Mt. Kephart, NC/TN (9.0 miles; d=12.95)
Read MoreMt. Kephart (6,217'), as seen from the south along US-441. You can pretty much see the entire route I followed this day. The Appalachian Trail follows the crest of the ridge seen here from Newfound Gap, to the far left, over to Charlie's Bunion which is hidden on the far side of the ridge to the extreme right...
Appalachian-Sweat Heifer Creek Trail Junction - 5,830'
1.7 miles from Newfound Gap the Sweat Heifer Creek Trail intersects the A.T. from the left beneath a twisted old tree...
Appalachian-Sweat Heifer Creek Trail Junction - 5,830'
Looking down the start of the Sweat Heifer Creek Trail as I down some water and a couple munchies...
Appalachian-Boulevard Trail Junction - 6,030'
At the 2.7 mile mark I hit the A.T.-Boulevard Trail split. The clouds, worryingly, hadn't burned off yet so I figured I'd head for Charlie's Bunion first which, I hoped, would be cloud free as it sits at a much lower elevation...
Appalachian-Charlie's Bunion Spur Trail Junction - 5,500'
Doesn't say anything about adults... ;)
Charlie's Bunion Spur - 5,560'
Breaking out into the open on Charlie's Bunion, I could see that the lower elevations to the west were basking in bright sunshine, giving me hope of further clearing...
Charlie's Bunion Spur - 5,560'
The clouds were screaming up the surrounding mountainsides, very cool to watch...
kw
on August 14, 2012Beautiful album--- love the looks of the clouds & mountans! Makes their greenery look brilliant :) --- I never heard of that Indian Pipe -- not so pretty, yet cool in its own right!