TR-Mt Sterling 8-10

“Just back from my favorite woods of GSMNP. Went in Friday at Big Creek to CS-37 Walnut Bottoms, Sat up to Mt. Sterling, and Sunday down Baxter back to Big Ck. Parking lot. Pretty good time even though the view from the fire tower stunk due to being in the middle of a cloud Sat. Was still a good place for the cocktail hour. Spotty rain and temps down to 60 at night. Physically draining with the profuse sweating involved in climbing that hill in August. Made 3 MPH up Big creek trail w/ full pack (40 lbs, I can never go light)and two hours from CS37 (Walnut Bottoms) to Mt. Sterling trail. Can you say dehydration issues? Nice trip and surprisingly not very many people on the trails. Those that were were largely good quality non-tourons. Lots of bear sign but no sightings. Saw a track that was either one very large dog waaay away from home or a wolf, tooo big for a coyote. Did they re-introduce wolves there?? Jumped one Grouse on Baxter Ck. Trails in pretty good shape, someone did maintenance and cut all the weeds off Baxter Ck, within the last week, also Mt. Sterling ridge had been cleared.”

“Nice going, mtnman.”

“Nice report.”