New Experiences

This is my first blog entry of my life. I don't spend too much time in front of a computer when not at work. Fitting that my first blog should be about my first backpacking adventure. I have enjoyed hiking since I was a child but haven't had the opportunity to get out in the woods for an overnight adventure until the fantastic three day walk that I enjoyed with James the Walker and Meg (the mysterious) hiker. These two showed me the ropes of backpacking for which I am extremely grateful.
The adventure was described well in the previous entry. The number one highlight from my perspective was what I have lovingly termed the Rhododendron Forest. All along the Jonas Creek trail and beyond, white rhodis were in bloom, leaving a carpet of blooms on the trail and a canopy of limbs overhead. This path was traveled by a bear not long before we arrived. I met a brown snake with orangish markings on my way.
The lightening the first night was remarkable. It reminded me how bright our cities burn. So bright that we often miss nature's light shows.
Once I learned what to expect, I rather enjoyed hiking in a downpour.
Word cannot adequately express the joy felt and memories treasured from our trip. I hope to be back out there soon.
Peace.

Abrams Creek

This outing began with a trip to an old car camp ground I have not visited in many years. I have in years past visited this drive in camp ground of approximately twenty sites and been the only one there. This was not to be this time however. I grabbed the next to last spot a 2:00 in the afternoon and before I had my tent set up the last spot was taken also.

Abrams Creek is far better known in it's upper portions within Cades Cove but winds its way out of the cove and empties into Chilhowee Lake near the intersection of the Foothills Parkway and Highway 129, which is known to bikers as The Dragons Tail. Chilhowee Lake covers the site of an ancient Overhill Cherokee village and is thought to be the site of the Creek village "Chalahume" visited by Spanish explorer Juan Pardo in 1567.

After the put in and within a quarter of a mile of paddling the creek beds curves and immediately all sound of traffic is forgotten. On this particular trip we encountered several other canoeists/kayakers, but none ventured further than the referenced quarter mile cutoff which is a shame. It was a little past the optimum blooming of the rhododendron, but their spent blossoms floated on the water, reminiscent of cherry blossoms in Japan.

I highly recommend the trip up the creek, where an easy paddle can be turned into a multiple mile excursion. A side trip up Panther Creek for a short distance is also available. Although I was not fishing this time I did see activity and the gravel bed evidence of spawning.