Huckleberry Knob & Hooper's Bald Trails

 Wow!  What a change in weather.  We were warned by the hike leader just in time that this hike was to be on the cold side!  We had a long drive, first to the Visitors Information Center, which we enjoyed.  The temperature was not so bad, nothing we couldn't handle.  It was a beautiful sunshiny day in the 40s.  We left the center and began climbing up the mountain.  The fall colors were incredible, probably the best I have ever seen.  We were so busy enjoying the colors that we failed to notice the temperature gauge falling and falling and falling.  Finally we were above the fall colors and looked at the temperature.  First down into the 30s then down into the 20s.  Finally the temperature settled at about 23 degrees! Brrrrrrrrrr!  The 22 of us took two hikes which were relatively easy except that the altitude was over 5000 feet.  The distance of the two hikes combined was just under three miles. You can see from the pictures that it was pretty dismal at the top of the two hikes, but there were some views and still interesting.  Following the hike we went to the Grain Bakery and had an excellent sandwich and drink.   

If you would like to see some pictures, altitude graphs and maps from this hike, click here or on the picture to the right.  

Cloudland Canyon, Bear Creek Trail

 This week we hiked at Cloudland Canyon, the Bear Creek trail, which had only a few hikers and campers.  The morning started cool, but warmed quickly as we descended to Bear Creek.  The creek, mostly dry, was easily crossed on the river rocks.  Ascending to the rim, scrambling up some rocks on the edge of a cliff, the forest delighted our eyes with brilliant yellows and stunning reds against a backdrop of green leaves yet to change their hue.  Short spur paths led to spectacular overlooks on the east rim.  The deep gorge separated us from people we could see on the west rim of the canyon.  We waved but didn't see anyone return our waves.  Hiking back to the trailhead, we logged about 9 miles with an elevation gain of 1371 feet.  

If you would like to see some beautiful pictures taken during this hike, click here.