With James Conlon (conductor), Nadine Sierra (soprano), Michael Fabiano (tenor)  and Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Rossini and Dionizetti.
Picnic at Ravinia
Hyde Park and Palos Forest Preserve
History trail: Fermi in Chicago
Great Smoky Mountains 2018
Our trip was timed for watching synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus), blooming flame azaleas (Rhododendron calendulaceum), mountain laurels (Kalmia latifolia) and even some rhododendrons (Rhododendron maximum). The weather was warm and humid, but only a few hours of continuous rain. Hike completed in 2018: from Elkmont to Tremont by car âžœ Spence Field 110 âžœ Mollies Ridge 112 âžœ Sheep Pen Gap 13 âžœ Spence Field 110 âžœ Derrick Knob 109 âžœ Marks Cove 28 âžœ Tremont West Prong trailhead. 88 km, total elevation gain 4000 m, 415 – 1684 masl.
We had good time hiking in Smokys, this time and in 2015 ☞ Mammoth Cave & Smoky Mountains. We enjoyed shorter side-walks as well and altogether walked 143 km, 6.8 km total ascent, on 3 longer trails including two multi-day hikes (map).
From Tremont West Prong trailhead
Great Smoky Mountains loop from Tremont/West Prong trailhead. 88 km, total elevation gain 4000 m, 415 – 1684 masl.
Click on wikiloc logo to see more details
Elkmont loop
Elkmont campground-Little River trail-Cucumber Gap trail-Jakes Creek trail-Elkmont resort, 10.5 kmClick on wikiloc logo to see more details
Hiking in Smoky Mountains
☞ Hiking in the Smoky Mountains
☞ Smoky Mountains NP trail map
Smoky Mountains video clips
Great Smoky Mountains days 8-9: Derrick Knob to Marks Cove and back to Tremont, and going home
From Derrick Knob we hiked a bit more on AT (Northbound) and then started walking down on Miry Ridge trail to Marks Cove, 11 km and 800 m total elevation gain. Next day 13 km was all downhill to Tremont. We took lunch break at Indian Flat Falls. And enjoyed easy walk on old forest road through the forest and along Middle Prong Little River with many cascades and falls. For a while we walked in quite heavy rain, but we were already on paved Upper Tremont Road so it was not too bad.
We found our car at West Prong trailhead as we left it. We packed our still somewhat wet gear and after big dinner in Townsend took off for Chicago with O/N near Knoxville.
