Some people might celebrate the conclusion of a 2 ½ year personal ordeal by opening a bottle of champagne. Me, I head to the Smokies and go for a walk. I chipped away at my 900 miler challenge for a three day lollipop-loop out of the Smokemont area. The beauty and solitude helped clear my mind and put things in perspective!
Huh, no dogs allowed??
Possible new hiking partner? 
My new favorite trail….
Besides being incredibly beautiful, I gleaned some interesting history from the little brown book, which I highly recommend if serious about hiking the Smokies! https://www.smokiesinformation.org/hiking-trails-of-the-smokies I learned that the area was named after the Enloe family that once lived here and about a possible interesting link to Abraham Lincoln! https://medium.com/william-denton-historian-author/the-curious-case-of-lincolns-paternity-9b916d6f09
Shoes off for this crossing!
Day 1: Bradley Fork Trail-Chasteen Creek Trail-Hughes Ridge Trail. Camped at Pecks Corner
Day 2: Appalachian Trail-Balsam Mountain Trail. Stayed in Laurel Gap Shelter
Day 3: Balsam Mountain Trail-Beech Gap Trail-Hughes Ridge Trail-Enloe Creek Trail-Chasteen Creek Trail-Bradley Fork Trail
Hiked a total of 39.7 miles over 3 days and a new personal best of an 18 miler on the last day!