The Fire Tower
Jacqueline A. Lott
cover art feelie map feelies female protagonist IF Art Show IF Art Show 2004 landscape parser puzzleless tower Xyzzy Awards 2004 XYZZY Best Setting
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"You're certain that you'll be okay on your own?" he asks.

You smile at him, tightening the pack around your waist. A slight
laugh creeps into your voice - it's not as if you haven't done this before. "Yes, dear. I'll be fine. It's nothing personal, I just..."
You take in the concerned expression on his face and your voice
softens slightly. "I just need a break. Not from you, necessarily, but from everything: work, responsibilities, friends. I just need a day to myself, you know?"

He nods. "Yeah. Yeah, I guess I do. No worries; I get like that myself sometimes. Just in case something happens, what route do you plan to take? Your usual?"

You nod. "Yeah. I'll head up the long way, on the Lower Mt. Cammerer trail, hit the Appalachian trail to get to the tower, then descend by going further down the AT towards Low Gap. I'll take the Low Gap trail back to the campground."

He smiles at you. "Like I said, 'Your usual.' Listen, I'll be back to pick you up about... Hm, what time?"

"Well, if I were just hiking, I could be out by mid-afternoon, but I really want to take my time and enjoy things. I guess it gets dark about... what? Half past nine these days?" He nods. "I should be out
by then. I'll meet you right back here at nine-thirty, okay?" you
offer up your most reassuring smile.

"Sure," he says. "I love you. Be careful, and have a great hike."

With that, he kisses you lightly on the lips and gets back in the car. He waves out the driver's side window and heads off toward the north end of the parking lot, towards home. Soon, the car is out of sight entirely.
Inventory
For hints and information, type "about."

Enjoy your walk, and thank you for playing.

Standing alone at the edge of the deserted parking lot, you take in a deep breath of fresh air and glance about. An inviting trail beckons from the forest to the east; that path quickly curves among the hemlocks and out of sight. Two roads depart from the parking lot: one leads north, towards home, the other south, toward the campground not quite half a mile distant.

Today's hike is one you've done many times before, and you're intimately familiar with the ground you'll cover. You know without the aid of a map that you can proceed either east or south, and that
either route will bring you toward the Lower Mt. Cammerer trail. From there it's a slow and steady climb to the fire tower.
You check what you're carrying
You are carrying:
some socks (being worn)
some hiking shorts (being worn)
a shirt (being worn)
some hiking boots (being worn)
a hip pack (being worn and closed)
a watch (being worn)
Examine watch
You glance down at your watch, a rather chunky and unstylish accoutrement purchased for fifteen dollars at the drugstore. Fashion critiques aside, it's a functional, water-resistant, glow in the dark timepiece.

At present, it indicates that the time is 7:02 AM.
You examine yourself
You glance down and the first thing you see are your hiking boots. They're serious hiking boots - eight inches high, all leather exterior with Gore-Tex lining; so long as you don't walk through water more than, say, seven or seven and a half inches deep, your feet will stay dry. These boots consume most of your lower calves in a rather unladylike but not altogether unattractive way, and bits of your thick Thorlo socks are just visible.

Your legs, feminine but muscular, are revealed to the world because you're wearing shorts, which, let's be honest, is probably silly, because you'll no doubt end up covered in bug bites and scratches, but it's sooo warm and you simply couldn't resist - it will give you something to complain about tomorrow, but only to the people who won't say, "Why didn't you wear pants?"

At any rate, a long sleeved t-shirt rounds out the ensemble. You're comfortable, and you're ready to hike.
Examine pack
You don't know what you'd do without your wonderful hip pack on day hikes like this. It's compact, it's capable of carrying everything you could really need (even in an emergency), it holds a water bottle, and it's your favorite color (green!).

A slight breeze blows out of the east.
You remove the watch
You take off the watch.
You look around
while exploring the nearby trail system in the national park, but this morning it's devoid of vehicles. A grassy hill, recently mown, lines the western edge of the parking lot, while a forest abuts it to the east. From the parking lot there are two roads: one departing north, toward the park exit, and one leading south toward the campground just under half a mile away. A trail enters the woods to the east, quickly disappearing amongst the hemlocks.

For your hike, you can proceed either east or south. Either route will take you to the Lower Mt. Cammerer trail.
Go east
You put your watch back on before walking away, just to make certain that you don't lose it.

You decide it's best to leave the pavement as quickly as possible, and opt for the trail into the woods. The path, lined with wildflowers, curves south, then southeast, before joining with the Lower Mt. Cammerer trail.

Trail Junction (Lower Mt. Cammerer & Access trails)
You're standing at the junction of two trails, and two signs are
nailed to a single post here to orient you. The Lower Mt. Cammerer trail heads northeast, toward the Sutton Ridge Overlook and, eventually, to the Appalachian Trail. Alternately, the trail continues southwest toward the campground, about two tenths of a mile away. A second trail, unnamed, runs northwest, toward the parking area where you began, or southeast, toward the Low Gap Trail.

A patch of yellow flowers is growing at the base of the signpost.
You pick the flowers
As much as you might love to pick some of the flowers, you'd prefer to leave them for the next hiker to enjoy. And besides, this is a
National Park; things should be left untouched and in their natural state so that everyone can enjoy the beauty. There are flowers to pick in the garden back home.

