Sugarland Mountain Trail Dawn to Midday Through Hike

 Sugarland Mountain Trail Dawn to Midday Through Hike

October 2009

Dana Koogler solo 

Sugarland Mountain Trail from Mt. Collins to Fighting Creek Gap shuttle hike

Total mileage 12.20 miles 

with short side trip down and back on Mids Gap Manway

Photos are HERE 

   Kenny was working at Dollywood with his company.   He was commuting back and forth.  He ended up having to work a Saturday that I wanted to hike.   I decided to take advantage of the situation.   We had a little "beater" car back then an old Eagle talon sports car.   It was a four speed stick shift and real compact.    It was a cute little car, but the paint was peeling and faded.   It still drove great and got awesome gas mileage.  It had the added benefit of being a POS car that if it got stolen, car clouted, scratched up or damaged we did not care!    I called Kenny one evening before he left work and planned to meet him at Fighting Creek Gap.   He took that route home Friday evening and  met me there. I parked my shuttle vehicle down here at this end.  The next morning he dropped me off to start my hike on Mount Collins at 0530.      It was pitch dark when I started off and very cold.     I would hike with a head lamp and get to see the dawn come to Sugarland Mountain Trail.    

Above: Black 1992 Eagle talon that looks just like the one we had only this one was in better condition than the one we had.   Ours by then was faded and paint peeling.   

 

Below: first photo of the day... looks brighter than it was on account of the cameras effects

Below:  The next photo in the sequence shows the trail becoming a little lighter.  It is a gloomy section of dark balsam near Mt. Collins. 

I began hiking and just strolled along in the dark with my head lamp past the Mt Collins shelter.  I walked through what I knew was the balsam zone and the world seemed to grow darker.  

I was totally at peace.    The air was chilly, but fresh and smelled of evergreens and damp earth.   

I had checked the newspaper to see what time sunrise would actually happen.  I timed my start just right.  I got to witness the entire dawn. 

     

Above: Coming out of the deepest part of the balsam zone the sun is coming up over the horizon. 

       

Above: Dawn bursts through spreading golden light on the surroundings. It is glorious!

Below: Sugarland Mountain Trail in the early pink alpenglow.   The Autumn colors are a good mix with the pretty light. 

Below: Sugarland Mountain trail has several places along it where you can get vistas of the valleys or mountains to the east and west. This was my first view to the west.  

Above: My second view of the morning as the sun rises higher.   

Above: fiery orange maple leaves on the trees around me. 

Above: I came to a tree that had a carving in it. I set my pack down to study this area more closely.   I had come upon the Chimney Tops manway!  The tree has since fallen down, but I am happy to have seen it before it was gone. 

Below:  The start of the Chimney Tops Manway is a mess of rhododendron.  This manway runs a lead from Sugarland Mountain over to Chimney Tops.   I went back in two weeks and hiked this manway with Kenny. It was fun and exciting!  

Below: Arrow carved into the marker tree for Chimney Tops Manway. 

Below:  The view of Chimney Tops from the manway. 

Above:  I continued onward. Sugarland Mountain Trail is dramatic.  It is level in some places.  It has views.  The scenery is pretty.  Especially in Autumn. The sun is up now full force.   

Above: Another view to the west of the fiery leaves and mountains in the distance. 

Above:  The trail near Rough Creek where the two intersect.   I stopped in this area and sat down to rest and have a drink and a snack.  The day was warmer now that the sun was fully up. I put my mittens away. 

Below: Another view I think to the east from the trail.  Golden leaves are eye catching! 

Below: the intersection signs of Rough Creek and Sugarland Mountain Trail. What a pretty mountain gap. 

Below: I saw so many bright red-orange leaves today.   Here are also yellow birch leaves turned pale yellow.   

Below: My mittens laid down near the benchmark for the high point on the trail

Above: Another view to the east through the trees.   The day is really pretty with blue skies.  

I hiked onward and soon came to a spot I had long wondered about.  Camp Site 21 Medicine  Branch Bluff.

Above: scenery at Medicine Branch  Bluff

Below: CS 21 sign. This site I think has been closed since this hike.  It is replaced by a new CS 21 further down toward Elkmont.   It is just as well. I did not care for the old CS 21. It was rocky, had a poor water source that dried up, and was gloomy. No good scenery in my opinion. It was also rather cramped.  

Below: A look at the campsite for #21 .. the old site.  Nothing too spectacular. 

Below: I did see some gentians at the old campsite.   

I continued hiking along and passed the intersection with Huskey Branch Trail.  It is always a pretty spot, but today it was not as pretty as in Spring to my eyes.  I continued onward to Mids Gap where I knew there was another old manway I was curious about.   

Below: The beech tree that has the carvings to act as sort of a sign to point the way.  Mids Branch manway goes down along the stream to Elkmont.   I hiked about 0.25 miles of it or about half.  I had hiked a good distance already and had more to go so I did not make it the entire way.   I didn't see a lot that interested me this trip, but it may have been season or just my mood. 

Above: The Mids Gap manway goes both down to Elkmont and the other direction it heads toward Laurel Creek Road coming out below Fighting Creek Gap.   

Above:  a photo of Mids Gap Manway. Straight ahead goes to the Laurel Falls Trailhead aka Fighting Creek Gap.  To the left goes to Elkmont.  Behind me returns up to Huskey Gap along Sugarland Mtn trail and to the right goes toward Laurel Creek Road. 

Below:  Once past Mids Gap the scenery was not as attractive as it had been. I think weariness helps cause me to feel that way.   Here is a view toward Fighting Creek Gap.  I can tell I am approaching the end. 

Below: I have reached the end. I am not sure how long this hike took me.  I think it took me until around noon.   Once at the parking lot and my car I saw loads of Fall asters in pale lavender.  Laurel Falls parking lot was full to running over as you might expect.   It didn't concern me. I had made sure to park in such a way I would be certain to be able to get out.   I unlocked the car and stowed my gear.    I hit the road and headed home.  I was happy at having a fine hike and that the plan worked out.  I knew Kenny would swing by here on his way home to be 100% certain I'd got off the trail and home with no trouble.   

Below:  The sign for Sugarland Mountain Trail.  It was a long hike, but worth it.   

  I enjoyed this so much. I need to find another good trail to do this on.  It was special.   

  Below is a video of Norah Jones singing "Sunrise" the perfect song for the hike. 

It is an experience I am sure I happy I  made time for.  It was a marvelous and beautiful trek.  Nothing like it.  

If you ever get the chance this might be something you want to try yourself!