BACKPACK BARTRAM TRAIL

May 10 - 21, 2005

On May 10, 2005 Mountain Club of Maryland members Andy Buttles, Ron Cully, Fred Firman, Dan McQueen and Barry Nelson drove 604 miles to Franklin, North Carolina to backpack the Bartram Trail. We started at the Russell Bridge over the Chattooga River separating Georgia from South Carolina. We backpacked 5 days through Georgia into North Carolina back to Franklin where we resupplied. The Georgia trail was well marked with a wide soft trail, nice bridges with handrails over every creek, gentle slopes and spacious campsites next to streams. The trail is noted for it’s solitude and we saw no one except on the weekend when we saw three backpackers and Boy Scout group. The flowers were increasingly plentiful and beautiful as we headed north. Of special note were the rhododendrons, laurel, azaleas and hillsides blanketed with blooming trilliums. We had some excitement on the third night out as a coyote chased a deer about 30 yards from our camp. The fourth night we had a series of thunderstorms testing our new 1.5 pound Six Moon Design tents. At Fred’s urging, we converted from 55 – 60 pound packs to lightweight 23 - 25 pound packs over the winter. The trip tested my backpack, alcohol stove, mattress, dried food and assorted other equipment. With three cars we shuttled ourselves. We skipped the 16 miles of road walking through Franklin and day hiked the next two days staying in the Franklin Motel and eating in restaurants. The sixth day of hiking with light packs we hiked 11.1 miles up 5210’ to Wayah Bald Tower on the Appalachian Trail. We met three lovely nurses known as the Florida Trillium who are section hiking the AT and are members of the Tampa Mountain Club (can you believe that?). The next day we hiked down to Nantahala Lake where we stayed in Bateman’s Cabin in a beautiful setting on the lake. On the way down we passed a local hiking club known as the OFHC with 16 people and a dog on a day hike. The next two days we camped on the trail with a tents passing their final test as we had heavy rain and lightening all night on our last night of camping. We hiked up to the end of the Bartram Trail on Cheoah Bald and then out eight miles on the Appalachian Trail in heavy rain to the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Wesser, North Carolina. We hiked 104.5 miles climbing 22,580’ in ten days of backpacking.

May 10, 2005 Tuesday Drive Columbia to Franklin, NC

Ron Cully arrived at my house by 6:15. I drove him to Barry Nelson’s house and them to Fred Firman’s house by 6:30. Ron rode with Fred as we drove in caravan out of Columbia on MD-32 for 16.5 miles to I-70 which we followed west for 29.0 miles to US340 south for 31.0 miles to VA-7 west for 9.0 miles to Winchester, Virginia where we stopped at Sheetz for 11.3 gallons of gas for $22.50. We turned south on I-81 for 200 miles to Christiansburg, Virginia where we stopped at the Cracker Barrel for lunch of chicken and dumplings, green beans, mashed potatoes, biscuits, ice tea and chocolate covered peanuts for $13.51 including tip. We continued down I-81 to Atkins, Virginia where we stopped at Citgo for 7.1 gallons of gas for $15. We crossed into Tennessee after 147.0 miles staying on I-81 for another 74 miles to south on I-40. We winded our way through the Smoky Mountains in a heavy rain for 64 miles to US-23 south for 51 miles into Franklin, North Carolina. We arrived at the Franklin Motel after 604.1 miles in 11:00 at 5:30 pm.

We checked into room 142 for $49.50. We couldn’t find the Sunset Restaurant so we stopped at the Prime Steak and Buffet for supper. I had the buffet including salad, roast beef, porkchop, hamburger, fish, mashed potatoes, green beans, ice tea and ice cream for $10.50 including tip. Back at the motel Andy Buttles arrived about 7:00. He got a folding bed and slept in the room with Barry and I.

May 11, 2005 Wednesday Backpack Russell Bridge to Dick's Creek

I got up about 5:20 for my last shave and shower for several days. The sun is scheduled to rise at 5:57. We all walked across the street to the Normandie Restaurant for breakfast of orange juice, two eggs, sausage, hash browns, biscuits, milk and tip for $5.10 at 6:00.

