Smokey Mountain Memories

Day One

You know the travel routine: cooler, kids, car, classic rock selections...and of course one last hot-hot, long-long shower (because we won't be having another till the Fourth of July).

Day Two

Our usual hiking routine: fill back packs with water, snacks, sandwiches....

We chose the Gregory Bald Trail which was a 5.5 mile--strenuous--hike right to the top of the Smokey Mountain. Just about every bit of the 2170 elevation gain was UP hill till we reached 4950 feet. It was spectacular; magnolia trees in bloom, lush green ferns, beautiful river streams. At the top it made us want to sign "the hills are alive with the Sound of Music".... or do this

This is what we saw; hybrid azaleas.

and this
Our usual practice to mark the achievement of a great hike; before heading another 5.5 miles back down the mountain (which was faster but still as strenuous) --a self timed photo;which we managed by stacking all our back packs on top of one another for a makeshift tri-pod.

Day Three

We took on the Pigeon River for some white water rafting. The picture they snapped for us was not worth the dollars so use your imagination of us taking on the waters.

Day Four

King Ralph stepped from the car at the trail head and said "hey kids lets go strain our muscles some more...ooooo this is gonna kill me". It did not but it was an good moderate hike to Abrams Fall; 5 miles round trip with good steep inclines back to the car.

Then we headed back to Cades Cove where we swan in the river's stream. When King Ralph jump in he said "a bath and it's not even Saturday night". A statement that we all might have been getting tired of boiling water and washing down like pioneers.

Day Five

Off to Asheville, North Carolina, a HOT SHOWER and more hiking.