Overnighter to 69
 

Due to wifes car beaking down on Friday night, I thought I might have to cancel my trip with Nathan for an overnighter to campsite 69, but thanks to a good friend who let me borrow his old truck we were still able to make the trip. Picked up Nathan and got up to the mountains just in time to beat most of the crowds. The last few miles of the trip were in the clouds.

http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/...Forney/039.jpg

It was nice to get out of the parking lot

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The work by the trails forever crew made this path look very different from the last time I had hiked to Andrew's Bald.

http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/...Forney/043.jpg

Basically just a set of stone steps that should last indefinately:smile:


There was also some fungus amung us


http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/...Forney/051.jpg


And signs of fall were everywhere

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It's just a beautiful time of year


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Some cool train parts at the campsite


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And the target stream


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And Nathan giving it a go


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A few victims, but the fishing was pretty slow

http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/...Forney/089.jpg


And this monster


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Continued

Continued
 

I soon caught this guy who has seemed to survive a horrific attack at one time.


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Enough keepers for Nathan's dinner, but nothing of any real size.

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Back at camp Nathan pulled out some beer for both of us.


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Here was his catch cooking on the fire



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I prefer chicken and really wish I liked fish


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The next morning I caught a little rainbow out of Huggins


http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/...Forney/129.jpg



We then packed up and headed for water further up the trail


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Nice little section of stream.


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A few of these guys, but again the fishing was slow


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Continued more
 

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That last one took some belly crawling


Streamside trash


http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/...Forney/176.jpg



Tough on the eyes



http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/...Forney/183.jpg



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Unfortunately the fishing was now over - And time to strat climbing!



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I was getting pretty tired when we met up with the Bald trail. Nathan described it as a mile long set of steps, and that was what it felt like.


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Glad to be back at the car and headed for food and home!


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Great times in the Great Smokies.

If you need even more pics: http://s1163.photobucket.com/albums/...addler/Forney/

Very nice. Living vicariously through you, thanks.

That was really nice. Thanks for sharing.

Great to see that stream! That was my first trout fishing and backpacking trip of my life a little over 15 years ago. I don't beleive we caught a single rainbow even down at 69. I still remember those pools and that slide. That hike was a killer on some virgin hiking legs and the soles literally fell off of my new timberland boots. I remember I went back about 5 years later and couldn't catch a brookie around 69.

Excellent report and your pictures make me wish i was there right now.

Looks like it was a pretty good trip for a local boy. :rolleyes:

I don't have quite as many pictures, but here are some of them:

The moon and Venus out before sunrise before heading out:

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...psd09bb6a3.jpg

Trail started out foggy, but the was out eventually

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps815b17e8.jpg

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps10e6a6d0.jpg

The anticipation is overwhelming!

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...psaa4a3a3c.jpg

Lots of evidience of former times on this watershed



http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps9d3c1414.jpg

Finally to start fishing!

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps288c707a.jpg

Fishing was slow, but still pretty good

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...pse92eb9d8.jpg



http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...psc08bb024.jpg

Yum
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Day 2
 

Still didn't take as many pictures this trip

Ducky fishing a pool by the 68 campsite
http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps023726c3.jpg


An orange bellied brookie that took an orange neversink:

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps18f289a2.jpg

A pink bellied brookie that took a pink weenie

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps85992b73.jpg

Some really cool terrian

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps04e4dc19.jpg

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...psd869457a.jpg


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Hike back up into the clouds:

http://i967.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps52dc1d89.jpg