At 7:25 we drove from the motel on US-441 south 9 miles to a left on Tessentee Road for 3.8 miles to a left on gravel Buckeye Branch Road for .5 mile to the trailhead at 7:50. I left my car and we loaded into Fred’s Subaru Outback with our five packs. We retraced our route back 12.3 miles to US-64 and NC-28 east to Highlands where we turned right to stay on NC-28 across the Georgia line to Russell Bridge across the Chattooga River at 34° 55.213 N by 83° 10.161 W elevation of 1700’ after another 33.2 miles arriving at 9:20.

We started at 9:35 crossing the road into the woods on the Bartram Trail following the yellow diamonds. My pack weighs 23 pounds plus water. At 1.2 miles we crossed the large Holden Branch on a bridge and doubled back to the Chattooga River which we followed fairly closely the rest of the day. The trail is very well marked with frequent yellow diamonds nailed to trees. It is also wide with soft footing and gentle slopes making the hike pleasant and easy. This is good for my sore feet blistered by my 41 mile Hike Across Maryland 4 days ago. We see no one except for a few fishermen near an old dirt access road to the river. We stopped for lunch in route. I ate two tortillas with about .25 pounds of cheddar cheese and salsa plus 5 small sugar cookies as I would do every hiking day. We hiked 9.1 miles in 4:03 hours ascending 1030’ feet while descending 1055’ in 1 climb.

						Elev
	Activity	From	Miles	To	Miles	Feet
	Backpack	Russell Bridge	1.2	Holden Branch	1.2	1725
	Backpack	Holden Branch	1.3	Horse trail	2.5	1725
	Backpack	Horse trail	0.7	Bynum bridge	3.2	1706
	Backpack	Bynum bridge	0.9	Laurel Branch	4.1	1725
	Backpack	Laurel Branch	0.2	Stream	4.3	1950
	Backpack	Stream	1.6	Wide horse trail	5.9	1650
	Backpack	Wide horse trail	0.4	Warwoman Cr	6.3	1575
	Backpack	Warwoman Cr	1.5	Chattooga River	7.8	1612
	Backpack	Chattooga River	1.3	Dick's Creek	9.1	1706

It is 1:23 with the temperature at 80°: when we arrive at Dick’s Creek camp at 34° 52.284 N by 83° 14.791 W. I set up my 1.5 pound Six Moon Design tent with my hiking poles and titanium stakes for the first time next to a small stream. It takes time and I have to make adjustments to get it right. I bathe in the stream and rinse my clothes with no soap removing the salt. We take a walk about a .1 mile down the trail to Dick’s Falls and the Chattooga River below. It is impressive.

I put 1.25 ounces of denatured alcohol (Heet dry gas or paint thinner) in my .2 ounce beer can stove that I made and light it to boil a quart of stream water in a titanium pot with lid. I drink two cups of instant peach ice tea as I wait. Once it is boiling I mix 2 cups each with soup, hot chocolate and bouillon and drink them to rehydrate. I do this every hiking day in camp. I add two cups of stream water and a plastic bag containing Lipton’s Stroganoff dinner and .25 pounds of dried chipped ham which now weighs 8 ounces to the pot. With one ounce of fuel dinner boils for 8 minutes and is ready to eat. A one liter bottle of water is purified by a small iodine tablet. I add a cup of purified water to a sealable plastic bag containing half a box of instant banana cream pudding and half a dried banana. I toss the bag around for about two minutes and place it in the cool stream to set. After eating from the pot I boil 2.5 cups of water with .5 ounces of fuel for tea and to clean the pot.

After brushing my teeth I hang my food, toothpaste and trash in a plastic bag with my clothes line over a tree limb over 10’ high and 2 -3 feet from the tree trunk. It is about 6:30 so we sit around and talk about the trail, equipment and other things until about 8:30 when we all head for our tents. The sun set at 8:09. It is peaceful and quiet except for the cricket and frog noisees with the gurgling stream and distant falls noises. In my tent with my small and light headlamp I make notes on the day and read the Bible until about 9:30. My light goes out and I go out almost immediately

May 12, 2005 Thursday Backpack Dick's Creek to Martin's Creek

I slept well before waking up at 6:08 to 55° in my tent. I pack up everything in my tent. With one ounce of water I boil 3 cups of stream water for breakfast. I mix 2 packets of instant peach oatmeal with a cup of boiling water in a 2 cup metal cup and eat the mixture with two tortillas. I then drink 2 cups of tea to hydrate and clean the cup. I take down my tent and pack it with ground and interior plastic sheets on the outside of the backpack.

