Today's route - a 13.6 mile walk in the Smoky's high country
The elevation profile for this walk, with the big climb in the middle this time. Note that from near mile 8 to the end of the walk was all above 5000 feet of elevation. Breezy and cool, despite 100's in the valley!
Morning views along Heintooga Ridge Road prior to my walk
Flame azaleas were abundant and stunning on Heintooga Ridge Road
Morning views on Heintooga Ridge Road - I believe this is looking at Mount Guyot
More morning views along Heintooga Ridge Road prior to my walk
One more...it was nice, almost chilly
More flame azaleas along Heintooga Ridge Road
At this point near Black Camp Gap it switches from Blue Ridge Parkway National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Polls Gap Trail, one of three trails at Polls Gap, has been closed
Polls Gap along Heintooga Ridge Road. The sign on the right is for the start/end of the Hemphill Bald Trail. I would finish my loop there this afternoon.
Polls Gap - this is the end of the Rough Fork Trail which begins way down the mountain in the Cataloochee area. I started my loop on this trail so I could walk the high country on Hemphill Bald Trail in the late afternoon.
The start of my loop - note the closure of campsite #40 due to bears.
The start/end of Rough Fork Trail
Tassel Rue along Rough Fork Trail (thanks Al Smith/Janice Henderson for the I.D.)
The upper portion of Rough Fork Trail is nice and flat but muddy from the horses.
Rough Fork Trail - A noisy and cool start up in the high country
The spruce-fir forest on the upper portion of Rough Fork Trail
Rough Fork Trail - Views of Big Spruce Ridge
Rough Fork Trail - another pretty Smokies spruce-fir forest
Rough Fork Trail - The thick forest canopy of the upper reaches of the trail
Rough Fork Trail - a little fraser fir
Rough Fork Trail - picture doesn't do justice, this was a big dead fraser with the top snapped off
Rough Fork Trail - shrooms growing on a dead fraser stump
Rough Fork Trail - my first-ever sighting of Fire Pink
Rough Fork Trail - Big Dutchmans Pipe vines climbing the trees
Rough Fork Trail - Huge dead fraser windfall that took out a 12x12x12 hole and half the width of the trail.
Views along Rough Fork Trail
More views along Rough Fork Trail
Rough Fork Trail/Caldwell Fork Trail intersection - I was here back in mid-December last year.
Rough Fork Trail/Caldwell Fork Trail intersection - somebody/something has been hacking on the trail sign
Caldwell Fork Trail - a completely different character than my last visit in December
Caldwell Fork Trail - A yellow orchid
Caldwell Fork Trail - It was really starting to warm up.
Caldwell Fork Trail - My last walk in December was during drought, but now with all the Spring rain (and the horses) the upper section is a complete mess.
Caldwell Fork Trail - I believe this is a Sundrop
Caldwell Fork Trail - Sundrop
Caldwell Fork Trail - The spur trail to the big poplars
Caldwell Fork Trail - Big old poplar. This big boy probably started growing here when Jamestown was just being settled.
Caldwell Fork Trail - a camping area next to the no-camping sign
Caldwell Fork Trail - Nice stream crossing area
Caldwell Fork Trail/Hemphill Bald Trail intersection
Hemphill Bald Trail - a rock-hop crossing
Hemphill Bald Trail - where did the trail go? A big fallen hemlock blocked the whole trail.
Hemphill Bald Trail - It was a tough climb over this fallen hemlock blocking the trail.
Hemphill Bald Trail - One of many huge dead hemlocks
Hemphill Bald Trail - another crossing
Hemphill Bald Trail - A six-foot diameter Northern Red Oak right beside the trail
Hemphill Bald Trail - A pleasant crossing of Double Gap Branch
Hemphill Bald Trail - Double Gap Branch
Hemphill Bald Trail - A rhododendren tunnel
Hemphill Bald Trail - A tiny coral mushroom
Hemphill Bald Trail - A reminder that they're out here.
Hemphill Bald Trail - views opening up nearing Double Gap
Hemphill Bald Trail - Umbrella Leaf berry pods. Soon they'll turn bright blue.