As much as you might love to pick some of the flowers, you'd prefer to leave them for the next hiker to enjoy. And besides, this is a
National Park; things should be left untouched and in their natural state so that everyone can enjoy the beauty. There are flowers to pick in the garden back home.
Smell flowers
Hm... you can't really detect much of a scent from these flowers.
Their delicate beauty makes up for the lack of scent.
Blow flowers
(first taking the wildflowers)
As much as you might love to pick some of the flowers, you'd prefer to leave them for the next hiker to enjoy. And besides, this is a
National Park; things should be left untouched and in their natural state so that everyone can enjoy the beauty. There are flowers to pick in the garden back home.
Examine nw
You jump up and down, but the weight of your pack banging around on your hips is rather uncomfortable, so you quickly cease your hopping.

An insect lights upon your ear, but a wave of your hand sends it away.

You can't see any such thing.
You examine the path
You're standing at the junction of two trails, one running northwest-southeast, the other running northeast-southwest. At the north corner of the junction, two signs are nailed to a single post indicating where each trail leads.
You examine the signs
There are two signs on the post. The uppermost sign faces southeast, and is oriented so that you know it pertains to the trail that runs northeast-southwest; it reads:

Sutton Ridge Overlook 1.2 >
Appalachian Trail 7.3 >
< Cosby Campground 0.2

The other sign faces southwest and pertains to the access trail from the parking lot, which has no name; the sign reads:

Low Gap Trail 0.4 ->
<- Hiker Parking 0.4
You rest
Time passes.
Look around
Trail Junction (Lower Mt. Cammerer & Access trails)
You're standing at the junction of two trails, one running northwest-southeast, the other running northeast-southwest. At the north corner of the junction, two signs are nailed to a single post indicating where each trail leads.
You go northwest
You take a look at the trail sign and confirm that that way just leads back to the parking area where you began. Your route heads northeast, up the Lower Mt. Cammerer trail.
Go northeast
You head northeast. A quarter mile or so down the path you encounter a shallow stream, easily crossed by hopping from one rock to the next without getting your boots wet.

Before long, the trail narrows from a road to a trail. The vegetation closes in on each side as well as overhead, forming a darkened tunnel of rhododendron. It's a pleasant stroll along this section, quiet,
with only the smallest shafts of sunlight penetrating the thick
canopy, but you're evidently the first person to break trail today and you keep hitting unseen strands of spider web. Eventually the tunnel disappears, the canopy opens up, and as you pick the last wispy cob
web from your hiking shorts, you notice that you've arrived at the footbridge.

Sunlight pours forth into a large opening in the trees here, illuminating bits of pollen floating in the air and sparkling on the surface of Tom's Creek. The stream flows northwest, gurgling beneath a rustic but sturdy log footbridge.

You hear the distinctive sound of a woodpecker in the distance.
You look at the stream
Tom's Creek is wide, perhaps thirty feet across, and sufficiently deep enough to merit the presence of a foot bridge. The water slides over rocks, slips over semi-submerged boulders into small white cascades, pauses near the bank in tiny eddies, and seemingly stops in darkened pools. Eventually, it flows off to the northwest, giggling and whispering its secrets to the forest as it goes.
Taste stream
You're sure the cold, clear water would taste fantastic, but you also know that it might make you sick. Looks are deceiving, and despite its clarity there might be bacteria present. You've no filter, no way to boil it, and besides all that, you have some perfectly acceptable
water in your water bottle.
You enter stream
You splash your boots about at the edge of the stream, but ultimately decide to stand on the bank so as to keep from accidentally getting your socks wet. You forgot to bring a spare pair. You forgot a few things in your rush to get out the door. Oh well.
You describe your surroundings
Tom's Creek flows across the path here, beneath a sturdy log footbridge. The path continues on the other side of the bridge, to the northeast.
You examine log
The stream is fairly wide and a bit too deep to cross without getting your socks wet, and so a foot bridge has been installed. It's a simple structure, half of a log with its flat side facing up for a walking surface. A hand rail affixed to one side allows will help you maintain your balance as you cross. It's functional, yet blends in well with
the natural surroundings.
Go northeast
You climb onto the footbridge over Tom's Creek, walk halfway across, and pause. One hand on the railing for balance, you close your eyes, feel the coolness of the water running beneath you, and concentrate on the sound of the water as it ripples along over unseen rocks. You
stand there for perhaps two minutes, enjoying the water's song, but eventually the cool air coming off the creek is too much for your uncovered legs and you decide to continue up the trail.

After walking about a third of a mile, you come to a trail junction.

The trail crests the first of many ridges along the northern side of Mt. Cammerer here. Sutton Ridge, as it's called, is dry and exposed - perhaps not the loveliest spot for a rest break. But from here, a tiny spur trial scrambles up the ridge to the southeast, and the clearing
at the top generally provides an lovely view of the surrounding mountains.

You pause to contemplate whether you'd like to check out the spur trail, or to simply continue east, toward the fire tower.
Go southeast
You decide to make the scramble up to the overlook. It's only two-hundred yards, but the climb is steep and leaves you winded once you reach the top.

The Sutton Ridge Overlook is a very formal name for a very informal clearing on the side of a hill. The ground here remains bare from people such as yourself coming up here to take in the view; evenings
in particular are a great time to visit, because this is a wonderful vantage point from which to take in the sunset over Gabes Mountain, across the valley to the west. Though perhaps not quite so stunning as at sunset, the clearing is still quite beautiful during the day. To
the north, the Cosby Valley stretches out lush and green, and mountain laurel dots the surrounding hillsides, pink and in full bloom. Galax and arbutus line the edges of the clearing at ground level.

You sit down on the ground in the clearing to catch your breath and take in the view.
You examine Valley
The Cosby Valley rests between Mt. Cammerer and Gabes Mountain, lush and green. Though you can't see within its depths, you know that the Pigeon River courses along its floor, far below you.
You look at the galax
The galax is a lovely shade of green with round, waxy leaves. They
stay green all winter.
You stand
You get back up and brush off your clothes. Break's over.
You examine the ground
The ground, where it lacks vegetation, is brown and dry.
Go downward
You work your way carefully down the steep spur trail.

You're standing at a bend in the trail on the crest of Sutton Ridge. The trail turns from south to east here, and a spur trail scrambles through the arbutus and galax to the southeast.
Up
Mrm... no, you've already had that diversion. Probably best to trek on east, toward the fire tower.
You go to the east
You leave the spur trail behind and head down the eastern side of the ridge. The path is a long, narrow straightaway, and the walking is easy. After less than a quarter mile you come to a lovely little waterfall, and pause to admire its beauty.

Whereas Sutton Ridge was a high spot, dry and exposed, this is a tiny creek draw between two ridges. Riding Fork Creek cascades down a
series of mossy dark gray rocks here, southeast of the trail. You can continue on toward the fire tower by hopping across the creek to the north.

A gentle breeze brushes your skin.
You look at the waterfall
Riding Fork Creek may be small, but that doesn't make it any less majestic: a narrow stream of water tumbles down over a series of chiseled, squarish, dark grey rocks, almost like a contrived fountain, and yet it's natural.

You feel the coolness coming off the water and close your eyes. A
smile touches your lips, and you breathe in the refreshingly chilled air. You take a moment to contemplate how even in the driest of years this tiny stream persists, flowing ever on, regardless of who's here
to admire its beauty. You think like that sometimes... wondering about purpose, about process. About the way in which everything moves on regardless of your presence or concerns.
You think
You take a moment to consider your next move.

A gnat is momentarily caught in your eyelashes, but you blink it away.
You go east
The ridge climbs sharply upward in that direction, with no path. You'd tear up a great deal of vegetation trying to make the climb. It would be better, perhaps, to remain on the trail. From here, you can go north.
Go north
You cross Riding Fork Creek and continue weaving over and between ridges, making the long, slow climb along the northern face of Mt. Cammerer.

After a mile and a half or so, you come to Campsite 35, the only developed backcountry campsite along the trail today. There's no one present, so you rest at one of the scorched fire rings, nibble on some trail mix, and watch a squirrel as he goes about his business.

After a pleasant break, you continue on toward the tower. The gradual nature of the climb gives way to a steeper ascent, and after an additional two and three-quarter miles, you reach the next landmark of today's hike.

Trail Junction (Lower Mt Cammerer and Appalachian trails)
The Lower Mt. Cammerer trail ends here at a junction with the famous Appalachian Trail. Commonly referred to simply as the "AT," the trail covers nearly the entire length of the Appalachian Mountains, from Maine to Georgia - a distance of over two thousand miles. You wish
that you'd taken a summer off during college to hike the length of it, but there's no point in regretting that now. There's always retirement to look forward to, right? You sigh wistfully at the thought and plop down onto the ground among the roots of a large tulip poplar growing
in the center of the junction.

The AT runs east-west here. According to the sign, it's only another three miles to the tower.

A gentle breeze caresses your skin.
You go east
You'll have to get off the ground first.
You stand
You get back up and brush off your clothes. Break's over.
You look around
Trail Junction (Lower Mt Cammerer and Appalachian trails)
The AT climbs from east to west here, ascending toward the peak of the mountain and the fire tower. The Lower Mt. Cammerer trail, from which you accessed the AT, descends out of the junction to the northwest.

of a grouse. As you stand there with your hand to your chest it flies off, equally as startled by your presence.
Go west
There appear to be only woods in that direction, with no path among
the trees. The AT continues to the southwest, or you can visit the
fire tower by heading north.
You go north
You set off toward the fire tower. The trail runs along the top of a rocky ridge, but it's well-used and, for the most part, easily walked. The last few feet are a bit of a scramble, but you effortlessly manage the boulders and find yourself standing triumphantly on the porch of the fire tower.

Mt. Cammerer, Outside the Fire Tower
The Mt. Cammerer fire tower sits atop a jagged, rocky peak with a commanding view of the surrounding mountains. It's a fantastic
location for such a structure, really, because you can see for miles
in every direction and it would be easy to spot a plume of smoke, particularly if you used binoculars.

You lean against the railing and take in the landscape. Gorgeous, and so worth the effort.

