Mingus Creek, Thomas Divide and Deeplow Gap loop in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

 

On Saturday, April 28, 2018, I headed back to the Smokies to get some miles in on the trails and challenge myself with a strenuous hike. This particular loop fit the bill. At 16.3 Trail Miles the hike had much to offer.

I mapped out the loop, going up Mingus Creek Trail to Newton Bald, making a left onto to Newton Bald past campsite 52 to Thomas Divide. I would get 3.1 miles on Thomas Divide to the intersection with Deeplow Gap. I would hit Deeplow Gap,  go by Little Creek Falls, and hook back up to Mingus Creek and make my way back to the Jeep in the Mingus Mill Parking area.

This was my third traverse of Mingus Creek Trail. I did an in and out up Mingus to Newton Bald then back out. I did it again when I got Mom to drop me off at Thomas Divide, I hiked out to the intersection with Newton Bald and made my way back to the Parking area at Mingus Mill down Mingus Creek Trail.

Mingus Creek Trail is a challenge. The beginning of the trail is pleasantly graded as it passes behind the historic Mill. Graveled and graded it lulls you into thinking it is going to be a walk in the park. About a mile in, you come to a y in the trail, a graveyard lies on the graded path, heaven beacons on the left as you hit the trail proper.

The climb begins and it does not end until the trail does. The first part of the trail follows the creek and is rocky and today it was wet. Wet weather streams flowed across the trail, down the trail, crossing the rocks making for precarious footing as you climb. Some places you could avoid the water rock hopping or going to one side or the other. Some places you just had to carefully splash away until past the water hazard. Wild flowers were numerous and dotted the landscape with purple, yellow and white. I took numerous photos of the different flowers.

Leaving the waterway, one begins to climb into a forest that lags behind the lower elevation. Going up a series of switch backs to the intersection with Deeplow Gap, the lush greens and colors are left behind. The world, dominated now by tall bare tree trunks and fallen leaves, is dull brown highlighted by a little green and a brave little wild flower here and there.

I got a bit of a late start and I tried to keep up a quicker pace, but this trail was not the best one to push myself early on. The climb is arduous and fairly relentless. It was in the mid 60’s with a nice chilly breeze that blew harder the higher I went. I was sweating so much my t shirt was soaked and my hair was dripping. I took off my cap to cool my burning brow. I took a break at the trail intersection with Deeplow Gap knowing this was where I would hook back up with Mingus Creek later. I had come 2.8 miles and my legs were already wondering why I was doing this to them. I had 2.9 miles left. I decided to slow my pace a little and save some for later. Yeah, I still had 14 miles to go and I was already feeling the burn.

The upward trajectory of the trail leveled out a little and walking was easier for a ways, then the trail grew steeper. The signs at the trail intersections in the Park become land marks I rejoice to see. When they come into sight I can’t help but celebrate. It seems like you will never get there then there it is! The sign!

I topped out on Newton Bald and made the left towards Thomas Divide. The wind blew hard there on the Bald, and it had a definite chill! The sweat I had worked so hard for dried and I got cold. Walking kept me from having to pull out the fleece. It was 0.7 mile to Thomas Divide. Newton Bald and the first leg of Thomas Divide is ridge walking and looking off to either side one sees a vista of rolling mountains as far as the eye can see.

Thomas Divide has not seen the tender ministrations of Trail maintenance crews lately. There were several downed trees that one had to navigate around. None were particularly difficult obstacles but then I’m not a horse. I saw evidence that the trail had recently seen horse traffic. Hoof prints and poop dotted the trail. I actually caught up to the four equestrians at a narrow part of the trail. Apparently, one of the horses had had a problem negotiating a downed tree and ended up taking his rider on an exciting plunging ride down the steep embankment. The riders had stripped the horse of gear and were working as a team to get it back on trail with its companions. I spoke to them and negotiated my way through the close cluster of horse flesh blocking the narrow trail. Three of the four were retrieving the saddle and gear from the holler. I petted and spoke to the horses as I weaved through and by them.

Thomas Divide descended towards Deeplow Gap and I descended along its way. My feet were beginning to hurt. I took a break at the intersection with Deeplow Gap and the four horsemen caught up to me none the worse for wear. We spoke again and wished each other well. They went right down Deeplow Gap towards Deep Creek and I turned left towards Mingus Creek. Deeplow went down and I entered that lush green springtime landscape once again. Little Creek Falls was beautiful. Water cascading down the rock face in torrents. I was wearing down too and I still had a ways to go including a decent climb from Deeplow Gap back to Mingus Creek. I passed the intersection with Cooper Road Trail then hit a section of trail straight out of a video game complete with obstacles, unsafe log bridges, muddy pits of bog like terrain, and water hazards flowing straight down the trail. It promised to be a challenge to negotiate the different obstacles. I drained an energy drink and took a deep breath. Bring it on! Climb over the fallen tree, balance carefully across the log bridge that is more rotten than whole, try to get through the bog without getting sucked in and stuck, traipse up the stream flowing down the middle of the rocky trail, bog hop, over the fallen log, around the fallen tree, and do it all again. It took my mind off how tired I was.

The climb started in earnest as I turned away from the waterway. I made it by telling myself it would all be downhill once I hit Mingus Creek again. Up I went looking to my right at the landscape rolling away, looking ahead hoping to see the sign. When I did, I felt exuberant.

I made the last 2+ Miles feeling a sense of accomplishment. According to my Fit Bit watch I got over 45000 steps and nearly 5000 ft elevation gain. No wonder my legs were sore!

After nearly 2 weeks of emotional ups and downs I needed to push my body physically to the limit to purge the echoes of angst from my system. If I didn’t sweat out all those stress hormones I missed a good shot at it! I hit reset on the trail and now I am ready to take on the world again. Next Saturday is only 6 days away!