Hooper Bald Azalea Hike 2024

 

above: flame azaleas dark orange

Hooper Bald Azalea Hike 2024

Kenny & Dana Koogler

1 mile RT hike distance

Sat. June 15, 2024

Photos are Here Hooper Bald Pix

  It has been six weeks since my left knee replacement.   Today was the inaugural hike for the new knee!  We picked something short, pretty, and easy to begin with.    Hooper Bald is a lovely spot any time of year, but during the middle to end of June the native hybridizing azaleas are in bloom.  It is an especially pretty time to visit.   In my opinion it is the prettiest time of year to visit the bald.  The second best time is 

Autumn about the first and second weeks of October when the New England Asters are in bloom, and Fall colors are peak!  Graham County Travel was promoting the Hooper Bald hike on Facebook.  It was a good reminder to me that this was perfect for my new start in 2024.    

        Kenny and I slept in a bit on Saturday. He's been working himself silly.   We made our stop by A Lot Less Factory Outlet in Madisonville for our household items.  We headed out and stopped by The Farm House in Etowah for lunch.  It was perfect!   I love the little town of Etowah. I like that whole area.   Next we went looking for Starr Mountain Outfitters.  Lo and behold they have moved!  They are now about 3.5 miles out RT 30 between Etowah and Athens!  The new location is way better!  

There is a car dealership, car wash, burger stand and the outfitters all together along the highway.

  I got me a nice SMO t shirt I'd been wanting.  I got good chapstick.  I got a pair of Olukai sandals for $49!  That's about 40% off.  Kenny got him a pair of On Cloud sneakers for $108. Also 40% off!

      They had an event at  6 pm and a fair, but I did not want to stick around.  I wanted to get up the road to hike.    We took Mecca Pike across to Tellico Plains.   We headed straight from there to the Hooper Bald trailhead. It lies a short distance across the state line into North Carolina.     We spotted a few vehicles there as we parked, but not too crowded.   At least six  hikers returned to their vehicles as we were getting ready to go.  We had the trail and the bald to ourselves save for one other lady! 

           Below:  There are two  picnic tables available at Hooper Bald. It is a pretty spot for a picnic, but be mindful. This area makes its own weather.   Even in June bringing a jacket might be a good idea.  It can turn cool and foggy in minutes.  

            **Note to Self** Look into the bathroom situation at Hooper Bald. There used to be a facility right at the trailhead.  No more.  However I do see a building that resembles a restroom on the secondary road down from the bald.  Check into this. 

Above: steps climbing the final few feet to the bald 

    

Below: Not sure if the Graham Co. Chamber of Commerce or one of the hiking club's did the signage up there directing traffic.   

Above: Looking east at the start of the trail

Below: Looking west at the trail beginning on the bald. 

Below: azalea shrub in bloom near the steps 

 The azalea display begins on the graveled trail from the parking lot.   It intensifies once up on the bald itself. 

Below: the overlook to the south off Hooper Bald. 

Above: closer look at the tilted stone that serves as the overlook

Below: from the overlook you get a clear view of the Snowbird Mountains

 We hiked out to the overlook first.  It was glorious today. Flanked on both sides by native azaleas.  We had perfect, clear weather today for a view!  Down in the lower elevations at Etowah and Tellico Plains it was 85 while up high the temperature was around 72 ° 

  We did not hike the trail all the way east on the bald since there isn't much to see past the overlook heading that direction.   Instead we doubled back toward where all the good stuff is located. 

Below: This azalea shrub sits by the cut across trail to the  north side of the bald. 

Below: Looking back through the path. Flame azaleas, blackberry blossoms, buttercups, yarrow, 

Above: fir trees in the distance.  

Above: a pretty spot that clashes just enough to be beautiful.   Bold red orange azaleas paired up with pink mountain laurel! 

     Kenny suggested we cut across to the opposite side of the bald and circle through which we did.

Someone has been up here and cut the trails out. The Benton MacKaye Trail Assoc. was having hikes up there so I wonder if this is their handiwork?   It sure was appreciated. 

