by Kathryn Robertson
I hiked to Mt. Cammerer as part of the Get on the Trail with Friends and Missy hiking series (with Missy Kane) on Wednesday, Oct. 23. I finally saw the fire tower which was the impetus for the founding of Friends of the Smokies just over 20 years ago.
On Friday, October 25 I spent my last day in the office as a Friends employee. The hike was a special opportunity for me to pass on a legacy that began at our destination, Mt. Cammerer fire tower.
For the past few weeks I have been training my replacement, Grace Loy. This was her first Get on the Trail hike while it was my last while working for Friends.
After meeting the group in the Cosby Campground parking lot, we began the steep climb of the Low Gap Trail with great spirits. By the end of the first mile, I had already shed my jacket and long sleeve shirt. It was exhilarating, hard work! The rocky trail was littered with fallen leaves so I was aware of every step, trying not to roll an ankle or slip.
After three miles of steady climbing, we reached the Appalachian Trail. The wind was starting to blow much harder and the cold was getting bitter.
The Appalachian Trail was quite a change from the steep and rocky Low Gap trail. We were covered by a canopy of leaves, some of which were changing color. For most of the 2.1 miles on the AT, we were in and out of clouds, so views were few and far between. When we did get a break in the cloud cover, we saw some gorgeous fall color, though not as rich as in years past.
When we finally reached the fire tower, the views were covered with clouds, but we could still appreciate the beautiful architecture of the tower. I had seen many pictures of the structure and felt as if I had been there before.
Twenty years earlier, it was Gary Wade and Tom Trotter who were in my position, but they didn’t see the fire tower that stood before me. What they saw was such a dramatic lack of upkeep that they couldn’t just forget about it.
They called Randy Pope, the Park Superintendent at the time, and asked what could be done. The three men together decided a Friends group was what the Smokies needed: an organization to help the Park with projects that government funding did not cover.
Friends of the Smokies was formed in 1993 and the reconstruction of the Mt. Cammerer fire tower was its first project. As I sat inside the fire tower eating my lunch that day, I reflected on all the “Friends” who have gone before me and everything they have done to create a lasting legacy for the Smokies. How fortunate Grace and I were to be experiencing this together.
By the time we started down the mountain after a nice lunch break at the top, the wind was blowing full force. Grace and I made our way down the AT, and, although it was cold, it turned out to be a pleasant walk. Hiking down the Low Gap Trail proved to be challenging as we dodged rocks and leaves while balancing on the steep grade.
As we got to the end of the trail, it was a wonderful feeling to have completed that difficult hike that was so important to me. Four years ago, I began my journey with Friends of the Smokies, and I end it with the hike that started it all. I had come full circle.
My last hike as a Friends employee helped me pass the torch on for future Friends. Grace, along with the rest of the Friends of the Smokies, will help continue the legacy that Gary Wade and Tom Trotter started.
To all of the staff, volunteers, donors, park staff, and Friends who I have had the pleasure of working and spending time with: Thank you for the work that you do to preserve this Park for future generations. Thank you for the great times and amazing memories. I have loved every minute of working for this superb organization and will miss everything about it. It is difficult to say good bye, but that makes me ever so grateful for the experience.
“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.”
-John Miur
Editor’s Note- All of us at Friends of the Smokies wish Kathryn Robertson the very best as she prepares to start a new life in Long Island with Michael Hemphill. It has been our pleasure to work alongside Kathryn for several years as she helped us accomplish our mission and increase awareness of our organization through her professionalism and tremendously positive attitude.