";s:4:"text";s:6323:" We did a video to help inspire others to visit because it’s definitely worth it!
Finally a few lights came on and I saw Thompson on the floor of the shelter. The Kephart Prong Trail ascends the mountain's south slope to the Kephart Backcountry Shelter. Good trail to see water, history and wildflowers without needing to stray too far.Pretty strenuous but we hiked all day along the trail. We hiked about 2 miles crossing a few foot log bridges. Mostly shaded and cool on a warm summer day. Lots of cool foot bridges. Then up Seat Heifer Creek Trail to the AT and over to Icewater Spring shelter for night 2. He wore a long bushy black beard and a hiking kilt. At the end of the trail is the Kephart Prong Shelter for overnight camping. Lots of rocks 2nd half. Trail well maintained.Peaceful hike through the woods along a creek. There is a picturesque area just beyond the shelter by the water for a picnic lunch. I do like the bridge at the beginning of the… Nice Trail To Introduce Young Children To Backpacking! It is a moderate mountain trail, but a bit rocky. They took over some of the park maintenance duties previously handled by the CCC, served as school instructors for the children of park rangers, planted trees, and were responsible for a variety of other chores while living in the camp.Just beyond the camp area you'll see a fairly large cement block just above the left side of the trail. So you think you can ski? Not far from...It is a awesome trail for families woth gorgeous views along side streams and creeks with perfect...Love Kephart Prong. There was a guy from Asheville waiting on 4 or 5 of his Asheville hiking buddies who had “night-hked” the climb up Mt. Aufgrund der Steigung und Distanz ist die Strecke für alle Leistungsniveaus geeignet. There are many cool bridges to go over and the falls on the steam are amazing!We loved this trail. Note, the GSMNP pamphlet rates this as moderate, and I tend to agree. Aufgrund der Steigung und Distanz ist die Strecke für alle Leistungsniveaus geeignet.
Maybe moderate out and easy back. Here is a view of the unbroken trail midway up.For delicious camping recipes, check out my daughter’s blog too – post-template-default,single,single-post,postid-484,single-format-standard,qode-quick-links-1.0,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,qode-title-hidden,qode_grid_1300,qode-content-sidebar-responsive,qode-theme-ver-11.0,qode-theme-bridge,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-5.0.1,vc_responsive Pretty hike beside the river - well maintained trailsOverall good trail. Much nicer place to have lunch than the picnic areas. The Kephart Prong Trail begins on Newfound Gap Road 8.8 miles south of Newfound Gap and terminates at the Kephart Shelter and the junction with Sweat Heifer Creek Trail and Grassy Branch Trail. The trail signs are easy to follow, and it is a pretty wide trail which makes it nearly impossible to get lost. Abundance of wildflowers in middle of May. This is a great trail if you have already done a bunch of strenuous hiking and just want some simple nature time. Finally got to visit and it didn’t disappoint! Another married couple worked guiding rafting trips down the Pigeon River. The trail begins by crossing Oconaluftee River on a wide bridge. It is uphill the entire way which makes for an easy return. Kephart Prong makes for some absolutely gorgeous stopping points … There are some old structures along the way and a footbridge. Only crossed paths with a few hikers. I thought it wiser to backtrack down the same trail than to risk the unknown snow drifts and deadfall that might be present on a loop attempt via AT, Sluice Gap trail, and Grassy Branch trails.The downhill skiing began. the eay in is a bit of an incline but not too bad, just enough to get the blood and breath going! Water is available from kephart Prong. It was neat to see the old ruins. Its trailhead is on U.S. 441 between Newfound Gap and the Oconaluftee Valley .
Stopped for lunch n the edge of the water and returned the 2 miles. I turned by lifting skis and the deep snow kept my speed very slow. I poked up my head and saw a large dark form on all four’s crawling around the floor of the shelter and swinging it’s front section as it apparently rummaged through some object that had created the loud crash.
Total 7 miles.Hurricane Sandy had finished dumping 3 feet of snow on the higher elevations of the Smokies three days earlier. If you're interested in further exploration, there are two trails that extend beyond Kephart Prong. With the frequent breaks I needed, my average speed on ski’s wasn’t much faster than walking. The trail climbs 2,300 feet from the shelter to the Appalachian Trail. Foot bridges were nice and river and flowers were blooming. This group was responsible for helping to build the many hiking trails we use today....made possible by Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. The hike to the Kephart Shelter at the end of the Kephart Prong Trail begins by crossing a footbridge over the Oconaluftee River. Turn off your ad blocker to see a map of this trailMount LeConte via Appalachian Trail and Boulevard TrailAppalachian Trail: Newfound Gap to Sweat Heifer Creek TrailKephart Prong Trail - Charlies Bunion - Mount LeConte Newfound Gap Overlook to Campsite 49 via Appalachian TrailMount LeConte and Rainbow Falls and Grotto Falls via Appalachian TrailBradley Fork, Dry Sluice Gap, Appalachian, Hughes Ridge and Chasteen Creek LoopNewfound Gap, Charlie’s Bunion, Dry Sluice and Kephart Prong 2.5 miles from Dry Sluice and we arrive back to the Kephart Prong Shelter and the the return trip to the parking lot down Kephart Prong Trail.
The "conchies," as they were known locally, were excused from military duties but were still expected to serve their country. Kephart.