Date: 2/27/16
Distance: 18.2 miles
Today was an incredible day in the park. The weather was just great and the snow at high elevations made for a winter wonderland.
I started the day at the Cosby Campground leaving the car about 8:30. The temperature was below freezing, but I warmed up quickly on the Low Gap Trail.
Low Gap Climbs about 2000' over 2.5 miles and then loses 1500' over the next 2.5 miles before it hits Big Creek.
There were some nice views through the trees on the hike up Low Gap.
The snow made its appearance near the gap.
At Big Creek, I turned right and hiked 0.6 miles before the trail changed names to Camel Gap. Camel Gap follows a creek for about 1/2 of its 4.7 miles. Camel Gap climbs about 1500' back up to the AT.
Back at the AT, I had the great fortune of meeting up with the GSHAG group who were hiking the Low Gap - AT - Snake Den Loop. I decided to join up with them and hike out on Snake Den. My original plan had been to hike the AT back to Low Gap.
The AT was a winter wonderland.
The AT climbed another 1200' or so up to the Snake Den intersection. While waiting on one of the hikers, I walked on up the AT for about 1/4 of a mile to see if I could find the jet crash. I didn't have any luck, but it was very scenic up there and the snow was very deep.
Snake Den gives up all of the elevation gain over 5.3 miles.
The cemetery down near the campground had the grave of the Poet Laureate of the Smokies.
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