Schoolhouse Gap Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

On December 30, 2017, wanting to do a short little hike due to time constraints,  I decided to ride down to the Smokies; and I chose Schoolhouse Gap Trail, a short little 2.2 mile trail from Laurel Creek road to Scott Mountain Trail, as the adventure of the day. Solo hiking has forced me to do more in and out hikes than through hikes or loop hikes. As a result 2.2 Miles becomes 4.4 and the hike fit the bill for the day. On my last hike in and out Chestnut Top I turned around at the juncture with Schoolhouse Gap.

Schoolhouse Gap is a wide, well defined, easy trail. It has a decent enough elevation gain to get the heart rate up. I started my hike around 11:30 in the afternoon and got back to my Jeep at 1:45. Not bad for me, I tend to be a slower paced hiker. I was not the only one out enjoying the day. I passed folks going up and coming back down. It was 38 degrees when I climbed out of the jeep and 38 when I returned. I dressed in layers, merino wool base layer, t-shirt, fleece shirt and light jacket. Layers are definitely the way to go when seeking to enjoy the great outdoors in chilly weather. I stayed comfortable the whole hike.

The first part of the trail winds away from Laurel road following a pleasant little creek, then one begins to climb away from the creek towards the intersection with Turkey Pen Ridge Trail. Past this intersection the climb follows along at a gentle grade towards the intersection with Chestnut Top Trail. From Chestnut Top Trail intersection it is only 0.2 mile down to Schoolhouse Gap and the end of the trail which ends at a road and is at the boundary of the Park.

I walked to the end of the trail and looked across the road at the house that sets there then I turned around and headed back the way I came. I was cold when I started but once I walked up that first decent incline my heart rate rose and my body warmed with activity. I was comfortable. I did not have to take off any layers on this hike as I stayed fairly comfortable, never quite overheating and never too cold for comfort. It was a bit overcast, but never threatened rain.

This was my last hike of 2017. Looking back over my Trail journal, I see I hiked 268 total miles in 2017. It was a year of upheaval, marked by change, forcing me to redefine myself not once, but twice. I was forced out of a job I had for 28 years in October of 2016 and I would be lying if I said I have made peace with that. I battle bitterness. I win that battle most of the time, not allowing the anger to define me. The first job I got was an adventure into a career in sales that I never quite settled into. I am not a salesman. I proved that. The job I got in October fits me better but it is a step way down the financial ladder. Hiking, looking forward to wandering the trails of my favorite National Park, has helped me maintain and overcome. I look forward to 2018. See you on the trail!