100 in the 100: Little River Trail

Little River Trail

	Trail Features:		Stream, Wildflowers, History
	Trail Location:		Elkmont
	Roundtrip Length:		4.9 Miles
	Total Elevation Gain:		412 Feet
	Avg. Elev Gain / Mile:		168 Feet
	Highest Elevation:		2637 Feet
	Trail Difficulty Rating:		5.72 (moderate)
	Parking Lot Latitude		35.65365
	Parking Lot Longitude		-83.58018

In the spring as I was preparing for the Inca Trail I made a decision to hike 100 miles in the National Park in 2016 in celebration of the National Park Service's 100th Anniversary.

SUCCESS

I DID IT!! 100 miles hiked in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2016 in celebration of the National Parks Service Centennial.  As of today I have hiked 100.3 miles this year in the GSMNP (plus another 26 miles traversing the Andes to Machu Picchu) - what a feat considering the last time I had hiked the Smokies was 6 years ago.  I have to say I am so proud of myself!

This hike was extra special because I took along Dad for my last few miles of the journey.  With his back so out of sorts he's not been able to do much walking but this is a beautiful trail that has only a small incline and it is a wide, smooth path that travels along the river - just lovely.  So Dad and I walked the first mile together then he found a seat to wait while I made the next mile and returned to pick him up for the last bit back.

Elkmont is such a lovely part of the park.  We explored several of the summer homes left behind by the lumber company and we've decided it would be the perfect place to rent for a family gathering next year.

I did learn a few things as I hiked these hundred miles:
1. I don't love hiking for the sake of hiking - give me a view to see or a historical site to visit
2. Being in nature is better than challenging nature - I love enjoying God's creation; doing it out of breath and in pain is not enjoyment
3. I have a long list of hikes still to do in my Smokies!