Yesterday was finally an honest-to-goodness play day. We’ve been racing steadily all spring. After Miwok 100k last weekend and rocky Massanutten 100 Mile next weekend, we need some light, unstructured, rest and recovery time on local trails. It was Rob’s choice, and as always, he opted for the Smokies.
After delaying for the morning storms, running some long-postponed errands in Knoxville, and inching through an interstate construction detour, we arrived late afternoon at Big Creek campground in light rain. Of the three trailheads, Rob chose Chestnut Ridge. The loose goal was to run up to the Appalachian trail and go left along it as far toward Mt. Cammerer as weather, time, and interest permitted. As usual, it didn’t look like we’d have a view on Cammerer, so reaching it wasn’t a burning motivator.
As we drove in off the interstate, we saw a rafting company putting in and sending five or six rafts down gushing Big Creek proper. The past week or more of torrential rain rain had flooded the banks and magnified the rapids. The people were having a big, exciting time, but it looked so cold and they were all wearing tank tops. Brrr. Give me trails any day!
We arrived at the Big Creek campground to find something more amazing – kayakers in the narrower up-creek cascades of Big Creek. This was a first for us in all the times we’ve been here, and maybe for the creek. One thing for sure, the creek held plenty of water at the moment to make it possible.
We parked, geared up, and hit the road that connects to the trailhead. It being spring flower season, we started up trail at a slow pace. We’ve been racing elsewhere and missed most of the peak wildflowers, so it was a treat to see so many flowers still out. It was like moving backward in time. The late-bloomers greeted us below and we climbed steadily through several week’s worth of flowers up to the AT (around 4500′) and what was blooming at my 900′ house back in March.
Here’s a short list:
- Yellow mandarin
- Yellow trillium
- Painted trillium
- Sweet white trillium
- white, purple, and yellow violets
- Dwarf iris
- Wild geranium
- Brook lettuce
- False and Smooth Solomon’s Seals
- Galax
- Leucothoe
- Squaw root
- Mountain Golden Alexander
- Mountain ash
- Pink lady’s slipper
- Alumroot (heuchera)
- Mountain stonecrop
- Canadian mayflower
- Indian cucumber root
- Silverbell tree
- The winner…showy orchis!
As usual, the temps also varied about 10 degrees from trailhead to ridge line. Ten degrees may sound trivial but it’s not, especially when there’s rain in the mix. Trailhead wardrobe: sleeveless top and shorts. Ridge line wardrobe: same, plus midweight Marmot jacket, fleece gloves, a Buff, and lots of running to stay warm. It’s like another country. Thankfully, even though the rain came and went all afternoon, the wind stayed low.
Chestnut Ridge Trail
Appalachian Trail
Footing wasn’t bad until we reached the AT, trampled like a highway. Rain, many boots, and horses had thoroughly chewed it up. Sigh…another weekend of wet feet.
The air smelled so clean, with that distinct heath-rhododendron smell that signals you’re in the Smokies. It was so nice not to be rushed to meet a cutoff.
The clouds politely retreated at the mountain vistas along the way. We finally stopped for photos at a rocky overlook about a mile and a half from Cammerer in a dry-ish spell. We figured there was just enough time to get down before dark, so we turned around. Eleven miles was plenty for the day.
The downhill was so tempting, it was hard at first to hold back. At least until the past few races let themselves be known.
My “get ready for bedtime” watch alarm chimed about halfway down Chestnut Creek Trail. Out playing past bedtime! Rob opted for the headlamp with not long before reaching the road but I was determined to have a headlamp-free weekend for a change. I kept well ahead of Rob’s light beam for good night vision and made it to the road…but not without slipping, butt in mud, in Rob’s sight. To his credit, he didn’t laugh too hard.
The full moon was out on the drive home. What a nice, relaxing way to end a full yet relaxing day. Play days make race days fun.
