Starting at the Smokemont Campground at 2250', today I would climb up to the Appalachian Trail to visit Charlies Bunion at 5378'.
Elevation profile for today's 13 mile walk
Newfound Gap - Early morning views from Newfound Gap
Newfound Gap - Sunrise from Newfound Gap
Smokemont Campground - The Oconaluftee River
Smokemont Campground - The Bradley Fork trailhead
Bradley Fork Trail - Bradley Fork
Bradley Fork Trail - Chasteen Creek tumbles into Bradley Fork
Bradley Fork Trail - A cascade enters Bradley Fork
Bradley Fork Trail - Beautiful Bradley Fork
Bradley Fork Trail - A boulder hangs over Bradley Fork
Bradley Fork Trail - This trail is a pleasant walk along Bradley Fork with a only a modest elevation rise, a great trail for a Fall walk.
Bradley Fork Trail - A boulder creates a little cave beside Bradley Fork
Bradley Fork Trail - Coming to the double crossing of the creek
Bradley Fork Trail - Another crossing
Bradley Fork Trail - Taywa Creek enters Bradley Fork
Cabin Flats Trail - A nice crossing
Cabin Flats Trail - A nice footbridge
Cabin Flats Trail - Views from the footbridge
Cabin Flats Trail - One of my favorite footlog bridges across Tennessee Branch
Cabin Flats Trail - Tennessee Branch
Dry Sluice Gap Trail/Cabin Flats Trail intersection - From here, 0.6 flat miles to the right is the Cabin Flats campsite. To the left is the Appalachian Trail in 4.1 brutal uphill miles.
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Trudging uphill on Dry Sluice Gap Trail
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Tennessee Branch
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - A crossing of Tennessee Branch
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Late season wildflowers
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Big trees on this section of the trail
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Late season wildflowers, purple astors?
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - A strange knot
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Big trees
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Old Dan next to one of the big trees
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - This section was nice
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Breaking in my new Merrells across Tennessee Branch
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - A big boulder hangs over the trail
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Fall colors as I climb up the mountain
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Climbing higher
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - A pair of dead hemlocks
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Another dead hemlock
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Witch hobble (a.k.a. hobblebush) in Fall colors
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Ferns beside the trail indicating the approach of spruce-fir forest
Dry Sluice Gap Trail/Grassy Branch Trail intersection - A chance to catch my breath under the laurel.
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - The briars do a number on me.
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Fraser firs in the cool upper elevations
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Finally nearing the top of the climb
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - A nice view between the frasers
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Views
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Looking east from the trail
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Unfortunately the branch blocked the tower, but this is Clingmans Dome, and I could clearly see the tower.
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - First sight of Charlies Bunion...whew..finally done climbing for now!
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Charlies Bunion
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Masa Knob and Charlies Bunion with Mount LeConte in the background
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Views of Mount Ambler
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Icewater Springs shelter across the ridge
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Icewater Springs shelter
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Views of Mount Ambler and Mount Kephart from the trail
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Views to the south opening up
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Views to the south
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - The brilliant red berries of the mountain ash trees were visible for miles around
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Ah...walking in the cool high country on a comfortable bed of spruce needles. Does it get any better?
Dry Sluice Gap Trail - Views of the spruce trees to the east
Appalachian Trail/Dry Sluice Gap Trail intersection - At Dry Sluice Gap on the AT
Appalachian Trail - Views into Tennessee through the mountain ash berries
Appalachian Trail - Southbound AT thru-hiker - trail name 'Strider', who started in Maine on May 31st. He was loving every minute of his 3 month hike and bumming that it was nearly over for him.
Appalachian Trail - Charlies Bunion from the AT
Appalachian Trail - Charlies Bunion
Appalachian Trail - Southern views
Appalachian Trail - Mount Kephart and Mount Ambler
Appalachian Trail - Looking back towards my approach trail
Appalachian Trail - Looking into Tennessee down Porters Mountain and the Porters Creek drainage
From Charlies Bunion
From Charlies Bunion - note the hundreds of dead hemlock trees, victims of the hemlock wooley adelgid
From Charlies Bunion- Mount Guyot in the distance
From Charlies Bunion - thanks Linda from the Leukemia Society group for the picture.
From Charlies Bunion - Mount LeConte on the left
Appalachian Trail - Heading back west towards Newfound Gap
Appalachian Trail - The view from the Icewater Springs shelter
From Charlies Bunion - Icewater Springs shelter. I believe this is the highest elevation shelter on the AT in the Smokies? With the clear skies it is going to be downright COLD here tonight!
Appalachian Trail - One of my favorite views in the Park near Sweat Heifer Creek Trail
Appalachian Trail - The Leukemia Society hikers
Appalachian Trail - Old Dan...worn out, ready for a steak. Hey, I burned some calories, now I want to consume some!
Appalachian Trail - The great people from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society team in training, my companions for the walk back from Charlies Bunion. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting these inspirational folks. Not in order (Andrea, Bridget, Carol, Corrine, Diane, Gina, Gretchen, Kathy, Linda, Mike, Nancy, Sheryl, Tina, and Tracy)
Blue Ridge Parkway - Views from the Parkway on the Sunday drive home.
