Friday, September 25 - DrivingAfter work we decided to hit the road as a front would be moving in the next day and bring rain all over the south. We figured it better to make the pull with less traffic and better weather and it paid off big!! We got everything finally packed up and hooked the camper up and were on the road about 7-7:30 PM Central Time. It was a long night and there were some foggy points as we hit Highway 74 high points, but we made it to Mile High Campground (located northeast of Cherokee on the Indian Reservation) about 3:00 AM Eastern Time. We took about an hour getting set up and level and had to guess at were the view would be when setting up as it was foggy. But we got it right as the pictures testify. As we set up a few dogs came up to us with hunting locate collars on them and we found out the next day that the Indians were bear hunting that night - cool! Around 4:00 we got in bed pooped.
Saturday, September 26 - Raining, Groceries, Football, and Campground Hosts
We got up to rain and messy conditions and boy were we glad we weren't a) driving right now in these conditions and b) having to set up in this weather. We took our time, had breakfast, went and met the campground hosts, Jim and Joyce. We chatted with them around a wood stove in a sheltered camper area while it poured down. After a couple hours of discussion, we took out for Waynesville and groceries. We came back and watched some football and continued the recovery from sleep deprivation.
Amy Grace hanging in pack n play while we watch football under awning:
Sunday, September 27 - Oconaluftee, Kephart Prong, Clingmans Dome, Wildlife
Sunday the front had moved on out and the weather looked great for the whole rest of our time in the Smokies. The only negative things was the gout had set in on my ankle and that slowed us a bit from our plans but we made the best of it, got to see some cool sights. The creeks and streams were flowing great after the front and the animals were everywhere too.
View from our campsite:
Our
campsite setup:
Amy Grace ready to go party!
Wild turkeys on
Heintooga Road:
We took
Heintooga Road (
backcountry NPS gravel one-way road) that would put us near
Oconaluftee Visitor Center, our next destination.
After a stop at
Oconaluftee Visitor Center we went up Highway 441 North to
Kephart Prong
trailhead. The streams were beautiful and roaring. After a mile or so walk and lunch along the trail, we turned back. Between all the
footlog stream crossings and the wet slippery
conditions coupled with weak gouty ankle, we decided to finish this hike another day.
Start of trail across this bridge:
Old remnants of Civilian Conservation Corp (
CCC) camps all along trail:
Our lunch stopping spot:
Footlogs:
Emily on
footlog:
After returning to the truck, we continued onward to
Clingmans Dome Road, stopping at a quiet nature trail/walkway called the Spruce-Fir Nature Trail:
Rock along trail:
Amy Grace and Emily checking out a fir tree:
We drove on to the
Clingmans Dome parking area:
December 4-6, 2009
25 long beard goblers came out one after the other. Amazing watching this many goblers in one place, with no hens or jakes....
Young 4-pt on bean field:
Sunday morning hunting location: 
Riding around looking at property Sunday morning. Beautiful hardwoods and large fields. 
Front of the camphouse:
Camphouse we stayed in: 
Nice pot-bellied stove on the screened in front porch. We sat around it Friday night. Nice idea and warm spot for after a cold hunt. 
Movie and Camp Stew by the fire
Christmas Day 2009:
With grandparents:
