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.    

 

Max Patch to Garenflo Gap – Northbound

March 17, 2013
Max Patch to Garenflo Gap – Northbound
14 miles, 9 hours
Moderate

Tigger took this picture of us
at the top of Max Patch

Tigger is hiking with us today, Yay!  Chuck shuttled us out to Max Patch to head north to Garenflo Gap. I would say it was a moderate day today, rising from a low of 3550 to the top of Bluff Mountain at 4686 then back down to Garenflo at 2500. 

It was great fun having another woman to hike with for a change.  Wait-up went on ahead and left us to talk all we wanted to on the trail.  I guess he enjoyed it too, walking at his own pace instead of waiting on Catch-up at the top of every incline.

Wait-up and Catch-up at the top of Max Patch.
 

Along the way, we met Steven, who had twisted his ankle while sliding down an icy patch in the Smokies.  He said he slipped about 30 feet before he was able to stop.  We heard some gruesome stories from several hikers who had come through the Smokies in February with about three feet of snow on the ground.  Steven would not agree to accept a ride at Garenflo with us nor to let Wait-up carry his pack, but insisted on hiking the entire distance to Hot Springs with his pack.   He made it too after dark that night.  Those thru-hikers are some tuff dudes!

Tigger and Catch-up at the top
of Max Patch

As usual, before the end of the hike Tigger and I started dreaming about a burger, so when Chuck picked us up we headed to the diner.  Unfortunately, the diner closes at 4:00 on Sundays, so we went to the Spring Creek Tavern.  They have a good hamburger too and, I understand, they have a live band on many evenings. 

We had another good night’s sleep in the private room at Laughing Heart.

Wait-up at the top of Bluff Mountain.