On our hike at Thanksgiving I challenged a great-nephew and niece to prepare for a backpacking trip next summer. Besides asking them to take regular brisk walks around their neighborhood, I offered to do day hikes building up to the overnight trip. Yesterday we went on the first of those trips: Sterling Gap to Mt. Sterling in the GSMNP. When they arrived at the meeting place, they had a cousin in tow. So the four of us enjoyed the strenuous 2 mile hill (~5.2 miles total) and the views from the ~50 feet fire tower. It was just cool enough to make walking comfortable and just overcast enough to make for better contrast in viewing distant peaks. We had interesting conversation and enjoyed the transition of the tree types as we increased in elevation. It’s time to get in shape for the next bigger hill!
Waterville Hydroelectric Facility: Why does a hydroelectric facility have a chimney?
The exit is in Tennessee but the hike is in North Carolina.
Let do this!
It simply is not 0.4 mile between the trail intersection and the tower at Campsite 38.
Low elevation outliers
Big outliers
Spruce among decidies
A great niece learning about Galax
A break in the trees
Incline
Almost there
Notice how it tappers, though you must know that perspective exaggerates the effect
Mt S BM (Wow, 1928!)
A camera with the proper filter would better catch what it really looked like with even more distant ridges appearing.
NE more or less
We made it. I wonder how any panes of glass survive in what must be a very windy site.
Enjoying the view?
Main ridge at Guyot to Cosby Knob
Campsite 38
Interesting perspective
Do you see my great-nephew? Notice how perspective from here makes the tower appear straight-sided.
After lunch relaxing
Silly cousins!
Can you tell which one is his sister?
At the top and still smiling
Survived many a storm and wind
Black (or Wild) Cherry
White Ash
Beauty everywhere you look
Almost down
CreatorWorship 
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