Monday-Thursday: Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Blue Ridge Parkway Camping & Hiking

Monday, May 16 through Thursday, May 19. Joint event with the Highland Rim chapter. Camping in Mile High Campground at the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hiking in GSMNP and near Shining Rock Wilderness Area off Blue Ridge Parkway near Maggie Valley, NC. Monday we will hike the short, steep, paved Waterrock Knob Trail and then view the sunset from the parking lot. Total mileage is 1.2 miles. Tuesday we will hike the Rough Fork Trail, Caldwell Fork Trail, and Hemphill Bald Trail Loop. This hike is a strenuous 13.7-mile loop with a 2,000 ft. elevation change. On Wednesday we will hike the Art Loeb Trail to Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain and the Sam Knob Summit Trail. The Art Loeb Trail to Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain is a 5-mile moderate loop and offers panoramic views from Tennent Mountain and Black Balsam Knob. The Sam Knob Summit Trail is 2.7 miles out and back. Wednesday on our way back to our campsite, we can eat at J. Arthur’s Restaurant in Maggie Valley, NC. On our way home Thursday, we can visit nearby Soco Falls and Mingo Falls. Contact Joan Hartvigsen by email jhartvigs@comcast.net or 931-636-2914 to reserve a spot in the Mile High group campsite. For more information, contact Sara Pollard at 615-714- 3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com.