A hawk cries in the sky above you, momentarily drawing your attention.
You examine the hawk
The hawk circles high overhead, seemingly without effort.
You fly
You wish to have the freedom of a bird. Why not settle for the freedom of your feet?
Down
You take a quick peek over the edge of the railing and decide that falling to the rocks below might be bad for your health.
You go south
Fortunately, the railing prevents you from toppling over the edge toward certain injury and possible death. You can leave the tower by going southwest.
You look around
Mt. Cammerer, Outside the Fire Tower
The fire tower has a commanding view of the surrounding mountains. You can enter the tower or simply return back the way you came. The trail departs to the southwest.
You examine Mountains
You walk to the railing, lean against it, and take in the view. It's a wonderfully clear day, and it feels as if you're able to see the
entire world from here - mountain after mountain, sprawling to the horizon. You can see Webb Mountain to the north, where your house is nestled somewhere in the trees. Beyond is Bays Mountain and, further still and slightly west, Clinch Mountain.

You walk around the tower and look to the east. Snowbird Mountain lies just the other side of the Pigeon River gorge. Beyond that, the Unakas and, further still, the Blue Ridge.

Traversing the porch to the south, you see the Mt. Sterling Lookout on a distant ridge, barely visible without binoculars.

Finally, you step to the western railing and look out onto peaks of whose names you are not certain. The names aren't important, really, merely random designations of natural landmarks. First the Cherokee gave them names, then the Europeans, and perhaps someday someone else will call them something new. But the mountains will endure
regardless. Or so you hope.

A small purple butterfly flits across the trail in front of you and disappears among the trees.
Go east
There appear to be only woods in that direction, with no path among
the trees. The AT continues to the southwest, or you can visit the
fire tower by heading north.
Go north
Nah... you've already been there, done that, and heading back out to the tower would add an additional mile to your hike, which, quite frankly, is long enough already. Best to head back to the parking lot now. The AT departs to the southwest, toward Low Gap.
You go southwest
You recommence climbing the Appalachian Trail. Just as with the previous stretch, it's littered with roots and rocks and excessive steepness, and makes you not such a happy hiker. "Oh well," you think to yourself, "it's making me stronger. Stronger. Yes. Stronger." You continue this rather ineffective little pep talk for about a half a mile, at which point the trail graciously levels out along the crest
of a ridge.

You find an easy, confident pace, and begin to notice how effortlessly your legs move on this type of terrain. The lack of obstructions in
the trail allows you to take in the view as you hike, and incredible mountain vistas are present on both sides of the trail for a short while - successive waves of blue, smoky ridges trailing off into the distance.

After a bit, the trail begins to descend off the ridge and into the trees... gradually at first, then steeper, and your pace finds a decrescendo as you carefully navigate the slope. Many people prefer a strenuous uphill to this, because descending can be fairly hard on
your knees and ankles, but after the beating your lungs and legs took on the AT earlier, you are inclined to respectfully disagree.

After a total walk of just over two miles, you encounter another trail junction.

Trail Junction (Appalachian and Low Gap trails)
Two trails cross here, in the center of what's called Low Gap, so
named because it's the lowest pass through the mountains for over
fifty miles if you were traveling along the Appalachian Trail headed north. The AT runs from northeast to southwest here, climbing toward Cosby Knob and beyond - all the way to Georgia. The Low Gap trail crosses perpendicular to the AT, descending in both directions: southeast, toward Walnut Bottoms and Big Creek, or northwest, toward the Cosby Campground and, for you, home.

A sign at one side of the junction points the way and provides the mileage to nearby landmarks.

Your socks have shifted uncomfortably in your boots, so you take a
seat in the clearing to readjust them. Once you're finished, you
decide the ground feels good enough to simply rest there for a bit.

A cool breeze builds momentarily from the east, cooling your skin.
Yes
"You're certain that you'll be okay on your own?" he asks.

You smile at him, tightening the pack around your waist. A slight
laugh creeps into your voice - it's not as if you haven't done this before. "Yes, dear. I'll be fine. It's nothing personal, I just..."
You take in the concerned expression on his face and your voice
softens slightly. "I just need a break. Not from you, necessarily, but from everything: work, responsibilities, friends. I just need a day to myself, you know?"

He nods. "Yeah. Yeah, I guess I do. No worries; I get like that myself sometimes. Just in case something happens, what route do you plan to take? Your usual?"

You nod. "Yeah. I'll head up the long way, on the Lower Mt. Cammerer trail, hit the Appalachian trail to get to the tower, then descend by going further down the AT towards Low Gap. I'll take the Low Gap trail back to the campground."

He smiles at you. "Like I said, 'Your usual.' Listen, I'll be back to pick you up about... Hm, what time?"

"Well, if I were just hiking, I could be out by mid-afternoon, but I really want to take my time and enjoy things. I guess it gets dark about... what? Half past nine these days?" He nods. "I should be out
by then. I'll meet you right back here at nine-thirty, okay?" you
offer up your most reassuring smile.

"Sure," he says. "I love you. Be careful, and have a great hike."

With that, he kisses you lightly on the lips and gets back in the car. He waves out the driver's side window and heads off toward the north end of the parking lot, towards home. Soon, the car is out of sight entirely.
You go to the south
As you enter the campground, you realize that it's early yet - none of the campers seem to be stirring. You attempt to make as little noise
as possible with your boots against the pavement, and after about four tenths of a mile you reach the trailhead.

