Standing Stone

Well it had been a long time since I visited this beautiful Tennessee State Park located north of I-40 in between Cookeville and Crossville. I attended a workshop here this weekend(4/25). This park is situated on 11,000 acres in Overton county within a "hilly" section of the Cumberland Plateau and was full of wild flowers many of which I'd also seen a few weeks ago in the GSMNP.
There are 8 miles of day use trails w/ no backcountry camping sites, a small lake to fish in. A Nice place to visit with cabins for rent, small boats to rent for the lake, facilities for meetings, playgrounds and other recreational opportunities w/ Dale Hollow Lake at the northern edge of the park.

The Ranger Will on Earth Day April 22nd

The former ranger Will W., and I took a walk up Rich Mtn. trail to the intersection w/ the Loop trail and then back along the ridge to Cerulean Knob and the old tower site, 3686'. Here we had lunch and shared views and ideas on several topics related to wild life sustainability. This deer was just looking for it's lunch and apparently had no noticeable concerns about it's wild life.

What A Day!

Saturday April 18th, 2009, in this region, was a gift to all those who were able to get outside, or in some cases at least be able to look out a window and wonder.
Today the route began from the Cosby picnic/camping area at Low Gap trail head which we followed up to the Appalachian Trail (AT). From there we went east along the AT and to the Mt. Cammerer spur, meeting and talking w/"BamBam", an AT distance hiker from Sevierville, TN, along the way. From the Cosby trailhead to the overlook is an overall elevation gain of approx. 2800'. As we approached the overlook on Cammerer we also began to pass other folks making their final ascent along the.6 mile spur.

We completed a 16 mile loop(+-) loop via the AT to Lower Mount Cammerer trail and back out to the Cosby complex. We found it interesting in how the second part of this route; from Cammerer back to the trailhead, descended at a much more mellow pace than the first part in which the elevation was gained.
The weather, along this loop, was excellent! Mostly sunny skies, w/ a light wind; even atop the AT and Cammerer, the temperature varied from the 60's-70's, w/ elevation, amount of forest cover, and what direction we were facing on a particular portion of trail. Water was plentiful, and the Trillium, Bluets, Dwarf Iris, et.al., were magnificent in their beauty!

Deviations OTG

Today's route was much like yesterdays only that after several Stream crossings I went right instead of left and followed this another mile plus along an old logging road/railway.
Dude! the weather was great w/ temps in the mid 60's, mostly sunny skies, and not a lot of wind where I was walking. I only saw birds and bee's w/ an occasional squirrel scampering up a tree. The undergrowth is still light so the views into the greening plant world is good and the colors grow in intensity and distinction.
Several long stretches along the route were full of various blooms as far as I could see in any direction and I smiled and gave thanks to the powers that be. Peace.

Today OTG

Today I walked a short distance (3mls RT), along a beautiful stream, with temperatures in the 40's and cloudy skies. Driving in on Hwy.#321, cloud were still resting over the main body of mountains here in the park. Maybe Steve, who just spent two days up on LeConte, visiting Doug will tell us of the weather up there? Like did it snow while yuin's was up there?
I spoke with a very pleasant couple, Ron and Norma(?), who had been back here on one of their "family visits". They told me that some of the family says they only visit so they can spend time in the Smokies. She had started "playing" in the park in 1953, and her husband in 1955. They told me lots of neat things and and shared their unspoken love of this region. Wow! Another great day in the woods, thanks folks for being a part of it!

Walking in The Clouds on Tues. 4/14/09

Tuesday I left the house after checking the weather radar and it looked like the rain was through. Though becoming somewhat more aware of the micro-climate(s) here in these mountains I wore my rain suit over my poly's and it turned out to be a good decision.
After dropping some paperwork off at a friends on Rich Mtn. road I continued up to the trail head and walked the familiar trail in rain and cloud cover. At times my visibility was probably less than 30 yards. All these elements made for an interesting hike by making the familiar walk a new experience.
At and around site #5 I saw what appears to be damage from boars unlike I've seen before, which doesn't mean much as I've only been a "regular" here for the last 18 months, but whatever it was had torn up some soil. All indications of the damage indicated boar.
The visual field dimmed by the clouds sitting on the mountain and the noise level muted by the soft ground cover from the rain made it an almost suspenseful hike. As I walked the "flat affect" was broken by beautiful blooms and a ground hog which I startled going up and coming back down the trail. Great day for walk. Peace

The 'P' Is Back In The EPA, ...It Appears

The following qoute is from the ilovemountians site, dated Wednesday April 8th.

Appalachia, Virginia — In a victory for community members and for clean water, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week directed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to revoke the “nationwide 21” mining permit for A&G Coal’s massive Ison Rock Ridge mountaintop removal coal mine in Southwest Virginia. The news comes only weeks after a delegation of Appalachian coalfield residents met with the EPA in Washington, D.C. urging the Agency to take quick action to protect their communities from the ravages of mountaintop removal coal mining. The bold move is the latest clear signal that the Obama Administration is taking action on mountaintop removal coal mining and supports clean energy solutions and green jobs.

For more information about this and much more about Mountaintop Removal, MTR, simply click the ilovemountains link to the right.

And The Next Day....Wednesday April 8th

Tuesday I hike into 10 inches of snow and today I chose a lower trail, Chestnut Top, and hiked in shorts and took some pictures of awesome spring flowers in the Smokies. The trail was in good condition though somewhat busy. Weather was really nice w/ a Temperature in the 50's and partly cloudy skies. Once over the top of Chestnut Top and on the park side of it the views of Thunderhead et.al., across the ridges shown brightly w/ the snow cover in the sun. Great day for a walk!

Spring Snow

Dudes! and Dudettes! What a cool walk I got to take today up Anthony Creek trail to Russell field trail and up along Leadbetter ridge. The snow was with me from the picnic area where I parked, just inside Cades Cove, and only deepened as I gained elevation. When I started my return approximately a half a mile+ from the Russell Field shelter it was like 8 inches deep. The only wildlife I saw were birds of various types, none of which I could identify but click this picture and you'll get a better view of the one in this tree.
When I started I had my hopes up that I'd have the trail to myself, as there were no other cars parked in the picnic area lot where I started from. Well that's because the groups of "overnighters" I passed (7 persons total) as I was going in could not park in that lot overnight.
I was on the trail about 4.5 hours and it snowed probably half that time. The streams are of course busting loose and the temperatures are supposed to reach the 60's Tomorrow. The blooms will return soon I'm sure and The Walker and others will provide more pic's though you ought to come see them for yourself. Things are just getting started and the park has stuff going on all year celebrating the 75Th anniversary of it's "grand opening".

April Flowers

The blooms have begun in the Smokies! I only know the names of a few though the pictures here will give you a very small glimpse of the already awesome beauty that's being enhanced by the spring flowers. These were taken along my walk today OTG. I went back in almost as far as I did the first time; which I did without a clue as to where I was headed (end of July, '07), and I was grateful I made it out of here then, after seeing the route again today. There is still relatively little undergrowth at this time and It was rockin' w/ full streams, blooms everywhere in multitudes, and the only folks I encountered were walking out about a mile into the walk. There were five stream crossings and I turned around at the sixth. Three of these require some agility and balance. This route follows an old railroad path from the logging that took place here before the park was established.
To do my part in protecting an area from too much traffic I will not give the location of this hike on this site. Though I will type this....Join me next time and experience the appreciation. Peace.