We are ready to go at 7:40 and continue north on the BT in a misty rain or fog. We stop about 9:40 when I eat some gorp and drink water. There is abundant mountain laurel in bloom. We have our first significant climb so far as we ascend Rainey Mountain. At 11:40 we turn left on the Goat Trail and climb .1 mile to Big Rock. It is a disappointment because Big Rock is actually two small rocks about 2.5’ in diameter with no view. It is 73° as I eat lunch of 2 tortillas, cheddar cheese, salsa and 5 sugar cookies with water.

Back on the BT we pass a water falls and cross many small streams on well constructed bridges all of the same design. The trail is really nice and in good shape. Again we see nobody all day. At 2:22 we arrive at Martin’s Creek 34° 57.370 N by 83° 20.834 W at 2587’ elevation in 79° with the barometer at 28.10” and camp. We hiked 11.9 miles in 6:42 hours ascending 2600’ and descending 2180’ in 4 climbs.

Our route today:

						Elev
	Activity	From	Miles	To	Miles	Feet
	Backpack	Dick's Creek	0.4	Sandy Ford Rd	9.5	1725
	Backpack	Sandy Ford Rd	1.5	Footbridge	11.0	1950
	Backpack	Footbridge	0.4	Speed Gap	11.4	1875
	Backpack	Speed Gap	1.5	Pool Ridge Rd	12.9	2137
	Backpack	Pool Ridge Rd	0.4	Woods road	13.3	2325
	Backpack	Woods road	1.8	Small stream	15.1	2700
	Backpack	Small stream	0.8	Rainy Ridge	15.9	2390
	Backpack	Rainy Ridge	1.1	Goat Trail	17.0	2175
	Backpack	Goat Trail	1.8	Warwoman Rd	18.8	2231
	Backpack	Warwoman Rd	0.8	Footbridge	19.6	1762
	Backpack	Footbridge	1.0	Martin's Creek	20.6	1893

Set up my tent, bathed and rinsed clothes. Hydrated with 2 cups each of soup, hot chocolate and bouillon. Ate supper of mashed potatoes, beef, butterscotch pudding and tea.

May 13, 2005 Friday Backpack Martin's Creek to Saltrock Gap

Got up at 6:07 with the temperature at 60° and the barometer at 28.15” and packed my backpack. Ate two tortillas, two packs of blueberry oatmeal and drank two cups of tea for breakfast. Took down my tent and packed it outside my backpack.

We started at 7:45 climbing up Rabun Bald a 2700’ elevation gain. After 4 miles of climbing to a spot above Windy Gap, Ron decided to pack it in. Ron was lagging because he injured his hip in a fall on our 41 mile Hike Across Maryland in 12:07 hours last Saturday. Near 71, Ron was not bouncing back so fast and this was the first time he had ever backpacked. Andy, Fred, Barry and I continued up to Saltrock Gap.

We are seeing many flowers including trilliums, bluets, mayflowers, mountain laurel, flaming azalea, irises, violets, daisies, lady slippers and many more we couldn’t identify. We stopped just short of our campsite for lunch of two tortillas, cheddar cheese, salsa, five sugar cookies and water. We arrived in camp at 1:25 in 79° with the barometer at 26.35” at 3787’ elevation. We camped at Saltrock Gap 34° 57.370 N by 83° 18.667 W off the trail near a very small stream and large grove of rhododendrons. Today we backpacked 9.6 miles in 5:53 hours averaging 1.63 miles per hour while climbing 3070’ and descending 1270’ in 3 climbs over 200’.

