Rich Mountain Road Hike

~7 miles r/t
weather: partly cloudy, mild Spring-like weather.
RMR from Bull Gap to Cold Spring Gap; full length of road now completed via hiking.
Stopped by Bull Cave, bats were active.
horseback riders passed: 5; multitudes of horse poop dodged while underway *grumble*
hikers passed: 2, at CSG

Clingman's Dome Road Hike

~5.5 r/t to & including Spruce Fir Nature Trail
weather: sunny, mid 30s, some snow on ground.

Curry Mountain Trail Hike

~7 miles r/t in 2 hrs 20 min
to Meigs Mtn Trail junction & cemetery
weather: partly to mostly cloudy, mild temps.
Some leaves starting to turn, acorns falling into trailbed.
hikers passed: 2

Cades Cove Loop Road Hike

11 miles r/t in 3.5 hours
sunrise hike, full length of Cades Cove Loop Road.
weather: mostly cloudy, humid, mild temps.
sighted:
many deer and crows, bats, a bear crossed the road just before we reached it (according to cyclists)
hikers/joggers passed: 1
cyclists passed: about 20/25

Parson Branch Road Hike

~7 miles r/t
Parson Branch Road (in Cades Cove) to intersection w/ Hannah Mtn Trail/Gregory Bald Trail.
Field hike to 3 cemeteries.
weather: sunny, hot & humid.
hikers passed: 0

Little River to Goshen Prong Trail Hike

~8 miles r/t
Little River Trail to Goshen Prong, passing Goshen Gate Bridge.
Campsite 21 closed due to aggressive bear activity.
Goshen Prong trail closed due to storm damage.
weather: sunny, hot & humid.
hikers passed: 2
fishermen passed: ~10

Appalachian Trail Hike

~7 miles r/t
Clingmans Dome Bypass Trail to Appalachian Trail to Double Spring Gap
weather: partly cloudy & breezy, hot & humid.

House Mountain Loop Hike

~4 miles r/t
West Overlook Trail, Crest Trail, Mountain Trail
weather: partly cloudy & hazy, hot & humid.
hikers passed: 7

Thomas Divide Trail

~5 miles r/t
weather: cloudy, misty, mild/cool temps - then HUGE downpour for at least 1/2 hour around Kanati Fork Trail intersection.
always bring a poncho.
sighted: massive shelf mushroom growth
hikers passed: 0

Cades Cove Loop Road Hike

8 miles r/t
Cades Cove loop road via Hyatt Lane.
weather: sunny misty morning, intensely humid.
bikers/joggers passed:  too many to count, very crowded.

Forge Creek Road, Cades Cove, Hike

~5.5 miles r/t
Forge Creek Road (closed due to storm damage) to Parson Branch Road.
Field hike to cemetery.
weather: partly cloudy to start, then sunny, hot & very humid.

So many hikes.....

..... so little time to post the reports!  But I hope to get more added as I can......

Old NFG Road

~3 miles r/t
from Beech Flats QW to below NFG
weather: cold, windy, sunny; dusting of snow in shady areas
sighted:
1 ruffed grouse
hikers passed: 0

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