Deep Creek Loop Trail Hike
It is always a great winter hike when a gray morning start to the day and cold temperature climbs from below freezing into the upper 40's-50's and sunshine. Even better when it is on Deep Creek, a special part of the Smoky Mt. National Park which never fails to dazzle. In spite of the frigid plunges of Old Jack Frost, the steady green of ferns, moss, pine, holly and mistletoe against the dull browns and grays of the season provided vivid reminders of the craftiness of plant evolution in finding ways to harvest the sun and find some fun, which reminds me of the Hardy Hikers, equally crafty by the way. Click any photo to enlarge pictures. The art of winter ice added its special embellishment to being out in deep December. It's enough to make you jump for joy; well, at least one of us could still get airborne. (The rumor that we spent a long time figuring out how to hang her from a wire since she couldn’t really jump, and that my photo timing was really bad as some had just