Todays route included:

						Elev
	Activity	From	Miles	To	Miles	Feet
	Backpack	Martin's Creek	1.5	Trail to P Knob	22.1	2587
	Backpack	Trail to P Knob	1.5	Streamlet	23.6	2925
	Backpack	Streamlet	1.2	Old road	24.8	3337
	Backpack	Old road	0.9	Windy Gap	25.7	3150
	Backpack	Windy Gap	0.9	2 streams	26.6	3337
	Backpack	2 streams	0.5	FR155	27.1	3337
	Backpack	FR155	0.5	Left off FR155	27.6	3450
	Backpack	Left off FR155	1.5	Trail	29.1	3975
	Backpack	Trail	1.1	Saltrock Gap	30.2	3787

Set up my tent, bathed and rinsed clothes. Hydrated with 2 cups each of soup, hot chocolate and bouillon. As we were waiting for supper time a deer raced over a knoll hotly pursued by a coyote passing about 30 yards from our camp, across the creek, then up over the next knoll. Things didn’t look so good for the deer. Supper was pasta broccoli chicken, vanilla pudding and tea. In my tent by 8:30 I took notes for my log and read my Bible until after 9:00.

May 14, 2005 Saturday Backpack Saltrock Gap to Tessentee Creek

Got up at 5:57 in 59° and packed everything in my tent Ate breakfast.of two tortillas, two strawberry oatmeal packets and two cups of tea. Took down the tent and packed it.

At 7:20 we resumed our climb of 4612’ Rabun Bald. We topped it and climbed the tower for some great views. We talked to some Boy Scouts and their leaders who camped there last night. We started down walking at a fast pace. I stepped on an untied shoe lace and fell rolling off the trail. Fred showed me a way to tie my laces so they wouldn’t come untied. I felt like I was in first grade again as I struggled to learn to tie my shoes all over again. We crossed gravel Hale Ridge Road into North Carolina stopping soon afterwards for lunch. I ate my usual two tortillas, cheddar cheese, salsa, five sugar cookies and water.

We then climbed 4804’ Scaly Mountain before descending into camp at 2:45 in 63o at Tessentee Creek 35° 03.200 N by 83° 17.417 W elevation 3412’ and the barometer at 26.50”. Today we hiked 14.1 miles in 7:34 hours averaging 1.86 mph while climbing 3260’ and descending 3470’ in three climbs.

Our route included:

						Elev
	Activity	From	Miles	To	Miles	Feet
	Backpack	Saltrock Gap	1.1	Trail	31.3	4200
	Backpack	Trail	0.9	Rabun Bald	32.2	4612
	Backpack	Rabun Bald	0.6	Right from road	32.8	4200
	Backpack	Right from road	0.9	Road	33.7	3590
	Backpack	Road	0.5	2 bridges	34.2	3300
	Backpack	2 bridges	0.9	Footbridge	35.1	3225
	Backpack	Footbridge	0.7	Bridge	35.8	3225
	Backpack	Bridge	0.4	Hale Ridge Rd	36.2	3187
	Backpack	Hale Ridge Rd	1.0	Gap-Osage Mt	37.2	3637
	Backpack	Gap-Osage Mt	1.7	Trail Hurrah Ridge	38.9	3337
	Backpack	Trail Hurrah Ridge	1.0	NC106	39.9	3750
	Backpack	NC106	1.9	Scaly Mt 4804'	41.8	4804
	Backpack	Scaly Mt 4804'	2.5	Tessentee Crk	44.3	3412

It was threatening rain as we could hear the thunder and see the lightening flashes. We hurriedly set up our tents just in time as the heavy rain rolled in for over an hour. Our new tents stood up to their initial test with only minor problems. Fred had some water splash in as he set up on hard packed bare ground. It stopped raining about 4:20 which allowed me to hydrate with 2 cups each of soup, hot chocolate and bouillon. I followed this with supper of rice, beans, tuna, pistachio pudding and tea. We talked until 8:30 before getting into our tents closing the vestibule flap. Again I took log notes and read my Bible until after 9:00.

May 15, 2005 Sunday Backpack Tessentee Creek to Buckeye Creek

After I fell asleep the thunderstorms returned four times with heavy rain and lightening very close at times. The rain had stopped by 5:55 when I got up still dry for breakfast of 2 banana oatmeal packets, two tortillas and tea. We packed up wet tents.

