I hiked on September 14 and September 22, concentrating on the Appalachian Trail (and a few offshoot trails) in the northern most part of the southern district: Swift Run Gap to Simmons Gap. The arrow shows the turnaround point of the first hike and the starting point of the second hike at Smith Roach Gap. These hikes were out and back, covering mostly the same ground coming and going. So while I only got credit for about 12 or so miles against the park total, I hiked about 22 or 23 miles.
Here is the elevation profile of the first hike, going over Hightop Mountain, an 1,100 foot climb on the way out and a 900 foot climb on the way back. My friend Doug and I hiked this together.
My second hike had this profile, starting at the gap on the right (Smith Roach Gap) and turning around at Simmons Gap. I gained and lost about 1,800 feet on this hike, which I did solo.
The weather on the two hikes was totally different. On the first one, it was foggy, misty and cool. The second one was in total sunshine with highs close to 82. Neither hike had good views, but the view from Hightop Mountain would have been very nice without the fog.
These two hikes were only my second and third hikes in the mountains since the July Road Scholars hikes, so I was out of shape and struggled a bit on the climbs. Here are a few photos from the first hike, done in the fog and mist.
Doug hikes up the trail to Hightop Mountain.
In SNP, concrete posts mark every trail junction with information about how far, with the direction, other points are.
Mature yellow birch, more typically found in northern hardwood forests.
We had lunch at the Hightop Shelter.
Even in the afternoon, the fog continued.
Hightop Mountain summit.
We crossed over Hightop in the morning and again in the afternoon. This is the view in the afternoon, which was a lot better than the morning view.
The second hike, from Smith Roach Gap to Simmons Gap, was solo. I've hiked 275 miles this year, and before this hike, only 33 of them were by myself. This hike made it 45. I prefer hiking with others, but now and then, I like getting out by myself. This is especially true if I am a little out of shape, because I can go at my own pace and stop for pictures or to study something.
It was a nice, warm day on the AT - note the lack of fog. I saw a lot of hikers on this day, including a number of backpackers.
This butterfly is a comma.
On both hikes, we noted lots of hickory nut shells. There appears to be a bumper crop, good for squirrels and bears.
I've not identified this, but I liked the purple color.
And I liked the muted colors in this fungus on a tree.
This hike had one nice view, looking northwest, about a half mile south on the AT from Powell Gap.
I enjoyed hiking in the mountains again, although I clearly could be in lots better shape. We saw minimal wildlife - squirrels and chipmunks - although a woman hiking north on our first hike had just seen two bears about a half mile from us near Hightop Mountain. The birds are mostly finished calling, although I saw a raven, and heard pileated, red-bellied, and downy woodpeckers, as well as a barred owl. Stream levels are really low - unlike last year.
This is my last hike for another 10 days, when I go back to SNP for a weeks to lead more Road Scholars hikes.