Lower Mt. Cammerer Trailhead
You're standing at the edge of the road on the eastern edge of the Cosby Campground. A familiar wooden sign, painted brown with bright white lettering stands here, just off the pavement and to the left of the trail. As with all of the National Park Service's trail signs, it gives you the name of the trail and the distance to the nearest important junctions. This one reads:

Low Gap Trail 0.2
Sutton Ridge Overlook 1.4
Appalachian Trail 7.5

The dirt trail is wide enough here to accommodate a full-size vehicle, and begins behind a locked gate.

A slight breeze blows out of the east.
Look around
Lower Mt. Cammerer Trailhead
A standard NPS trail sign indicates that the Lower Mt. Cammerer trail begins here, leaving the pavement and entering the woods to the northeast.
You go to the northeast
You step behind the gate and begin walking the wide trail. Tire tracks are evident here and there where the soil is softer; the rangers have been back here recently for some reason. There's a gentle uphill
grade, though it's barely noticeable, and before too long you come to another trail sign.

Trail Junction (Lower Mt. Cammerer & Access trails)
You're standing at the junction of two trails, and two signs are
nailed to a single post here to orient you. The Lower Mt. Cammerer trail heads northeast, toward the Sutton Ridge Overlook and, eventually, to the Appalachian Trail. Alternately, the trail continues southwest toward the campground, about two tenths of a mile away. A second trail, unnamed, runs northwest, toward the parking area where you began, or southeast, toward the Low Gap Trail.

A patch of yellow flowers is growing at the base of the signpost.
Go northeast
You head northeast. A quarter mile or so down the path you encounter a shallow stream, easily crossed by hopping from one rock to the next without getting your boots wet.

Before long, the trail narrows from a road to a trail. The vegetation closes in on each side as well as overhead, forming a darkened tunnel of rhododendron. It's a pleasant stroll along this section, quiet,
with only the smallest shafts of sunlight penetrating the thick
canopy, but you're evidently the first person to break trail today and you keep hitting unseen strands of spider web. Eventually the tunnel disappears, the canopy opens up, and as you pick the last wispy cob
web from your hiking shorts, you notice that you've arrived at the footbridge.

Sunlight pours forth into a large opening in the trees here, illuminating bits of pollen floating in the air and sparkling on the surface of Tom's Creek. The stream flows northwest, gurgling beneath a rustic but sturdy log footbridge.

You hear the distinctive sound of a woodpecker in the distance.
Go north
The water appears to be too deep to cross in that direction. It's perhaps best to instead use the footbridge.
Go northeast
You climb onto the footbridge over Tom's Creek, walk halfway across, and pause. One hand on the railing for balance, you close your eyes, feel the coolness of the water running beneath you, and concentrate on the sound of the water as it ripples along over unseen rocks. You
stand there for perhaps two minutes, enjoying the water's song, but eventually the cool air coming off the creek is too much for your uncovered legs and you decide to continue up the trail.

After walking about a third of a mile, you come to a trail junction.

The trail crests the first of many ridges along the northern side of Mt. Cammerer here. Sutton Ridge, as it's called, is dry and exposed - perhaps not the loveliest spot for a rest break. But from here, a tiny spur trial scrambles up the ridge to the southeast, and the clearing
at the top generally provides an lovely view of the surrounding mountains.

You pause to contemplate whether you'd like to check out the spur trail, or to simply continue east, toward the fire tower.
Up
You decide to make the scramble up to the overlook. It's only two-hundred yards, but the climb is steep and leaves you winded once you reach the top.

The Sutton Ridge Overlook is a very formal name for a very informal clearing on the side of a hill. The ground here remains bare from people such as yourself coming up here to take in the view; evenings
in particular are a great time to visit, because this is a wonderful vantage point from which to take in the sunset over Gabes Mountain, across the valley to the west. Though perhaps not quite so stunning as at sunset, the clearing is still quite beautiful during the day. To
the north, the Cosby Valley stretches out lush and green, and mountain laurel dots the surrounding hillsides, pink and in full bloom. Galax and arbutus line the edges of the clearing at ground level.

You sit down on the ground in the clearing to catch your breath and take in the view.
You stand
You get back up and brush off your clothes. Break's over.
Down
You work your way carefully down the steep spur trail.

You're standing at a bend in the trail on the crest of Sutton Ridge. The trail turns from south to east here, and a spur trail scrambles through the arbutus and galax to the southeast.
You go east
You leave the spur trail behind and head down the eastern side of the ridge. The path is a long, narrow straightaway, and the walking is easy. After less than a quarter mile you come to a lovely little waterfall, and pause to admire its beauty.

Whereas Sutton Ridge was a high spot, dry and exposed, this is a tiny creek draw between two ridges. Riding Fork Creek cascades down a
series of mossy dark gray rocks here, southeast of the trail. You can continue on toward the fire tower by hopping across the creek to the north.
You go north
You cross Riding Fork Creek and continue weaving over and between ridges, making the long, slow climb along the northern face of Mt. Cammerer.

After a mile and a half or so, you come to Campsite 35, the only developed backcountry campsite along the trail today. There's no one present, so you rest at one of the scorched fire rings, nibble on some trail mix, and watch a squirrel as he goes about his business.

After a pleasant break, you continue on toward the tower. The gradual nature of the climb gives way to a steeper ascent, and after an additional two and three-quarter miles, you reach the next landmark of today's hike.

