GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
DATE HIKED: June 28th, 2021 (Monday)
FELLOW HIKERS: Solo
TIME: 11:30 to 1:30 
WEATHER: Warm and partly cloudy.
DISTANCE: 4 miles  
DIFFICULTY: easy; steady climb without much elevation.
THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED: Turns out it does make all the difference--like 90 minutes worth of travel time. The winding, rising, rain-splashed, sun-dappled drive to the top of the Eastern Smokies via Mount Sterling won't be forgotten soon. I am grateful to have enough time to take the slow road to nowhere. 
SOMEPLACE I'VE NEVER BEEN: Mount Sterling and beyond; I might never come down this stretch again. Once in a lifetime.