2009 ANNUAL MEETING HIKE SCHEDULE

The East Tennessee chapter has put together an outstanding program of hikes for this year's Annual Meeting, including these 14 best hikes of the Smokies.

Hikes have been scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Check back here periodically for updates.

• Hike around Cades Cove Road. Enjoy the old cabins and wildlife of Cades Cove. 11 miles. May be shortened by using Sparks Lane or Hyatt Lane 'cutoffs'.
• Rich Mtn. Loop. This hike begins at the entrance to Cades Cove and utilizes Rich Mtn. Loop Trail, Indian Grave Gap Trail, and Crooked Arm Ridge Trail to make an 8.7 mile loop. Excellent views down into Cades Cove. 1600' climb to Cerulean Knob(3,686').
• Lead Cove Trail to Thunderhead Mtn.(Appalachian Trail). Beginning at Laurel Creek Rd., this hike utilizes Lead Cove and Bote Mtn. Trails to Access thunderhead Mtn.(5500')on the Appalachian Trail. 3700' climb. 12.8 miles RT(round trip) Strenuous hike.
• Alum Cave trail to Mt. LeConte. The most popular trail to Mt. LeConte, highlights include Arch Rock, Alum Cave Bluffs, and of course, the cabins on Mt. LeConte(6,595'). 10.4 miles RT. 2800' climb. Cautions: Exposed cliffs and possible ice on trail.
• Jakes Creek Trail to Blanket Mtn. Hike begins at the end of jakes Creek Rd. in Elkmont and begins a steady 1700' ascent to Jakes Gap. There a manway bears to the right and in @.75 mile Blanket Mtn. is reached, the site of an old firetower. Optional side trip to the Avant Cabin. 7.5 miles RT.
• Clingman's Dome to Newfound Gap(Appalachian Trail). This hike begins at the Clingman's Dome parking lot and climbs 0.5 mi. to Clingman's Dome(6,643'), highest point in the Park. The trail then descends 1600' over the next 7.8 miles to Newfound Gap. Car shuttle required.
• Lumber Ridge Trail and Spruce Flats Falls manway. This hike begins at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute in Tremont. After a half mile hike on the narrow, rocky Spruce Flats Falls trail, Spruce Flats Branch and Falls is reached. After rock hopping Spruce Flats Branch,the next 3 miles or so are off of maintained trails. The manway intersects Lumber Ridge Trail at Buckhorn Gap and begins a 4 mile descent back to Tremont. @7 or 8 miles.
• Little River/Cucumber Gap Loop. This is a 5.5 mile loop hike that begins in Elkmont at the Little River trailhead and runs between the unoccupied Elkmont cabins. After 2.3 almost level miles, the hike turns right onto Cucumber Gap trail for 2.3 miles before beginning a short descent via Jakes Gap Trail. Pretty easy hike. Little River/Cucumber Gap Loop. This is a 5.5 mile loop hike that begins in Elkmont at the Little River trailhead and runs between the unoccupied Elkmont cabins. After 2.3 almost level miles, the hike turns right onto Cucumber Gap trail for 2.3 miles before beginning a short descent via Jakes Gap Trail. Pretty easy hike. 
• Gregory Ridge trail to Gregory Bald. Hike starts at the end of Forge Creek Rd. at the back of Cades Cove. Famed for its Azalea display in June. 3000' climb. 11 miles RT. Great views.
• Trillium Gap Trail to Grotto Falls and Brushy Mtn. This hike begins on the one-way Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail Road, passes behind Grotto Falls at mile 1.2, and intersects Brushy Mtn. Trail at Trillium Gap at mile 2.9. It's then a half mile hike out to Brushy Mtn. overlook. 1500' climb. Caution: Slippery around falls, possibly icy in November. 6.8 miles RT 
• Laurel Falls trail to Cove Mtn. tower. One of the more popular 'tourist' trails for the first 1.3 miles. Paved for the first 1.3 miles. The next 2.7 miles gradually climb through virgin forest to intersect Cove Mtn. Trail. A left turn takes one to Cove Mtn.(4077')and the old fire tower. The tower is now a converted air quality monitoring station. 8.2 miles RT.
• Look Rock Tower(foothills Parkway). Very short 2 mile round trip hike. Steep climb for a short distance, then levels out. Gentle ascent up a concrete viewing tower. Great views of TN Valley to the north and Smokies to the south.
• Little Bottoms/Hatcher Mtn./Cooper Road Trails loop. Hike starts at Abrams Creek Ranger Station at the Far western end of the Park. Relatively flat hike as Smokies hikes go. Steepest climb is 200' in 1/4 mile. Little Bottoms trail parallels Abrams Creek for several hundred yards. Narrow and rocky trail in spots. 10 mile loop.
• Newfound Gap to Charlies Bunion (part of the Appalachian Trail). Beginning at US-441 the trail ascends 1000' in 2.5 miles to Mt. Ambler before descending 600' over the next 1.5 miles to Charlies Bunion. Panoramic vistas from the bunion. Possibly icy in cold weather, exposed cliffs.

Please contact Keith Mertz (Keithmertz@hotmail.com) if you would like to volunteer to lead your favorite hike.