• Route: Laurel Falls Trail to Laurel Falls (1.3) and back.
  
• Description: Paved and crowded. Stroller made the uphill portion strenuous.
  
• Total Mileage: 2.6
  
• Time Table: Departure 5pm, Exit 5:40 pm.
  
• Points of Interest: Laurel Falls
  
• Wildlife: None. Rumor of two bear cubs near creek by marker 5.
  
• Notes: Bailey's 1st patch hike.

Date:
10/22/2005
Hikers:
Bailey, Andy

• Route: Lead Cove Trail (1.8) to Bote Mountain Trail (2.5) to Finley Cane Creek Trail (2.8).
• Description: Uphill to Bote Mountain Trail, downhill to Finley Cane, level to trailhead. Easy day hike.
• Total Mileage: 7.1 (loop)
• Time Table: Departure 7:40am; Exit 11am. Average 1 hour per trail.
  
• Points of Interest: Great views from Bote Mtn trail, cane growing along Finley Cane Creek Tr.
  
• Wildlife: Toad and coyote scat on Lead Cove Tr., 2 deposits of bear scat on Bote Mtn Tr. 1 Toad, 1 Deer, and 2 coyotes on Finley Cane Cr. Tr.
  
• Notes: Great loop trail. Park facing in the direction you are going to leave to avoid having to drive to a turn around in heavy traffic. Neat bridge/tunnel under Laurel Cove Rd if you veer off the trail at the sign for Turkeypen Ridge Trail at the end of Finley Cane Tr.

Date:
10/22/2005
Hikers:
Dave & Andy

 

• Route: Jakes Creek Trail (.3) to Cucumber Gap Trail (2.3) to Little River Trail (2.3) to Little River Road (.5). Loop.
• Description: Moderate uphill to Cucumber Gap, downhill the rest of the way. Little River Trail is hard packed gravel and almost level.  Easy Loop.Rain/light mist.
• Total Mileage: 5.4 miles (loop)
• Time Table: Departure: 8:30am; Exit 10am. Parking to Little River Trail 45 minutes, Little River to car 45 minutes.
• Points of Interest: Elkmont Historic District (Appalachian Club)
• Wildlife: 4 wild turkeys on Little River Trail, 2 deer on Little River Road.
• Notes: Good loop. Little River Trail would make a good trip for Bailey with a stroller.

Date: 10/8/2005
Hikers:
Andy

Goldmine Trail to Cane Creek Trail and Park Boundary

 

• Route: Steffner Cir. to Goldmine Trail (.2); Goldmine Trail to Cooper Road Trail (.8); Cooper Road Trail to Cane Creek Trail (.6); Cane Creek Trail to Park Boundary (2.1) -- and back.
• Description: Mostly downhill one-way; easy.
• Total Mileage: 7.4 miles (loop)
• Time Table:  Departure: 9:35; Exit time: 12:25
   Parking to Campsite 2: 45 minutes. To Buchanan Cemetery 1 hour.
• Points of Interest: Buchanan Cemetery, sandy/muddy areas to check for tracks.
• Wildlife: Bear Scat on Cane Creek Tr. past Buchanan Cemetery; numerous bear tracks. Owl feather. Juvenile Southern Toad.
• Notes: Good loop. Uphill on return trip would be a bit much for Bailey. Campsite 2 would make a nice alternative to Campsite 1 for a short 1st backpacking trip.

Date: 9/24/2005
Hikers:
Andy
Pictures:

"Sole Man" Earns His Name

 

• Route: Steffner Cir. to Goldmine Trail (.2); Goldmine Trail to Cooper Road Trail (.8); Cooper Road Trail to Cades Cove Loop Road (8.0); Cades Cove Loop Road to Cades Cove Ranger Station (4.6)
• Description: Gradual uphill and downhill; easy-moderate. 
• Total Mileage: 13.6 miles
• Time Table: Departure Time: 7am; Exit time: 12:30
• Points of Interest: Sam lost the sole to his rt boot around mile 6, lt sole around loop rd. 
• Wildlife: 6 deer (5 on Cooper Rd, 1 on Cades Cove Loop); Southern toad on Goldmine Tr.
• Notes: Next time, have shuttle to trail head and pick up at station.

Date:
9/10/2005
Hikers:
Sam & Andy

 

• Route: Steffner Circle (road at Top o the World) to Goldmine Trail; 
• Total Mileage: 2 miles roundtrip including access trail to GSMNP boundary.
  
• Points of Interest: Downed trees from Hurricane Katrina. 
  
• Wildlife: Southern toad
  
• Notes: Bailey in blue backpack carrier.

Date:
9/6/05
Hikers:
Andy, Jodie, Bailey

Cades Cove Nature Trail

 

• Route: Cades Cove Nature Trail
• Total Mileage: .5 Mile Loop
• Notes: Labor Day
• Wildlife: None
• Points of Interest: Super Mario mushrooms

Date: 9/5/2005
Hikers:
Andy, Jodie, Bailey

Slickrock Creek - Troop 88

 

• Route: Slickrock Creek Trail (Slickrock Wilderness Area, Cheoah Ranger District) to Lower Falls. 3.25 Miles one way
• Total Mileage: 6.5 miles roundtrip
• Points of Interest: Slick Rock algae water slide

Date: 8/13-14/2005

Hikers: Drew Dirmeyer, Steve Cox, Fred French, Andy Lombardo, Evan, Trevor, Kyle, William, Corey, Jack (Troop 88)

Cades Cove to Abrams Creek Campground

 

• Route: Abrams Falls Trail to Little Bottom Trail (4.2), Little Bottom Trail to Abrams Creek Campground (3.2).
• Total Mileage: 7.4 miles
• Notes: Hiking in to the Abrams Creek campground where the car and tents were. The Lombardos and Baumgardners drove up for supper in the evening.
• Wildlife: Copperhead sunning on Little Bottom Trail
• Points of Interest: Abrams Falls

Date: 6/29/2003
Hikers:
Andy, David and Dexter Baumgardner

Rich Mtn Loop

 

• Route: Cades Cove entrance to Crooked Arm Ridge Trail (2.2), Crooked Arm Ridge to Indian Grave Gap Trail (1.8), set up camp at Campsite 5, broke camp, and took Rich Mtn Trail to park boundary (2.3), Rich Mtn Road back into Cades Cove (approx. 6.5 miles), Cades Cove Loop Rd to Car (approx. 3.5 miles).
• Total Mileage: approx. 16.3
• Notes: Intended 4 miles in, 4 miles out overnight to Campsite 5. We were at the campsite before noon, got bored, and decided to go on to the Rich Mountain Shelter that, unbeknownest to us, has been demolished a few years previous. Several hours and 15 miles later, we ended up back at the car.

Date: 01/XX/99
Hikers: Sam and Andy

Aftermath Photos: