Wild Country

[peter]

Hello!
I am taking my brother hiking in the Smokies next week. We are going to hike Mt. Stearling, headed up the Baxter Creek Trail to get ready for my hike up Katahdin with Peter. I know there is a piped spring a little bit before reaching the campsite and tower, but I was wondering how reliable it is? Anyone been up there recently? Andy and I will be going up on the 31st and completing the loop back to Big Creek Campground on the 1st. Thanks for any info on that spring, I don't want to run out of water, but I also don't look forward to hauling 4+ liters up myself!
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[griztrax]

I've probably hiked Baxter more than any other trail in the Smokies - maybe more than 50 times, and I've never known the spring to go dry. I'm hoping that I won't jinx you, but it's always been a pretty good one, with some really tasty water.
I promise to hold off on showing Peter any more lists for at least a few weeks once he completes the AT. I won't even mention the new extension of the AT that will run a few hundred miles further north...

Hey, I read Peter's latest blog updates today and got a good chuckle out of his 'stoner' comments. That's got to be a drag when he has to encounter the same jerks over and over along the trail. Luckily, the worst are the posers and they won't last long. I had some similar feelings about a lot of the folks that used to show up at mtn. bike races - they never raced, but just showed up to stand in a circle and play hackey-sack while getting stoned. Sheesh!

Best of luck on the Baxter climb - it's a good one!

[peter]

Thanks! I found out today they have closed the Mt. Stearling campsite due to bear activity, we are still going, not sure where we will camp but some bear isn't going to keep me home! So I am looking for an alternative that I can still pull off with my brother. As if Baxter Creek isn't enough torture

Good to know the spring is good, I can count on a cold drink and enough water to make chicken and stuffing! Thanks also for not mentioning to AT extension, Peter's return flight is nonrefundable. I am bringing someone home from Maine on the 31st!

We will definitely plan a get together when he returns and gets settled with his new job. Our apartment certainly won't be big enough, but a celebration will be in order!
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http://www.PeterOnTheAT.com
http://www.twitter.com/whippersnap

[kevinumberger]

laurel gap shelter is a few miles away..........

after you get up to sterling, other than going up a touch at pretty hollow gap, it's either downhill or mainly flat........

the only key would be the distance.........