Cove Hardwoods Nature Trail is located  about 4.5 miles south of Sugarlands Visitor Center right off of US 441 in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The picnic area  is located along West Prong Little Pigeon River; there are restrooms and a phone here.  Besides putting on a great autumn color display, this area  is known for epic spring wildflower blooms also. The trail is an easy 1 mile loop. next

Grotto Falls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

this is Grotto Falls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. next

Noah "Bud" Ogle homestead in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

 Noah "Bud" Ogle was a pioneer farmer that built his farm, including a tub mill, in the 1880's close to LeConte Creek on 400 acres of  mountain land. The Ogle cabin is one of the best preserved cabins in Great Smoky Mountains National Park; also, the Ogle tub mill located behind the cabin down on LeConte Creek is mostly well-preserved as well; the millstones  are even  still intact in the tiny building. The homesite is located right off Cherokee Orchard Road on the way to Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail just outside of Gatlinburg, Tennessee; the Noah Ogle Nature Trail loops .75 of a mile behind the cabin down to the creek and back. Take traffic light #8 off of US441 in Gatlinburg, stay right through the intersection onto Cherokee Orchard Road; the cabin will be on your right. next

this Is LeConte Creek just below the tub mill on the Noah Bud Ogle Nature Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The roof of the millhouse can just be seen in the upper left of the image.

Death Canyon in Grand Teton National Park

Death Canyon is a fairly popular hike in Grand Teton National Park of around 8-9 miles roundtrip; much of it is moderate incline. The trailhead is accessed about 3 miles south of Moose off of Moose-Wilson Road.; the road in is about 1.6miles and fairly rough and rutted; drive carefully. The hike starts with a fairly moderate climb to Phelps Lake Overlook at just under a mile. I would advise you to bring plenty of water and some bear spray also. There will likely be other hikers on the trail, but not near as many as some of the more popuar trails in the park. I hiked  this trail in midsummer of 2010 with longtime friend Al Stangl. next

This is the view from Phelps Lake Overlook; about 9/10 a mile from the trailhead; it's a great place to catch your breath for the next portion of the trail. next

This section of trail is at the top of the switchbacks just after Phelps Lake Overlook.  next

After you leave Phelps Lake Overlook, you continue down the trail  through a few switchbacks around 7/10 of a mile to  a trail junction; the left goes to Phelps Lake, the right goes into Death Canyon. Around this point, you can see up into the upper reaches of the canyon and it's a little intimidating. Although the grade isn't as bad as it looks from the bottom of the canyon, it's about 1.5 miles to the upper reaches of the canyon where the grade lessens; until then,  it is a constant uphill grind. The scenery gets better and better as you ascend; both sides of the canyon are soaring granite walls popular with climbers. The canyon feels much more vertical and closed-in than the more popular Cascade Canyon Trail. If you hang in long enough, the canyon eventually flattens and the hiking gets much easier.  next