BACKPACKING OVERNIGHT TO GABES MOUNTAIN 
Backpack into an old growth forest, past ruins of early sites and the popular Hen Wallow Falls in the eastern Cosby region of the Park. This eight-mile easy-to-moderate overnighter gives novices an opportunity to learn from seasoned backpackers and the pros a chance to add to their experience and knowledge of natural history. Participants will provide their own gear and meals. We will tent camp about midway through the trip in a backcountry campsite. Register early, as space is limited to six participants. Instructors: Joel and Kathy Zachry, both M.S., are husband and wife naturalists who have backpacked the Park together since 1982 and completed section hiking the 2,175 miles of the Appalachian Trail in 2005.
COURSE #291911 FEE: $98*
Fri. & Sat., September 5 & 6
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
(Meet at Cosby campground entrance station,
10:00 a.m., Fri.)
*Registration fee is nonrefundable.
BACKPACKING WITH CONFIDENCE
Whether you’re a novice backpacker, want more confidence while in the backcountry, or just want to get out and greet the extraordinary Smoky Mountain springtime, this class is for you. Learning the basics of backpacking (from how to get safe drinking water and storing your food, to setting up camp) will help you cope with whatever challenges you may encounter and make any adventure safe and enjoyable. You will gain the confidence and know how to care for yourself and the backcountry. We’ll also discuss wildlife that might be encountered to help you become more familiar and comfortable. We’ll enjoy both natural and cultural history aspects of the Smokies along the Grapeyard Ridge Trail (6.4-miles roundtrip, moderate). Meals and some gear are to be provided by each participant. Instructor: Liz Domingue, M.S., wildlife and conservation biology, is a naturalist, educator, photographer, and writer. Through photography, observation, and research, Liz has studied wildlife, plants, and the natural world throughout the United States and abroad.
COURSE #283859 FEE: $98*
Sat. and Sun., May 24 & 25
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
(Meet at Greenbrier Picnic pavilion, 9:00 a.m., Sat.)
*Registration fee is nonrefundable.
MT. LECONTE HIKE AND OVERNIGHT
Since its establishment in the 1920s, LeConte Lodge has been a rustic attraction for hikers. At an elevation of 6,593 feet, it is the highest guest lodge in the eastern United States. The mountaintop serves as a grandstand for the whole Park, and the pleasures of a visit to the lodge can include breathtaking sunsets from Cliff Top, clear night skies for stargazing, and spectacular sunrises from Myrtle Point. The true charm of LeConte Lodge is in the friendly spirit of the people who come here — people who find relaxation and renewed energy in the cool, majestic solitude at the top of the Smokies. This is a strenuous hike. The trails are steep and rocky and range from five to eight miles each way. You need to be in good physical condition ready for a rigorous climb. We suggest you sign up with an old friend, or be prepared to bunk with a new one! Instructors: Charles W. Maynard and David E. Morris are experienced hikers, stargazers, and storytellers. They are co-authors of Time Well Spent: Family Hiking in the Smokies and Waterfalls and Cascades of the Great Smoky Mountains.
MT. LECONTE SPRING HIKE AND OVERNIGHT IN THE LODGE
The wildflower show on the Trillium Gap Trail ascent should be near its peak. The return down Bull Head Trail is one of the most beautiful in the Park, both for flowers and long-range viewing.
Note: The trails are steep and rocky and range from five to eight miles each way. You need to be in good physical condition ready for a rigorous climb.
COURSE #283855 FEE: $155*
Sat. and Sun., May 3 & 4
(Meet at Rainbow Falls Trail parking lot on Cherokee Orchard Road, 9:00 a.m., Sat.)
*Registration fee is nonrefundable.
MT. LECONTE SUMMER HIKE AND OVERNIGHT IN THE LODGE
The high-altitude pink catawba rhododendron should be in full bloom, and the trail covered with blossoms. We will go up the Appalachian and Boulevard Trails and descend via the Alum Cave Trail.
Note: The trails are steep and rocky and range from five to eight miles each way. You need to be in good physical condition ready for a rigorous climb.
COURSE #284856 FEE: $155*
Sat. and Sun., June 21 & 22
(Meet at Alum Cave Trail parking lot on Newfound Gap Road, 9:00 a.m., Sat.)
*Registration fee is nonrefundable.
MT. LECONTE FALL HIKE AND OVERNIGHT IN THE LODGE
We will go up via Rainbow Falls Trail and descend via Bull Head Trail. The brilliant fall foliage will be at its best, laid out in panoramic vistas.
Note: The trails are steep and rocky and range from five to eight miles each way. You need to be in good physical condition ready for a rigorous climb.
COURSE #291857 FEE: $155*
Sat. and Sun., Nov. 1 & 2
(Meet at Rainbow Falls Trail parking lot on Cherokee Orchard Road, 9:00 a.m., Sat.)
*Registration fee is nonrefundable.
CHARIT CREEK HIKE AND OVERNIGHT IN THE LODGE
Discover the beauty of Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area on the Tennessee/Kentucky border. This moderate seven-mile hike passes over and under a magnificent sandstone formation known as the Twin Arches. A wooden staircase makes for an easy climb to an overlook for a 360-degree view of the Big South Fork area. The Charit Creek Lodge, where we will spend the night, is accessible only by horseback or on foot. The lodge rests in a beautiful pasture framed by magnificent bluffs. There is no electricity, but each cabin is equipped with kerosene lamps and wood stoves. The lodge offers congenial accommodations and hearty meals. We suggest you sign up with an old friend, or be prepared to bunk with a new one! Instructors: Gayle and Hank Cooper are a husband-and-wife team of hikers with many years of experience. Gayle is founder of the Smoky Mountain Field School.
COURSE #291908 FEE: $115*
Sat. and Sun., Oct. 11 & 12
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
(Meet at Bandy Creek Visitor Center, 10:00 a.m., Sat.)
*Registration fee is nonrefundable.
Question? E-mail us at Smoky@utk.edu