Wilbur Dam Road to Dennis Cove Road, southbound

Wait-up and Harry, trying to get each other straight.

May 26, 2013
12.8 miles
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

We shuttled to Wilbur Dam Road this morning to hike south back into Black Bear Resort.  We met Harry on the trail going north and, again, he was confused that we would be going the opposite direction. Again he asked, “You’re going back?”  We kept him confused. 

87-year-old Harry from Germany, thru-hiking the AT



Wilbur Dam

We crossed the road over the dam and then went up the mountain.  The first part of the trail overlooks Lake Watauga and is very pretty.  When got down to the lake, we met Frizz again.  We had not seen her since just north of the Smokies since we hopped up to Erwin from there (we had already done the section north of the Smokies up to Sam’s Gap south of Erwin).  It was good to see her again and know that she was still on the trail.  She did say she was getting homesick though.  She is going only to Harper’s Ferry and it seems she will be glad to get there.



Wilbur Dam Road

South of Lake Watauga, we crossed Highway 321 and went back into the woods.  It took us 2 hours to climb up to Pond Flats, then 1.5 hours down.  We thought we were home free because that is the highest point on the trail today.  Then we began a section that was very rocky with lots of people on it – day hikers.  There must be something in here that lots of people want to see, plus it is Memorial Day weekend. 

Watauga Lake

We met four young fellas that we first had encountered back at Mountain Harbour.  They were headed north, lickety-split.  One of them said, “We took a page out of your book and we are slackpacking today.”  Good for them.  We found out later their trail names were Tails, Chief, Lightening and Nature Boy.  Tails and Chief had served in the Marines together and conjured up the idea of hiking the trail when they got out.



Entering Pond Mountain Wilderness

A view of Watauga Lake from up above.

The rocky trail led us down to the creekside and went right along the edge on nothing but rock.  We kept following it, not sure we were on the right trail, but every once in awhile we would see a white blaze.  Then we saw what was attracting so many people.  Laurel Fork Falls.  It was beautiful!  People were sitting all over the rocks in front of it enjoying the view and the cool water.  We sat for awhile ourselves.  Then we started looking for the trail on to Dennis Cove.  When we found it, we were not impressed.  It was a series of rocky steps almost straight up.  At the end of a long hike it was pretty hard.  I really don’t know how folks do it that are not in shape.  But finally we got up it and had a pleasant final walk on to the road at Dennis Cove. 

The trail went right along the side of the creek. Interesting.



Laurel Fork Falls

Laurel Fork Falls

Laurel Fork Falls

The trail going up away from Laurel Fork Falls

We then walked east down Dennis Cove Road to Black Bear Resort. On the road there is a trailer with a fence around it with a sign, "Beware Killer Rabbits." Then we saw the killer rabbit --

 

That night we went into Elizabethton for a steak. It was good.