We dropped a car and met up at the Metcalfe Bottoms parking lot and hit the road for a few hundred feet then picked up Curry Mountain Trail. We were afraid we had missed out on the peak of color season, but it actually appeared that the area we were in was a week or so away from peak. A lot of green was left on the trees, although certain areas had more color along the trail. It's been an unseasonably warm fall, and we all quickly shed our jackets.
Rod likened this portion of trail to walking on rose petals. It was really very beautiful.
We hit a section of Meigs Mountain Trail and had us some grub. The Guide Book said that there was a cemetery 50 yards on the right at this intersection. I spent quite a bit of time off-trail looking for this cemetery, only to give up and continue walking. There was abundant evidence of human habitation in the woods off trail, but no cemetery that I could see.
Just a little way down Meigs Mountain trail there was a small maintained cemetery. I don't think it was the same cemetery mentioned that I failed to find though. I'd like to know if indeed there are two cemeteries ... Someone correct me please!!
Stone wall along the trail ... Looks like it had a little natural help.
This is the tangled woven web in real life. Looks like Rod got stuck in it ...
Campsite 19. A few nice flat places going back from the trail. Didn't look to be a good water source, although the drought has greatly diminished any available water sources.
We hit Meigs Creek Trail and read the guide book with the group as is the custom. We were told to expect 18 to 20 creek crossings. We did encounter that many, maybe even a few more, but all were sadly lacking in umph and no one got wet at all. Somewhat disappointing ... it's always fun to have a bit of drama with creek crossings ... (makes for good photos).
This cascade appears to be unnamed. We took matters into our own hands and it is now called "Us Falls." That should be self explanatory, although maybe not very creative.
The last mile or so before The Sinks ...
And here is The Sinks, not to be confused with The Sinks that we visited earlier in the spring to see wildflowers. The Sinks is sadly lacking in water flow, but can be a deadly area when flow is high and swimming is not recommended. A sign by the parking lot to The Sinks (which was packed with vehicles, and is where we left a car to shuttle the group back to the Metcalfe Bottoms Parking area), stated, "The swirling waters of the Little River cascade over a man-made waterfall at The Sinks. Before trains rumbled through the Smokey's, loggers used the river to float timber to mills. During a flood in the late 1800's, a massive log jam formed here in a bend of the river. Loggers used dynamite to free the logs. The explosion blasted a deep hole in the rocky stream bed, creating The Sinks and altering the river course."
And here's our lovely group at the end of the hike. It turned out to be a beautiful day and we got our hike in for October. Whew!
Now for the Stats:
Total Mileage hiked: 8.7 miles
Mileage Added to 900 Mile Challenge: 8.7 miles
Total Miles Hiked Toward 900 Mile Challenge: 80.9
Miles Added to Centennial Challenge: 8.7 miles
Total Miles Hiked Toward 100 Mile Centennial Goal: 81.9
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