Mountains to Sea Trail Hike

For me this was the mountains part of the mountains to sea trail.  I did a short day hike with Erik and his friend Mike.  The weather couldn't have been better and it was a beautiful and pretty easy hike.  We went to the top of Sam's Knob and enjoyed an okay view, but later on we found a really amazing vista and I got some great shots.  If you live in the Asheville area and want to go, head up the Parkway past graveyard fields and take the next road on your right (warning it's full of car sized pot holes!) Go to the parking area at the end and consult the map to figure out which trails you want to go on.  We did a loop on Sam Knob Summit, to Sam Knob, then Flat Laurel Creek, to Little Sam and finally the Mountain to Sea Trail/Art Loeb.  Not too much elevation change and though this was supposed to be a half day hike, it turned out to be more like a day hike.  One thing I find mildly baffling is that the trails are marked with signs that have their names, but most maps have the trails numbered.  If someone can explain why this is the way it is, I'd love to know.

Katie