10-K
03-27-2010, 17:28
Just got back from hiking this section. The trail is in great shape going north from Devil's Fork Gap until around 6 miles north of Spivey's Gap. There are several *massive* blowdowns blocking the trail that are extremely difficult to go around. The trail slabs the side of the mountain with a steep drop off immediately to the right of the trail and the mountain is so steep on the left hand side of the trail that you have to hold trees to climb up high enough to get around the blowdowns. I was hiking before dawn or I would have gotten some pictures. They are impressive blowdowns and will take major duty work to clear.
There was no snow until 2 miles north of the shelter on Big Bald. I lost the trail at one point. For about 100 yards or so I was over my knees in soft, slushy snow. The trail just disappeared, no blazes, and bootprints in the snow going in every direction from people looking for the trail. I was never so glad to see a blaze in my life after an hour of walking around - I was starting to get disoriented from following so many false trails.
Water everywhere, even in places it usually isn't running or barely trickling.
There was no snow until 2 miles north of the shelter on Big Bald. I lost the trail at one point. For about 100 yards or so I was over my knees in soft, slushy snow. The trail just disappeared, no blazes, and bootprints in the snow going in every direction from people looking for the trail. I was never so glad to see a blaze in my life after an hour of walking around - I was starting to get disoriented from following so many false trails.
Water everywhere, even in places it usually isn't running or barely trickling.