Along the trails from Tremont to Metcalf Bottoms

This route took my friend David and I up the Lumber Ridge Trail, from the Institute at Tremont, connecting in 4mls+, with the Meigs Mountain trail, then turning left onto Curry Mtn. trail down to Little River rd. (3mls+), and across the street to the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area where our second vehicle was parked.

This route should be considered difficult, but doable, for the healthy novice hiker given the distance, and that the first ~3.5mls coming out of Tremont is primarily an incline. The trails are currently in good condition with no real stream crossings. 

 There's a cemetery along the Meigs mtn. section with some flat spots nearby where family settlements once stood. The majority of the headstones or markers were nameless, however a few recognized the infamous Huskey family and their lineage in these parts.

Really, really cool hike. Pleasant, not crowded, easily accessible, and once up on the ridge out of Tremont very moderate in regards to elevation changes. Enjoy and protect.

Bull Head and Sugarlands Mtn Trail Reopen

Park Reopens Bull Head Trail and Sugarland Mountain Trail

These trails have been closed since November 2016 due to damage resulting from the wind event and fire damage associated with the Chimney Tops 2 Fire. 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced the reopening of Bull Head Trail and Sugarland Mountain Trail on Friday, October 26. Both of these trails extend from the highest peaks in the park to the lower elevations, providing incredible opportunities for hikers to enjoy fall colors over the next few weeks.

Park trail crews spent several weeks this year repairing over 500 feet of trail tread, cutting 758 downed trees, removing over 20 large rootballs and boulders, and repairing and replacing 53 trail drainage structures.

Both trails pass through areas in the park which burned at a high intensity, including some sections where the entire tree canopy was lost. Hikers should remain alert for hazards such as loose rocks and falling trees or limbs and should avoid hiking these trails during and after high wind or rain events. At all times, hikers should avoid lingering around standing dead trees.

The Friends of the Smokies provided $195,000 for this rehabilitation. The donation was made possible thanks to the generous support of donors from across the country who responded to help fund park recovery needs following the wildfire.

For more information about hiking safety, please visit the park’s website at https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/hikingsafety.htm.

Cloudland Canyon State Park

Cloudland Canyon State Park, is located in Northwest Georgia, just below Chattanooga TN. "The Mysterious One", and I hiked Sitton's Gulch trail, via Trenton GA, and were delighted with the lack of people, the trail conditions, and the waterfall 2 miles from the trailhead.

The route was moderate in difficulty for someone who hikes frequently, with a generally consistent incline and a few short but steep inclines along the two miles going in towards the falls.
Fun, quick day hike which we will do again!

Enjoying the Wilderness safely

Wow Dudes and Dudettes! Think your actions through!! "Look before you jump". If I do "A", I will probably get "B",
We have been keeping the law enforcement rangers (LE), and Search and Rescue (SAR), folks busy over the last month or so! A dead ginseng hunter, a car crash leaves several dead and a woman who has been missing for nearly a week, as this note is typed. These events are sad and mostly preventable. These, along with the usual but many less life threatening events are keeping LE/SAR busy, busy.

The GRSMNP is a beautiful, fairly natural wilderness setting which is nothing like where most of the 10 million plus annual visitors come from. Thus an honest individual appraisal of this environment and it's realities should be made by All who come here to enjoy and learn. Whether it's an immediate assessment of should I drive the speed limit in the park? or get closer to the bear for a better picture?, honesty with self is required.
Telling yourself,
"Oh, it'll be alright", as you approach a bear or saying "here, hold my drink, watch this", as you decide to float over the falls at the Sinks, are examples of where You take responsibility for your own fate.
However in making uninformed sometimes careless decisions, people also put SAR/LE personnel in jeopardy as they work to locate you.
So when you decide to go hiking on a trail in the GSMNP, or any other wild area like the GSMNP, please check with a ranger or  currently qualified personnel about "your plans".
Just because you saw it on the internet or your TV does not make it "reality", or doable. I used to work in entertainment production and I assure you that there is a whole lot of stuff going on off the camera, before whatever you see on the screen appears.

Please do yourself, and all the park personnel everywhere a favor. Slow down and think first. Ask for some opinions from those who know better, and please do not approach the bear.
I also speak with some compassion to those whose families are affected by the accidents which may occur when people make the choice to visit wild places to enjoy the moment. Peace