After my embarrassing attempt at solo hiking the Foothills Trail, I decided the best plan is to stick with my familiar territory, the Smokies. On Friday, my daughter dropped me off at Elkmont where I got on Jakes Creek Trail, a nice, steady climb that eventually takes you up Miry Ridge to the AT between Derrick Knob shelter and Silers Bald shelter. Since my goal was to camp alone, I waited until that morning to make reservations and found no one else had reserved campsite 28 on Lynn Camp Prong Trail. The day was overcast but beautiful with just-budding flowers and everything greening up. Within the first mile, I met Herbert and her interesting mom from Hillsboro, NC. They really made my day.
Horses are allowed on these trails so there were parts that were a muddy, eroded mess. After turning onto Lynn Camp Prong Trail, I was passed by a group of six on horses, the only people I saw after the first few miles on Jakes Creek.
After hiking 8.6 mi, I reached the campsite and made camp. This was the first time sleeping in my Lightheart tent and it was a breeze to set up. I made dinner using BirdBrain’s stove and it worked beautifully. My food was carried in jimmyjam’s bear bag which you can see in the picture (and of course I was wearing Shellie's lucky bracelet). I was sitting on a log eating when I looked up and saw another person across the river hanging his food bag. Dang! I wasn’t alone but he was far enough away that I couldn’t see his tent. That night I read and sipped a favorite beverage and wasn’t afraid. The sound of the river was soothing and masked all the other night-time noises.
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Horses are allowed on these trails so there were parts that were a muddy, eroded mess. After turning onto Lynn Camp Prong Trail, I was passed by a group of six on horses, the only people I saw after the first few miles on Jakes Creek.
After hiking 8.6 mi, I reached the campsite and made camp. This was the first time sleeping in my Lightheart tent and it was a breeze to set up. I made dinner using BirdBrain’s stove and it worked beautifully. My food was carried in jimmyjam’s bear bag which you can see in the picture (and of course I was wearing Shellie's lucky bracelet). I was sitting on a log eating when I looked up and saw another person across the river hanging his food bag. Dang! I wasn’t alone but he was far enough away that I couldn’t see his tent. That night I read and sipped a favorite beverage and wasn’t afraid. The sound of the river was soothing and masked all the other night-time noises.
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Lost in the right direction.
