Today's 11.6 mile out-and-back on Big Creek Trail. Big Creek drains the area between the high mountain ridges of Mount Sterling and Mount Cammerer
Big Creek Trail elevation profile, a gradual climb (outbound direction only shown - reverse for inbound direction)
Newfound Gap Road - Friday evening from Morton Overlook
Newfound Gap Road - Friday evening from Morton Overlook. Note the Chimney Tops peeking out to the left of center
Foothills Parkway (east) - This time it's a morning view instead of evening
Big Creek trailhead - Oops, blurry...but this is the trailhead near the Big Creek picnic area and campground
Big Creek Trail - Almost the entire day was like this...an old railroad grade with a very gradual climb beside roaring Big Creek
Big Creek Trail - My first look at wild strawberries
Big Creek Trail - Wild Strawberries
Big Creek Trail - Big Creek starts on the left of the trail as I ascend on a old railbed about 80 feet above the creek.
Big Creek Trail - The only peek at a mountain ridge on today's walk. This is looking south towards Mount Sterling Ridge
Big Creek Trail - Hard to see in the picture, but this area was a pleasant seep area with lots of wildflowers
Big Creek Trail -
Big Creek Trail - Climbing up the wide grade
Big Creek Trail - Boulders
Big Creek Trail - Large boulders beside the trail
Big Creek Trail - A diversion channel
Big Creek Trail - Big Creek
Big Creek Trail - Tumbling Big Creek
Big Creek Trail - Small Purple Fringed Orchid
Big Creek Trail - Mouse Creek Falls
Big Creek Trail - Mouse Creek Trail
Big Creek Trail - Big Creek bends around a corner
Big Creek Trail - Approaching the main crossing of Big Creek
Big Creek Trail - The nice bridge across Big Creek
Big Creek Trail - Big Creek tumbles under the bridge
Big Creek Trail - Some of the rockwork to shore up the bank
Big Creek Trail - Stacked rocks
Big Creek Trail - More stacked rocks
Big Creek Trail - A white trillium with seed
Big Creek Trail - The trail starting to narrow a bit
Big Creek Trail - At one section there were hundreds of umbrella leaf plants and berries
Big Creek Trail - Bricks....unusual for a Smokies trail
Big Creek Trail - A nice bend in the creek
Big Creek Trail - Mist hanging over Big Creek
Big Creek Trail - Still not a trail, but narrowing up some
Big Creek Trail - Crossing a concrete ford..a la Parsons Branch Road
Big Creek Trail - At 5.1 miles I reach the intersection with Swallow Fork Trail. I was to turn left here and climb to Mount Sterling, but decided against it due to my back.
Swallow Fork Trail/Big Creek Trail intersection - From here it's another 2500 feet of climbing up Swallow Fork Trail to Mount Sterling. This trail will have to wait for a healthier day.
Big Creek Trail - Another bridged crossing of Big Creek
Big Creek Trail - Upstream of Big Creek from the bridge
Big Creek Trail - Campsite #37 (closed)
Big Creek Trail - Campsite #37 is closed
Low Gap I Trail/Big Creek Trail intersection - I will catch this trail another day on loop out of Cosby....God willing.
Big Creek Trail - Warning signs as I approach Camel Gap Trail. Gunter Fork Trail is another 0.5 up the trail.
Big Creek Trail - Wheelbarrow at Campsite #36 (closed)
Big Creek Trail - Campsite #36, also closed due to those pesky bears.
Big Creek Trail - Big Creek at Campsite #36
Camel Gap Trail/Big Creek Trail intersection - This is the end of Big Creek Trail and my turnaround point for today.
Big Creek Trail - The mushrooms are finally starting to bloom
Big Creek Trail - Miniature mushrooms and ?
Big Creek Trail - A big dead hemlock
Big Creek Trail - Tiger Swallowtail butterflies collecting on fresh horse manure
Big Creek Trail - More mini mushrooms
Big Creek Trail - This log was covered with the mini guys
Big Creek Trail - A much large mushroom
Big Creek Trail - I chased this guy off the trail. He turned around to make sure I was leaving.
