Mt. Cammerer Loop

Made the first big hike of the season last week. Started at 8 a.m. at the Big Creek Ranger Station and made a 17.5-mile loop using Chestnut Branch, the Appalachian Trail, Mt. Cammerer Trail, Low Gap and a return on Big Creek Trail past Mouse Creek Falls and finally the park road. Surprised to see a fair bit of snow up high -- mostly above 3,500 feet, and up to 6 inches at 5,000 feet. Snow was a delight for me but a complicating factor to northbound thru-hikers. Excited to see a wealth of flowers down low -- dogwoods, redbud, firechalice, phlox and more. Finished up by 3.30 and felt just fine -- a nice contrast from practically being hobbled after last week's 10 plus 6 mile backtoback hikes in the Pisgah.