Backpacking

The joys of an old-growth forest

"This way to the Bald!"

The trail
Views from Gregory Bald

Ghosties

Sunrise


Bittersweet finish

We spent our Thanksgiving week in the Smoky Mountains, our favorite vacation destination. This time we brought along Isaac's parents, Grant and Ava. These pictures are from Isaac's camera, documenting their 3 days backpacking a 15 mile trail with 3500 feet of elevation gain and 3700 feet of elevation loss. The goal in the middle of all of that walking was Gregory Bald, one of only a few "bald" mountains left in the Smokies. Their origin is up for debate, but balds are grassy peaks that offer great views all around. While they were backpacking, my mom met me and Sam for a few days sightseeing around the park. We stayed in a cabin which we kept for the rest of the week. My mom went home the morning I went to pick up the hikers. I brought them new T-shirts with different backpacking logos on them. I hadn't anticipated that the chief pleasure of the new shirts was their cleanliness. All 3 hikers stripped off to put on their first clean clothes in days. Then we stayed in the Smokies for 4 more days. Grant and Ava stayed for 1 more day to see more of the highlights of the park, since this was their first visit. More pictures to come!