by Julie Dodd
The April Classic Hike of the Smokies was the Porters Creek Trail in the Greenbrier, Tennessee, section of the park. Hikers had the opportunity to view spring wildflowers and add 7.2 miles toward the Hike 100 Challenge.
About 40 people joined the guided hike with master hiker Danny Bernstein leading the group. Most of the hike was in the rain, but that didn’t dampen people’s spirits.
The variety of wildflowers included Yellow Trillium and Dwarf-crested Irises.
The Classic Hikes of the Smokies are held the second Tuesday of the month, from March through December.
The next Classic Hike will be the Hyatt Ridge Trail, in North Carolina, on May 10. The hike is 9.5 miles.
You can register for the Hyatt Ridge Trail Hike or other Classic Hikes of the Smokies online here.
Participating in each hike is $20. Those funds go toward the Trails Forever program, which completes major trail restoration projects in the park. (The Trails Forever team’s 2016 project is to continue restoration work on the Alum Cave Trail.) New members can join Friends of the Smokies for $35 on their first hike, and the cost of the hike is included.
After completing registration, you will receive an email the Friday before the hike with carpool specifics, directions, and more information.
Thanks to Danny Bernstein and Anna Zanetti for providing the hiking report and photos. You can read Danny’s blog about the Porters Creek Hike.