The Solemates
08-22-2005, 12:38
We spent this past weekend doing several dayhikes in the Southeast. We arrived in the Smokies Saturday morning around 2am under a full moon. It was so clear and beautiful that I wanted to just start hiking, but we were so tired from a long day and several hours of driving that we hit the sack, and instead of hiking in, just spent the night in the back of our car at the TH, which is really quite comfortable. Unfortunately, we got up around 630am and it was completely foggy. The temperature was quite cool for August 20th, as it was 61F and there was a stiff wind about 10mph. Im sure it dropped into the high 50s earlier that morning. We hiked up the paved path to Clingmans Dome, did a short 2-mile or so hike on the AT and then headed out, snagging TN's highest point.
Later that day we left from Rocky Bottom, SC along the Foothills Trail towards Sassafrass Mountain, the highest in SC. It was a beautiful day, about 80F and you could tell autumn was trying to nudge itself into season. We cannot wait til autumn, as it is one of our favorite times to hike and we already have 4 trips planned for this fall (VT/NH over Labor Day, Mt Whitney, CA the next weekend, then MO and AR hiking). The trail up to Sassafras was relatively easy, much easier than if you headed West from Rocky Bottom. Ive done the Foothills 3 times before, but its funny how some things stick in your mind while others do not. I did not necessarily recall this particular section, so it was almost like it was virgin to me. There werent any marvelous vistas, but I really enjoyed hiking the 5 miles through the hardwoods and lush undergrowth with my wife and father-in-law.
Will post pictures soon...
Later that day we left from Rocky Bottom, SC along the Foothills Trail towards Sassafrass Mountain, the highest in SC. It was a beautiful day, about 80F and you could tell autumn was trying to nudge itself into season. We cannot wait til autumn, as it is one of our favorite times to hike and we already have 4 trips planned for this fall (VT/NH over Labor Day, Mt Whitney, CA the next weekend, then MO and AR hiking). The trail up to Sassafras was relatively easy, much easier than if you headed West from Rocky Bottom. Ive done the Foothills 3 times before, but its funny how some things stick in your mind while others do not. I did not necessarily recall this particular section, so it was almost like it was virgin to me. There werent any marvelous vistas, but I really enjoyed hiking the 5 miles through the hardwoods and lush undergrowth with my wife and father-in-law.
Will post pictures soon...