Today's 14 mile walk was supposed to be a lollipop, but thankfully I caught a ride from the Cataloochee area to Cove Creek Gap to cut nearly 5 miles off the total. 19 miles wouldn't have been possible with my hiking speed, so thanks Cindy of Canton for the ride to Cove Creek Gap!
The elevation profile of today's walk (actual distance 13.9 miles). Up and down ridge walking and then a big descent on McKee Branch Trail.
Cataloochee - The crowds were already thick as this nice bull elk posed for pictures.
Cataloochee - The view from the top of the Cataloochee area. I would guess that peak is Canadian Top.
Cataloochee - This awesome bull elk was sharpening his rack on a tree when I came in and then bugled repeatedly.
Cataloochee - I didn't catch this big guy's number.
Cataloochee - A younger bull gets a morning snack.
Cataloochee - Morning campfires and creekside campsites at Cataloochee campground
Cataloochee - Cataloochee Creek meanders through the area
Cataloochee - Starting the long twisty uphill road walk towards Cove Creek Gap. Fortunately I got a ride to save me a lot of time and miles.
Cataloochee Divide Trail - The trailhead at Cove Creek Gap (elevation ~4030 ft)
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Starting out in the low morning sun among the second-growth forest
Cataloochee Divide Trail - To the left of the old CCC-era fence, a road on private property. To the right of the fence, the National Park.
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Cruising along beside the old fence. now in major disrepair
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Another shot of the fence, made in the 1930's from old chestnut logs.
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Galax beginning to turn maroon for the Fall
Cataloochee Divide Trail - A gradual uphill climb towards Panther Spring Gap
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Interesting mushrooms growing on a downed log
Cataloochee Divide Trail - About 1/2 mile in, views into Cataloochee begin to appear
Cataloochee Divide Trail - A cool sandstone ledge juts out from the ground beside the trail
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Views to the southeast
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Layers of mountains
Cataloochee Divide Trail - I count 6 layers
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Somebody's nice home in the high mountains
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Views toward Cataloochee Valley
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Not sure, but this might be Purchase Knob
Cataloochee Divide Trail - More views to the northwest
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Approaching a new home under construction
Cataloochee Divide Trail - The view the home will have
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Views
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Approaching the home...you can't get any closer to the NP than this home is.
Cataloochee Divide Trail - See I--40 in the center?
Cataloochee Divide Trail - I-40 and the layers of NC mountains
Cataloochee Divide Trail - The trail is overgrown with wildflowers here
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Another of the house
Cataloochee Divide Trail - And the view from the house
Cataloochee Divide Trail - More views
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Smokies ridge walking
Cataloochee Divide Trail - More views through the trees
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Mushrooms growing in clusters at the base of tree
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Cataloochee Valley from the trail
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Cataloochee Valley from the trail. This cleared area is where I photographed the bull elk earlier in the day. (near Big Fork Ridge and Rough Fork trailheads)
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Cataloochee Valley from the trail. I missed the colors by a week or two
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Not sure what this one is
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Or this one
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Shrooms growing right on the trail
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Obviously Oscar Gap
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Bluebead lillies, cousin of Speckled Wood Lily
Cataloochee Divide Trail - The blue beads
Cataloochee Divide Trail - More nice views
Cataloochee Divide Trail - A blowdown blocks the trail
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Maple tree displaying early colors
Cataloochee Divide Trail - A sandstone shelf with a large tree growing out the top
Cataloochee Divide Trail - A shelf beginning to fall, much in the same way as the story that created the name for Falling Rock Creek.
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Purchase Knob
Cataloochee Divide Trail - The shed at Taylor's Turnaround
Cataloochee Divide Trail - More nice views from Taylor's Turnaround
Cataloochee Divide Trail - This awesome little dude had a good spot up here in the high country
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Taylor's Turnaround on private property beside the Park
Cataloochee Divide Trail - A laurel tunnel
Cataloochee Divide Trail - I thought this old tree was cool
Cataloochee Divide Trail - A flat cove
Cataloochee Divide Trail - A sign for the walkers from the Swag coming into the trail
Cataloochee Divide Trail - This side trail from the Swag looked seldom used.
Cataloochee Divide Trail - An awesome laurel tunnel
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Approaching Purchase Gap after 4.6 miles of walking
McKee Branch Trail/Cataloochee Divide Trail intersection - At Purchase Gap. I'll continue on CDT but come back to this spot to start my descent into Cataloochee Valley
Cataloochee Divide Trail - I love the clusters of shrooms that grow beneath old trees
Cataloochee Divide Trail - My new friends from Nashville, Ken, Bev, Elizabeth, and Greg. I enjoyed the walk with them back to the Swag and the conversations on the deck.
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Old Dan
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Maintained fields on the private side of the fence
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Views from a clearing on Gooseberry Knob, near the Swag Resort
Cataloochee Divide Trail - I said goodbye to my new friends for now as they walked the left side of the fence and me the 'official' trail on the right.
Cataloochee Divide Trail - The Swag
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Signs maintained by the Swag, different than the NP signs
Cataloochee Divide Trail - Another maple in Autumn hues
Cataloochee Divide Trail - The garden and scarecrow for the Swag's restaurant. Whatever they were cooking smell fantastic.
Cataloochee Divide Trail - A tree near Double Gap that looks almost like a trail marker tree
Hemphill Bald Trail/Cataloochee Divide Trail intersection - This is Double Gap and the side of Hemphill Bald.
Hemphill Bald Trail/Cataloochee Divide Trail intersection - This is Double Gap and the side of Hemphill Bald. Hemphill Bald Trail descends to the valley floor here or continues along the ridge to the Bald and eventually Polls Gap.
Hemphill Bald Trail/Cataloochee Divide Trail intersection - This is Double Gap and the side of Hemphill Bald. If you keep walking straight, you'll reach Polls Gap.
The Swag - One of the nice cabins.
The Swag - Here I sat on the deck and ate cookies with my new friends.
Cataloochee Divide Trail - The nice clearing on the private side of the trail.
McKee Branch Trail/Cataloochee Divide Trail intersection - I'm now back at Purchase Gap (elevation 4800') to begin my descent into the valley.
McKee Branch Trail - Deep ruts from hundreds of years of horse, mule, and human traffic.
McKee Branch Trail - Descending through a nice forest
McKee Branch Trail - Dead hemlocks.
McKee Branch Trail - Parts of the trail were rocky.
McKee Branch Trail - Continuing the descent, very steeply in some spots.
McKee Branch Trail - Views back towards Tough Ridge.
McKee Branch Trail - Now getting to the valley floor for a few small crossings of McKee Branch.
Caldwell Fork Trail/McKee Branch Trail intersection - This area smelled like a barn thanks to all the horses, but I relieved to be finished with the steep part of my descent.
Caldwell Fork Trail/McKee Branch Trail intersection - Now just an easy 3.3 streamside miles back to the car to complete another great day in the Great Smoky Mountains.
