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.
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Elkmont loop
Elkmont campground-Little River trail-Cucumber Gap trail-Jakes Creek trail-Elkmont resort, 10.5 km
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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.
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.
Great Smoky Mountains days 6-7: back to Spence Field and on to Derrick Knob
We stopped at Gregory Bald one more time and watched park workers clearing vegetation between azalea bushes. Russell Field was closed so we had to make it to Spence Field: 20 km,  800 m total altitude gain. Russell had the highest concentration of black flies which swarm all shelters and camp sites during the day. A solo thru-hiker was happy to see us arrive at Spence, still quite shaken by very close encounter with a bear. We had the shelter for ourselves (thru-hikers go to sleep before dark and move-on at dawn). Spent the evening at camp fire and watching synchronous fireflies after dark. We slept late next day. Spence Field to Derrick Knob was supposed to be an easy day, 10 km and 600 m total altitude gain, but it was up-and-down all the time on rugged leg-tiring trail. But first, we climbed Thunderhead Mountain elevation 5527 ft  (1685 masl), highest point of our hike. Clingmans Dome, the highest peak in Smokys, 12 km from Derrick Knob, is 6644 ft (2025 masl). Rocky Top on the slopes of Thunderhead has 360° view of the Smokys.
Smokys from Rocky Top
Derrick Knob was packed. We were asleep when rangers came to close the shelter: returning bear got too bold and stuck its head into somebody’s tent knocking it down (nobody was hurt). They stapled the notice in the morning. We had good, informative discussion with them at breakfast.