Trail Junction (Lower Mt Cammerer and Appalachian trails)
The Lower Mt. Cammerer trail ends here at a junction with the famous Appalachian Trail. Commonly referred to simply as the "AT," the trail covers nearly the entire length of the Appalachian Mountains, from Maine to Georgia - a distance of over two thousand miles. You wish
that you'd taken a summer off during college to hike the length of it, but there's no point in regretting that now. There's always retirement to look forward to, right? You sigh wistfully at the thought and plop down onto the ground among the roots of a large tulip poplar growing
in the center of the junction.

The AT runs east-west here. According to the sign, it's only another three miles to the tower.

In the distance, you hear a woodpecker's familiar drilling.
You look at the sign
There are two signs on the post. The uppermost sign faces south, and
is oriented so that you know it pertains to the trail that runs east-west; it reads:

Davenport Gap 2.8 ->
<- Mt Cammerer Fire Tower 2.9
<- Low Gap 4.4

The other sign faces west and reads:

<- Cosby Campground 7.5

Seven and a half miles back to the campground and parking area... you've already come quite a way!
You examine the toad
You've seen a few amphibians here and there, but you don't see any
just now.

You hear a sound in the underbrush off to your left, but see nothing.
You go north
You set off toward the fire tower. The trail runs along the top of a rocky ridge, but it's well-used and, for the most part, easily walked. The last few feet are a bit of a scramble, but you effortlessly manage the boulders and find yourself standing triumphantly on the porch of the fire tower.

Mt. Cammerer, Outside the Fire Tower
The Mt. Cammerer fire tower sits atop a jagged, rocky peak with a commanding view of the surrounding mountains. It's a fantastic
location for such a structure, really, because you can see for miles
in every direction and it would be easy to spot a plume of smoke, particularly if you used binoculars.

You lean against the railing and take in the landscape. Gorgeous, and so worth the effort.

A hawk cries in the sky above you, momentarily drawing your attention.

The wind picks up for a moment, cooling your skin in the growing heat of the day.
You enter
You open the door to the fire tower and walk inside, closing it behind you.

The interior of the fire tower is simple and unadorned. A plain wooden floor stretches from wall to wall, and windows stretch from about
waist high to just short of the ceiling. Despite the sun, the warmth
of the day, and the large windows that allow a 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape, the air is surprisingly cool inside the tower, no doubt due to the stone foundation you saw outside. You're thankful for the break from the heat.
You look through the window
You walk to the edge of the room, lean gently against the window, and take in the view. It's a wonderfully clear day, and it feels as if you're able to see the entire world from here - mountain after mountain, sprawling to the horizon. You can see Webb Mountain to the north, where your house is nestled somewhere in the trees. Beyond is Bays Mountain and, further still and slightly west, Clinch Mountain.

You turn and walk across the room a bit, and look to the east.
Snowbird Mountain lies just the other side of the Pigeon River gorge. Beyond that, the Unakas and, further still, the Blue Ridge.

Turning south, you see the Mt. Sterling Lookout on a distant ridge, barely visible without binoculars.

Finally, you step to the western portion of the room and look out onto peaks of whose names you are not certain. The names aren't important, really, merely random designations of natural landmarks. First the Cherokee gave them names, then the Europeans, and perhaps someday someone else will call them something new. But the mountains will endure regardless. Or so you hope.
You examine the Webb Mountain
The mountain is a sea of trees, dark green waves rolling over a weathered landscape. These mountains are considered by some to be less majestic than the Rockies or other, younger, unweathered mountain chains, but you think of them as wise and old, containing secrets.
Look around
The interior of the fire tower is simple and unadorned. A plain wooden floor stretches from wall to wall, and windows stretch from about
waist high to just short of the ceiling. Despite the sun, the warmth
of the day, and the large windows that allow a 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape, the air is surprisingly cool inside the tower, no doubt due to the stone foundation you saw outside. You're thankful for the break from the heat.
You check what you're carrying
You are carrying:
some socks (being worn)
some hiking shorts (being worn)
a shirt (being worn)
some hiking boots (being worn)
a hip pack (being worn and closed)
a watch (being worn)
You open the pack
You wiggle around a bit, and manage to pull the zipper open. It's so much easier to do that when you're not actually wearing the thing.
You look in the pack
In the hip pack are a headlamp, a first aid kit, a water bottle and a massive bag of trail mix.
You eat the trail mix
(first taking the massive bag of trail mix)
It's sort of difficult to get stuff out of your pack when you're still wearing it, but somehow you manage to get your hands on the trail mix.
You eat the trail mix
You snack on a few bites of the trail mix.
You examine it
It's a massive bag of trail mix, full of all sorts of goodies. Not the sort of food one would want to rely on for sustenance all the time,
but it'll provide plenty of energy for today's hike.
You smell it
The bag emits an aroma of yummy nutty goodness. Mmmm.

For the first time, you realize that the sun is now directly overhead.
You put it in the pack
You seal the bag of trail mix and tuck it neatly away in your pack.
Close pack
You wiggle around a bit, and manage to pull the zipper closed. It's so much easier to do that when you're not actually wearing the thing.
Stretch
What do you want to stretch?
You stretch calves
Your calves feel a bit tight, so you walk over to a nearby tree and place your palms against the bark, enjoying the rough texture beneath your hands. You bend your left leg in a lunge and step back with your right foot, leg straight. Closing your eyes, you take a pleasantly
deep breath and wait for some of the tension to subside in your calf, which it does.

