Cubs & Courthouse Rock rockin good time

Driving into the parking lot of Suglarlands, we all commented (hubby jim, ellen morrar and 10 year old Gracie) "we hike a lot and never see bears!", then we looked up from parking lot and there was two sleeping in a tree.   A small mom and cub then were encouraged down and away to keep them from getting to cozy next to busiest tourist spot in park.  So that was a neat treat for us all (especially the 10 year old who was complaining of getting up @ 7 on a day off from school + it was damp/cold day)

Our group met up with our Mountain Man leader Glen Cantrell who knows all the listed and non listed trails in the Smokies.  We headed up toward Chimneys but after the big pretty overlook parking you see on your left we found a pull out for quiet walkway and parked there.   Next we walked back down road about 200 yards and crossed over and headed into the woods..  You can kinda see that it was an old road bed (flat wide) and Glen said that was the old highway 71.   We then found a trail and headed up and around thru area where he mentioned corn fields etc used to be.  Sure enough little later before crossing a creek we spotted an old tub w/ bush growing right out from it.

Due to heavy rains we came up another way but were delighted to see that  one of the Brown Book (hikers bible many say) authors Doris Gove and her buddy Jenny and grandson Andrew came in on another side trail (little more direct but more rock hopping) to head up to Court House Rock.  After climbing up thru Rhododendrum thicket there is a side trail on left to take to see the rock but we went straight to first see Lovers Leap and he was a pretty area w/ big rock and nice view back down over Little River and across to Gatlinburg

   We backtracked a little to find that turn and headed upward and then kept lookin for carins (little rock statues folks put to show you where to turn) and headed down to see a beautiful waterfall that Glen called Quillams falls.   The family had a house and barn up on the side of the mountain in early 1900's.

 Then back to the trail we went up further and it was hard to spot but there was a small carin and rock kinda in shape of arrow that was next to a grown over trail and we headed up to see the "famous Court House Rock" and it was impressive! Very misty up there so we didnt climb around on it too much but quite an interesting formation to see!

I know more folks want to go including some of my Biggest Winner Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon crew so I'll work on another date to hook up with some hike legends like Glen and Doris and Hit the Trail again! 

Fontana a Fit and Fun Destination

I always love heading over to Fontana, as it is a great close get a way with lots of fitness options.  Fontana helps sponsor Get on Trails for Friends of the Smokies and also has helped out at the Hope Auction for Covenant Health.  So twice a year I take folks on a fit fun trip.  A few of us bikers headed up the  backside (steep) of Foothills parkway and along the straight part of 129 for 20 miles then hopped in our cars.  We drove the "Dragon" which was sooo pretty and not too many fast motorcycles during the week. At Deals Gap we turn left towards Fontana and then bike along the pretty pretty 28 for 10 miles.   At fontana we stayed in the Lodge and ate at Mountain Bistro   The food is always superb and the pastry chef even whipped up a yummy cake for Sharon Spezia's birthday.   We had 14 of us inluding a "thru AT hiker" johnny who told us about his adventures on the Appalachian Trail.    Day 2 we drove the 2 miles over the Marina and rode Ms HAzel over to EagleCreek area to hike up Lost Cove (straight up) to AT.  There we turned left to off trail to Shuck STack Tower.  You have got to go to That Tower some day as it has 360 gorgeous views.   Then we headed down AT to marina while some went onto Twenty Mile ranger station.