Dates ........ Thursday, May 9, 2002
Miles ........ 12.6 miles climb 1670' total
From ........ Icewater Spring Shelter
To ............. Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Weather ... 52 degF windy and cool, clear AM, warmer PM

Thursday, May 9, 2002

CHARLIES BUNION , The Sawteeth, Mt Sequoyah 6000', Mt. Chapman 6250'

Frank and I got off to a very early 7:40 AM start. It was a cool, breezy morning- very comfortable for the exertion of hiking. Shortly after leaving the shelter we were treated to a high ridge overlooking a panoramic spectacle. Then we came to Charlies Bunion less than a mile from the Icewater Springs shelter. We were not even fully warmed up by the time we got there. So much to take in so early. Wow, it is great. This part of the Smokies is grand and spectacular if you like high, steep rock-topped mountains, valleys that seem to fall away from your feet forever and seem bottomless. Trail and knife edges that fall precipitously away, leaving you a sense of being on top of it all - when, in fact, you are. Great care must be exercised here; one wrong move, one misplaced foot, a trip or a stumble could send you hurtling off into your hereafter.

Deep canyons and gorges fall away from the high mountainsides. Solid rock faces starkly contrast with heavily wooded mountainsides. Rock monoliths and spires reach toward the heavens. Rock slides decorate the forested mountainside with stone. For the next twenty miles, weather permitting, it will be one beautiful mountain spectacle after another. Indeed, we must take our time to enjoy this grand spectacle and lets its rugged beauty take our breath away. Hopefully the pictures I take will share some of this beauty with the reader and give him/her just an inkling of how spectacular this area is.

Charlies Bunion is a rock monolith jutting skyward from the trail. It has a perilous ledge around it, which, for the courageous, is the trail. It stands at 5413 feet, over a magnificent valley vista that simply must be seen to be appreciated. Here, one wants to stop and soak it all it all in, to play among Nature's finest creations.

Steep ridge sloping up and right leads to Charlies Bunion.

Narrow ledge leads around Charlies Bunion.

Caribou Frank adjusts his boots on Charlies Bunion

Rocky ridges of the Great Smokies. Just a hint of their grandeur.

Right after Charlies Bunion, the trail traverses a geological feature called "The Sawteeth". The narrow, high knife-edge ridge undulates much like the teeth on a saw would. Its not hard hiking, just treacherous. The trail falls steeply off to one side or, at times, both sides. Sometimes there will be a tree or bush to stop you if you fall, sometimes not. As I hike a little further along the trail, I get a great look back at "the Sawteeth".

Looking back at "the Sawteeth".

The geological features are mind boggling, awesome and beautiful. I am so thankful that the Appalachian Trail goes through here and that this beautiful wilderness is in the public domain: it belongs to us all.

The trail was full of surprises and the weather cooperated. Around every bend or over every knoll was a new spectacle. Truly, the Great Master Sculptor carved this land to be appreciated. We are appreciating it fully.

When Frank and I arrive at the tri-Corner Knob shelter, about 2:30 in the afternoon, Jeff, and Kelly and Rich are there. Kelly and Rich move on. Frank and I bathe and do trail laundry just before it rains and Robin "VQ" joins us. The thunderstorm passes rather quickly. Jeff is a nurse anesthesiologist, VQ is an ICU nurse and I am a former medic. Frank thinks he is in good hands, medically. He gets more advice than he can sort out for his blistered and swollen feet.

I learn from Jeff that if you mix a small amount of white gas with denatured alcohol, about a teaspoon of white gas to a pint of alcohol, the flame will be a lot more visible and a little hotter. I must try this at home before recommending it. Frank and Jeff learn from me how to do trail laundry in a 2-gallon Zip-Loc bag. I catch five mice and it is a relatively quiet night.

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