack, but I had paid already for the site. I sure hope Nissan is open on Mon. It is a holiday, which, also, accounts for the crowd here.

Oct. 12, 2002, Sat. - Did a 9.4 mile dayhike with lunch at Big Poplars. Went up Rough Fork Trail, down Caldwell Fork Trail, and up and down Big Fork Ridge Trail. Went past the large, elk holding area for new elk near the end of the hike. Then I had to fight the Elk viewers to get back to the campground. They park so as to block the road. The have set-ups on the back of trucks, some bring tables and chairs, or blankets, and they set-up dinners and drinks. It's Elk Viewers' Party Time!

Met 4 groups (12 people) going to CS#41. There were already 3 tents there. Previously, I had told the Ranger that it would be crowded there tonight. Saw 9 horses with 6 people at Big Poplars. Later, I saw groups of 3, 4 and 2 horses. One came upon me suddenly at a gallop. He stopped just in time. I was going to let him have one with my hiking stick and I had it raised for action. He said his horse was frisky and he was trying to let him run it off. Back at camp I experienced some minor thigh cramps, while trying to remove my boots.

Oct. 13, 2002, Sun. - Rain came down heavy early in the morning. It was cloudy and a 50% chance of more rain.

I learned that Harrah's Cherokee Home(Clicking "no" gets there.), by contract with the Indians, will be giving them theCherokee Casino after five years of operation. This should be soon. There is now a 15 story hotel there connected to the casino, and another one will be built soon. Each Cherokee now receives $7,000 per year in two installments. The funds for children go into interest bearing trusts. The children receive it when they either finish high school or turn 21.

The man, whose trailer I let on my site, said to call him if I had any transportation problem after I took my car to Nissan. And he gave me a load of firewood before he left Sun. evening.

Oct. 14, 2002, Mon. - Got my car into the shop and I'm using a rental. Got some information for the GA hike at the library. Bought some used books. BAck at Cataloochee a lady talked with me and reminded me that we had met a year ago. I had given her and her daughter (1 yr. out of college) some hot chocolate that I prepared. The following morning, beforfe leaving, she had given me a quart of home-made tomato juice and a bunch of cookies. So, now I let her know how good the tomatoe juice had been.

Oct. 15, 2002, Tues. - It rained all day and night. I got my car back. The nice lady, who rented the car to me, let me know that she was 51, divorced, lives with her parents, previously lived near me in Cape Canaveral, and her ex in-laws live in Orlando. She was pretty. I wonder if she was flirting with me? Maybe I should visit her during my next trip. Ah, she would probably desert me when I get old.

Oct. 16, 2002, Wed. - Did laundry, but forgot my hiking pants. Packed. It is getting colder. Took hot chocolate to the lady and her daughter, who was there visiting. Had an enjoyable time talking with them. I suggested that I would return on Friday, Oct. 25th. They liked the idea and the girl said she wouild try to get her mother to remain there until the CG closes around Nov. 3rd., so that we all could visit again. The mother gave me grapes and some favored cocoa.

Oct. 17, 2002, Thurs. - Told the mother that I would not return, as the CG would be full for that weekend. She insisted that I return, said I can place my tent on the pad on her site. She has a small RV. Both the daughter and her mother are urging me to return. Hmmm, this could get involved.

Washed my hiking pants, exchanged the new flashlight, bought bread, etc. Drove to Hiawassee, NC, stopping at Jackrabbit CG to complete packing for the trail. Jackrabbit is great, it borders water! At Unicoi Gap I started up at 3:30 p.m. Reached the top in under 2 hours. Rested and continued, but never found the cut-off trail to the Blue Mtn. Shelter. Finally, at 7:10 I cut back to where I had passed a small opening along the trail and set-up camp for the night. The downhill sections had been a little too much for my knees and I was tired. It took an hour to hang my food and I burnt out the two, 3-volt batteries in the flashlight. Discovered that two 32-ounce empty gatoraid bottles were still in my pack. I set them off to the side. Then, after I was in the tent, I found that I still had some hot chocolate packages. So I threw them out as far as I could and went to sleep.

