Blogs from Tennessee, United States, North America - page 100

This was one of those trips that changes relationships! We camped for the first time with each other! The scenery was just amazing! We went horse back riding! And hiked some on the App. trail! That trail that we fully did was called Abrams Falls! It was long and testing! But fun all the same! We went way back in April! This is not were our story begins though! It begins at Fall creek Falls! ... read more

Travelled from Washington (see yua Mr Bush) flying from Ronald Reagan International airport via Chicago (the windy city) to Nashville. Walking through the airport to the baggage carousel we received the normal commentary about leaving unsecured baggage however in a very distinctive southern male voice. After standing at the wrong carousel for about 15 minutes we found all our luggage and transferred via taxi to the Gaylord Opryland Holiday Resort (kids seemed to find something funny in the name) The resort is massive and definitely 5 star. Approximately 2100 rooms in 4 joined domed areas (glass roof over entire resort). Located within are immaculate gardens and even a riverboat that provides guided tours around one of the 4 areas. Used the outdoor pool that afternoon and later had dinner at their Irish Pub. Food was ... read more

I shouldn't wait so long to do these journals. Here I sit three days after the fact trying to remember what happened. When we got up CC recommended that we have a cold breakfast of granola bars and wait until we make the next shelter for our oatmeal. This would give me drinking water climbing "Little Bald" as the morning was warm. The next shelter with water was about 3.5 miles away taking us around one and a half hours. We chugged up the mountain and arrived on schedule about 9:45AM. We found the water without any problems (we had to walk over it) and tanked up. We sat and had a leisurely late breakfast then hit the trail with water a plenty. We started up Big Bald, a 416' climb up to 5,516'. CC ... read more

Longest Day of the Year/First Day of Summer, Greatest Lunch Spot Yet, New Distance Record, Uncle Johnny's Hostel. A quiet night in the nylon house. There was one nocturnal visitor that CC heard breaking a twig or two. I don't remember hearing anything, but I did smell a visitor I believe was a bear. I have not told CC about what I think as she would not sleep for the next week. Morning brought a warm orange glow to the inside of the tent as the sun climbed higher in the sky. Breakfast was pleasant and not rushed, packs were loaded and trekking poles in hand we headed south. Our plan was to make the next shelter at Curly Maple Gap, 12.2 miles. Spend the night there then walk the 4.2 miles to town, collect our ... read more

What a day! Started out early with overcast skies walking out of Doll Flats at 7:50AM. We had a 1,037' climb right out of camp to top Hump Mtn @ 5,587'. Started out in an old pasture gone fallow, no rain last night so our boots stayed dry. The clouds looked threatening but no rain or thunder. Old hardwoods were lining the edge of the field like soldiers on watch - tall, straight and strong looking. The majority of the mountain could be seen just before entering the forest. The direction the trail took it seemed we would slowly ascend the north shoulder and not have to climb over the very top. Trail designers can be evil people at times. We climbed gradually up and up until we broke out of the trees into the ... read more