We hiked from camp at 7:28 in a misty rain and fog. We saw ladies slippers, mustard and whole hillsides covered with blooming trilliums. We climbed a couple of ridges before descending to my car. We climbed into an old school bus to eat lunch of two tortillas, cheddar cheese, salsa, five sugar cookies and water. It was drizzling rain, windy and cold. As we dropped down te sun came out and it warmed up. We arrived at Buckeye Creek and my car at 1:42. We hiked 11.0 miles in 5:25 hours averaging 2.03 mph while climbing 1950’ and descending 3050’ in two climbs.

Our route included:

						Elev
	Activity	From	Miles	To	Miles	Feet
	Backpack	Tessentee Crk	1.7	Dirt road	46.0	4162
	Backpack	Dirt road	1.1	FR4522	47.1	4350
	Backpack	FR4522	1.1	Ridge crest	48.2	4200
	Backpack	Ridge crest	0.7	Blue-blaze trail	48.9	4425
	Backpack	Blue-blaze trail	1.0	Blue-blaze trail	49.9	4612
	Backpack	Blue-blaze trail	0.9	Gap	50.8	4490
	Backpack	Gap	1.1	Old road	51.9	4012
	Backpack	Old road	0.7	Old school bus	52.6	3450
	Backpack	Old school bus	1.4	2nd roadbed	54.0	2662
	Backpack	2nd roadbed	1.0	Tiny creek	55.0	2587
	Backpack	Tiny creek	0.3	Buckeye Creek	55.3	2475

I drove 3 wet backpackers 13.2 miles to the Franklin Motel where Barry and I checked into room 148 for two nights at $49.50 each. Fred and I showered and put on dry clothes. At 2:20 I drove Fred 34.9 miles arriving at Russell Bridge at 3:20. We hiked across the bridge into South Carolina and back to the cars. We drove back to Franklin and then another 18 miles to Wayah Bald Tower where I left my car. Fred drove us back to the Franklin Motel about 5:15. Barry and Andy did everyone’s laundry for $3 plus $3 to dry. We drove to the Sunset Restaurant for cream of broccoli soup, slaw, fries, catfish, ice tea and strawberry pie with whipped cream for $15.40 including tip. The bed felt good.

May 16, 2005 Monday Backpack Wallace Branch to Wayah Bald Tower

Got up at 5:50 and walked across the street to the Normandie Restaurant at 6:00. Breakfast as usual was orange juice, two eggs, sausage, hash browns, biscuits, milk and tip for $5.10. Fred drove us 3.1 miles to the Wallace Branch trailhead 3075’ elevation at 35° 10.695 N by 83° 25.916 W.

We started the long climb at 7:35. We saw some new flowers like the false Solomon’s seal, fire pink, a purple flower on a long grass like stem and stinking Benjamin. We climbed and descended into gaps five times on our way up. We reached the Appalachian Trail on Wayah Bald and continued up .6 miles to Wayah Bald Tower 5325’ elevation at 1:25. We hiked 11.1 miles in 5:50 hours averaging 1.90 mph while climbing 5210’ and descending 2110’ in 5 climbs.

Today’s route was:

						Elev
	Activity	From	Miles	To	Miles	Feet
	Backpack	Wallace Branch	1.3	Trimont Ridge	70.8	3075
	Backpack	Trimont Ridge	0.8	Trail left	71.6	3450
	Backpack	Trail left	2.0	Gap in Wilkes Knob	73.6	3450
	Backpack	Gap in Wilkes Knob	1.4	FR713	75.0	3375
	Backpack	FR713	2.1	LocustTreeGap	77.1	3750
	Backpack	LocustTreeGap	1.1	Wildlife clearing	78.2	4350
	Backpack	Wildlife clearing	0.9	Old road left	79.1	5025
	Backpack	Old road left	0.6	AT Wayah Bald	79.7	4950
	Backpack	AT Wayah Bald	0.6	Wayah Bald Tower	80.3	5325

We climbed the tower for great 360° views and could trace our path along distant mountain ridges from the displays. We descended the tower to eat lunch of two tortillas, cheddar cheese, salsa, five sugar cookies and water. We started talking to 3 ladies section hiking the Appalachian Trail 50 miles each year. They recognized Fred from his article on hiker bread in the Appalachian Trail Conference magazine. They are nurses from Tampa, Florida known as the Florida Trillium and are members of the Tampa Mountain Club (they must be kidding!).

