departing sun

Sweet is the memory of distant friends! Like the mellow rays of the departing sun, it falls tenderly, yet sadly, on the heart. 
--Washington Irving (1783-1859) American Writer.

Arrived at Little Rock Knob on Iron Mountain just in time to see the sun rays gleaming down on the distant mountains -- a little out of the way, but worth the trek. It's one of my favorite overlooks in our region. I wasn't sure which version I liked best, so I posted them both. The black and white seems to be less distracting to me -- and I was able to push the adjustments a little more. But I like the color one too.  :)  We had to hustle down the mountain to get back to the car before dark!

trail blazers

We met Sockless and Blazer (trail names) on our hike to the overlook near Little Rock Knob on Iron Mountain yesterday. They are South-Bound Flip-Floppers from Cincinnati.  Let me explain..."South Bound" in that they are traveling from North to South on the AT with their destination being Springer Mountain in Georgia. "Flip Floppers" in that they started in the middle of the AT and are doing the southern part first, with the expectation of then completing the northern section of the 2,200 mile trail. There are no rules saying you have to walk in an uninterrupted line along the AT! In fact, some who complete the trail do so as section hikers -- hiking large sections of the trail, often over the span of many years, in order to complete their thru hike. Click here for an article on the increased popularity of flip flopping the Appalachian Trail.

Sockless and Blazer came across a little dog on their journey which someone had obviously abandoned. The poor little guy was hungry and in need of help. My hiking companion Lee (you can see her blog here) agreed to take him home and so we left the mountain with an unexpected addition to our hiking group! She's calling him "Blaze" in honor of Blazer and as a reminder that it was the Appalachian Trail (marked with white blazes) that brought them together.

From Hughes Gap, it's 2.5 miles each way of fairly easy hiking. The view from the Little Rock Knob overlook is incredible on a clear day. Click here to read more about this hike.  And click here to read about taking the Appalachian Trail up and over Iron Mountain. Below is a panorama of the fantastic view from the rock outcropping near Little Rock Knob (click photo to enlarge).

footprints

One who walks in another's tracks leaves no footprints.
--Proverb 

Above: Blue walking along the Appalachian Trail near Iron Mountain Gap on the Tennessee/North Carolina border. Much more snow up there than I anticipated finding! I thought we all agreed it was spring?

National Trails Day

I could never resist the call of the trail.
--Buffalo Bill (1846-1917) American soldier, bison hunter and showman.  


Today is National Trails Day -- go out and explore! :)  

Above: The Appalachian Trail on Iron Mountain, TN/NC

Little Rock Knob

I previously gave an overview of Iron Mountain, which sits between Unaka Mountain and Roan Mountain.  Pictured here is thru-hiker "Sockless" and the view from a cliff near the high point of Iron Mountain, Little Rock Knob (elev. 4918 ft.).  The nearly 180 degree views to the west are spectacular.  To the southwest is the looming Unaka Mountain, easily identified by its dark spruce forest at the summit (see photo below). Further out and due west is Pinnacle Mountain, with its fire tower barely identifiable with my zoom lens from this distance.  And to the right of Pinnacle far on the horizon is Buffalo Mountain which overlooks Johnson City, TN. Click panoramic image below to enlarge.

View of Unaka Mountain in the distance

The hike to the overlook is only 2.5 miles from Hughes Gap. It's an enjoyable walk with moderate elevation gains. There are two very small springs along the way which my dog "Blue" appreciated on a hot day -- from the maps, it appears Doe River originates in this area. I'd say the best times to do this hike would be either mid-May as the wildflowers would be at their peak or fall when the autumn views would be amazing. I enjoyed meeting all the thru-hikers moving through our area, many stopping at the overlook to catch their breath and take in the sights. In all, this overlook is easily accessible for those of us who enjoy day hikes along the AT -- go on a clear day and you won't be disappointed with the views.  :)   Click here for more photos and discussion.

Click here for a map of the area. Take There's parking available at both Hughes Gap and Iron Mountain Gap.

Iron Mountain Gap to Hughes Gap

Located high atop Iron Mountain on the TN/NC line is an old apple orchard, a remnant of a farm that once was here. There are now only a few remaining trees (see above), though efforts have been made to plant others in hopes of maintaining the area. I took the AT out to the first rock outcropping listed below for a nice out-and-back day hike. Along the way, I saw lots of wildflowers - including this beautiful patch of trillium. Most of the trail is moderate in terms of grade, although a few sections get somewhat steep. During winter months, this section of trail offers nice views of Roan Mountain to the east.

The AT section from Iron Mountain Gap to Hughes Gap is approximately 9 miles in length.
0.0 Mi. - TN 107/NC 226 - Small Parking Area at the state line (elev. 3723 ft.)
0.5 mi. - View of Pinnacle Mountain to the west (see previous post here)
0.8 Mi. - View of Unaka Mountain to the west (image right)
1.2 mi. - Old Apple Orchard
2.3 mi. - Rock outcropping (elev. 4426 ft.)
3.4 mi. - Reach summit of a knoll (elev. 4332 ft.)
4.1 mi. - Greasy Creek Gap
6.0 mi. - Blue trail to Clyde Smith Shelter (200 yards)
6.2 mi. - Reach summit of a knoll (elev. 4640 ft.)
6.8 mi. - Cliff overlook (Click here for images and discussion)
6.9 mi. - Reach high point of AT on Iron Mtn near Little Rock Knob (4918 ft. elevation)
9.1 mi. - Reach Hughes Gap (elev. 4040 ft.)

Directions: Take TN Route 107 (Limestone Cove Road) ten miles east from Unicoi, TN, or NC Route 226, four miles west from Buladean, NC to the state line, where there is a wide gravel pull off area. After parking, look toward the TN side and across the road and you'll see where the AT heads north toward Hughes Gap.

Iron Mountain Sunset

This sunset view is from the Appalachian Trail near Iron Mountain Gap on the TN/NC border. The tallest peak in the photo above is known as Pinnacle Mountain (3540 ft.). An effort is currently underway to restore the fire tower which sits atop Pinnacle Mountain. Click here for an interesting article about this effort. Heading north on the AT from Iron Mountain Gap, where TN Route 107 intersects the state border and becomes NC Route 226 (Mitchell County), you are rewarded with impressive views (in Winter) of Roan Mountain to the east (see photo below) and Unaka Mountain to the west.

Update: For a detailed discussion of this section of the AT, click here.

Directions: Take TN Route 107 (Limestone Cove Road) ten miles east from Unicoi, TN, or NC Route 226, four miles from Buladean, NC to the state line, where there is a wide gravel pull off area. After parking, look toward the TN side and across the road and you'll see where the AT heads north toward Hughes Gap. The spot were the above sunset photo was taken is a small grassy area 0.5 miles in. Another, slightly larger and more open grassy area is 0.8 miles from the Gap -- that particular spot offers an impressive view of Unaka Mountain. 1.1 miles from the Gap is an old, abandoned apple orchard -- there's not much left to see there now, as most of the trees have died out, although there is an indication that some new trees have recently been planted.