Big Creek Field Trip
May 12, 2001

Kendal Chiles lead a group of SANP members on a filed trip in the Big Creek section of the Great Smoky Mountainsphotos National Park on May 12th 2001. We all met at the Cracker Barrel parking lot in Newport and proceeded in a caravan to the Big Creek picnic area which is very near the Tennessee / North Carolina border off of Interstate 40.

The 3.2 mile hike along the Big Creek included stops at Mouse Creek Falls photosand Midnight Hole. It was a cold morning and rained most of the way up the trail to our first stop, but quit long enough for us to get as many photographs as we wanted. Some of us older (more mature) types worked up such a sweat hiking the easy to moderate incline along the logging road that parallels the creek that our glasses kept fogging over and we were as wet on the inside as on the outside.

A trek like this brings home the importance of dressing right for hiking in the Smokies and the value of technical clothing that passes moisture out without letting it in. It also probably suggests to guys like me that getting back in shape and dieting are probably very good ideas.photos

ust as we got back to the parking lot, the rain which had held off for the last couple of hours started up again. And who says the Spirits of the Great Smokies don't look after SANP members?

Thom Ashton

 

 

 

 

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