Porters Creek Manway .. a done deal

“Today I finally completed the Porters Creek Manway. Did it as a dayhike. It was not the hardest haul I've ever done, but I'd rank it right up there. The climb was not as scary as I thought it would be. Its not one of the prettiest hikes I've ever done either. It was just one of those "Prove I Can Do It" kinda things. Its over now and it was actually kinda fun. I am glad to be finished it and home with my fuzzy slippers on though. LOL :-D Thanks to all who shared suggestions and advice to help with the navigation on that trip.”

“hey you!! you did it! I was just talking about doing it with crosscut yesterday. So not that bad huh?? Cool! Tell me what we missed back then....”

“Congratulations on your accomplishment.

Now, of course you'll be thinking about your next climb. And then the next... well, you get the idea.”

“To find it..... Shoulda listened to YOU. You were right. Ya gotta get in the river. We'd have been killed the day we tried it before. That river was not fit to even think of crossing that day. It would have swept us away like ants. All of us. Today the river was at its lowest level. Got in the darn river and just started up. 200-300 yds beyond the campsites IN the river.. I spotted the first cairns. They lead you right to the top. Its not a piece of cake, but Roaring Fork -> Mt. LeConte Bushwhack was much much harder. It was also a much more rewarding bushwhack. There isn't much to see going up. Its just doing it that is the thing. Came out at exactly the right place. Where the photo of Smokygirl shows her crawling out of the weeds. LOL
I got up there and let out a Rebel Yell that could be heard clear to Sevierville.

Thanks Tekdude. Once my tootsies are rested... we'll see.
I do have a couple a$$kickers on the backburner I'm excited about.
Lots more to see on those.”

“Congratulations!!

Glad to hear you finally got a chance to do that trip.

:)”

“For those of us not-in-the-know, what makes this hike an accomplishment? Not being snide here, I want to share in the excitement. :-)”

“You come onback with me.... and we'll do it again...
Then you can see for yourself?!

LMAO

Its just not an easy hike. And you have to know me to understand the humor in my way of looking at things. I am tiny. 5'1" 110lbs.
I look like Barbie, but wanna be GI Joe. When I first started hiking I was sooooo prissy. I got teased like hell about my ways by my Rough, Tough Guide friends from the Happy Hiker in Gatlinburg.
They didn't think I was capable of much and would wimp out quick. Don't ever tell me what I can't do. cause I'll sure the hell show ya. I told them they'd all be laffin out the other sides of their heads and got busy toughening up. This is one of those prove it kinda hikes. Its hard as hell to navigate to be quite honest. Without the rock cairns... one might follow the wrong creek drainage up to a several hundred foot headwall below Charlies Bunion. THAT would suck mightily. This valley is the catch pit for the debris when the top of the mountain came off in a fire/flashflood. It is steep as heck and the worst morass of trees, slick moss,rocks, junk you've ever seen. It is one of the worst flashflood areas of the Smokies. If we'd tried to cross the river in March.... we'd have surely drowned. Took me 2 tries... but by God I got her done. Now Prissyhiker is going by to see the Rough Tough Guide buddies today..
Gonna tell 'em what about that!?”

“miss prissy hiker...LOL. did you take a photo, before or after? If after,,,did you flash yourself?

Way to go!!!”

“I am glad that you got this manway off your list, Danababy. You are right, it isn't the pretties hike, but it is quite an accomplishment that makes you feel like "Huh yeah" (with a bicep curl). I was pretty scared when I did it - so the Leconte one must be really tough! I would like to try the Ramsey's Cascades one and at least one manway up to Leconte. Do let me know when you plan to go - I would like to join you soon! It's a shame since we live down the road from each other. Are you going to TC3?”

“Nice going!”

“It made me feel good to complete that. The mental stress side of life has been tremendous lately. When things go that way, I find it best to try to balance things out with increases physical stress.

Smokygirl, I will surely include you when I decide to do one of the drainages on Mt. LeConte. I know a couple pretty ones worth the toil. You are definitely up to the challenge. I'm in Sevierville too much these days. :-D”