Post Cards from the Edge
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With my cross country trip coming up, I knew I needed to get into shape for the hiking I intend to do. I decided to visit an old haunt, Deep Creek Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It has been over 40 years since I last hiked Deep Creek.
My intent was to hike up Deep Creek Trail until it crossed with Indian Creek Trail and camp the first night at campsite 51, just off Deeplow Gap Trail junction with Indian Creek. The map said it was 6.7 miles and I thought I could do that pretty easily in one day.
I did one side trip to Juney Whank Falls at the beginning of the trail and somehow, even though the trail is well marked, ended up on the horse trail loop which added some mileage. At the end of the first day, I had hiked 8.7 miles and it was all uphill.
The next day I had planned to merge back into Deep Creek Trail where it merged from Martin’s Gap Trail and spend a second night at campsite 58 on the Deep Creek Trail and then return to the Deep Creek Campground. Round trip would have been around 12 miles.
I was so exhausted from the first day, I simply decided to hike back down Indian Creek Trail and call it an early trip. Yes, I whimped out. However, I learned my limits. I also drank virtually all my water.
I did a short tour of Clingman’s Dome and Newfound Gap and got a hotel room in Gatlinburg for the second night. Boy did I ever need a shower!
My Life in Plants - a travelog of plants species with photos and descriptions.
Travels with Fred - a blog of my travels thus far.