Today's lollipop walk travels up Thomas Ridge on the Thomas Divide Trail
Elevation profile for my 13 mile walk that included over 5000 feet of overall climbing.
Cherokee - A young bull elk grazes on the lawn in front of the sprawling new Cherokee School.
Cherokee - Bull elk #106 grazes just feet from Big Cove Road
Thomas Divide Trail's southern trailhead on Tom Branch Road near Deep Creek
Thomas Divide Trail - The first 3.3 miles are an uphill climb along a wide former railbed
Thomas Divide Trail
Thomas Divide Trail - A thick layer of fallen leaves meant there was no way to walk quietly today
Thomas Divide Trail - Views of the eastern ridges as I climb the trail
Thomas Divide Trail - Views of Sunkota Ridge as I climb
Stone Pile Gap Trail/Thomas Divide Trail intersection - Stone Pile Gap Trail will have to wait for another day
Thomas Divide Trail - For the first several miles the trail climbs directly adjacent to the Park boundary. That meant the sounds of occassional gunfire in the morning. (must be deer season again)
Thomas Divide Trail - A high wall of rhododendron
Thomas Divide Trail - Young white pines
Thomas Divide Trail - Young maples line the trail
Thomas Divide Trail - Climbing like a steam engine
Indian Creek Motor Trail/Thomas Divide Trail intersection - I would return on the ICMT this afternoon, but for now I switch sharp right and continue climbing up Thomas Ridge
Views from the Indian Creek Motor Trail/Thomas Divide Trail intersection
Thomas Divide Trail - Here I leave the rail/road bed and switch on a real section of the Thomas Divide Trail
Thomas Divide Trail - The climbing gets tougher now
Thomas Divide Trail - The trail now switches to the east side of the ridge
Thomas Divide Trail - Hey, that's Clingmans Dome! (highest mountain in the Smokies)
Thomas Divide Trail - New growth in stark contrast to the bare trees
Thomas Divide Trail - Traveling the east side of Thomas Ridge, the trail became very narrow
Thomas Divide Trail - Views to the east
Thomas Divide Trail - Now looking northwest towards Clingmans Dome
Thomas Divide Trail - I had a nice talk with Steve Edwards, who is just 3 short hikes from the Smokies 900 club. Congratulations in advance Steve! Steve is a big follower of Smoky Scout, and thanks to her he was the first person to recognize Old Dan on the trail. :o)
Thomas Divide Trail - Now over the hump and traveling the downhill towards Deeplow Gap. This is looking east.
Four way intersection of Deeplow Gap Trail/Thomas Divide Trails at peaceful Deeplow Gap.
Deeplow Gap - Elevation 3715'
Deeplow Gap Trail - Heading down the west side of Thomas Ridge
Deeplow Gap Trail - Views to the south from Deeplow Gap Trail
Deeplow Gap Trail - Clingmans Dome from the trail
Deeplow Gap Trail - More views as I downhill
Deeplow Gap Trail - Nice rockwork to repair the trail as a huge windfall fell and took out part of it
Deeplow Gap Trail - Ducking into a laurel thicket
Deeplow Gap Trail - The last of colors for Autumn 2009
Deeplow Gap Trail - Looking back at Thomas Ridge
Deeplow Gap Trail - Heading lower the trail changes character through a more moist hemlock forest
Deeplow Gap Trail - This little creek was the first water I crossed today
Deeplow Gap Trail - A lone oak hangs on to its 2009 foliage
Deeplow Gap Trail - This nurse log was swallowed up by moss
Deeplow Gap Trail - More colors amidst the bare poplars
Deeplow Gap Trail - Traversing the creeks
Indian Creek Motor Trail/Deeplow Gap Trail intersection - A big group of horse riders out of Deep Creek decide which way to go
Deeplow Gap Trail - Georges Branch, which empties into Indian Creek
Indian Creek Trail/Deeplow Gap Trail intersection - Time to sit on the bench and decide on my return route for today
Indian Creek Trail - A few feet down from the bench is a bridge over Indian Creek, a good spot for pictures
Indian Creek Trail - Georges Branch
Indian Creek Motor Trail/Deeplow Gap Trail intersection - Looking up Indian Creek Motor Trail, and abandoned Park project that would've been an auto touring loop.
Indian Creek Motor Trail - Heading back up Thomas Ridge amongst the high walls of rhododendron
Indian Creek Motor Trail - A flat spot beside the trail
Indian Creek Motor Trail - Looking east down Indian Creek drainage
Indian Creek Motor Trail
Thomas Divide Trail/Indian Creek Motor Trail - Finally done climbing for today, I reach the spot I was at a few hours ago
Thomas Divide Trail/Indian Creek Motor Trail intersection - This is where I turned up Thomas Ridge earlier today
Thomas Divide Trail - Ferns glint in the bright sun
Thomas Divide Trail - A downhill look at the high walls of rhododendron
Thomas Divide Trail - Afternoon views
Thomas Divide Trail - A small cemetery near the trailhead
Thomas Divide Trail - This older Wiggins headstone was on the far side of the cemetery
Thomas Divide Trail - Talk about being born into turmoil..Rev. Thad Watson born just months after the start of the Civil War
Thomas Divide Trail - Young Jarvis Watson died just past his 7th birthday :o(
Many Synders, Wiggins and Watsons at this hilltop cemetery
