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Bob uses a GPS to select his route after he inputs the parameters. I am usually amazed at the route that the GPS selects. After unhooking the boat and enjoying a fine lunch, we left the Merritt's and I assumed that we would head for Clayton, GA. That was not to be. The GPS routed us to Seneca, SC, within 9 miles of Clemson University and along a winding mountainous back road, SC 28 and then into SC 107 to Cashiers, NC. We passed through some of the highest elevations in South Carolina. Near the lofty border of North and South Carolina's we passed a trailhead marked in Bold Letters "Josh's Trail." I thought of a through hiker of the Appalachian Trail, Josh Riccardi-Messenger. I wonder if Josh had anything to do with this trail. We reemerged into civilization at a location that I was familiar with, Western Carolina University, in Cullowhee, NC. I had been there to watch Mike Haythorn's Lacrosse team beat them a few years ago. Parts of the roadside were covered with pink flowering bushes. I guessed that they were pinxter flowers. I had never seen them in such profusion before. I remarked to Bob that I enjoyed the route but that I never wanted to go that way again.
We arrived at the Quality Suites in Cherokee, NC, at 6:00 P.M. Bob's former submarine mate, Carl Miller from Charleston, SC, was there waiting for us. This was to be a special hike for me. Twenty five years ago come September; I made my first hike of Mt. LeConte with my son Bob and Carl Miller. They were assigned to a nuclear submarine crew and had just resurfaced from a 90- day scenic (NOT) cruise. After checking into the motel, we had dinner next door at Big Bob's buffet. We passed a beautiful fringe tree between the two establishments. We almost always had one of these beautiful trees growing back in our yard when I was a youngster back in North Alabama. The food at Bob Bob's was good.
After we returned to the motel, Bob, Carl, Austin and Charlie headed to a small island in the Oconuluftee River so that his sons could look for crawly creatures. I stayed in the room and watched Survivor. We all showered and those needing to shave did so to prevent overcrowding to the bathroom the next morning. We noticed that the McDonalds, next door, was closed for remodeling so we headed for Hardee's for breakfast. They opened on time for a change and we all got food to eat and to carry to the lodge. Bob drove us all to the trailhead. We arrived at 7:00 a.m. and found a nice group awaiting us. The group picture shows from left to right, Bob with Austin and Charlie in front. Next are Carl Miller from Charleston, SC, Cindy Wisnieski from Columbus, OH, Mike Qualter, Lieutenant with Brevard County, FL Sheriff's Department, Glen Weatherly from Pigeon Forge, TN, Tom Grubbs from Boaz, AL, Galen Bradley from Batavia, OH, Hank Lieurance and Jeff Cinnamon from Knoxville, TN. It was 53 degrees at the trailhead and foggy. Actually we were in the clouds. Before we left the trailhead glen presented me a hand made custom bamboo hiking stick with a compass on top and decorations. It served me well on the hike. He said that he had also made one for his dad. Thanks Glen, you are a true friend. Oh by the way, it worked. I made it to the lodge and back!
Carl and Bob posed at the trailhead as they did 25 years ago. I revived that picture and post it for comparison sakes. Twenty five years does make a difference in one's looks although they are both young by my standards. We moved along at my slow pace. We stopped near Arch Rock for a rest and a picture. The boys played in Styx Branch while I regained some steam. I took a picture of Bob on the footlog entering Arch Rock. We stopped above the last footlog for a rest and another picture. Hank and Jeff had moved on. The boys continued hunting salamanders and had some luck.
We stopped at Inspiration Point for another rest stop. It was still foggy or in the clouds but there was no rain. The hike to the bluff area is always the hardest few hundred years for me but with sheer determination we made it. It was dark and in the clouds at the bluff. I managed to photograph Bob and Austin as well as Carl and other members of the hike. Cindy is always close at hand when pictures are being taken but she usually is shooting one of me. We met a young couple from Knoxville above Little Duck Hawk Ridge. I took some time to photograph some lichen and mosses along the trail above little Duck Hawk. We met Hank and Jeff heading back down. I jokingly asked them if they were from Ecorse, MI.
Although it never rained, there was frequently shower of condensation falling from the trees above the trail. I never put on any rain gear but I did cover my camera frequently. I therefore did not take many pictures on the trip up. We did meet the two guys from Ecorse, MI at Grassy Slide. We lived in Allen Park Michigan when Bob was born. Ecorse is only a couple of blocks from where we lived. During our short conversation we were not able to make any common connections to people in that area.
The sky continued to be filled with clouds as we climbed. Cindy said her prayer for hiking friends and relatives at Betty Jane's Stairway to Heaven. I even added Tommy Counts who is in the hospital with congestive heart failure in Birmingham, AL.
Allyson and Chris Virden, the lodge managers, greeted me upon arrival. We went over to the dining room and Allyson took a picture of some of us in front to the dining hall. Bob took a picture of the llamas. I was too tired so I headed for the office to buy Tee-Shirts. I bought shirts for Bob, Austin, Charlie, Mike, Megan and myself. The ones for Mike and Megan were additional graduation presents.
After finishing the shirt purchases, we sat down for lunch in front of the stove. Cindy had met Nita and David Parry, from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on the ACB trail, the day before our St. Patrick's Day to the Lodge. They struck up a friendship, and Cindy invited Nita and David to join us for the May 9th hike. Several days before our hike, Nita called Cindy and asked if she and David could hike to the Lodge part of the way with us. They both really wanted to meet me. I could not figure out why. Nita took some time to interview and tape our conversation while Bob took pictures. We then went outside for a group picture. Cindy also took one with my camera.
I filled my CamelBak with fresh water and visited the rest room before heading down. The clouds were vanishing and the sun was most welcomed. I took a picture of Clingmans Dome near Margaret's Place. The tower on top of the dome did not show up as clearly as it had during my previous hike. Still too much haze in the air.
I snapped a picture of bluets below the upper steps. God had in tended them to be really blue but they blew-it! Austin and Charlie discovered a new type of flower that I still have not identified. It appears to be some sort of lily but it lacks in beauty to ever become famous unless it is a miracle medicine waiting to be discovered.
I snapped a shot of Cliff Top from Gracie's Pulpit. We took a snack break there and had a good rest stop. Bob took a picture of some of us descending the rocks above Big Duck Hawk Ridge. It was clear enough for me to photograph the top of Little Duck Hawk Ridge. A short distance before reaching the bluff, I photographed two painted trilliums. One blossom had a petal longer than the other two petals. The other blossom was very symmetrical.
There were several hikers at the bluff. Austin and Charlie always enjoy stirring up the dust. A young couple from Atlanta was heading down. Cindy was chomping at the bit to move on. Galen, Glen and Tom were just relaxing.
I shot the Round Eye of the Needle with a normal lens and again with a telephoto on our way past. The sand Myrtle was beginning to bloom near Inspiration Point. I shot another painted trillium and a white trillium before reaching the trailhead.
We drove back to Cherokee, ate dinner and headed our separate ways. Cindy however trailed us to Charlotte, NC to attend Mike Haythorn, our oldest grandson's graduation from University of North Carolina- Charlotte. I even got a picture of Mike and his girlfriend Megan. Megan graduated from Meredith College the day after Mike graduated from UNCC. Good luck and god bless both of them an all of the friends and relatives that made this hike.
Post Script: We were very lucky to have had relatively good weather during our hike on Friday. The day and evening before our hike the area was under a tornado watch and several severe storms occurred in the area. The following day was stormy and had several hail storms. Here are pictures from the area by Tom Grubbs and others. I don't think that it would have been fun hiking with these hail stones battering you.
