Sunday 7/19/09
Trip: 6.36 miles
Elevation: 3003ft (max) 1975ft (min) ~1194ft (total accent)
Time: 3h 15m
Temperature: 75 F
Wind: Light breeze
Conditions: Clear, no precipitation, low humidity
Pack Weight: ~31lbs (Madeline in her carry pack)

Summary:

The Little River Trail is just one of about 40 or so easy, single day hiking trails located in the northern section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Mel and I were in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. for a friend’s wedding and decided on spending our final afternoon hiking. A quick conversation with a Ranger at the north entrance welcome center and we were off for Elkmont and the Little River Trail. The Little River Trail is well groomed and graded (more like a narrow gravel road) and follows the Little River for several miles. Roughly 2.4 miles up the trail is the Cucumber Gap trail head. This trail takes a more aggressive climb back towards the Elkmont camping area via the back side of Burnt Mountain but makes for a great ~5 mile loop. Perfect hiking weather and great views of the Little River made for a nice day hike with the family.

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Saturday 2/14/09
Trip: 4.24 miles
Elevation: 1020ft (max) 820ft (min) ~388ft (total accent)
Time: 2h 15m
Temperature: 75 F
Wind: Light breeze
Conditions: Clear, no precipitation, low humidity
Pack Weight: ~10lbs (day pack load)

Summary:

Sweetwater Creek is a small park about 20 minutes west on I-20 from downtown Atlanta. It’s tucked away in the middle of a residential area and has two decent size lakes and a wide, quick flowing creek/river. The largest trail loop runs along the edge of the creek for about 40% of the total distance. Well groomed and clearly marked, there’s a good mix of small rock scrambles creek side and then a short elevation climb up out of the creek basin. Definately a great strech-the-legs-after-a-long-winter type of hike.

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Friday 9/19/08
Trip: ~5 miles
Elevation: 3050ft (max) 2990ft (min) ~750ft (total accent)
Time: 3h 20m
Temperature: 80 F
Wind: Light breeze
Conditions: Clear skies, no precipitation, low humidity
Pack Weight: ~30lbs (overnight lodge hike)

Summary:

The Len Foote Hike Inn is only accessible via a 5 mile hike up Springer Mountain. After checking in with the Amicalola Ranger station, you park at the top of the falls and pick up the trail head on the opposite side of the parking lot. 200 yards or so off the start, the trail splits – taking the right fork leads up the Inn, the left fork will eventually spit you out on top of Springer Mountain (which is also the official start of the Appalachian Trail).

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Sunday 8/17/08
Trip: ~3 miles
Elevation: 1686ft (max) 1025ft (min) 761ft (total accent)
Time: 1h 11m
Temperature: 85 F
Wind: Light breeze
Conditions: Clear, hummid, no precipitation
Pack Weight: <10lbs (day hike)

Summary:

This is one of my “workout” tracks I like to do at [Stone Mountain State Park]. You launch straight up right from the trail head and don’t stop until you reach the public pavilion at the summit (refreshments and bathrooms available). Unlike [Kennesaw Mountain], the entire track is over natural granite exposed on the mountain’s western face. Technically, it’s an easy hike with little or no boulder scrambles but it can be taken at any speed with as much or as little pack load as you want so it offers a versatile workout for all levels.

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Sunday 7/27/08
Trip: ~2 miles
Elevation: 960ft (max) 870ft (min) <150ft (total accent)
Time: 1h 30m
Temperature: 90 F
Wind: Light breeze
Conditions: Clear, no precipitation
Pack Weight: <10lbs (day hike)

Summary:

We finally had a chance to get the whole family out for a short hike this weekend. Our Golden Retriever hasn’t had a chance to go swimming in months so we thought it would be nice to take her out to one of her favorite swimmin’ holes: [Stone Mountain State Park].

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I came across [The Pulse] while browsing [the Backpacker Magazine web site]. It’s a good read and I highly recommend it for people who spend time outdoors on a regular basis.

Steve Howe is their Rocky Mountain Editor and has a life-time of experience with alpine climbing and hiking. He reports and comments on Search and Rescue (SAR) efforts that occur each year across the full spectrum of out-door recreation. It gives you a hard look at what can happen (this is life or death) when you step into the wild unprepared or under-geared for the environment you’re in. It also sends a sobering message that no matter how skilled or prepared you are for a specific activity, Mother Nature can turn your adventure upside down and sideways in an instant.

His number one lesson? Be smart, be prepared, and don’t let your ego make the decisions for you.

Sound advice.