I drove us back to the Franklin Motel picking up Fred’s car on the way. After cleaning up Fred and I walked about a block to Ingles grocery store for a 6 pack of Rolling Rock and a can of cashews for $8.46. We got new directions to the Sunset Restaurant so we drove there with no problem. I had cream of broccoli soup, slaw, French fries, catfish, ice tea and strawberry pie with whipped cream for $15.40 cash including tip. We’re getting soft with a 2nd night in a motel.

May 17, 2005 Tuesday Backpack Wayah Bald Tower to Bateman's Campground

Got up at 5:52 and walked across the street to the Normandie Restaurant at 6:00. Breakfast as usual was orange juice, two eggs, sausage, hash browns, biscuits, milk and tip for $5.10.

Andy, Fred and I drove 24 miles to Bateman’s Camp on Lake Nantahala. We parked Andy’s and Fred’s car there with all our gear in them. I drove us and our backpacks with lunch and water back 18 miles to Wayah Bald Tower.

We started hiking down the Bartram Trail at 8:28. We stopped in Sawmill Gap for some gorp and water. A couple unloaded two beautiful horses from a trailer and prepared to ride. We talked to them before continuing down. We met a group of 16 plus a dog from the Old Folks Hiking Club OFHC coming up the trail. We stopped and talked. The group included Tony Presley who maintains the official website www.inspirezone.org for the group. It is a great site and since Tony is an expert on flowers and birds I downloaded the following list of both that the group identified that day.

FLOWERS IN BLOOM: Painted Trillium, White Erect Trillium, Purple Erect Trillium, Yellow Ladyslipper, Pink Ladyslipper, Mayapples, Wood Anemone, Wood Betony, Star Chickweed, Bitter Cress, Yellow Round-leafed Violet, White Round-leafed Violet, Purple Heart-leafed Violet, Halberd-leafed Violet, Bluet, White Baneberry, Blue Cohosh, Serviceberry, Wild Strawberry, Sweet Cicely, Yellow Rocket, Hooked Buttercup, Robin's Plaintain, Foam Flower, Golden Alexander, Sessile Bellwort .

BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Tufted Titmouse, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Parula, Wood Peewee, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Crow, Northern Cardinal, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-eyed Vireo, Oven Bird, Carolina Chickadee, Yellow Throated Vireo, Towhee, Blue Jay, Summer Tanager, Black-throated Green Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Great Crested Flycatcher, Catbird, Broad Wing Hawk.

We hiked into Bateman’s at 11:36 having covered 8.1 miles in 3:08 averaging 2.59 mph while climbing 790’ and descending 3020’ in 3 climbs.

Our route today:

						Elev
Day	Activity	From	Miles	To	Miles	Feet
	Backpack	Wayah Bald	1.9	BT right off AT	82.2	5250
	Backpack	BT right off AT	1.8	3rd wildlife clear	84.0	4537
	Backpack	3rd wildlife clear	1.1	Faint trail right	85.1	4725
	Backpack	Faint trail right	1.4	Left turn	86.5	4162
	Backpack	Left turn	1.1	Wayah Road	87.6	3075
	Backpack	Wayah Road	0.8	Bateman's Camp	88.4	3075

Fred drove me to Wayah Bald Tower for my car and we ate lunch of two tortillas, cheddar cheese, salsa, five sugar cookies and water. We drove back to Bateman’s. Barry and Andy had rented a cabin on the water for $87.50. Andy, Fred and I drove our cars 18 miles to the Nantahala Outdoor Center where Andy and I left our cars with the gear in my trunk because it is closed from view. We rented cabin A for Friday at $132. I bought a pair of hiking socks $14.93 since I had to throw away two pair of holey socks. Fred drove us back to Bateman’s where we cleaned up and lounged on the front porch enjoying the lake view and sun.

