Little River & Rough Creek

Little River & Rough Creek
December 19, 2015
14 Miles Total
2.8 New Miles
603.97 Total Smoky Miles to Date (Since November 2013)
293.18 Total Miles in 2015

Rough Creek doesn't even want to be part of itself anymore!!!

To sum up rough creek:  the trail is washed away in sections, trees are down across the trail everywhere, there are 2 almost impossible creek crossings, multiple other creek crossings, limbs and thorns grabbing you from every direction and it is straight up until you reach the top.  But if you like a challenge this would be a good trail for you :)

Little River as always was a very enjoyable walk through the woods.

One of the creek crossings, we had to search for a place to cross.

Another creek crossing

And another creek crossing

3 out of 4 of us fell in at different creek crossings

And another creek crossing

"When something is important enough, you do it, even if the odds are not in your favor."- Elon Musk

Middle Prong

Middle Prong
December 5, 2015
4.6 Miles Total
0 New Miles
589.97 Total Smoky Miles to Date (Since November 2013)
279.18 Total Miles in 2015

If you are looking for a nice, peaceful, easy hike this is a great trail for that.  It follows the river the whole way.  It's a wide, fairly smooth path.  And there's a cool old car to see along the way.  We also saw a beautiful buck on our way back from the junction with Panther Creek Trail.

Smoky spotted the old car for us!

I think it may need a little work before I can take it for a spin

"I'll look back on this and smile because it was life and I decided to live it"

Mt Leconte via The Boulevard Trail

Boulevard Trail
November 27, 2015
17 Miles Total
5.4 New Miles
585.37 Total Smoky Miles to Date (Since November 2013)
274.58 Total Miles in 2015

The Boulevard Trail is my new favorite trail to take to get to Mt. Leconte!

Now, as for trails to take back to Newfound Gap from Leconte....I hope to never ever take The Boulevard trail again!  :)  It was an uphill climb the entire way back (it felt like).  We actually were beginning to think that we were lost because we didn't remember that much of a descent on the way to Leconte and it seemed to go on forever!

As for taking Boulevard to Leconte.  It was amazing!  I have never seen so many beautiful views along one trail!  Usually when I get to the top of Leconte I am exhausted but I wasn't really tired at all and felt like walking around exploring and taking in each of the overlooks.

But next time I will definitely be coming down a different trail :)

Sunrise from the Appalachian Trail

Ice along the trail

Junction with Sweat Heifer Trail, 1.7 Miles into our hike

Turn for the Boulevard Trail, only 5.3 miles to go!

Somebody lost a shoe at the Jump Off

That little brown area on the mountain way over there is along our route to reach Leconte

The little wire you get to hold to help you not fall off the mountain :)

Myrtle Point 0.2 miles.  Amazing Views!!!

The view from Myrtle Point

The view from Myrtle Point

The view from Cliff Tops

The view from Cliff Tops

As you are coming down the stairs to the lodge on top of Leconte

At 6,593 ft it is the third highest peak in the national park, behind Clingmans Dome and Mount Guyot.

Sunset from Newfound Gap.


"Its your road and yours alone.  Others may walk it with you but no one can walk it for you."- Rumi

Hen Wallow Falls

Hen Wallow Falls
November 8, 2015
4.2 Miles Total
0 New Miles
568.37 Total Smoky Miles to Date (Since November 2013)
257.58 Total Miles in 2015

Hen Wallow Falls is my favorite waterfall in the Smoky Mountains.  I have seen it in the winter and the summer so I wanted to see it in the fall.  Unfortunately, we missed the peak leaf viewing time at the falls.  I guess I'll just have to try again next year. 

It is an easy uphill climb most of the way, until the last 0.2 miles, then it is straight down the mountain to the bottom of the falls.

"Freedom is allowing my body to travel where my mind wanders."- Unknown