Sixty hikers took part in a special FOTS overnight hike to Mt. LeConte, July 20-21.
The group departed from the Newfound Gap parking lot, hiking the Appalachian Trail and then the Boulevard Trail to Mt. LeConte.
The hike leader was hiking expert Danny Bernstein, who leads the FOTS Classic Hikes of the Smokies series.
The hikers, age 15 to 80, experienced a range of weather and were treated to a rainbow atop Mt. LeConte.
They spent the night at LeConte Lodge — staying in the rustic cabins and enjoying the family style meals.
The return hike was on Rainbow Falls Trail.
Anna Zanetti, Holly Demuth and David Vittium provided the photos. You can see more photos from the trip on the FOTS Facebook album.
The Classic Hikes of the Smokies series provides hikers with the opportunity for a group hiking experience and includes highlights about the trails, wildlife, FOTS projects to support the park, and the history of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Money raised from the Classic Hikes series supports the Trails Forever endowment which funds a full time trail rehabilitation crew (currently working on Alum Cave).
Click on the link for more information about the Classic Hikes of the Smokies series or read more about this special overnight hike from Karen Chavez with the Asheville Citizen-Times here.