Summer hiking tips: Part one

Gregory Bald (Tsistu’yi, or Rabbit Place, in Cherokee) is a popular summer hiking destination in the Smokies, but it’s also one that involves a challenging hike of either 11 miles round trip from Cades Cove via Gregory Ridge Trail on the north side or nearly 15 miles round trip from either Fontana or Twentymile in the south. Photo by Randy Thompson.

Imagine yourself in the open field atop Andrews Bald on a warm summer day. The shifting clouds form endless shapes, and an impromptu Rorschach test ensues with your hiking partners as you debate whether one looks like a fire-breathing dragon or a steam engine. As you pack up your lunch to hike back to the […]