Saturday October 13, 2018…hello trails! I have missed you my old friends. I do not like to take so long between hikes. I studied my map to find a trail I could do an in and out hike on and settled on The Road Prong Trail, a 2.4 mile trail that connects the Chimney Top Trail to the Appalachian Trail along Clingmans Dome Road.
Chimney Top Trail was closed for several months after the Chimney Tops Fire that raged out of control through neighborhoods in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. One of the homes lost was my mom’s childhood home on Turkey Nest Road leaving my cousin and her family homeless for a while. The trail has been reconditioned up to a point beyond which the environmental damage was considered too great and a viewing platform was built so one can gaze at the iconic rocky peaks from afar.
I did this trail many years ago with my son. I remember climbing up onto the Chimney Tops and looking off into the distance. I clung to the rocks my fear of heights making my knees weak while my son scampered around like a mountain goat. I left a return climb up to the new viewing platform to be decided after conquering Road Prong Trail.
The first part of this hike is 0.9 mile of Chimney Top Trail. Chimney Top Trail is a very popular climb and the parking lot at the trail head was full. I pulled over a little above the lot in an overflow pull out. I got to the trail head around 9:45. I read that Road Prong would have some water crossings so I wore my water shoes and quick dry clothes.
As I made my way along Chimney Top Trail I had plenty of company. At the trail intersection I noted the difference in the two trails. Chimney Top is wide and well maintained and heavily traveled. Road Prong became a single line winding away up the mountain. I left the many behind and found isolation quickly. Road Prong follows the river and one is serenaded by the sound of rushing water. Glimpses of Cascades and waterfalls are visible through the foliage.
There is a moment on a hike when one has not hiked in a while where the body and mind protest. Lungs struggle and the mind questions the purpose? What are you doing? Why? Fatigue or just the promise of future fatigue teases muscles not tested in a while, the heart pounds inside the rib cage. Pushing through this spell which can vary in intensity and length is an effort of will. Giving in would be easy, pushing through is rewarding.
I pushed and I climbed. The trail is damp and rocky. I carefully made my way up coming to a major water crossing. We have had a lot of rain and the current looked strong. It took a little while for me to pick my way across. My rock hopping skills dusty, I hopped and waded some grateful I had on the right apparel. The temperatures were in the mid 50’s, the water ice cold. My feet were tingling with cold when I waded out the other side.
As I started up the opposite bank I looked back at the water rushing down the bed and saw 3 older men trying to figure out the best way to cross. The trail continued to be steep and rocky and wet. The sun was out. It never really got warm but my clothes dried as I hiked. About 3/4 of the way to the top I made it to a section of trail where a blow down blocked the trail. I figured out the way around it and found that the trail crossed the creek, then went up the creek bed a ways. I followed it a little ways then absolutely lost the trail. It hurt but I decided to turn around and not risk getting lost.
I ran into the three gentlemen I saw at the river and told them what I ran into. We chatted and I fell in with them. It took all 4 of us to find and follow the trail through the maze that crossed, followed the creek bed, recrossed and crossed again. The guys were super nice and talked the rest of the hike. Above the creek crossings the trail was not as rocky as the lower portions.
My new found friends were headed to Clingmans Dome via the AT. We parted company and I headed back down confident I could find the trail having traversed it once. At the river I had my legs and confidence and managed to rock hop back across. I was feeling so good when I made it back to Chimney Top Trail I decided that I could do the 0.84 mile climb to the viewing platform. It is an arduous climb, especially after hiking 6 miles of rugged trail. The climb challenged me as I joined the steady flow of tourists. I had to stop and rest a couple of times. I took photos of the chimney tops and mourned the loss of trail that crossed the distance from the platform to the rocky crags. The trip down the many many steep steps had my legs shaking with fatigue. I made it! Total miles around 8.3 to do both trails.
It was a great day! I needed the time in the woods to recenter myself and remember what is really important. I get caught up working, paying the bills, trying to make my income greater than the outgo and it is a close thing some weeks. The stress of it eats at me and I want to be done with it but I can’t see an end and it is wearing on me. To leave it behind and hit reset I go to my favorite place and I challenge myself. Getting back into the Jeep feels good after a good day hiking!
MrsSmithsLifeUnexpected 