Hemphill Bald Trail - At this point of the climb I definitely appreciate the cooling 20 mph winds
Hemphill Bald Trail - nice views through the trees as I climb toward Double Gap
Hemphill Bald Trail - Dutchman's Pipe vines weighing down the trees
Hemphill Bald Trail - Reaching the Park boundary at Double Gap
Hemphill Bald Trail - This is the side of Hemphill Bald from Double Gap. The fence seperates the Park from the privately held conservancy on the Bald.
Hemphill Bald Trail - The fence seperates the Park from the privately held conservancy on the Bald.
Hemphill Bald Trail - Looking northeast at Cataloochee Divide Trail from Double Gap
Hemphill Bald Trail/Cataloochee Divide Trail intersection at Double Gap.
Hemphill Bald Trail/Cataloochee Divide Trail intersection at Double Gap
Hemphill Bald Trail - Cows on Hemphill Bald keeping cool under a tree. The private side of this mountain stays like it must have looked in pre-park days because of cattle/sheep grazing.
Hemphill Bald Trail - Time to head uphill to the top of the Bald. This section is overgrown and narrow and an easy spot to twist an ankle.
Hemphill Bald Trail - Flame azaleas beside Hemphill Bald
Hemphill Bald Trail - Heading uphill nice views to the East open up
Hemphill Bald Trail - views opening up
Hemphill Bald Trail - views to the East from the Bald
Hemphill Bald Trail - Views to the East from the Bald
Hemphill Bald Trail - Views of Purchase Knob (right) from the Bald
Hemphill Bald Trail - Purchase Knob views
Hemphill Bald Trail - Columbine
Hemphill Bald Trail - Maggie Valley
Hemphill Bald Trail - Views of the Cataloochee ski area from Hemphill Bald
Hemphill Bald Trail - Distant views of Mount Pisgah on the Blue Ridge Parkway (distant prominent peak left of center) and Cold Mountain in the Shining Rock Wilderness area (distant prominent peak right of center).
Hemphill Bald Trail - Hemphill Bald itself, private land now part of nature conservancy. This is a fantastic spot for lunch.
Hemphill Bald Trail - An opening in the fence to let the public onto Hemphill Bald
Hemphill Bald Trail - A memorial placed on the large rock picnic table on Hemphill Bald. (zoom to read upper right)
Hemphill Bald Trail - Views of the Blue Ridge Parkway from Hemphill Bald
Hemphill Bald Trail - Views of Mount Lynn Lowry (left of center), Waterrock Knob (far right peak) and the Blue Ridge Parkway from Hemphill Bald.
Hemphill Bald Trail - Hemphill Bald, a nice rest spot at 5540' elevation. (Mt. Pisgah and Cold Mountain in the distance)
Hemphill Bald Trail - Hemphill Bald. I didn't want to leave this peaceful and cool spot
Hemphill Bald Trail - Back on the trail, the majority of the remaining trail walks beside a private and then CCC-era fence.
Hemphill Bald Trail - Broken CCC-era fence
Hemphill Bald Trail - CCC-era fence bordering the Park
Hemphill Bald Trail - One last view to the South.
Hemphill Bald Trail - Further along the trail, now views to the North of the Caldwell Fork Valley begin to appear.
Hemphill Bald Trail - Further along the trail, now views to the North of the Caldwell Fork Valley begin to appear
Hemphill Bald Trail - Another spot where private land abuts the Park boundary.
Hemphill Bald Trail - A cool rhododendren tunnel.
Hemphill Bald Trail - The wind was howling over the ridge keeping me from overheating.
Hemphill Bald Trail - Nice views of Big Ridge
Hemphill Bald Trail - A massive tree fell directly on the boundary fence.
Hemphill Bald Trail - More views
Hemphill Bald Trail - More views.
Hemphill Bald Trail - The end of the 13.6 loop walk back at Polls Gap.
Heintooga Overlook and Picnic area - I wasn't ready to go back to the heat yet, so one more view.
Heintooga Overlook and Picnic area - I wasn't ready to go back to the heat yet, so one more view
Heintooga Overlook and Picnic area - The end of another glorious day in God's country. Tomorrow is Father's Day and the first day of Summer.
