Smoky Mountains Day 4

Mission Accomplished - I had set a goal of hiking at least 40 miles during this week and I met that today with my sixth and seventh trails for a total of 45 miles covered. The seven trails were Old Sugarlands, Alum Cave, Mount LeConte, Laurel Falls, Abrams Falls, Grotto Falls, and Trillium. My Fitbit says I climbed the equivalent of 790 flights of stairs with the elevation changes. Whew! I'm ready for a vacation. Think I will head home tomorrow. 😊

Today I started at the Log Cabin Pancake House. It is just a short hike across the street from where I am staying. The senior plate of 4 small pancakes, 1 egg, and 2 strips of bacon was well worth the trip.

After breakfast I headed for the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. This is a beautiful 11 mile driving trail with multiple trailheads and motor pull off points. There were two focus points today. The first section of trail combined the Grotto Falls and Trillium Gap and was fairly easy to hike.

No bears on this trail but I did come across this young buck. He just basically ignored me as I walked past.

You can see the buttons/spikes so is probably just a yearling.

After about 2 miles the Trilluim Trail joins the Grotto Falls. The falls is a very popular place and there were a lot of people on the trail.

The trail also serves horseback riders.

There were some challenging sections.

As I said, the falls is very popular and it was crowded.

As you can see, the trail proceeds behind the falls and up the next side.

Once I was on the other side it was much more peaceful and very few people. The challenge rating for this section is moderately hard.

At the top of Trillium Gap is a crossroads of connecting trails. I went out onto Brushy Mountain.

You can take the Trillium Gap trail on up to Mount LeConte (the rustic lodge I shared on Tuesday).

I wondered how they got all of the supplies to the top of the mountain. This sign tells how - they use a Llama pack string.

This why they call it Brushy Mountain.

There were some beautiful views out on the point.

This is looking down at Gatlinburg.

On the way back down, I came across this doe crossing the trail.

I also walked through some of the area that was in the fire last year.

You could see new growth beginning to emerge. It is amazing how nature tends to heal itself if not damaged too much.

Well, that is it for this adventure. I hope you have enjoyed the journey as much as I have enjoyed sharing it. Until the next time remember:

"We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us." - Anonymous