Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Here There and Everywhere: GoSmokies Event #6

Here There and Everywhere

This years GoSmokies Fall Event was a bit different than previous hikes. We had a base plan of hiking to the Dorsey Cemetery off the Lower Mt. Cammerer trail in Cosby, and a whole bunch of other ideas mixed in the bag awaiting the fateful day to come. We had more than 40 folks turn out for the event and based on past experience knew that if we had a large turnout the morning hike could be much longer than anticipated. In the background were several emails between the planners considering whether we should split the group and what amount of time might we have left for an afternoon hike. Since we knew not how many people would actually show up, it was decided not to post any specific plan. Instead we had a lot of ideas for possible hikes. That morning we decided not to split the group and as it worked out we made decisions on the fly. Originally, we had planned to hike to the Dorsey Cemetery first and then hit some places on the way back. As you will soon find out – that was not how it went.

After some socializing and the customary group photo we headed out from the parking lot toward the campground and the Elizabeth Campbell Cemetery.

This small cemetery is located a minutes walk from the main road with side trails leading into the campground. Jim and Renee from the Remembrance Project shared with the group some information on this and other cemeteries in the park. A big thanks goes out to them for agreeing to lead the first hike and share their knowledge with the group. I want to thank them as well for their flexibility as Mike Maples and myself kept changing the order of the hike! We did a lot on the fly but it seemed to work out great and we got to see a lot of cool stuff.

As we headed down the road, Mike Maples pointed out some chimney remains right off the small hiker parking lot near the amphitheater and nature trail.

He referred to it as the Campbell Place and looking at a map included in Ella Costner’s book I believe it was John Campbell. On the books map it shows the place on the other side of the road, however, I think the road on that map is actually today’s nature trail.

We got some interesting looks as campers drove by this large group heading down the road past the group campground.

Alas, we reach the Lower Mt. Cammerer trail and begin our adventure down the park trail.

That was short lived as I caught up to Maples and he indicated he had something to show us off the beaten path.

This car just goes to show what you can find a short distance from a park trail. It also goes to show that you can still find things even in areas you have previously hiked. Mike Maples found this car on a recent hike as he was preparing for today’s event.

We returned to the trail and soon came to where a home had sat just to the left of the trail. Nothing remains today other than the springhouse remains on the right side of the trail. A short distance beyond the spring and we found ourselves off trail again to visit an old apple cellar.

A brief return to the trail and at the next creek we walked up to another apple cellar and a large chimney not too far from the park trail.

This was one of my first off trail chimneys I found back in 2001. This was before I really started looking for home sites and long before I started marking them on my GPS. I later found out that it was the home place of Andrew Benson. According to the Costner book map there were other Benson family members in this area including the next home place we visited.

At the big chimney we made another decision on the fly. Jim and Renee took one group back to the trail and down to the Dorsey Cemetery. Those brave enough to follow Mike Maples would head over to Toms Creek and Luther Benson’s place.

While there was no big chimney there were car parts and several parts of bed frames around the home place.

Me and Ben Bacot hung around a bit and were discussing the old road we saw going up from the home place. Ben, if the Costner map is correct then we should be able to go back and find a couple more home places up that road. But we’re not going that way today! Instead, we needed to catch back up to the group and head for the Dorsey Cemetery.

Some of you may notice that I tend to hang toward the back on these hikes. I have a tendency to wander off exploring. As we headed for the cemetery, I told Rhonda and Mike P. that there was another home place just before you get to the cemetery.

Not much left of the chimney but you might notice a few pieces of what might have been a bed frame are lying on top of the chimney.

So far it had been a great hike and always a good idea this time of year to stop occasionally and look up!

We caught up to the group at the cemetery as Jim was sharing some more historical information with the group.

We buried Ben Bacot in a pile of leaves and challenged Mike Maples to find him with dowsing rods.

He never found Ben, but he did locate Richard Owen kissing a Puffin behind an Oak tree.

From here the group went in two directions. Jim and Renee took the first group back to the park trail and back to the picnic pavilion. Group two followed Maples into the rhododendron.

We headed down Toms Creek back toward the park road. I had some home places marked on my GPS so me and Ben were at the end of the line looking for the home place. As we headed down, we fell behind the group and soon caught up with Marlene and Duane. We headed in the direction where I thought I last saw Maples. We were a little teary eyed at being left behind by the Jedi. I guess he figured we was on our own! So let us pause for a moment and look at the statistics. I hear Jim and Renee only lost one hiker (Richard Owen was taking pictures of trees that were lying across boulders in the creek and got left behind.) Maples lost four of his group so Jim and Renee win the prize for best group leaders. Sorry Maples!

Luckily we had Ben Bacot so I knew we had nothing to fear. We continued toward the road when Marlene said she smelled something familiar. She had caught the scent of Mike Maples (Cheeto’s and Coke.) We found the Jedi helping folks across the last creek crossing before you reach the park road. We noticed a roadbed going the other direction toward a home place I had marked on my GPS. Maples asked us if we saw the chimney and big apple cellar. I shot him a dirty look and mumbled something about trying to catch up to him. He knew what that look meant and pointed most of the group toward the road then headed back across the creek to take us to the Elbert Carver home place. We came to the apple cellar first.

The chimney is just above the cellar. Actually this was a two chimney house but not much remains of the second chimney.

Nearby are the springhouse remains, rock walls and other items found along the walls.

As we walked back Marlene got out of line and Maples had to get his body guard to get things under control. Mike Poppen rescued Maples from a certain death (or at least a beating) and Marlene had to walk the plank!

We made it to the road and Ben went to console Mike Maples. Ben asked Mike why he was upset. He said that he knew Gourley would pick on him in his blog and that his feelings were gonna be hurt.

I caught up to them and assured Maples that I would indeed pick on him in my blog. He said that it was to be expected and after a few Cokes and Cheeto’s we all hugged and everything was OK.

Another beautiful day!

We had a great time eating hot dogs, chili and a host of treats. Thanks Jack, Bonnie and Eleanor for doing the real work! Do not underestimate the work these folks do in making this event happen.

After some good eats and social gathering there was a rumor that a couple people had been left behind at the car. Maples had promised some folks a hike off Rooster Town road so a small group of us headed back to the car on a rescue operation. Luckily the two hikers were found in good shape.