Fall Creek Falls

Weekends like this allow even the most novice hiker to enjoy a easy walk in the woods. I began my hike around 7:30am, with temperatures in the upper 60's, a layer of high thin clouds, and little wind. The route I took from the Inn to the falls was mostly paved and had little elevation gain or loss for most of the 2.5 mls, oneway. Now the descent to the base of the falls was steep and rocky requiring close attention to this approximately 1/2ml unpaved section. And made for some good "cardio work" coming out.
This Tennessee state park is located in Bledsoe and Van Buren counties, 11 miles east of Spencer and 18 miles west of Pikeville. It may be entered from Highway 111 or Highway 30, which can be accessed from I-24, or I-40, (click the link for the address)

Fall Creek Falls consist of more than 20,000 acres sitting across the eastern top of the rugged Cumberland Plateau, and is considered one of the most scenic SP's in America. The falls which the park is named after is the highest waterfall, at 256', in the eastern united states. Oak and Hickory forest atop the plateau fade into Tulip and Hemlock forest in the gorges. These protected areas within the park support abundant species diversity in both plant and animal life including Mountain Laurel and Rodo's.
May the forest be with you.

OTG

Dudes! and dudettes! What a relaxing walk today for about 4 mls, in and out, otg, near the Middle Prong. It was very pleasant with a cool morning temp, sunshine, and only animals to be heard. There were yellow and white flowers blooming, with the many shades of green still going on. My thoughts were more positive and open to the changes which must be considered. The changes in the trails I chose required some attention so as to stay on the chosen path. Peace

Cumberland Mountain State Park

This Tennessee state park is located really close to Crossville, on TN #127, and not too awful far from I-40.
I took the Pioneer Loop trail for about 4 miles+, completing the somewhat abbreviated loop. One of the bridges which crossed the main stream feeding Byrd Lake was out so modifications in the route were made. Though these changes still allowed for a complete appreciation of the biological diversity found in this 1720 acre park, with every native plant found on the entire Cumberland Plateau is found within this park.
This park provides hiking trails; the longest is 6 miles, fishing, boat rentals, and ranger led educational hikes. As a matter of fact I walked up on one of these interpretive hikes and it turned out I knew the Ranger, Randy Hedgepath, who also serves as an advisor to one of the organizations I am affiliated with in a similar way. Ranger Hedgepath was leading some folks who were w/ the Sierra Club and they commented on the "Stop Mountaintop Removal" button I was wearing. It was a nice way to make acquaintances and know that there are others speaking out on this crime against humanity.
Along the trail I viewed numerous rock shelters as seen in this photo. Note the color changes along the rock as a result of lighting being filtered through clouds and trees and then reflecting off the rocks. The other photo is off a pool of apparent quicksand, yea, that's it, deep quicksand! Oh, OK then it's a pool of water covered with ants joined at their legs to buoy themselves atop the water, yea maybe that's it, yea floating ants....Nope? OK, really it is a pool of water covered with pine or spruce needles. Peace

Bears in the Park

Lots to look at!
CLOSED CAMPSITES DUE TO BEAR ACTIVITY:
BC Sites: #21, # 24, #28, #35, and #68
Shelters: Spence Field, Cosby Knob, and LeConte

USE CAUTION AT THESE CAMPSITES/ LOCATIONS DUE TO BEAR ACTIVITY:
BC Sites: BC #18, #36, #37, #38, #61 and #85
Shelters: Mt. Collins, Double Spring Gap, Silers Bald, and Laurel Gap
Trails: Laurel Falls Trail, Clingmans Dome Tower Trail, Rainbow Falls
Trail, Little River Trail and Trillium Gap Trail (Grotto Falls parking to
Grotto Falls).
BC Sites closed due to storm damage:
#3, #11, #15

Closed Trails:
Due to recent storms, many trails in the Park may be difficult or
impossible to travel due to downed trees. The following trails are closed
due to this damage: Gunter Fork Trail, Beard Cane Trail entire trail,
including Campsites 3 & 11. Cooper Road Trail from junction at Beard Cane
to Cades Cove Loop Road. Hatcher Mountain Trail north of its intersection
with the Little Bottoms Trail. Rabbit Creek Trail from the junction with
the Hannah Mountain Trail east to the Abrams Falls Trailhead, including
Campsite 15. Wet Bottom Trail entire trail.

USE THE FOOD STORAGE CABLES PROVIDED AT ALL
BACKCOUNTRY CAMPSITES

Eagle Creek and the GSMNP

Dudes
and
Dudettes! What a great hike I went on this last week. The "Mysterious One" and I spent the last five days in the GSMNP backpacking covering a bunch of miles, new trails for both of us, and encountering few people throughout the time out. The highlight was the fourth day out which included a very appreciative walk up Eagle Creek trail from our previous nights stay on Fontana lake at site #90. Dang, I loved that trail, and the stream crossings, and the steep grade the last two miles (almost 1000'/ml.), and the complete lack of other humans. Really. The reports of dangerous stream crossings, I felt, were completely exaggerated for the experienced, or even "somewhat experienced" hiker. This picture is of the second crossing which closely mirrored the first. I look forward to doing it again. Peace

GSMNP Backcountry fee proposal Public input

The management folks at the Great Smokey Mountains National Park have Set some dates for Open Houses to Discuss Proposed Backcountry Management Changes Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson is inviting the public to two open houses to discuss changes the Park is considering in the way it manages its backcountry campsite reservation.
The open houses are set for Tuesday, August 16 at the Old Oconaluftee Visitor Center at 1194 Newfound Gap Road in Cherokee, NC and on Thursday, August 18 at Park Headquarters at 107 Park Headquarters Road in Gatlinburg.
Both events will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

“I look forward to the open houses as informal opportunities for Park neighbors to talk about the proposed changes one-on-one with the Park staff.” Ditmanson said. “There will be no formal presentations, so folks can show up at any time between 5:30 and 7:30.”
Park managers are proposing changes to the system by which backpackers make reservations for the use of the Park’s remote campsites and shelters and they also plan to increase the presence of Rangers in the backcountry. If implemented, the changes will include charging a reservation fee. No fees are being contemplated for day hiking. Details of the proposal may be found at the Park’s website:
http://www.nps.gov/grsm/parkmgmt/index.htm.

Bears with Cubs

Dudes! and Dudettes!! I went for walk hoping I'd see a bear and planned a route on which I often see them. Yesterday was no exception. I was barely a mile into my walk when I heard some shuffling in the forest below and beside me, I saw a mo mma bear busting it down the side of the mountain while her two cubs were quickly scooting up separate trees. The pictures are of the first family I saw and I know they are not closeups but they were not very still for long at all and I got what I could. I say this because another mile plus up the trail I heard some shuffling on a small rise to my right and I quickly determined it was not a squirrel. After sitting still for a few minutes and listening to the movement I spotted another adult bear off to my left on the knob of this ridge line. Then directly in front of me I see a little black ear just above the underbrush which was attached to a little black bear cub and then another cub briefly shows itself as it made its way through the seemingly tall brush. "Seemingly" to the cubs as the brush was only like knee high.
I am reluctant to name the trail however if you leave a comment or contact me I'll likely give up the information on where these bears were walking. Peace