AA^3: The Great Smoky Mountains Hiking

While in the Smokies, you must go hiking and see all its natural beauty.  Chivo would like to hike to the top of a mountain, so we gotta make this happen.  Right now, I'm just prepping my body to be ready for these hikes!  I recently started the paleo lifestyle but allowing myself 2 cheat meals a week.  I've heard great things about the paleo lifestyle and I want to see if they are true.  Chivo is a crossfit fanatic, eats paleo most of the time and in awesome shape.  Me on the other hand, I workout, but more weights than cardio.  I've started training for a 5K cuz I figure it will help me with the hiking and so far I'm feeling leaner so I think it's working.  Chivo has also started to teach me some crossfit moves and challenged me to 25 push-ups and 25 air squats everyday.  Game on!

Here are some trails that look pretty cool. 

Hiking - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

- Grotto Falls. You can walk behind it. Off Roaring Fork Motor Trail.

- Laurel Falls. 2.6 mile walk. Paved trail. 80 ft cascade. Arrive early to miss the crowds.

- Abraham Falls. 5 miles round trip. The most water, the deepest pool. Cross a wooden bridge.

- Chimney Tops. A challenging trek to a bare rock summit with a 360 degree view. A couple miles up, over wooden bridges and along streams. They say the last mile is intimidating. *the trail is only open Friday thru Sunday due to a major facelift.   I love climing up rocks, so I'm game for this and this should hit the spot for Chivo - the top of a mountain!

-Mt LeConte. Hike up with an over night bag to see breathtaking views.

Book ahead of time at LeConte Lodge, they say it books up quickly. $126/night per person for a cabin.   You can also make this a day trip and call ahead to have lunch up there - the call these Day Hikers (ppl who do not have overnight reservations).  Day Hikers can purchase a sack lunch for $10.  They also have a souvenior shop up there.  It sounds a little pricey to stay up there, although it may be worth the extra money.  We will have to think about this one. 

Either way, I wanna go up there whether its to stay the night or just a day hike.





I may need to invest in some hiking boots/sneakers.

I'll probably look at other trails on this Hiking in the Smokys website.