We continued on Wolf Ridge Trail to Gregory Bald. We faced a steady incline all the way to Parson Bald and campsite 13. Mud stuck to our boots. Mud smeared on our pants. We climbed higher and higher, a challenge for us flat-land dwellers. The sun began heating the air. Sweat poured out of us. The sweet muggy forest air filled our nostrils, an addicting scent.
Green and brown surrounded us with punches of color blazing our trail to Gregory Bald. Every few minutes, we encountered something wonderful: an interesting plant, a woodland flower, a curious insect, bear scat. We stopped often. One of us saw something we wanted to photograph and share to others. I welcomed these breaks as the temperature increased. One thing we didn’t photograph on the our trip were the great people on the trail. It’s that special kind beauty that isn’t seen much in suburban life. I haven’t met a hiker that I didn’t like. They are a good group of people. 
They tend to be pleasant, positive, easy-going, and As we followed the trail through the canopy, we came across a couple coming down from Gregory Bald. They were very pleasant to chat with. One of them had an altimeter with her and told us how much further we had to go. We met a family of four thereafter. We exchanged a quick greeting and moved on.
As we got closer to Parson Bald, the canopy opened up and the sun began to beat on us. Blue skies and puffy clouds looked down on us. We discovered the forest slowly consuming Parson Bald. It is one of the balds that the National Park Service decided to not maintain.
We reached campsite 13 in the afternoon. I set up the tent as Lucky Foot and Nutty Cowboy started getting our food ready. This campsite proved to be a much nicer site than 95. There were many flat sites to chose from and space to spread out. The toilet area of 113 was much better than 95 with much space to roam and level ground to set up the tent. We saw deer crossing the spring we filtered wated from. Towards the evening deer emerged from forest. They browsed around the site and frolicked around us.
After doing our evening chores, we went up to Gregory Bald to take in the views. Gregory Bald is gorgeous place with stretches of grass, azalea shrubs waiting to bloom, and sparse trees. The mountains were around us. Cades Cove lay below us. Our time on the bald that day was short lived. A storm cloud charged towards us. We quickly went down the bald as the first few drops touched out body. It poured as soon as we got to our rain gear.
We enjoyed a good shower. We cleaned the grit off our faces and enjoyed the raindrops splashing on us. Soon after, the rain stopped. We contemplated going back up the bald but it was late already. Tomorrow, another chance to climb the bald awaits.