AT-Kepharts Prong TR & Pics

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NFG-Kephart 5.02.09


Pics first, TR later or never. Enjoy

Friday I hiked up Chimney Tops, saw 1 guy on the trail, and 3 pple at the top. Had the place to myself when they left. Very neat to have alone.

Then rain was impending, so I headed to Laurel Falls, and ran the paved trail. Saw 5 pple on the trail, and 1 couple at the falls 20 minutes after I got there. Trail was pretty burnt up, saw some hot spots along the trail.

Saturday, my buddies Jonathan and Nick showed up, and we shuttled a car down the Kephart Prong TH, and started from my truck at NFG. We started at 3pm, then ate a late lunch at Icewater shelter, but left to finish hanging out above it on the trail, cause some weirdo was doing business calls on his phone very loudly in the shelter.

We then made it to Charlies Bunion, and no one was there. And the fog/mist/rain we had all trip blew out, and we had great views.

Saw tons of bear sign on the way down Dry Sluice and Grassy branch. I had the guys freaked the F out. Someone had planted lil orange flags about each 1/2 mile to 1/4 mile, I had Nick convinced that the NPS marks locations of reported bear attacks that way. HEHE

Showed up at he Shelter at 7:30, still an hour of light, and met the three guys sharing the shelter with us. No Hello, no how do ya do...just where'd you come from, we came from Leconte....jumped into their bags, and were snoring by 8pm. WTF, now we gotta be church mice while we try to cook and set out our spots. They were a group, spread to the 4 corners and made us setup around them, didn't move or consolidate gear. We were nice and quiet, moved to the stream to BS till about 10pm, and sacked out. Next morning the MF'ers didn't show the same courtesy we showed them. They banged the shelter floor, talked in normal voices..Hoped they had fun hiking out in the rain.

We slept in, ate breakfast, played in the creek, waited out most of the rain, and then headed out.

Good trail, and I think these guys are hooked on doing alot more hiking.”

“sweet pics opie.. have to ask though.. what's with the killer tree?”

“Looks like y'all had fun.

What's up with the machete? He gonna fight off bears? ;-)
last edited: 5/05/09 10:11:14 AM”

“Jonathan (asian guy) was in scouts with me back in the second grade, he's hiked some. Nick was a friend of his, that I've been out to the clubs with, but he's a Cali Kid. He had 3 oranges, 2 mango's and a COCONUT in his pack. I told him to leave the machete...but he then produced the coconut and asked, How will I open this then? The damn thing had a squared blade edge, so i let him keep it.


Killer Tree...it had tried to mug two earlier hikers, damn thing pulled a gun on them.

I don't know. It was in the burn zone. The canopy was unburnt, the soil was solid around the base, and didn't have obvious disease/bug damage.”

“Great pictures.”

“good stuff - but how come you didn't take many picutures?”