Finally got out for a hike on Saturday, the 1st of what I hope is many in 2012. Still suffering from some piriformis discomfort but overall much better. Unfortunately, I am not yet backpack worthy.
We left the house around 9:00 ish, early enough for a 4-5 mile hike and early enough to get home for dinner out. The drive was beautiful! Rain was imminent and as a result, low lying clouds turned the Smoky Mountain foothills into a mysterious playground.
Smoky Mountain foothills from Chapman Highway
Beautiful!
We picked a trail off Little River Road, School House Gap Trail. At about 4.4 miles round trip, the trail provided a quick exit if I got into trouble. I didn’t and could have hiked further and higher but that will be another day.
Pic from the start of the hike
Hiking into the clouds
Into the clouds
The trail topped out in the clouds at about 2100′, a gradual climb of 500′ from the trail head over 2.0 miles. We continued on to finish .2 miles to the park boundary where we turned around and headed back.
Junction: School House Gap and Chestnut Top Trails
Perfect hiking food, peanut butter
Just below the peak (junction of School House and Chestnut Top), we stopped for a snack. We were a bit sheepish about the stop because the hike was short and we could have easily returned to the car for lunch, but…. I must say, sitting at the trail’s edge, watching clouds blow by was just about perfect.
Back to the car
