Ridges and Creek Crossings

View from the Appalachian Trail near Clingmans Dome

Our day started at the Clingmans Dome parking lot at 7:45 AM.  Upon exiting the car we were greeted with a temperature of 35 degrees and wind gusting over 20 mph.  I quickly put on all the layers I brought, shouldered my pack and began ascending the half-mile paved tourist trail to Clingmans Dome.  Right after starting, we noticed snow blowing in the wind.  Soon we reached the Appalachian Trail and headed south toward Welch Ridge.  The AT gradually brought us out of the wind, and we soon began seeing glimpses to the southeast.  Some sections of the trail followed a ridge named the Narrows, providing long views on both sides of the trail.  We could see parts of Lake Fontana in the distance. 

An arm of Lake Fontana many miles below.

We met many thru-hikers and section hikers heading north on the AT.  Most notable was a family of 7 from Texas who were heading for Maine.  Two parents and their five children, the youngest age 10, had come almost 200 miles. They said they had no hiking experience, but they were positive and in good spirits.

As the day warmed, the layers came off one by one.  We reached Welch Ridge Trail and followed it for 1.8 miles to Jonas Creek.  Once we reached Jonas Creek we began our descent over the next 4.2 miles.  The “Brown Book” indicated four creek crossings that likely would be wet.  We began to hear Jonas Creek below us as we descended, and there were multiple small drainages crossing the trail.  With all the rain over the past week, there was a lot of mud on the trail and in some places the trail had become a small stream.  We reached the first major crossing of Jonas Creek, and the rain from the previous week was evident.  We decided to eat lunch and change boots for water shoes.  A tree was down across the creek; too small to walk, but it provided a hand rail as we waded through the swift moving stream.  As we continued, we had three more crossings, each one seemed to be wider with a greater volume of water, and the crossings were trickier.  Everyone made it without falling in, although several places were knee deep. 

The first crossing on Jonas Creek

After the fourth crossing, we decided to leave on our water shoes until we were off Jonas Creek.  It was a good decision since we had two more crossings of Jonas Creek. 

At the trail junction with Forney Creek Trail, Jonas Creek joins Forney Creek.  The combined flow was rolling!  The map showed a footlog across Forney Creek, and indeed there was one, or at least half a bridge.  Fortunately the half bridge crossed the main part of the creek.  We changed back into hiking boots thinking our wet crossings were over.  We worked around one potential wet crossing, only to be met with one more unexpected crossing.  Off came the boots, but this time we waded in bare feet to save some time.

Forney Creek at the confluence with Jonas Creek

In some places the trail was a dry creek bed.

And in some places the trail was a stream.

There were several wildflowers blooming along the trails from the high elevations on the AT to the lower elevations.  We also noticed how we descended into Spring.  The trees at the beginning of the hike were bare, but as the day went on and our elevation lessened, the trees were greener.  A few pictures of flowers, most notably some white dwarf iris mixed in with the purple dwarf iris.

Dwarf Iris 

Note the white iris among the purple.

The rest of the hike was uneventful, following Forney Creek to Whiteoak Branch Trail to Lakeshore Trail.  The hiked ended at the tunnel on the “Road to Nowhere” at the end of Lakeview Drive west of Bryson City.  Here is where prior planning came into play.  We were at least 45 minutes from where we met before the hike.  One of our hikers arranged for her husband to pick us up and shuttle us up to Newfound Gap.  Not having to do this shuttle twice – morning and afternoon - allowed us to complete a long hike with a minimum of driving between trailheads.

The end of the trail is the light at the end of the tunnel.

Recap of the hike:
17.1 miles
2,100 feet of elevation gain
>4,000 feet of elevation loss (from Clingman's Dome to Lakeshore Trail)