Difficult hiking in the Smokies

Even though the Smokies are not as majestic as the Tetons or the Cascades, hiking is still tough!  Long steady climbs over tree roots and rocks covered by fallen, sometimes wet leaves, makes for a challenge going up as well as coming down.  On our hikes the elevation gain is around 2000 feet.  The color in the higher elevations is almost all gone and the scenes from overlooks are mainly dark with colors way off in the background. 

This is Charlie's bunion, a rock formation. We were at the base of the rock but did not stand on the top like these two guys. Still had awesome views.

Environmental smog impacts the views on most days, including our day

Then on Sunday we decided to have a lazy day and walked along the trail from town to the visitor center.

The rest of Sunday was spend walking around downtown Gatlinburg which had festive Halloween decorations and some people in costumes. 



                             No chair lift ride for me....  just can't swing in the air like that.  Phil passed too as he has ridden lifts many  times with skiing.  Besides, we had already seen some pretty views with hiking.