Below:  The photo doesn't show the tone of the blooms correctly, but I believe this shade is "Hooper Copper"

Above: another deep orange flame azalea

Below: azaleas and mountain laurel 

Above: looking back through one of the "tunnels" 

Below: looking down the path that goes to the "rooms" of various colored azaleas. If you stay straight ahead on it  the path lead to the Skyway in a fairly short distance, 

Above and below: Daylight and darkness at the same time

Above: Another "room" believe it or not this path kept going! 

Above: These azaleas look like Vol Orange! 

Below : trails opened up and flagged

Above: I'm unsure why some of the flagging was placed.  

Above: looking back the way we came as we close our loop hike. 

Above:  Mountain laurel and a wall of brush and briars.   The dark hole at the bottom right beneath that mountain laurel is the spring up on the bald.  There is a side path to the left that will take you in there, but it was pretty grown up.  Best way to reach it was to stay in the "rooms" and work your way over to it.   The spring was flowing well enough to seep down the slope and make the trail leading to the bald have a wet spot.  

   Below: looking across the bald toward the fir trees from a different vantage point. 

Above: deepest pink azaleas zoomed in. 

Above: a picture of the Primrose Path

above: deep red azaleas up close

Below: Kenny ahead of me in the tunnel

below: the unopened buds of flame azalea are where it gets the name

Above: Tassel rue was in bloom on the bald

Below:  Bluets near the start of the trail

Above: Hawkweed near the parking area

Below: buttercups

  I have never been happier to be out in the woods than I was today.   

I am on the mend!

Below is a video of the highlights of the Hooper Bald trip

Hooper Bald , Huckleberry Knob and Conasauga Falls!

Native azaleas on Hooper Bald

Hooper Bald , Huckleberry Knob & Conasauga Falls 

Dana Koogler solo

Monday June 16. 2014

Total hike distance 4 miles

Hooper Bald Hike Pix

      I was determined to get out to the woods on Monday again to satisfy my soul's craving for

a visit to the beautiful Cherokee National Forest/NantahalaNational Forest area.   I'd been hanging on by the skin of my teeth to get there.  The weekend trip through the vicinity just

 stoked that fire. Monday I went bopping out the door with my gear and down the road I went. 

        I enjoyed the drive down through Madisonville and Tellico Plains.  I turned and headed up

the Cherohala Skyway toward the state line between Tennessee and North Carolina.   I was heading for Hooper Bald first.   I arrived at the trail and parked at the second access spot instead of the trailhead proper.   I saw only one vehicle there.  I made the short hike up to see the azaleas.

I was not disappointed. I hit it just right.  They were in peak bloom.  I wandered around the bald

checking out the assorted colors.  The shades of color here do not have the wide range and show

less hybridization than on Gregory Bald. It is a far shorter hike and the character of the place is

quite different.   I had the place to myself far as I could tell.  It is wild and wooly up on Hooper Bald.  No horses or horse manure. No crowds.  I stood on the rock pulpit and checked out the view.  The briers are  taking the view away, but I did not care.   I saw shades of orange, gold, copper, peach, and red azaleas.  I saw mountain laurel in shades ranging from deep pink to 

almost white.   I loved the dark black green spruce trees contrasted against the brighter shades of color.   The air was fresh and sweet and cool.  The skies changed from bright blue to cloudy.

        I saw something that made me wonder if I was quite mad?  Tiny specks of white floated 

about the bald especially under the shrub canopy.  Considering the visual problems and brain problems of the past months I was not sure what to make of it?  I took another look and it was not

an illusion.  I saw very small flies carrying puffs of silk and giving them to one another like 

presents.  They looked like balloons.  The term "balloon fly" came to mind. I recalled seeing

a nature program that illustrated this phenomena.  I had never witnessed it myself until today!

I was seeing the mating behavior of the balloon flies!  I had no idea they were around the area.

Below is a short video of the azaleas and in the first few seconds you can see them. They are visible later in the video as well.  

      

Pulpit at Hooper Bald



Bright red azaleas. Never saw this shade here before! Love the scalloped edges.

