Mt Sterling GSMNP in December

“Adjusting the forecast for Cosby, TN the low will be 7*, but here is the forecast usning the grid of Mt Sterling (they show it at 4300 ft. so subtract 5.4* from the following):

Saturday: Scattered flurries after 1pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 28. West wind between 5 and 11 mph.

Saturday Night: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Wind chill values as low as -1. Blustery, with a west wind between 20 and 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.”

“Just got back from the trip. It was a cold 9* with 30 mph winds and a couple of inches of snow. I didn't take a lot of pictures due to cold hands, but I will post what I took soon.”

“Pics are up:

”

“3 AM. ' just returned home.

It only took about 20 minutes to top out. I managed 2 pics with my camera's frozen / dead batteries.

The other reason I made the pit stop, was I was coughing, almost uncontrollably with a nasty lung hack. I warmed up after about two hours, but the deep cough was still there. By morning I was better, 'til I saw ev'ryone coming down, I was fine. I'll write it off to being up for 2 days, the cold, and quick elevation gain.

People - Baxter Creek Trail is kinda steep goin' up. It's not marked either, so at night it can be an anxious hike up. Coming down in the day the path's pretty obvious. You're better off going up in daylight, if you have the option. I counted three places to get water, plus the place just down from the summit for a total of 4. I'd say fill up at the last of the lower locations and keep in mind that water freezes, so drink up. The fire tower at the top of Mount Sterling still has a floor, probably big enough for 2-4 people.

Good night.”

“Mocs123 - Thanks for all your great pictures. It appears that you covered things well.

After noting the trees behind your tent, I have a question. Was your tent located in the area to the left of the Mt. Sterling trail, after walking across the rabbit patch playground from the tower?

Also, in your pictures from the tower I could not detect the water relief tower(looks like a town, water tower) above the hydro-electic plant. It appears mighty small from the tower, but it is at the elevation of Mt. Sterling Lake. From the lake the water flows to the plant through tunnels, which were constructed approximately 100 years ago. The tower accepts the water surges, which occur when they open or close the water gates or change the pitch on the blades of the generators.

Thanks again for posting your pictures.

BTW, did you see any winter flowers?”

“Yes, my tent was as far left as you could get from the Mt. Sterling Trail. I put my tent as close to the trees as possible hoping they would break some of the wind.

I didn't see any winter flowers, but there was snow above 3000ft, interestingly there was more snow on the trails coming up to the summit then on the summit itself. I assume because of the wind.

In case you didn't see it when I posted it before NS, I did find a site where you can get a more accurate forecast for the backcountry.

http://tinyurl.com/5hebcs”

“Hmm.
It seems if some interesting history happened up on the mountain.

According to wiki (with references):
During the U.S. Civil War, Cataloochee and the remote valleys at the base of Mount Sterling became popular hideouts for deserters, and both Union and Confederate detachments consistently made raids into the area to find them. Raiders and bushwhackers navigated through the area by following a trail that connected Cosby and Cataloochee via Mount Sterling. One local legend relates an incident in which Confederate Captain Albert Teague swept through Cataloochee and arrested three alleged Union sympathizers. Teague marched them up to Mount Sterling where he ordered one of the detainees— a well-known local fiddle player named Henry Grooms— to play a tune on his fiddle. Grooms chose the somber "Bonaparte's Retreat." When he finished, Teague executed all three detainees.[5]”

“Mocs123 - Thanks for the interesting weather forecast site.

From your tent walking a little further from the trail, one would encounter another clump of trees. They probably have grown considerably since I was last there. However, I walked around them until I located an opening so that I could enter. The trees formed a circle and the center had a good batch of grass. That was where I would pitch my tent. Once I was awaken by movement of my tent! It was caused by a deer trying to get to the grass under the tent,

Glad that this trip turned out well for you folks.”