...and Check Out the Small Stuff

I saw these small parts of the larger view today bushwhacking off the West Prong trail. An area which someone had told me about a few months ago and today I checked out a part of the route.

Time and weather permitting I will try and see more of this area soon.

Slow Down....

These two words have been spoken to me as a complete sentence at times and at others with various adverbs and pronouns for a particular emphasis. Today I did that as I took a short walk on a familiar route, sat on a log and paid attention to the small things of which contribute to the big experience.

Snow Walking

Dudes and Dudettes !

The snow showers continued today (1/12/11) in and close to the mountains leaving another inch or more accumulation in some spots. This after the inch or two added overnight Tuesday. Anyway, today I hiked up Rich Mtn. trail for about a mile and got some more schooling in hiking in a relatively deep snow, probably 8-10 inches, while ascending a sometimes steep path. I had plenty of fun and appreciation with and for the views I had, the small paw prints which led me up the otherwise unmarked trail; much like yesterday on the loop I walked, and the need for training in the snow.

I stopped to visit "John Deer Bill" as I drove down the Mtn. and he asked if I had already hiked because he was going to lend me some snow shoes. Now that would have been something new! And probably something I should try on level ground first because on the Rich Mtn. trail there are some tight spots where a misplaced step could have me sliding or tumbling down some steep slopes. Another awesome day for walking in the snow!

Snow Time

Well the Little River rd. was opened today with occasional patches of slush however, apparently safe enough for driving. And it was as I drove to the West Prong trailhead anyway, though the road was closed after the pavement ended. So my walk of approx. 3.5mls along the West Prong and back to the loop to complete the afternoon was done without seeing sign of anyone except for prints in the snow for the first 1/2ml.
I got a reminder and renewed appreciation of hiking in snow as I was "working" throughout the first mile which is primarily an incline, and was covered with 5+ inches of snow today.

There were animal tracks along the way and I even used one animals paw print; looked like a fox or coyote, in the snow to get back on the loop trail which I lost for a second.
I was looking for the trail in the smooth snow and found it again by noting the tracks in the snow and noting the route it had chosen. The animal was following the trail; it followed it for another quarter mile, an untracked route it could not see either yet a path it uses often and had some better sense of its direction. Another great day in the woods!

Weather It Is!

The GSMNP is closed today. And this closure is at the gates coming in from Townsend so there will be no turning around in the parking lots at the 'Y'. This is great for the hardcore hiker! When I walked east a few miles in the untouched snow on Little River rd. the audible reflection of the river could be heard as it arose from the rock cliffs which line the road in places. One could close their eyes and sit still and it would sound as if the river was flowing on both sides of the road. Uncluttered sounds of the river and birds rushing around in spots to find food. As more precip is expected I hope to get back into the woods later today or tomorrow and we'll keep ya' posted. Peace

Weather or Not

Dudes and Dudettes! What an interesting excursion "the mysterious one", and I went on the other day! We were up on the northern areas of the Cumberland Plateau in eastern Tennessee. The heavy rains stopped just before we arrived and began our walk into this area of natural beauty and native human history. The property we walked is for sale and has about a mile of river and creek frontage combined and is protected from over development with some easement restrictions in place. These restrictions limit how many structures can be built and where, in order to protect the natural and historical value of this land. For more information see the link to the right and above for the Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation. A piece of property bordering this land is also protected with a conservation easement status as well. This 177 acres lies near Jamestown, TN. An area of the state which seems poised to be sold for housing developments and golf communities to accommodate folks from more northern latitudes who want to retire, move here and inhabit more of this precious natural area. The property is lined along one side by several thousand feet of the Clear Fork river and has several large natural stone houses just up from the shore. Damn, times like this is when I wish was independently filthy rich and appreciated nature as much as I do now in order to buy up all the property, put it into a protected status of some sort to be enjoyed by all who wanted to in a "low impact" sense. The lost idealist rules!