Brushy Mountain Trail - Porters Creek Trail

11 miles r/t
Thanksgiving Day Hike
from Porters Creek parking lot up to Trillium Gap
weather: chilly, sunny; trailbeds full of dead leaves; damp.
sighted:
1 ruffed grouse
1 buck
hikers passed: 3 (on BMT, not including the handfuls of casual strollers on PCT)

Lumber Ridge Trail loop

~8.5 miles r/t
Out Lumber Ridge Trail, down the manway
weather: warm, sunny; leaves turning at higher elevations.
sighted:
9 bears - the most we've seen in one day.
1 ruffed grouse - heard bursting into flight but not actually seen.
chipmunks & squirrels galore in acorn frenzy.
hikers passed: 0 (there were 8 people at the falls when we arrived, they had traveled via the short route & we didn't pass them actually hiking so I am not including as part of the count)

Bull Head Trail

~6.5 miles r/t
went a little way past "the Pulpit"
weather: sunny, coldest day so far of the Fall season, light dusting of snow in highest elevations
sighted:
1 bear - at the gated trailhead upon finishing hike (we've seen so many bears in this area)
1 ruffed grouse
chipmunks and squirrels
hikers passed: 6

Grapeyard Ridge Trail completion

~7.5 miles r/t
Hiked mid-section of Grapeyard Ridge Trail (bc #32 to Big Dudley Trail intersection) for completion of the length of GRT.
weather: mild, mostly cloudy, humid; then drizzly; then torrential rain that turned the trail into a creek. We pretty much waded the last mile back to the parking lot.
sighted: chipmunks and squirrels
hikers passed: 0
Left camera battery in charger at home so missed out on 3-4 nice photo ops. Some nice moss-lined footpaths along this stretch, with the falls leaves will be stunning.
Did not see a new EE McCarter trail sign I've seen reported

Cooper Road Trail - Cane Creek Trail to campsite#2

~8 miles r/t
weather: cool, drizzly. leaves just starting to fall.
sighted:
1 juvenile bear - entered the trail ~ 50 yards in front of us, stopped, saw us & ran
1 deer - thought we spooked it into running, then we heard a dog(s) chasing it through the brush. odd.
1 park service pickup - we passed it parked at Cane Gap trail intersection, then upon return it was parked at Goldmine Trail sign with 6 rangers standing around, must be trail recon/maintenance, didn't notice tools in truck.
hikers passed: 3

Middle Prong Trail to Indian Flats Falls

8 miles r/t
weather: hot, humid.
sighted:
1 black racer snake on the bridge at the trailhead as we returned

Elkmont - Little River Trail night hike #4

~6 miles r/t
weather: warm, muggy
camped

Elkmont - Little River Trail night hike #3

~6 miles r/t
weather: warm, muggy
camped

Elkmont - Little River Trail night hike #2

~5 miles r/t
weather: warm, muggy

Elkmont - Little River Trail night hike #1

~5 miles r/t
weather: warm, muggy