Oct. 18, 2002, Fri. - Everything was OK in the morning and I recovered the hot chocolate and the bottles. I was going to hike to Blood Mtn. and meet the 'Oct. Old Farts on the AT' group. I continued downhill for 30 minutes and still did not see any of the landmarks that I should have found. So I returned to last night's camping spot and ate some lunch. Then I headed back to the first mtn. top. I learned from some hikers that I had gone the wrong way from the car. On the mtn. top I set-up camp. Two men and two boy scouts, the hiking part of a group, stopped for a rest. One man started to take my food-pack rope, that I had hanging in the trees. He never asked anything, said that he thought someone had left it. I was a little irritated. A brother and sister arrived from Atlanta and the three of us experienced an enjoyable evening around a campfire.

Oct. 19, 2002, Sat. - I hiked down on the steep trail and drove to Bryson City. Ingles wanted 99 cents for a glass of water to go with my vegetable soup. I had to tell them to keep their water. Set-up camp at Deep Creek CG, and in a local pub, I watched Auburn tie and almost defeat Florida in football.

A woman in the next campsite kept talking and talking as I tried to sleep. It sounded like she was trying to convince someone to repent and become a believer. Finally, about midnight, I loudly exclaimed with emphasis, "Jesus Christ!" She heard, because she immediately toned is down to a whisper. I fell asleep, but woke around 1 a.m. and she was still at it. Their RV left early the next morning, quietly, without waking me. Rain started early and continued all morning.

Phoned my daughter in Melbourne. Learned that my article about aikijutsu together with pictures was published in my college magazine.

Oct. 20, 2002, Sun. - No notes.

Oct. 21, 2002, Mon. - Some rain during the night continued lightly during the morning. The fall colors have been disappointing with nothing brilliant so far. It was a dark and gloomy day. I finally drove the Road to Nowhere and started up Noland Creek. Forty five minutes later I was setting-up camp. I thought a lot about my life's experiences, about how well things are going right now without money, and I decided to continue toward a black belt in aikijutsu. I feel so sorry for some old folks, who are just passing time waiting for it all to end. I don't have time to die, at least, I have no time to worry about it. I decided to go back to GA and meet the TT group at Blue Mtn. Shelter on their last night.

Oct. 22, 2002, Tues. - I slept late, and then saw the sun appear. This narrow cove at CS#65 gets dark early and light late. After about one mile upstream just past the second bridge, I turned onto a faint road. It led uphill and finally reached a small, grassy parking area. I continued uphill on a faint trail. It kept getting steeper. Finally, I lost the trail, so I sat down and ate lunch. These Mtn. people wanted to be buried up high. I located the trail again and quickly found a cemetery. It was on a narrow ridge and had one row of graves, side by side. Unmarked stones were the only grave markers for the 16 to 18 folks buried there. From the size of the graves it appeared that most were for adults, and only a few for children or babies. No one is ever guaranteed a long life. As I looked across the cemetary, I thought, "There must be a lot of history here. If one could just uncover the stories."

Had a good night at CS#64, including a nice fire that glowed late into the night.

Oct. 23, 2002, Wed. - Hiked out 4.2 miles in 2 hours 8 minutes, just over 2 miles per hour. This was fantastic for me. After coffee and a donut at ingles, I drove to Jackrabbit Park near Hiawassee and set-up camp for the night. In town at Dollar General, I found a cold and frozen food section. I learned that they are installing these sections in all their stores, a few at a time. It looks like a great expansion for a great store.

Oct. 24, 2002, Thurs. - Returned to Unicoi Gap and hiked up the mtn. on the other side of the road. The trail was a little easier, but just as steep and went as high. A couple informed me that they had become acquainted with Bitpusher and Father Goose, and that they would be at Blue Mtn. Shelter tonight, on schedule. I was there at 2 p.m. and they arrived within a few minutes. They are great gentlemen, strong hikers, and it was a pleasure making their acquaintance. Thanks to Father Goose and his saw, we enjoyed a great campfire that evening.