      Another key difference in visiting Hooper Bald versus Gregory Bald? 
Hooper Bald is wilder.  It is like wandering through various rooms of a house to see the azaleas as opposed to the more open character of Gregory Bald.  I don't know what the acreage is in comparing the two. The azaleas on Hooper are confined more to one side of the bald.  
I finally found the spring on Hooper Bald this year! It was running quite well.    



Spruce trees, thick vegetation and briars and azaleas!




Top: Briers, weeds, evergreens laced with orange.
Bottom:  A stunted oak tree grows amidst the brush and azaleas.

       I love the Great Smoky Mountains.  They are part of the reason I moved to Tennessee. 
What I never counted on was all the beauty of the wilderness areas down the road.  I am from an area that is far less populated. I am a person who has lived in a remote area much of her life.   Another thing I never counted on was how much I would crave that solitude and quiet that is restorative to my soul.  Wilderness areas like this are like wandering through my dreams.  They are treasures of solace, beauty and joy. The Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests and the wildernesses they hold are a great source of comfort and escape for me and those like me. 
You can't be a tourist every day in a National Park's front country and get the same thing out of the experience.    Coming here is like coming home.  


       I reveled in the marvels of color and the sweet scents. I listened to the birds sing.
I watched the sun appear then disappear as clouds swooped across the bald.   I wandered where ever I felt lead.    I finally tore myself away and headed back to the jeep. It was around noon and my fat cells were screaming to be fed.  I met a crew of trail maintainers as I got to the parking area.   They were trimming grass and checking things out.  They were eating as they worked. 
One guy had a sammidge hanging out of his mouth as he opened the gate. I enjoyed sitting in my jeep watching to see what he'd do next.  I like it when everything is not so prim and proper.
It keeps things interesting. 

      I drove the short distance up the Skyway to the trailhead for Huckleberry Bald. I had only hiked here once before.  I was very excited thinking I might find wonderful things there. My head was swimming with daydreams of more loads of azaleas of different colors and other beautiful flowers.    I could hardly wait to get started.  I parked and began the hike on a grassy path that is very manicured and looks like it belongs in someone's lawn or in a city park.  It climbs to the highest point along Unicoi mountains in North Carolina.   Since I was up so high here it was no 
surprise the mountains made their own weather.  I was soon hiking in a cloud.  I was enveloped 
briefly by it.  I had yet to cross Oak Knob. I could see far in the distance the cross on Huckleberry marking Andy Sherman's grave.   It looked so far away and like such a daunting climb from where I now stood. I knew it was not, but it still appeared intimidating.  


Clouds rolling in to swallow me up at the start of the Huckleberry hike.  I hiked across Oak Knob.
The rain began in earnest.  I donned my rain jacket.   I walked about 100 feet.  The rain stopped
just as abruptly as it began.   The clouds moved out and the sun shone.  The weather did all that 
in five minutes or less.  Ah the whims of the mountains of the South Land.  The saying about living here if you don't like the weather.. wait five minutes.. it'll change is TRUE! 

     I hiked the gentle grade up to Andy Sherman's grave site.  I hiked around the knob exploring.
My trip to Huckleberry for azaleas was a joke.  I saw one massive azalea bush way back in the spruce trees.  It was inaccessible.  No wildflowers  unless you counted the gazillion buttercups lining the path on the way up here.   They were quite pretty.   I enjoyed watching the cloudscapes around me on all sides.  I decided that while it is a pretty spot it is NOT a good wildflower hike.
My Autumn hike here was by far prettier.   The mountain ash trees up here in Autumn are splendid!  I would like to come back on a clear Autumn day again.  I looked around me and could see the clouds swirling over the mountains nearby. See the image below for a view to the North.

Look at the difference on my hike out! No more dark skies. Now I've got sunshine and a Sound of Music Von Trapp Family day! Birds chirped and I did see sparrows and the rufous sided towhees in the grass and bushes.  Butterflies fluttered along the path ahead of me and swooped around me.
It was a grand time to the in the mountains!

