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March 09, 2006
Lakeshore Trail - Day 1 - The Road to Nowhere
Accompanied by a good friend and hiking companion Dave Womble, we arrived in Bryson City, NC early Thursday morning March 2. By 9:15 AM we were at the trailhead parking lot and our hike was underway. From the Bryson City end, the Lakeshore Trail enters a long unlit tunnel completed in 1969, and emerges out the other side. Within another quarter mile, the pavement ends and a narrow hiking trail begins.
For nearly 30 miles, the Lakeshore Trail is dual designated as the Benton MacKaye Trail. The walking was quite pleasant, and within a few minutes we flushed a pair of White Tailed Deer. Through the course of the day we wound through the hills, catching occasional glimpses of Fontana Lake, and flushing about a half dozen Ruffed Grouse.
We crossed a number of gorgeous creeks including Forney Creek and the North Fork of Chambers Creek. At the outlet of Forney Creek we caught sight of an adult Bald Eagle soaring high above Fontana Lake.
The thought that kept crossing my mind was how much blasting would be required in order to build a road into this area. In addition, how could a road be built through these drainages without causing permanent irreparable damage to the area, including the pristine streams that are home to native trout? The answer is pretty simple. It can't be done.
Finally, we arrived at our campsite after a 12-mile hike. I have prepared an audio dispatch from campsite 76 for you to listen to. So turn on your speakers, sit back, and take a listen.
Great Places to Hike | By Jeffrey Hunter | 03:48 PM