Oct. 25, 2002, Fri. - A friend met them as we hit the trail. He was going to drive them back to their car.. I told them to hike on ahead, that I would make it at my own pace. One hour later I was about 15 minutes into the first switchback going downhill, when I heard a car horn sound twice. I assumed that they were honking goodbye to me. I exited after just over two hours of hiking.

On the drive to Cataloochee CG, I heard the name, Jaco Pastorius, on the radio. He was a famous bass player and the uncle of my daughter's husband. Found a campsite, set-up, and visited a little with the woman from Waynesville. While setting up camp, I had to hit the rest room for a minute. While gone, something, took a roll of my cord from the tent pad. It was probably a squirrel. (Any squirrels missing from TT?)

Oct. 26, 2002, Sat. - Went to the library to check some things. Called and made a hiking reservation. I was struck by this article in today's Ashville Citizen-Times: The principles you live by create the world you live in. If you change the principles you live by, you will change your world. - Blaine Lee

Got in on a big dinner party at the Host's site. Ate more than I should have eaten. In a friendly campground like this one, a person should be able to get about three dinners per night, if he can eat that much. The daughter showed at her mother's site and the three of us enjoyed the evening around a nice fire.

Oct. 27, 2002, Sun. - Headed to Newfound Gap and started uptrail to IceWater Spring Shelter. On the trail I ran into the family that I had allowed to place the trailer on my site previously at Cataloochee. They were finishing a nice dayhike. Met two girls, Linda and Linda, (a common name), and others. At the shelter I learned that rain was forecast for several days, from the Hurricane that hit Texas. The fall colors have finally hit their peak below in these mountains!

Oct. 28, 2002, Mon. - We had a hard rain during the night and it continues. Some people headed for Mt. LeConte, but I decided to forget it. I would not enjoy hiking for two days, up and down, in heavy rain. I can sit here.

Oct. 29, 2002, Tues. - Rain. A thru-hiker, going south, arrived after dark. He had hiked 27.6 miles from Davonport Gap Shelter, in the rain? He was hiking ultra-light. Now, I am convinced that ultra-light is the way to go.

Oct. 30, 2002, Wed. - Still raining in the early morning. But it appeared to be stopping. So I packed and headed out to Newfound Gap. Goodbye rain, it has been nice seeing you. By midnight I was at home in my trailer in Florida.

End of 8. Post-AT Hikes

To be posted soon.
2002 GSMNP - 9. Back in Florida
2002 GSMNP - 10. Summary
2002 GSMNP - 11. Photographs
2002 GSMNP - 1. Index & Links”

“Great trip reports nowslimmer...keep it up!”

“and more so quite inspirational.

I just went back and read ALL the reports. Don't know how long it took, but I don't care now. that is the first time I have read such a lengthy trip report from start to finish. Can't wait for the rest.

At times you seemed to drive yourself too hard, and then other times you say the heck with it, "I'm also here to enjoy and have fun"

Truly an awsome report. I hop I can still do what you have done when I'm 70, heck, when I'm 50 would be great!!!!

Keep it up.”

“Thanks, Chief, for your very nice comments I appreciated them. And you have even provided a basis for the Summary.

The report is longer than I intended, but it did cover more than 10 weeks. The remainder should be much shorter. Even though I returned to Florida, there is still some more hiking to cover.”

“No, thank you. You seem to be at a point in your life that you know what you want and that you are very happy doing what you want. Your daughter must be very proud of you, I would be if I was your child.”

“Again, thanks. In scattered posts, I have revealed a lot of my background and experiences. FYI, I had 3 sons and then 3 daughters, now at ages 41 to 19.

Last Jan. my youngest was vacationing from college in the Rep. of Panama at her mother's home. When she saw my first three photographs in Phil's Photo Page, she e-mail me, saying, "Go, Daddy, go!" (Made me feel real good.)

There have been some problems because of having two separate familes, but most of my children are proud of me.”