Laurel Falls & Beyond

  tis the season to hit the trail !

  Every October I help lead hikes for Friends of the Smokies to get folks fit while having fun and raising funds for Friends of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  The call Center where I work @ Covenant Health say some folks start calling in in August asking "is the list out yet? can I sign up"

Josie (hiker/nurse) Julie and me

sponsors Sam Curtis (Farm Bureau) w/ wife Jody (far right)
w/ crew heading up to tower

Ralph (88) & his hike bud Phyllis Henry
Ralph and Dot Egli & Mountain Laurel Chalets long time sponsor

two sweet buds Jan and Mary Bond

part of the gang at falls

falls a popular spot watch your footing though

above falls many tall giants from old growth forest

great lunch bench

intersection w greenbrier ridge 

Me seeing fast Phil on his way back down

And we sometimes have a waiting list and they all pay 20 dollars per hike!  Why?   Friends of the Smokies does so much to keep our GSMNP such a spectacular place to visit ! and if you don't explore out on the trails you don't capture it's unique beauty.    And we end up making new friendships while enjoying seeing some regulars each season too!   First hike of Fall and Spring is relatively easy and we appreciate the Park allowing some of their VIP volunteers to go along too.  Regina from Cosby campground and Bill from Laurel Falls patrol both joined us and we had a great day!   Here are some snapshots of the walk up to Laurel falls on paved (sometimes rough) trail and then up past falls a mile plus to Greenbrier trail intersection and up thru old growth trees to Cove Mnt trail and to see the old fire tower at the top!