Fred drove us 15.4 miles to Andrew, North Carolina where he filled up with gas about 5:00. We went to the Monte Alban Mexican Restaurant for supper. We all had ice tea and the Big Combo which included a taco, chili rolleno, chalupa, enchilada, rice and beans. I trumped everyone with some fried ice cream bringing my tab to $15.98 including tip. We all agreed that we ate too much but that it was very good. Besides, we deserved it after all the hard backpacking.

May 18, 2005 Wednesday Backpack Bateman's to Piercy Creek

Got up at 6:35 and ate two tortillas, 2 packets of peach oatmeal and 2 cups of tea. The barometer is at 27.00” and the temperature at 55°. Repacked our backpacks.

At 7:45 we hiked around the end of the lake and started climbing along the side of the lake past the dam. After about 3 miles we came to a small gorge with a 3 layer water falls. We stopped for pictures and climbed along the lip of the gorge. Andy climbed down into the gorge. We crossed the shallow wide river where it ran across the road. We followed streams most of the day. Lunch was two tortillas, cheddar cheese, salsa, five sugar cookies and water. We planned to camp at Poplar Cove Creek but mistakenly passed it since the site was not visible from the trail. We checked for a camp site and decided to push on to Piercy Creek at 35° 14.767 N by 83° 40.240 W elevation 2925’. We stopped at 1:11 after 9.5 miles in 5:28 hours averaging 1.73 mph while climbing 1380’ and descending 1580’ in two climbs. It is 71° with the barometer at 27.15”.

Our route was:

						Elev
	Activity	From	Miles	To	Miles	Feet
	Backpack	Bateman's Camp	1.7	Left-woods road	90.1	3290
	Backpack	Left-woods road	1.0	Nantahala Rd	91.1	2887
	Backpack	Nantahala Rd	1.0	Janaluska Rd	92.1	2925
	Backpack	Janaluska Rd	1.0	Cloudwalker Rd	93.1	2775
	Backpack	Cloudwalker Rd	0.7	Metal gate	93.8	2775
	Backpack	Metal gate	1.6	Walnut Cove Crk	95.4	2775
	Backpack	Walnut Cove Crk	1.2	Poplar Cove Crk	96.6	2925
	Backpack	Poplar Cove Crk	1.1	Wildlife clearing	97.7	3150
	Backpack	Wildlife clearing	1.2	Piercy Crk Trail	98.9	2925

We set up our tents and emptied our packs. Washed up but don’t need to rinse clothes. I hydrated with 2 cups each of ice tea, soup, hot chocolate and bouillon. Supper was beef fettuccini, banana cream pudding with banana and two cups of tea. Went into my tent at 8:46 to take notes and read the Bible.

May 19, 2005 Thursday Backpack Piecy Creek to FR259

Got up at 6:12 to 60°. Packed up and ate two tortillas, 2 packets of instant strawberry oatmeal and two cups of tea. Took down my tent and packed it.

We hiked from camp at 7:22. We continue to see many flowers which we can’t identify. We cross two large creeks by a power station and walk along a paved bike path, We cross the Nantahala River, US-19 and Smoky Mountain Railroad tracks before climbing steeply past a falls to Ledbetter Creek. We planned to camp here so we stop for lunch of two tortillas, cheddar cheese, salsa, five sugar cookies and water at 11:40. We decided to go on to make tomorrow a little easier and with the good weather. We continued up to FR-259 35° 18.934 N by 83° 41.136 W elevation 4425’ in 70° at 1:27. We backpacked 10.9 miles in 6:05 hours averaging 1.79 mph while climbing 3390’ and descending 1930’ in 2 climbs.

