I adopted…..

….,sorry no children or pets for me at this stage in my life, but tell me I can adopt a trail and I’m all ears or should I say hiking boots. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park requested volunteers to adopt a trail and hike it 5 times over the year, reporting back on conditions and any safety concerns. I applied and was hired to adopt the upper section of the Thomas Divide Trail not too far from Newfound Gap. For a multitude of reasons, some more obvious than others but including a worldwide pandemic, I was unable to check out my newly adopted trail until mid-July, unfortunately the hottest time of the year. I wasn’t expected to lug a chainsaw or heavy tools along for the hike, but did carry my trusty Felco pruners and a folding pruning saw for obvious easy fixes. I was eager to adopt this trail because it looked like there were many opportunities to combine hiking it with other intersecting trails to knock off more mileage towards becoming a 900 miler (someone who hikes all 900+/- miles in GSMNP). Getting a later start because of travel time, I shouldered my backpacking kit for an overnighter at backcountry site #52 and hiked in 5.2 miles.

Wildflowers were in abundance!

Rudbeckia hirta (Black-Eyed Susan)

Phlox sp.

Some interesting fungi too!

Curiously, though traffic was bumper to bumper en route to the trail head, I saw only 5 people over the 2 day period on the trail. As for wildlife, I observed 2 turkeys and a deer and plenty of evidence of bear and feral hogs. In fact, I’m pretty sure a hog came through the campsite during the night.

Feral hog rooting damage

Bear scat

After an uneasy sleep, I hiked the rest of my trail down to Deeplow Gap. Thomas Divide Trail is a very pleasant undulating hike mostly along a ridgeline and I quite enjoyed my adopted trail. I recorded a few blowdowns that were easily stepped over and I was able to clear a few branches from the path. I turned at Deeplow Gap Trail and soon reached the most scenic highlight of my hike.

I spent an hour here collecting and filtering water and just taking in the beauty of this special place. After briefly setting aside all the current troubles in the world and feeling my soul restored, I continued hiking on. The rest of the day turned quite hot but I enjoyed it nevertheless, hiking a loop with the Mingus Creek Trail back to backcountry campsite #52 and then back to my car for a total of 16.7 miles. 21.9 trip miles total. I’ll be back soon Thomas Divide Trail! It is so satisfying to be able to give back to the trails that give us so much! I encourage every hiker to give it a try!