House Mountain Day Hike

John and I hiked House Mountain this morning. We took the Mountain Trail then picked up the Crest Trail to the east overlook (2100') where we could see forever...well, Clinch Mountain and the Smokies anyway. It was a crisp, clear morning, perfect for photos but I forgot my camera so we have no photos.

House Mountain is owned by the state and maintained by Knox County, with a lot of help from local Boy Scout troops. Located only 20 minutes from Knoxville, it is a great place to take a quick hike. A link to the state's website regarding House Mountain is below.

http://www.state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/housemtn/

Happy Thanksgiving from the Smith Family

The turkey feast is consumed and the pumpkin pie partially eaten. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving; we hope you did too!

Gregory Bald Day Hike

This was the final weekend before Parson Branch Road closed for the season, so John suggested we hike the Gregory Bald Trail (trailhead on Parson Branch). The trail, 9.0-miles round-trip with a 2250' elevation gain and loss, provided a good opportunity to stretch our legs, which, along with the rest of us, are out of shape after being sidelined this summer and fall on account of broken bones.

To get to the trailhead, we had to drive halfway around the Cades Cove Loop Road to the Parson Branch turnoff. It has been a few years since either of us were in the Cove and we had forgotten just how beautiful it is in the morning. There were a number of walkers and bicyclists on the Cove Road but we were early enough that traffic was not a big problem.

The hike was great and the fall colors quite spectacular. All in all a very good day!

Cades Cove in the morning

A misty, beautiful morning in The Cove

Hmmm, I am having more fun than the grimace might indicate

The colors were still spectacular, even this late in the season

Photo by John

"Artsy" photo by John.

The colors are vibrant this year, though they arrived late in the season

Checking the map at a gap along the trail

An unnamed scrubby bush, back lit by the sun.

Beautiful!
John enjoying one more gaze from The Bald before we head back to the car