Day 5 - Mollies Ridge to Campsite 92

Mileage: 6.5 miles

Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,450 feet / 1,250 feet

Today we ended our nearly 16 mile section of the Appalachian Trail along the Gregory Bald Trail eventually dropping elevation for a final night of camping.

Sunrise with clots of reddish pink cloud, a fine backdrop for a chilly morning.

Backpacks and food hoisted off the ground overnight, ready for their morning descent.

Prepping for the walk - blister management!

All our water was filtered using local spring water. Giardia is the potential problem if you drink unfiltered or untreated creak water.

Day 5, packs lighter and ready to head towards Gregory Bald.

Sassafras leaves - shaped like a three-toed dinosaur.

The paths along the AT were very clear. Other trails branching to both sides were less trodden and less distinct.

The fall leaves appeared more frequently, creating a multicoloured lattice with a deep blue background sky. Stunning!

This young tree is growing out of a fallen 'nurse log'. The upright tree has sprouted on the wooden decay.

Note the roots straddling the log as they grows towards the soil.

 Such nurse logs act as a fabulous structure for so much growth.

Off the AT, we climbed steadily in the direction of Gregory Bald, the trail much less distinct.

Apologies for yet another canopy shot - fabulous view above!

 Leaves on turn...

 ...creating a kaleidoscope of branching colours.

Pecked marks into the bark, probably made by a yellow-bellied sapsucker 

(Sphyrapicus varius)

 In places, the woods were less dense.

Here this tree grew off a nurse log but the latter has decayed leaving this hole.

 Blown over trees with root structures exposed provided complex and sculpted arrays in varying degrees of decay.

We needed to take a two mile detour to see Gregory Bald. With heavy packs and blisters, some of us relaxed at the intersection whilst others took the climb to the bald.

A burr or burl - this results from a tree responding to some form of stress. It may be caused by an injury, virus or fungus.

This 81 year old was on a 14 mile day hike. He'd hiked the whole of the AT in the past. I hope to be as fit in the years to come.

 More fall colours...

 ...a variety of maples, oak, tulip poplar, frasier magnolia, basswood and many other species of tree.

Well over a 100 varieties of trees large and small

OK, probably a leaf and sky shot too many.

 Disassembling tree and roots providing nourishment for all kinds of flora and fauna.

 We now had a climb to Gregory Bald.

 This sign had been there for while.

 Onwards and upwards...

 Great trail names!

And suddenly we were in the open!

Gregory Bald trig point.

Gregory Bald is known for its amazing views and the

abundance of the beautiful Flame Azalea, which usually

blooms in early summer.

Panoramic views both sides of the crest.

Such bald are devoid of trees. Why some summits are bald and some are not is a mystery

 Some low lying grass and smaller Azalea and other shrubs were present.

Ivy showed us how to use 'burst' and then select the mid air shot.

Then back into the woodland.

 More leaves...

 ...and trees.

Note this up-ended root with a stone - bit like a praying mantis.

 Much warmer in the relative lowland.

Dr Strange and Kaos - future AT 'through hikers"? 

Last night in a tent. Close to the end of our trip and no bears seen!