Two Fall Hikes this Week

This week has been one of the best for Fall hiking - cool crisp mornings and mild days under cerulean skies.  I was able to get in two hikes this week: Wednesday along a section of the Lakeshore Trail, and Friday along Thomas Divide.  The fall colors are nearing their peak at lower elevations, and higher elevations are past peak.

Trail Junction sign at Proctor on Hazel Creek

Wednesday's hike began and ended with a boat ride across Lake Fontana from the Village Marina to the north shore and trailheads a section of the Lakeshore Trail.  We hiked a 12.5 mile section of the trail from Pilkey Creek to Eagle Creek.  The Lakeshore Trail covers more than 30 miles of the north shore of Lake Fontana from Fontana Dam to the tunnel at the end of Lakeview Drive near Bryson City.  Before Fontana Dam impounded the lake, the region was dotted with farms and thriving with lumber mills.  The people were relocated as the rising waters of the lake inundated roads and isolated the area.  Parts of the Lakeshore Trail follow old highway 288 that ran through the region.  Along the trail are remnants of the settlements; stone chimneys, rock walls, a few structures, and abandoned cars.

Our hike took us up and down several ridges that extend into the lake.  The sourwood trees were on display, their bright red leaves shining in the sunlight.

Our hike ended at Campsite 90 near Eagle Creek and the trail junction with the Eagle Creek Trail.  This trail ascends 8.7 miles up to the Appalachian Trial near Spence Field - another hike for another day.  We crossed an impressive old steel bridge across the creek and waited for the boat to pick us up and carry us across the lake to the marina and our cars.

Sturdy bridge across Eagle Creek

Eagle Creek from the Bridge.

Friday, on an equally clear Fall day, three of us hiked on three trails off Highway 441 on the NC side of the park: Kanati Fork Trail, Thomas Divide Trail, and Newton Bald Trail.  Kanati Fork climbs 2,100 feet over 2.9 miles from the Oconoluftee River to Thomas Divide.  It is steep, but well graded.  While we only had a few glimpses of Kanati Fork, we were rewarded with some nice fall colors.

We reached Thomas Divide and followed the ridge for over 4 miles.  We had glimpses of mountain ridges to the north and southwest through the trees.  This trail was the highlight of the day.

Thomas Divide Trail

While on the trail, Rich and I took a moment to celebrate World Polio Day.  Both Rich and I are Rotarians, and Rotary International has an emphasis to end polio worldwide through its End Polio Now campaign.  Polio is all but eliminated, only endemic in a few countries.  Rotary uses the phrase "We are this close" to remind us how close we are to finally eliminating polio.  Here, Rich and I are showing how close we are.

"We are this close" to ending polio.

The Newton Bald Trail was a gradual descent back down to Highway 441 near Smokemont Campground.  As we lost elevation the colors intensified with orange maples, yellow poplars, and red sourwood.

Both days of hiking added 23 miles to the Smokies trail map.  I now have 285 miles completed of the 800+ miles of trails.  Also, I have hiked 47 new trail miles in October, that with my sponsors has raised $164.00 for End Polio Now.