Springer Moutain to Standian Indian Campground Hike Photo Gallery

So, you just want to view the photographs from this trip. This page has them all. The trip diary (where you probably just were) has all the same photos, but also includes my impressions of everything I saw and did. The descriptions are lifted from the trip diary so you may find references to information in the diary itself - you'll just have to read the diary in some cases for the full scoop.

Click the diary to jump near by the spot in the trip diary that focuses on the photo.

October 10

diary Ryan in front of the Amicalola Falls Lodge. "Amicalola" is Cherokee for "tumbling water." The rounded corners are caused by vignetting of two stacked filters and a lens opened to its widest (I think). 10:10.
diary Another view of the lodge. 10:11
diary Yours truly standing at the start of the Springer Mountain Approach Trail. We started hiking around 15:00.
diary This was one of the few broad views we had. Our lunch spot also had a decent view. 14:27
diary The Star Base. This celestial clock marks the sunrise of the vernal and automnal equinox at the Len Foote Hike Inn. Actually, it is mis-aligned by about one degree, so isn't quite perfect. 18:36.

October 11

diary Sunrise at the Star Base. 07:20.
diary Sunrise at the Star Base. 07:24.
diary Sunrise at the Star Base. 07:28.
diary Sunrise at the Star Base. 07:32..
diary You can't hide from the sun. It's getting into the Star Base cave at 07:33.
diary The sun is really brightening the day at the Star Base. 07:36
diary The sun is really brightening the day at the HIke Inn. 07:36
diary Me. Though I'm not sure exactly where. It's probably near the Approach Trail and Hike Inn Trail intersection. 13:09
diary One of the couple plaques at Springer Mountain. 16:40.
diary Re-Tread (Steve). He finished his northbound through hike a couple weeks earlier and returned to Springer with John and Ron. 16:49.
diary Ken sitting in front of the other plaque at Springer Mountain. I really was expecting something grander. But, you don't need grand structures when you're enjoying yourself so much. 16:50.

October 12

diary At the picnic table of Springer Mtn. Shelter. Left to right: Jenny, Ryan, Ron, John, Re-Tread, John, and Brooster. Jenny and Brooster though hiked the trail in 1997. They met on the trail and are now married. 08:34.
diary It's still pretty green around here. 13:12.
diary Lost Creek Falls. This would be our only water fall on the hike. I wonder how much larger it would be if the area wasn't short on water. You can see the falls flow by clicking here. 13:54.
diary I'm not sure why it's blurry, but here I am at Lost Creek Falls. 13:58.

October 13

diary Still pretty green with some spot autum color. 10:27.
diary In the distance you can see Sassafras Mtn. I actually walked around this one on a fire road with Dorothy and Don. I needed to catch up, I felt, with John and Ron since I'd spent too much time chatting with people like Sunshine (great kid). 10:55.
diary The flower season seems to quite long here. I've no idea what these purple-white flowers are, but we saw several on a fire road we were walking to Gooch Gap. 13:34.
diary That fire road also featured a Garter Snake. When it moved into the brush its camoflauge worked perfectly. 14:11.

October 14

diary Gooch Gap campsite. Great site with water. Left to right: Ron, Karen (aka. Pog), John. It's blurry from condensation on the protective filter. Opps. 09:55.
diary The view from Neels Gap. 13:11.

October 15

diary I'm not sure what state park we're visiting here, but it had a good view and unique toilets (captian your own toilet there). 11:28.

October 16

diary Blue Mtn. Shelter in the early morning. 07:43.
diary The colors of fall are becoming stronger. 07:46
diary This view is near the summit of Rocky Mtn. It's actually probably a bit north of the summit. 13:38.
diary From here, at a false summit past the Cheese Factory we see the real peak of Tray Mtn. (4,200ft). At these higher elevations fall colors are far more pronounced. 15:21.

October 17

diary Sunrise at Tray Mtn. Shelter. This is the cloudiest it's looked yet, but they wouldn't stay around. 07:33.
diary I really like signs like this one marking the Tray Mtn. region. 11:49.
diary Taken just a little ways down the side trail that leads to the summit of Kelly Knob. 14:47.
diary Deep Gap Shelter is lovely. 16:54.

October 20

diary The Holiday Inn in Hiawasee, Ga. parking lot. Left to right: Dee, Karen, myself, Ron, John. 09:24.
diary Maybe a mile down the trail from Hiawasee. Fall is in full glory. Soon I'd notice that sickly sweet smell I never could identify. 10:02.
diary Here comes Ron marching down the trail. 10:15
diary John is striding down the trail a mere moment behind Ron. 10:17.
diary It's good to look back on where you have been. 11:45.
diary Plum Orchard Shelter. Water continued to be in short supply so we had our hot meals here at a shelter that was placed by the 5th Army Ranger with a helocopter. 12:40.
diary Hot dog. The Nantahala Southern Wilderness. 14:55.
diary The trail seemed to gradually rise for a real long time here. 15:21.
diary Another border crossing. 16:17.
diary Ron stands triumphant after setting up his tarp at Bly Gap. 17:16.
diary A small group was camped nearby. Here is one of them at the unofficial border. 17:22.
diary This gnarled tree might not be a border on maps, but it's more interesting than a imaginary line. 17:27.
diary Yours truly at the gnarled tree. 17:32.

October 21

diary Me at the unofficial border. 08:36.
diary If you've never seen an AT blaze here is one for you. 08:38.
diary Muskrat Shelter. 11:31.
diary I wish this northern view had been better. The climb to the top of Yellow Mtn. was tedious. 13:08.
diary Yours truly at another Southern Nantahalas sign. I'm not sure why there are two. 15:04.

October 22

diary Walking along the Kimsey Creek Trail. It wasn't quite as misty as the picture suggests. 08:44.
diary Running water! A creek on the Kimsey Creek Trail. 09:20.
diary I thought this was a stunning study in fall color contrast. 09:42.

October 23

diary The view from the south western edge of McAfee Knob. 15:17.
diary The view from the northern end of McAfee Knob. The day was beutiful the entire time we were up there - a far different day from the one I had last May. 16:00.
diary Look here. Ron on top of the world. 15:24.
diary Getting to the top of the world is tiring. 15:25.
diary John O.'s turn on the most photographed spot of the Appalachian Trail. 15:32.
diary As I said before it can be tiring at this spot. But, John is full of daring do. 15:34
diary As John gets ready to leave the best part of a McAfee Knob hike. 15:37.
diary It's my turn here on the knob. 15:41.
diary Ah. What a nice spot to sit. 15:43
diary Almost time to go. There really is no danger of my falling off. This is good rock. 15.45.
diary All good things must end. It's time to move off the edge to let someone else up there (there were just two others). 15:46.
diary Our last night together is being spent at Catawba Mountain shelter. 17:36.

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