Wild Country

[Seth]

Every time I've been to the Camp Creek/ Shelton Laurel area something special happens. These are pics from my most recent trip across Big Firescald Knob.


Looking down towards Phillips Hollow and Artie Hollow. Some friends and I attempted a hike up Phillips this past March. The Cherokee NF Guidebook mentioned the Hurricane damage from back in 2001, but we were unprepared for the chaos that was ahead. after countless hazardous water crossings with barely a trail to follow we made it to the beginning of the steep climb up to the AT. We had to turn around here because of waning daylight. After we got back to the road we read the Artie Hollow page in the book which informed us that Artie was More difficult than phillips; something that is still hard for me to believe.


looking west from Big Firescald.


Clouds rolling over the Blackstacks from NC into TN. The previous trip up to this spot consisted of a climb up the Jerry Miller Trail. It was my first trip up said trail, and I frankly wasn't expecting a great walk. The weather had been rough all day but me and Stephen(one of my fishing and sometimes walking buddies) were determined to get some exercise. We started up the steep ridge not knowing the amazing whiteoak cascades were going to give us our first surprise of the day. an amazing sliding rock style falls that had to be 100 ft long at least. After the walk through the pleasant whiteoak flats and up the old roadbed we started to get into the clouds. this was really starting to bum me out; thinking that we would get socked in at the top. To my surprise we popped out on the AT to see blue skies above us. I then knew what we were in for. Stephen lit up like a kid on Christmas morning when he stepped onto the Blackstacks to see a sea of clouds with mountain peak islands popping up below us. This was his first time witnessing this particular meteorological phenomenon. We were so happy that the weather worked out in our favor we didn't mind staying till sunset and walking back in the dark.


Oops! how'd that get in there.

Ill post more pics from the Jerry Miller trip described above when I find them.

[Seth]

Found those pics I was talking about




Blackstacks


Looking towards camp creek from the chimney rocks trail near Weaver Bend


Girldogg managed not only to dodge the concertina wire but also knock my walking stick all the way down the stairwell


Tombone also doing a fine job of dodging the wire. the view never really opened up while we were on the tower


This was in the middle of July. does anyone know why the grass at jones meadow has been killed?


Love those cliffs in any season