Tuesday 13th Hiking The Smokey Trails

It's another beautiful clear blue sky morning, up at 7am as we have planned a long day.
First hike is to Chimney Tops. This is described as strenuous 5 mile hike with 1700 feet elevation but we are up for it !! It was a 3 hour round trip with the last few feet being real rock climbing. We did chicken out of that bit as we started to think of medical bills !!! Good views worth the effort, very quiet just one other couple there at this time of day and we could see why they are called The Smokey Mountains.
Himself at beginning of trail

My new trail hat

Part of the trail

More of the trail

It's steeper than it looks

Umm this is the trail !

This actually was going back down but I wanted to get the perspective

The summit !

View a few feet from summit

A rest and take in the view before descending

Back on the road and further up the mountain to New Road Gap elevation 5046 feet. This is the original road that is now the 441. It's not the highest point, that is Clingmans Dome. Sadly we are unable to visit that spot as the road up to it is closed for refurbishment and won't be opened until end of May.

View from New Road Gap

On again to Laurel Falls and great excitement as on the way we see folk at side of road and what in these parts is called a "bear jam" It's really something special to see the bears in their natural habitat

Mother bear and cub feeding

Entrance to Laurel Falls

View from path

The falls

Another 4 mile round trip hike but this time on paved path. Not that impressive, quite touristy as easier to get to but then again we have seen some splendid ones.

Last stop of the day. Greenbrier. This is 2 to 3 miles along from our campsite and then a mile or so down a gravel road. (another hire car that will need a wash !!) It's where 3 rivers meet and is a very pretty quiet spot

We arrive back home very tired !!! But it's been a great day