After stretching both legs a couple of times, you decide it's probably time to move on down the trail.
You look at the socks
Your Thorlos are designed specifically for hiking, with extra padding beneath the heel and ball of your foot for comfort. This particular pair of Thorlos are white; just the very tops of them are visible.
Smell feet
The exterior off the boots smell like leather. You'd rather not smell in the inside of the boots.
You look at the shirt
You're wearing a dark brown long-sleeved t-shirt, the color of chocolate. It's cotton, which isn't always a wise thing to wear when hiking - fantastic when it's hot, but is miserable in the rain - however there's a brilliant blue sky and a favorable forecast, so you're risking it.
Smell shirt
You glance at the sun climbing in the sky, then lift your arm and take a sniff of your arm pit. Not too bad... yet.
Leave
You open the door to the fire tower and walk out onto the porch, closing it behind you.

Mt. Cammerer, Outside the Fire Tower
The fire tower has a commanding view of the surrounding mountains. You can enter the tower or simply return back the way you came. The trail departs to the southwest.
You stretch the hips
You're not quite sure how to stretch those bits. Maybe you should look into yoga.
You stretch the legs
Your calves feel a bit tight, so you walk over to a nearby tree and place your palms against the bark, enjoying the rough texture beneath your hands. You bend your left leg in a lunge and step back with your right foot, leg straight. Closing your eyes, you take a pleasantly
deep breath and wait for some of the tension to subside in your calf, which it does.

After stretching both legs a couple of times, you decide it's probably time to move on down the trail.
Go northeast
There appear to be only woods in that direction, with no path among
the trees. The AT continues to the southwest, or you can visit the
fire tower by heading north.
You go southwest
You recommence climbing the Appalachian Trail. Just as with the previous stretch, it's littered with roots and rocks and excessive steepness, and makes you not such a happy hiker. "Oh well," you think to yourself, "it's making me stronger. Stronger. Yes. Stronger." You continue this rather ineffective little pep talk for about a half a mile, at which point the trail graciously levels out along the crest
of a ridge.

You find an easy, confident pace, and begin to notice how effortlessly your legs move on this type of terrain. The lack of obstructions in
the trail allows you to take in the view as you hike, and incredible mountain vistas are present on both sides of the trail for a short while - successive waves of blue, smoky ridges trailing off into the distance.

After a bit, the trail begins to descend off the ridge and into the trees... gradually at first, then steeper, and your pace finds a decrescendo as you carefully navigate the slope. Many people prefer a strenuous uphill to this, because descending can be fairly hard on
your knees and ankles, but after the beating your lungs and legs took on the AT earlier, you are inclined to respectfully disagree.

After a total walk of just over two miles, you encounter another trail junction.

Trail Junction (Appalachian and Low Gap trails)
Two trails cross here, in the center of what's called Low Gap, so
named because it's the lowest pass through the mountains for over
fifty miles if you were traveling along the Appalachian Trail headed north. The AT runs from northeast to southwest here, climbing toward Cosby Knob and beyond - all the way to Georgia. The Low Gap trail crosses perpendicular to the AT, descending in both directions: southeast, toward Walnut Bottoms and Big Creek, or northwest, toward the Cosby Campground and, for you, home.

A sign at one side of the junction points the way and provides the mileage to nearby landmarks.

Your socks have shifted uncomfortably in your boots, so you take a
seat in the clearing to readjust them. Once you're finished, you
decide the ground feels good enough to simply rest there for a bit.

A cool breeze builds momentarily from the east, cooling your skin.
You remove the boots
You take your boots off and remove your socks. It feels great to get some air on your feet, but after a bit of a rest you decide it's best to get going again. You put your socks and boots back on, tie the
laces securely.
You examine the sign
There are two signs on the post. The uppermost sign faces southeast, and is oriented so that you know it pertains to the trail that runs northeast-southwest; it reads:

Mt Cammerer 2.1 ->
Lwr Mt Cammerer Trail 4.4 ->
<- Cosby Knob Shelter 0.8

The other sign faces southwest and reads:

Walnut Bottoms 2.5 ->
<- Cosby Campground 2.9
You look at the soles
Wonderfully durable boots, size seven narrow. Their heavy leather exterior protects your feet from rocks and roots, they're tall for proper ankle support over rough terrain, the soles tend to keep you from slipping even on slick rocks, and they're lined with Gore-Tex to keep you dry. Your only complaint is that the company claims that the boots 'breathe,' when in fact they seem to keep your feet hot in the summer, freezing cold in the winter. So far, though, they're the best boots you've ever owned.
You check what you're carrying
You are carrying:
some socks (being worn)
some hiking shorts (being worn)
a shirt (being worn)
some hiking boots (being worn)
a hip pack (being worn and closed)
a watch (being worn)
You look at the watch
You glance down at your watch, a rather chunky and unstylish accoutrement purchased for fifteen dollars at the drugstore. Fashion critiques aside, it's a functional, water-resistant, glow in the dark timepiece.