Todays route:

						Elev
	Activity	From	Miles	To	Miles	Feet
	Backpack	Piercy Crk Trail	1.2	London B Trail	100.1	3038
	Backpack	London B Trail	1.4	Left woods road	101.5	3412
	Backpack	Left woods road	1.0	Green watertank	102.5	2700
	Backpack	Green watertank	1.7	Left off access rd	104.2	2137
	Backpack	Left off access rd	1.4	Nantahala bridge	105.6	1912
	Backpack	Nantahala bridge	0.4	Ledbetter Creek	106.0	2287
	Backpack	Ledbetter Creek	0.8	Gap	106.8	2887
	Backpack	Gap	0.9	Ledbetter Creek	107.7	2925
	Backpack	Ledbetter Creek	0.9	Ledbetter Creek	108.6	3600
	Backpack	Ledbetter Creek	1.1	FR259	109.7	4425

Set up my tent, unpacked my pack and washed. I hydrated with 2 cups each of ice tea, soup, hot chocolate and bouillon. Supper was rice, broccoli, ham, pistachio pudding and tea. The barometer dropped from 25.75’ to 25.70” not a good sign. Hung our food bags and talked until 8:30. Took notes in my tent and read the Bible.

May 20, 2005 Friday Backpack FR259 to Nantahala Outdoor Center

It started raining about the time I fell asleep. It rained all night sometimes very hard with thunder and lightening. The sun supposedly rose at 5:49. I lay in my dry bag waiting for someone to move until 6:51. It is raining and 60° but I decide to pack up in my tent. A few minutes later Fred came by checking to see when we could leave and we decided on 30 minutes. We took down our tents and packed them very wet.

We started up Cheoah Bald 5062’ in the rain with no breakfast at 7:32. We have about a 650’ climb over a mile. It is colder than in my tent, the wind is blowing and the rain steady. We reach the Appalachian Trail and Cheoah Bald the end of the Bartram Trail. We pause briefly to congratulate each other then descend into Sassafras Gap. It clears briefly and we can see the clouds below us with several peaks protruding up through the clouds. I finish all the gorp I have with me and drink some water. We see a dark cloud front headed our way and we are soon in heavy rain and wind. Although it slackened some it rained all the way to the Nantahala Outdoor Center 35° 19.958 N by 83° 35.565 W elevation 1740’ 8.1 miles from Cheoah Bald. We arrived at 11:32 about the time the rain stopped. We hiked 9.1 miles in 4:00 hours averaging 2.38 mph while climbing 1320’ and descending 3760’ in two climbs.

Our route:

Elev

Activity

From

Miles

To

Miles

Feet

Backpack

FR259

0.8

AT

110.5

4950

Backpack

AT

0.2

Cheoah Bald

110.7

5062

Backpack

Cheoah Bald 5062'

2.9

Sassafras Gap

113.1

Backpack

Sassafras Gap

1.5

Grassy Gap

114.1

Backpack

Grassy Gap

1.6

Wright Gap

116.2

3165

Backpack

Wright Gap

1.6

Nantahala Outdoor Center

117.8

3165

We checked into our Cabin A. Andy and Fred quickly showered as Andy was going to drop Fred by his car at Bateman’s on his way to Georgia. Barry and walked to the restaurant for a cup of chicken soup and a super burger with ice tea for $8.03. Fred and Andy soon joined us. They left and Barry and I went to the outfitter shop where I talked to a salesman about river, creek and play kayaks. We returned to the cabin to clean up, dry equipment, read and relax until Fred returned. I drove 13.7 miles to Bryce City and filled up with 13.7 gallons of gas for $28.00. We went to Pasqualino’s where I had prime rib, broccoli, baked potato, Amber Bock, salad, bread and oil for $25.35. We were in bed shortly after 9:00.

May 21, 2005 Saturday Drive to Columbia, MD

We were up and on the road at 5:51. We turned left on US-19 and US-23 north. We enter I-40 after 34.2 miles driving another 61 miles to Asheville where we exited onto I-26 (US-23 & US-19). We stopped at a Cracker Barrel for orange juice, strawberry pancakes with whipped cream, milk and tip for $10.24. We drove 74 miles to I-81 north for another 162.7 miles to Troutville, Virginia where we stopped at another Cracker Barrel. I had chicken and dumplings,green beans, mashed potatoes, biscuits, ice tea and blueberry shortcake with ice cream for $15.66 including tip. We drove another 180 miles on I-81 to Winchester where we exited on VA-7 9.0 miles to US-340 east 31 miles to I-70 east 29 miles to MD-32 east 16.5 miles to Columbia. I dropped Barry off and arrived home at 4:38 after driving 581.7 miles.