Eagle Creek

Date: 12/3/14
Distance: 14.8
New Map Miles: 8.9
Total Map Miles: 672.6

On this Wednesday, Russ and Chris decided to hike from Lead Cove to Fontana via Eagle Creek to pick up Russ's vehicle that we took over on Saturday.  They were nice enough to allow me to tag along.  We started bright and early (7:30) at Lead Cove.  Lead Cove is a rather steep climb over 1.8 miles up to Bote Mountain.  Bote Mountain continues the climb for 2.9 miles with a total elevation gain of 3000'.  Up at the end of Bote Mountain we intersected the AT where we turned right towards Spence Shelter.

At the shelter, we followed what we thought was the trail down by the Privy and the horse rail.  Eventually the trail petered out and we had to backtrack up the mountain.  Back at the Shelter, we found the trail behind the shelter.

At this point the trail fell down the NC side of the mountain.  The trail seemed as steep or steeper than any trail I've been on.  It was very rocky as it dropped down the mountain. 

 After 2 or 3 miles, the slope leveled out to a more pleasant slope and the trail became wide and smooth.  After 2 or so miles, the creek crossings began.  I managed to rock hop the 1st 4 or 5, but eventually there were no rocks to hop.  This was the crossing just before campsite 97.  We were probably 4 miles down the trail.  I did rock hop it even though I'd changed shoes, but the next one was deeper.

After 17 or so crossings, we reached Lakeshore having hiked 8.9 miles on Eagle Creek.  The boat shuttle was scheduled to pick us up at 3:30, but the lake was so low that we had to hike down the lake a ways to get to navigable water.  We had to cross 2 more times to get far enough down.  We probably hiked an additional 0.25 to 0.5 miles down the lake before we found the shuttle waiting for us at about 3:00.

The boat ride was a little cold, but nice.

I was very happy to get this trail marked off without having to wait for warm weather.