Smoky Mountains (WW # 137)



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Our spring break week fell apart.  The kids' schedules weren't working with a lengthy trip, so we didn't follow through with our original idea.  But, our college son wanted to go hiking so I hopped on board. PoPo volunteered to stay home with the dogs and do some things around the house {thank you, honey!}. Off to the Smoky Mountains we went.

We stayed in a cabin in Gatlinburg our first two nights...not because we wanted to "do Gatlinburg" (been there done that a few times) but because it was close to the trails we wanted to hike.  We arrived Wednesday just before sunset and captured some amazing pictures.

Sunset in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park


The first full day of hiking was quite treacherous.  Wearing my new Mizuno trail shoes with Michelin (yep, the tire) spiked soles, I had no problems with the steepness, excessive mud (oh my, at the mud!) water crossings or the snow.  But the ice?  These two hikes took so much longer to complete just to navigate the ice.

Hike 1:  Rainbow Falls - 6.2 miles - 2,330 elevation gain

Hike 2: Chimney Tops - 3.6 miles - 1,456 elevation gain

The second day of hiking was much easier.  Thankfully, we had very little ice to contend with.  By far, our favorite trail of the entire trip was our morning hike to Alum Cave.  We were delighted by the many geological features on this hike culminating with Alum Cave, which really wasn't a cave.  Pictured below is a tunnel on the way to the cave-that-wasn't.  

Hike 3: Alum Caves - 4.4 miles - 1,310 elevation gain

Alum "Cave" - More of an overhang but very impressive!  See the tiny hikers?

Hike 4:  Laurel Falls - 3.0 miles - 409 Elevation Gain

After two solid days and 17 plus miles of steep hiking, we drove across the state to Chattanooga where I barely limped ran the Raccoon Mountain half marathon while my son ran the 10k.  To prepare for my upcoming downhill marathon, I pushed on the downhills and took it easy on the ups.  My quads cried the whole time [see entire post devoted to hiking and elevation gain].  It was a fun event with awesome and unique swag.  We did some sightseeing there as well.  It's just too much for one post so I'll leave it here.  

I'll give you just one teaser.  From the Raccoon Mountain race site:  

"The course is NOT flat and not fast. 

Hills keep things interesting and easy is boring!   

Don’t expect to PR here.  DO expect to have a great time!"  

... {GULP} ...

And that's a wrap!

Have you visited the Smoky Mountains?  Where?

Do you like to hike?  Favorite trail?

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