April Hike: Chestnut Top Trail GSMNP

[Guest aBRG2far]

Its Springtime in the Smokies! Chestnut Top trail is one of the first trails to have wildflowers blooming along it. It begins at the Townsend Wye alnog the Little River and climbs out of the river gorge. It travels 4.3 miles and up 1000' in elevation to Schoolhouse Gap trail but the first .5 mile is where most of the wildflowers are found.

Solomon's Seal

Great Chickweed and Fire Pink

Squaw Root. Not a flower but a parasite of oak tree roots.

Catesby's Trillium

Yellow Trillium

Purple Phacelia

Longspur Violet

Smooth Yellow Violet

Unknown. I had to get on my belly and use the macro setting to take the photo.

Little River Gorge.

Thunderhead Mt and the Appalachian Trail crest.

End of the trail and halfway done, now I have to turn around and go back. Total milage was 8.6 miles, the longest I've done so far. Total weight loss is 180lbs since Jan '08.

[Guest db99wj]

Wow, on the pics and the weight loss!! You are doing great.

[Guest tadams]

Congrats on the continuation of health and thanks for the pics. I sure do miss my east TN.

[10Kilr]

Great photos

[BBill_TN]

Congratulations on the weight loss. Great pictures, too. I definitely miss being an hour away from those mountains.

[Guest m&pc9]

Very nice pics.

[Mike.357]

wow, I saw th pic of you without reading your weight loss caption and I really noticed it. First thought that came to mind was, " that dude has lost some weight"

Looks like a real nice hike.

[oldogy]

Great pictures. Congratulations on the weight loss.

oldogy

[Guest aBRG2far]

Thanks guys. Here I am one year ago at Laurel Falls.

[Mr. Brooks]

Great photo's! Really makes me wish I was home right now.