Gregory Bald 6/20/14

[Buzzard Breath]

My wife and I skipped out on work Friday and decided to hike Gregory Bald. We had read that the flame azaleas should be in bloom and we had been wanting to check them out. The only reason we haven't been is because the trip there requires a drive around Cades Cove to reach Parson's Branch Road. We got to the start of Cades Cove right at daylight. We were lucky that the traffic was stopped to watch some strutting turkeys at the horse pens. I snapped a quick picture. Navigated through the stopped cars and was in the lead.



I was able to drive speed limit the rest of the way around. Only one car was in front of me and they pulled over to let me around. I did stop to snap a picture of all the usual suspects that you see in the Cove.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

The name "Gregory Bald" was given to the mountain by Cades Cove residents in honor of Russell Gregory (1795�1864), a prominent Cades Cove settler. He and two other settlers made a deal to each take 1/3 of the land to live upon. Gregory used the mountain to graze cattle during the spring and summer, when the fields in the cove were needed for growing crops. He lived atop the mountain during this part of the year in a circular stone house near the mountain's summit (the house is no longer standing). Gregory, who (like most Cades Covers) supported the Union during the American Civil War, was murdered by a Confederate soldier in 1864 while trying to protect his cattle and land. His grave bears the legend "Murdered by North Carolina rebels".

We had decided to hike to the bald via the Gregory Bald Trail instead of the Gregory Ridge Trail. To get to the Gregory Bald Trail we needed to go down the one way section of Parsons Branch which would lead us out to Highway 129 once we were finished. The Gregory Bald Trail was exactly 9 miles long, per GPS with a 2,300 foot elevation gain. Basically, once we hit the trail we were going up.



Ignore the part where it looks like I jumped off a cliff, I paused my GPS at the top and forgot to start it back up. Here's a little description of the trail.

http://www.hikinginthesmokys.com/gregory_bald_trail.htm

 

[Buzzard Breath]

The hike up the trail was really cool. We'd been getting afternoon thunderstorms and add in the fact that they allow horses on this trail and it made for some muddy conditions.



Along the way, we passed sections of old growth forest. These trees were huge. Talk about feeling like a dwarf.



We'd gotten to campsite 13 and look what we found. This seems to be becoming a regular thing around the park. I've had some issues with bears in the park over the past couple years and these things have no fear of humans. More and more bears are associating people with food.



But, when we looked around, all we could see was hog sign. They'd torn the entire campsite up.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

About a half mile further, we reached to the bald. The azaleas were cool. We may have missed peak bloom by a few days, but the sight was awesome.







The fog was lifting and you could just start to see Cades Cove at the bottom.



Guess where our aggressive bear was. He was up on the bald eating. He already had half a dozen people standing around him taking his picture. I refuse to participate in the acclimation of these animals to people. People that think watching animals anywhere near Cades Cove is like viewing animals in their natural setting are sadly mistaken.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

The hike down was pretty insignificant. The sun had burnt off the fog and the views were awesome.



Even the trail had start to dry out some.



When we had gotten there in the morning, we were the first car in the lot. We passed at least a dozen people just heading up as we were headed down. We could tell some weren't going to make it. When we returned to the parking area, it was full.



It was a fun trip and I would recommend it to anyone in decent shape.

 

[Tennessee Lead]

That looks fun. I would like to take my wife and try that. Thank you for sharing those amazing pictures.

 

[Gravey]

Nice pics. Looks like an enjoyable trip

 

[Brisco Darlin]

cool. me and the wife are headed up there next thursday.

 

[mountain man 71]

I would like to hike up there and see it.

 

[TheLBLman]

Thanks for sharing. Nice story & pics.

The hike up the trail was really cool. We'd been getting afternoon thunderstorms and add in the fact that they allow horses on this trail and it made for some muddy conditions.

Had a somewhat similar experience a few years ago, except on the hike out got caught in a true "flash" flood in a really severe thunderstorm. Water on much of the trail became knee-deep in a matter of minutes, and I was honestly concerned my truck would be missing, washed away.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

We intentionally bailed off the mountain to avoid the storms. There were ruts deep enough and the trail was steep enough, I could see how it would get to be knee deep in a matter of minutes.

 

[CATCHDAWG]

That's awesome, thank you for sharing! Nothing like a walk through the big woods!

 

[in the dog house]

Very cool pics! I love the mountains and miss them. Need to head that way and get my "fix"

 

[stik]

from facebook:

Great Smoky Mountains Association
Liked � 1 hr � Edited


Gregory Bald Temporarily Closed

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have temporarily closed Gregory Bald and nearby trails including Gregory Bald Trail and Wolf Ridge Trail from Parson Bald to Gregory Bald. The closure is necessary to both protect bears and hikers.

At least a dozen bears are concentrated on Gregory Bald feeding on ripe cherries. The situation has led to several close encounters between hikers and bears creating an unacceptable safety risk. Wildlife biologists will be monitoring the area and expect the bears to disperse when the food source has been depleted.

�We regret the inconvenience to park visitors who were looking forward to a hike to Gregory Bald,� said Acting Superintendent Cindy MacLeod. �However, we feel this temporary closure is necessary to ensure the bears have an opportunity to feed undisturbed on natural foods and also to protect our visitors from defensive bear behavior.�

For more information on what to do if you encounter a bear while hiking, please visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/grsm/naturescience/black-bears.htm.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

Interesting..... Although not surprising

 

[Doskil]

Looks like a nice place for elk.

Thanks for sharing

 

[Brisco Darlin]

from facebook:

Great Smoky Mountains Association
Liked � 1 hr � Edited


Gregory Bald Temporarily Closed

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have temporarily closed Gregory Bald and nearby trails including Gregory Bald Trail and Wolf Ridge Trail from Parson Bald to Gregory Bald. The closure is necessary to both protect bears and hikers.

At least a dozen bears are concentrated on Gregory Bald feeding on ripe cherries. The situation has led to several close encounters between hikers and bears creating an unacceptable safety risk. Wildlife biologists will be monitoring the area and expect the bears to disperse when the food source has been depleted.

�We regret the inconvenience to park visitors who were looking forward to a hike to Gregory Bald,� said Acting Superintendent Cindy MacLeod. �However, we feel this temporary closure is necessary to ensure the bears have an opportunity to feed undisturbed on natural foods and also to protect our visitors from defensive bear behavior.�

For more information on what to do if you encounter a bear while hiking, please visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/grsm/naturescience/black-bears.htm.

we were headed up there thursday and saw that. we ended up hiking up middle prong trail out of tremont.

 

[AT Hiker]

Just seen this Buzz, we actually did this hike back in late summer. Tons of ripe blueberries then, delicious!