I had a great day hiking today with Frank Carter in the Husky Gap area of the Smokies. Frank lives here in the mountains and hikes every week with the Retired Citizens of the Smokies and he knows his stuff. As I’ve said many times, my hiking experiences are always better when I have a knowledgeable local guide.
We were in for a frigid day today. We started on the Husky Gap Trail off Newfound Gap Road at around 10am and the temperature was only 25° F. We trudged through light to heavy flurries until around 1pm. Our first few miles on the trail were all uphill. Soon we were walking in about 2 inches of snow. We turned off trail and visited the sites of several old homesteads, the Husky Gap School and an old CCC camp. We finished by hiking back out to Newfound Gap Road along Sugarland Branch. When we reached the pickup point at around 3pm, the temperature was only 18° F. It was finally cold enough to break out the hand warmers I’d had in my pocket all week and they worked very well.
I’m not quite sure what it is exactly about hiking in the snow that charms my soul. I know it is not always the case with others, but for me falling snow brings to mind peace and tranquility.  And with the hectic pace of modern life, I’ll take my peace and tranquility any way I can.
Distance: approximately 6 miles
Weather: cold, snow flurries, 25° F to 18° F
Elevation: moderate incline
Terrain: on and off trail, with an number of blowdowns to crawl under/over.