Andy's 2009 Smokies Photos


Captain Blue's

2009 Great Smoky Mountains
Appalachian Trail Hike

Photos by Andy "Captain Blue" Niekamp

 

Captain Blue & Princess Doah

July 10 - 15, 2009
AT Section:
Fontana Dam (NC-28) to Davenport Gap, TN
Captain Blue continued to hike to Waterville School Road.

Northbound - 75.8 miles

Click on an image to view a larger image and a description. Waive your pointer over a photo for a description.



Yvonne at the trail crossing of NC-28 starting a 1.4 mile slackpack. 7/10/2009 Fontana Lake. 7/10/2009 The Fontana Dam Shelter also called the Fontana Hilton. 7/10/2009 The trail crosses Fontana Dam. 7/10/2009
A photo in the visitors center of the dam being built. 7/10/2009 The downriver side of Fontana Dam. 7/10/2009 Pete, Yvonne and John in the lobby of the Fontana Village hotel lobby. Yvonne hiked with these two guys in Georgia and North Carolina. 7/10/2009 Yvonne and Captain Blue enjoying some wine before the 5-day, 75 mile hike across the Smoky Mountains. 7/10/2009
Captain Blue and Yvonne in the snack bar at Fontana Village. 7/10/2009 Captain Blue and Yvonne start the hike at the Fontana Dam Visitors Center. 7/11/2009 Yvonne on Fontana Dam. 7/11/2009 The view of below Fontana Dam. 7/11/2009
Entering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 7/11/2009 Flower in bloom. 7/11/2009 The view of Fontana Lake from Shuckstack Firetower. 7/11/2009 Yvonne in Shuckstack Firetower. 7/11/2009
Captain Blue in Shuckstack Firetower. 7/11/2009 The view of where the trail goes from Shuckstack Firetower. 7/11/2009 Flower in bloom. 7/11/2009 Flower in bloom. 7/11/2009
The trail reaches the crest of Smokies after a long climb from Fontana Dam and reaches this trail junction. 7/11/2009 Yvonne on the trail. Tennessee is on the right of the trail and North Carolina on the left of the trail. 7/11/2009 Rhododendron in bloom. 7/11/2009 Hikers in Mollies Ridge Shelter. We just stopped for a break. 7/11/2009
Feathers of a bird in a fight? 7/11/2009 A hare near the shelter. 7/11/2009 Russell Field Shelter. It was closed to hikers because of recent aggressive bear activity. 7/11/2009 Sign indicating Russell Field shelter was closed. 7/11/2009
Tree growing on rock south of Spence Field Shelter. 7/11/2009 Our tents at Spence Field Shelter. We tented since the shelter was full. 7/12/2009 Yvonne getting a snack at Spence Field Shelter. 7/12/2009 Yvonnes toes were bandanged to prevent blisters. 7/12/2009
Yvonne is Spence Field. 7/12/2009 Yvonne on Rocky Top. It was a foggy day. 7/12/2009 Thunderhead Mountain. 7/12/2009 Captain Blue at the summit of Thunderhead Mountain. 7/12/2009
View between Beechnut Gap and Mineral Gap. 7/12/2009 Flower in bloom. 7/12/2009 Flower in bloom. 7/12/2009 Bear poop on the trail. 7/12/2009
Yvonne holding a sign at Silers Bald Shelter indicating she had hiked 200 miles. 7/12/2009 Confusing trail markings. 7/12/2009 Captain Blue lays down for the night at Double Springs Shelter. 7/12/2009 Yvonne in her sleeping bag at Double Springs Shelter. 7/12/2009
The privy at Double Springs Shelter. 7/13/2009 Yvonne at Double Springs Shelter. Waiting for the rain to stop. 7/13/2009 Hikers at Double Springs Shelter. 7/13/2009 Trail sign indicating we are close to Clingmans Dome. The highest point on the Appalachian Trail. 7/13/2009
Captain Blue and Yvonne at the Goshen Prong trail crossing. 7/13/2009 A weedy and wet section of the trail on a foggy day on the way up to Clingmans Dome. 7/13/2009 Rain droplets have accumulated on this spiders web. 7/13/2009 Flower in bloom. 7/13/2009
A rocky section of trail near Clingmans Dome. 7/13/2009 Clingmans Dome Observation Tower. A foggy day with no views. 7/13/2009 Captain Blue on the top of the Clingmans Dome Observation Tower. 7/13/2009 Yvonne on the trail northbound descending Clingmans Dome. 7/13/2009
View from Mount Collins. 7/13/2009 A large tree has fallen over near Mount Collins Shelter. Notice the massive size of the root base. 7/13/2009 Yvonne at New Found Gap parking lot. 7/13/2009 Captain Blue expressing himself at the New Found Gap parking lot. 7/13/2009
View from New Found Gap parking lot. 7/13/2009 Yvonne in Icewater Spring Shelter. 7/13/2009 Yvonne setting up her tent in Icewater Spring Shelter. 7/13/2009 Captain Blue in his sleeping bag at Icewater Spring Shelter. 7/13/2009
Yvonne in her tent in Icewater Spring Shelter. 7/13/2009 View from Icewater Spring Shelter. 7/14/2009 Sunset at Icewater Spring Shelter. 7/14/2009 Icewater Spring Shelter. 7/14/2009
Yvonne eating breakfast at Icewater Spring Shelter. 7/14/2009 View from the trail near the Charlies Bunion side trail. 7/14/2009 Sign indicating caution at Charlies Bunion. 7/14/2009 Yvonne and Captain Blue on Charlies Bunion. 7/14/2009
Yvonne and Captain Blue on Charlies Bunion. 7/14/2009 Captain Blue on Charlies Bunion. 7/14/2009 Flower in bloom. 7/14/2009 View from Dry Sluice Gap. 7/14/2009
Narrow ridge and trail north of Dry Sluice Gap. 7/14/2009 View from Porters Mountain looking into North Carolina. 7/14/2009 Snail enjoying some food on a rock. 7/14/2009 Trail north of Porters Mountain. 7/14/2009
View from Bradleys View. 7/14/2009 Little bird on the trail. 7/14/2009 USGS marker near Pecks Corner. 7/14/2009 Mushroom. 7/14/2009
Trail going up Mount Chapman. 7/14/2009 Yvonne building a fire at Tricorner Knob Shelter. 7/14/2009 Tricorner Knob Shelter. 7/15/2009 Spring at Tricorner Knob Shelter. 7/15/2009
Morning sunlight on the trail north of Tricorner. 7/15/2009 Mountain Laurel in bloom. 7/15/2009 Yvonne on the rock outcropping just before the trail begins a long descent to Davenport Gap. 7/15/2009 View from the rock outcropping just before the trail begins a long descent to Davenport Gap. 7/15/2009
Yvonne descending to Davenport Gap. 7/15/2009 Large tree near Davenport Gap. 7/15/2009 Yvonne finishing her 240+ mile hike on the Appalachian Trail! 7/15/2009 Captain Blue at Davenport Gap. 7/15/2009

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