       I was feeling ambitious and craving to see a waterfall so I returned to the jeep and 
considered what I wanted to do next?  Fall Branch Falls was very near.  It made the most sense
as far as closeness and ease of hike. It is always pretty.  I really wanted to find Holder Cove Falls
down on FR 210, but felt I'd best gather some better info from Paul Gamble before attempting that one.  I only had the most general idea where it was located.   I had not visited Conasauga Falls in a long while. I wanted to go there so I headed in that direction.   It is an easy hike to a waterfall
that is always a sure bet.         
   I drove to Tellico Plains enjoying the blue skies and sunshine.   I had some groovy tunes
on the radio and iPod.   I was sipping a cold drink.  Life is good.  I enjoy the back roads almost
as much as I do the trails.   I got to Tellico Plains and turned left (south) onto SR 68.
I went a couple miles and turned right onto Conasauga Falls road. It is signed.  I followed it out to its end. It goes from pavement to gravel back and forth until it ends at a gravel and dirt parking lot.    I saw one vehicle there. A little silver car.  I grabbed my pack and began the easy hike down.
Its all down hill on the way in and all uphill on the way out. Switchbacks make the hike much gentler.    Arrowwood bloomed along the edges of the woods.  It has creamy white blooms.
I also saw a little bit of mountain laurel mostly faded.  I saw pipsissewa.  I saw no snakes today.
Not a single one!  It was hot. The pine forest here smells sweet.  I made my way down to the river.
I could hear Conasauga Creek roaring long before I got to it.  The only other visitors here were two ladies sitting in the sun on the rocks.  They had been in the water cooling off but were just
relaxing there and talking.   Damselflies flitted about me.  I saw some salamanders in the water and minnows.  The falls roared past and down the creek.  Numerous other small riffles and cascades were along the stream both above and below the falls.   It was beautiful as always.


Conasauga Falls       
  I was growing tired and  had a limited amount of time to tarry here today.  I had to get back to 
Muravul to pick up my new computer from the store.  It had been giving me problems.  I was 
to pick it up today fully restored.   I knew they closed at 7 pm.    Regretfully I trudged back up the hill to the jeep and headed back to town.    I can't complain. I had good weather and mostly solitude today. I filled my head up with beautiful things.  Good things!
I was unable to resist taking a turn on the dirt road out to see where it lead?  It was so pretty and quiet.    I still had to turn around and make myself go back to town. I had it in my mind that
this road must come out at Coker Creek or that area? A later look at the map revealed that yes! It did come out on Hot Water Road down in the Coker Creek vicinity.  The trails, the wander thirst and back roads go on forever. 

     Here is a short video of Conasauga Falls from my hike.

Fall Branch Falls Hike

Bluets growing thickly along the Hooper Bald Trail

Fall Branch Falls Hike

Dana & Kenny Koogler & Obey the Pup
Saturday May 5, 2012
 Hike distance for the day 2.5 miles RT

     Saturday we decided we just couldn't hike the Smokies and leave the dog penned up. We opted instead to take our 4 month old pup to hike with us in the Cherokee National Forest where he'd be welcome.  We picked some hikes we felt sure he'd be able to handle for difficulty and distance.
We took him to see Fall Branch Falls first.    Obey enjoys rides in a vehicle too especially if he can let his head hang out the window so his ears can fly! 

     We stopped at the Subway in Tellico Plains, and got some lunch then took it over to the visitor center to eat outdoors.  He was very well behaved, but we kept him leashed since he is so nosey and has to go speak to everyone.  We finished up our drive to the trailhead and we were all very glad to get out of the vehicle.  It was a gorgeous clear day. It had started off rainy, gray and overcast.  We weren't sure it was even going to be a fit day to hike at all.  Thankfully it cleared off.

      Once on the trail and away from the road we let the dog off the leash. He ran around like a crazy, wild animal.  The trail is a wilderness trail and is unmarked, but well traveled. It is not super well maintained and Obey had to negotiate several huge blown down trees to get over.  I first thought I'd have to lift him over, but he just wanted me to get out of his landing zone and he hopped over like he'd been doing it forever. He was very proud of himself. We could see his confidence really increase!  He ran ahead, but would come back to check on us especially me. He wanted to make sure his ole Mama could handle the hike.  He herded us some getting behind us to make us move on up the trail.  