At present, it indicates that the time is 1:59 PM.

The sun seems to glare down upon you, hot and unrelenting. When will
it start to sink in the sky? Mid-afternoon is always the harshest time of day to be hiking on a clear day.
Describe the surroundings
Trail Junction (Appalachian and Low Gap trails) (on the ground)
You stand in the center of Low Gap, where two trails intersect. For
the Appalachian Trail, this is a low spot, and the trail climbs both
to the southwest, toward Cosby Knob, and northeast, back toward the fire tower. Conversely, this is high spot on the Low Gap trail, which descends into Walnut Bottoms to the southeast and, to the northwest, toward home.
You go southwest
You'll have to get off the ground first.
Xyzzy
If that actually could work, you'd certainly miss out on some
beautiful scenery.
You go to the southwest
According to the sign, the AT climbs toward Cosby Knob in that direction. Not only is that out of your way, but it's also uphill, and you're just not down with anymore uphill today.
Go southeast
The Low Gap trail drops down into Walnut Bottoms in that direction. It's a lovely area, but completely out of your way. Home is in the opposite direction, to the northwest.
Go northwest
With a lightness in your heart at the realization that you're on the downhill stretch, you set off toward the campground. At first, the going is rather steep, but the trail soon begins to switchback upon itself, snaking slowly downhill toward flatter ground. Though the
tight switchbacks reduce the angle of descent, they also make the
trail longer and limit the space for trees. There seems to be little
or no shade, and the sun beats down relentlessly upon you as you descend the west-facing ridge. It's tempting to simply cut off-trail and travel crosscountry to save time, but you realize that if everyone did that the erosion along this ridge would be terrible.

After about two miles, the switchbacks disappear and you find yourself comforted by the shade of the woods once again. The air is cool here, chilled further by the presence of Cosby Creek, which flows parallel
to the path for a quarter mile or so. Larger than the other streams you've encountered today, Cosby Creek is full of white-foamed cascades and deep, dark pools. The water of the stream feeds life into the forest, and everything along this stretch is green and moist and
mossy. From time to time the landscape seems rather surreal, as if you're strolling through a fairytale rather than a real place. After a time, the stream flows off into the forest, out of sight, and you're somewhat sad to see it go. No matter, this means you're even closer to home.

The trail begins to widen, from a path to a road, and you come to another junction.

Trail Junction (Low Gap & Access trails)
You smile as you enter the junction and see the sign in the northeast corner of the clearing:

<- Cosby Campground 0.4
Low Gap 2.5 ->

Less than half a mile to the campground! Of course, the parking area's another half mile beyond that, but that's of little consequence... you're very close to home now.

Somewhere in the distance, a woodpecker drills in search of insects.
Go east
No, there's only forest in that direction, with no path amongst the trees. You can return to the parking lot by going either north or
west.
You go north
You decide to take the access trail back, seeing as how it's a
slightly shorter walk in that direction. This portion of the access trail isn't very heavily used and is slightly overgrown; grass brushes against your legs as you walk. After not quite half a mile, you find yourself back in the same clearing you passed through earlier today.

Trail Junction (Lower Mt. Cammerer & Access trails)
You're standing at the junction of two trails, one running northwest-southeast, the other running northeast-southwest. At the north corner of the junction, two signs are nailed to a single post indicating where each trail leads.

A previously unseen skink on a nearby log is startled by your presence and skitters under the bark.
You go south
To the south lie dense woods, with no path among the trees. Two trails bisect the standard cardinal directions here, one running northeast-southwest, the other northwest-southeast. Your quickest route, back to the parking lot, is northwest.
You go to the northeast
No, you've already been down that trail today. It's time to go home. The hiker parking area is just under a half mile to the northwest.
You go to the southwest
That's the longer route back. Not that it matters, really - your feet are up for an extra quarter of a mile. You head down the wide trail (it's more of a road than a trail, really), and quickly find yourselfback in the campground.

Lower Mt. Cammerer Trailhead
A standard NPS trail sign indicates that the Lower Mt. Cammerer trail begins here, leaving the pavement and entering the woods to the northeast.
Go north
To the north lie dense woods, with no path among the trees. The trail leads into the forest to the northeast.
Go northwest
You continue walking northwest, through the campground. Parents at a nearby site are setting up their tents for the evening, one for them, and a smaller one for their children. A young boy and girl are
laughing and throwing a frisbee (and not throwing it very well)
nearby. Suddenly, the frisbee comes flying right toward you! Fortunately, you see it coming and deftly toss it to the little girl, who thanks you and runs back to play with her brother. Another quarter mile finds you back in the parking lot.

You stroll into the parking lot, light on your feet despite the
sixteen miles behind you, and glance at your watch. It reads three twenty-nine in the afternoon. Not bad time, really, considering all
the stops along the way to check things out. You take off your pack
and plop down on a grassy hill at the western edge of the parking lot. Lying back, angled with your head uphill of your feet, you watch the clouds that are gathering overhead. One of them reminds you of a galax leaf. You smile to yourself, thinking of the wonderful day you've had, close your eyes, listen to the birds the nearby woods, and eventually drift off to sleep in the grass. What a fantastic day.

As darkness falls, the serenity is broken by the sound of an approaching car, and you open your eyes to see your ride pulling into the parking lot, right on time.