Garenflo Gap to Hot Springs - Northbound, Tanyard Gap to Hot Springs – Southbound

March 18, 2013
Garenflo Gap to Hot Springs - Northbound, Tanyard Gap to Hot Springs – Southbound
12.5 miles, 5.5 hours
Moderate

Hot Springs is in the middle of our hike today so we will be going both directions.  Chuck dropped us off again at Garenflo  Gap and we started north.  There were some slight uphills, but mostly downhill from 2500 feet to 1326.  It was windy and a chilly day at 49 degrees, especially on the east side of the mountain. 

We covered the 6.6 miles in 3 hours.

Deer Park Mountain shelter for a short break

 

 

 

 

 

The first view of Hot Springs from the trail coming from the South.

 

The AT sign coming into Hot Springs from the south.

 

Back in Hot Springs, it was lunchtime and we again enjoyed the company of Chuck and Tigger for another fine meal at the Smoky Mountain Diner.  The service there is superb, they really know how to cater to the many hikers who come through town. 

We talked with a lone young lady hiker in the diner, named Jugz.  She has come all the way from Springer Mountain hiking alone.  My, what grit!!

Tanyard Gap, the trail passes over the highway overpass.

Looking back at the trail crossing the overpass at Tanyard Gap.

After lunch, Chuck took us north to Tanyard Gap to hike southbound.  The trail crosses over the overpass of U.S. 25 and 70 before going into the forest.  This section is not very high, going from 2270 to 2490, then back down to 1326.  We covered the 5.9 miles in 2.5 hours.  It started to rain just as we were coming back into Hot Springs; we had beaten the rain for most of the trail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



The view of the French Broad River from above.

When you reach the river from the north, you have to climb up to street level and cross over the bridge banister and walk into Hot Springs on the road. 

When we got back to the hostel we met Steven again. He was very discouraged to have everyone tell him he needed to rest his ankle for longer than a day before he continued.  We took him to dinner before we left Hot Springs to try to encourage him and lift his spirits. We left him still undecided about what he was going to do, but we met his friend Zach later on the trail and found out that Steven had decided to take a few weeks  off the trail and catch up with his buddies further north, then come back and complete this section at the end.  

 

It started to rain on us just as we were coming into Hot Springs
from Tanyard Gap.  The only rain we had on this hike.
 

 

Looking back over the French Broad River to the mountains
we hiked on this morning.

Walking into Hot Springs from the north.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



We left Hot Springs and drove up to Hemlock Hollow Hostel located on Log Cabin Drive, about .6 mile off the trail.  Hemlock Hollow has a bunkhouse with 8 bunks, two private cabins and a bathhouse. We booked into one of their private cabins.  It had a refrigerator and a microwave.  Usually there is a café also, but it was temporarily closed due to the owner/manager recently having knee surgery.  Fortunately, we had purchased some soup and crackers, oatmeal, Styrofoam bowls and spoons before leaving Hot Springs, so we were able to eat.