      We could heard the roar of the waterfall as we neared the bottom of the trail.  The forest smelled heavenly fresh and green.  The air was cool.  It was only 67 degrees up here in the mountains.   Perfect hiking weather.   I was also concerned about the dog crossing the creek, but
the water level was not bad.  He skipped across like he'd been here many times before.  He again kept checking on me and Kenny to see if we were going to be able to make it. He was a champ!

       The falls is about eighty feet high and a sheer drop. It shone through the trees like a big white ribbon.  The sun filtered down through the spray.  Basswood seeds fell like tiny white propellers through the mist and sun almost constantly. It was a beautiful scene. Sunshowers!
Taking pictures here was tricky because of the spray off the falls.   The big troll tree down at the falls has fallen over. The one I always liked to get in and pose for pictures.  It toppled over sometime within the last year or so.  Bummer.   The sunny and misty conditions forced us to climb much closer to the falls than we usually do to try to find a vantage point that would permit decent photos and video clips.   The dog was already up there prowling around so we couldn't be outdone by a pup!    

        Standing to the far left of the falls up close provided a fine vantage point without spray and better lighting.  It was fun to see this falls from a different and very pretty angle.  One of those times we wondered why we hadn't done this sooner?  There is actually a small plunge pool for this falls that can be seen from this point.    Everything was lush and deep green. Obey was having the time of his life. He played fetch. He ran under my legs and the tripod. He found crawdads and ate them.
He flopped down and enjoyed the cool. He is a very hot natured dog and appreciated the misty breeze and cool rocks.   Umbrella leaf, dog hobble, and violets were the main flowers in bloom down here today. 

         We had such a good time we hated to leave. We finally did turn around and begin our hike back.  It was all uphill on the way back out.  We were made to look lazy and slow by the pup who had gotten his second wind and kept looking at me like "Mom, are you going to make it?".
We put him back on his leash as we neared the road. We knew that was going to be a real chore as he was NOT going to want to be leashed again.  Kenny called to him and he just stood and looked at him. "nope. You're not fooling me." I had a flash of inspiration and I exploited my furry child's weakness: Worry over Mom!    I went to hollering "Obey! Help! Come help Mom! I'm in trouble!"  He came dashing to me. I hugged his neck and thanked him. I clipped the leash on and let him think he was pulling me back up the trail the last bit.  I thanked him again for the help.
It was wicked, but I was sure proud of how well it worked!   He can be very stubborn when he doesn't want to do a thing. 

      We decided rather than put ourselves through anymore time cooped up on the car than necessary we'd hike out to the big open meadow at Hooper Bald.  We could all run around off our leashes and play some more.  It was lots closer than Coker Creek.   We will save that waterfall trip for another day.   Hooper Bald was nice. Obey got some more run around time off his leash. We lounged in the soft grass near the pulpit.. the main view from Hooper Bald.  We visited with some other people and enjoyed the sunshine and the breeze.  It was marvelous!  I'd never been to Hooper Bald this early in the season. Its the doldrums for flower blooms there.  All the early stuff done. The later stuff like laurel and azaleas not even started.  Still pretty.  The trees just beginning to leaf out good up this high.   

        We hiked back to the jeep putting Obey on his leash as we neared the parking lot.
Good thing since there were lots of people and other dogs there!  He had to visit everyone. He's the "Glad Paw" dog and has to greet every single person and dog.   He was adored by all except one spooked little girl.  She wasn't too sure about him. We loaded back up and headed home.
It was no time til he was sprawled and snoring in the back seat of the jeep.
All the windows down feeling the breeze!

          What a wonderful family hike.  We were very proud of how our rescue dog is turning out to be an able hiker!  Soon he'll be able to keep up with longer hikes.  Today we hiked about 2 1/2 miles and he was fine.  He was cooperative in all the ways that mattered.

Below is a video of Fall Branch Falls

Obey at the falls 






Fall Branch Falls profile view


View from Brushy Ridge Overlook


View from Hooper Bald Pulpit