Hiker Release Program - Big Loop Hike @ Big Ridge State Park

It's been a couple of months since our last hike, and with Robin in her 9th month, there's not much chance she'll be visiting any trails in the near future (unless of course we go for a short walk on the Songbird Trail at Norris). Since our last hike was in June, I've been jonesing to get into the woods for a walk. Like a crack addict, I was willing to go off without my trail partner and tramp around on my own. I had hoped to do this the prior weekend but a little cold virus got in the way of that. It was more or less God's way of telling me I ought not leave Robin home to go play forest boy.

This past weekend however, I was determined to get out no matter what. I had originally planned on going on a much longer hike than the 6 miles I actually did. The original plan included 10+ miles of hiking at Big Ridge State Park and covered all but two trails in the park and half of the Lake Trail. By the time all was said and done, I ended up cutting out over 4 miles. For one, there was weather imminent and I didn't want to be caught in the rain. For two, it was 11am by the time Clover and I reached the Dark Hollow/Big Valley Junction. I wanted to be off the trail by 1pm at the latest so I could get home and be available to assist Robin's dad in troubleshooting our water heater (he's got more plumbing experience than I do).

FGR - 10/14/2011 - Fall Portraits and Festivals

Ahhh, the weekend is almost here. Another few hours and we can all breathe easier and relaxing knowing that the outdoors awaits our presence. This weekend should have plenty to offer for most, it is fall after all and there's plenty going on if you know where to look. Trails abound with color, and I'm sure there are plenty of Corn Fields that have mazes carved into them that you can try out. Just don't end up lost like the one couple we've heard about this past week (Thanks Dave for the heads up on that one. I agree with one blog I've read on that one, the dad has lost his man card permanently). We will likely be heading up to our favorite little town of Rogersville, TN for their Heritage Days festival at some point. We also have some fall portraits to make of Ashby and possibly our other rugrat, Jodi, not to mention some maternity portraits of Robin and the babe. So we hope you all get out and enjoy the weather and the colors. Until then, here are the latest, spectacular giveaways in the outdoor blogosphere this week.

5 Tips for Fall Foliage Photography

We've all seen them. Those gorgeous fall photos that easily make it into magazines but don't seem to easily reproduce themselves on our memory cards. What we see with our eyes is rarely what we bring home and plug into our computer. So, how can you get your camera (yes, ANY camera) to soak in all those glorious autumnal pigments?

Diffused Light
Don't discount those overcast days. In fact, they are the best ones to photograph in. You've probably heard this time and time again, but if you haven't tried it yet, now's the time. The diffused light cuts down on the contrast, and the soft, diffused light actually enhances color. But don't put your camera away if it's bright and sunny either. Just make sure you are shooting with the sun at your back.

Apples, Oranges, and 5K's

We hope everyone had a chance to get out this weekend to enjoy the perfect fall weather. It was perfect for most of us out in the east here, but I did see where there was some snow out west. Yikes! Snow in October?! I know that's not totally unheard of here but it would be unusual. Anyway, the leaves are turning color more and more each day. We are nearing peak around here in the East Tennessee Valley. From Cumberland Gap to Cherokee National Forest and down to Knoxville, the colors are magnificent. It won't be long before "Old Man Winter" is knocking on our doors. So if you haven't yet, you better get out and enjoy this weather before it gets too cold.

That's exactly what we did this past weekend, and look forward to doing just that over the next few weekends. We started the weekend by heading out to Coalfield, TN for the Coalfield 5K supporting the Coalfield Cross Country team. The race started at 8:00am and ran through a subdivision next to the school then through the cross country trail on the school grounds, back in front the school and down another road before turning around and heading back to the school for the finish. It was a pretty fast course with a nice little uphill just after the start. Then there was a nice 1.5 miles or so on the trail the cross country team uses to practice on. It's a graveled trail with a couple of foot bridges and two covered bridges. After the trail, it's back to the road and a slight up hill just before heading back to the finish at the school.

Autumn Activities in East Tennessee

October is such a great month. It's almost as good as September. You start to feel a little nip in the night air. The leaves start to change colors, and harvest festivals are available to all who look for them. Football season is already well underway, but hiking and festival season is just getting cranked up.

Last weekend was the Newport Harvest Street Festival. We went, walked around the town center, and quickly left. I hope this doesn't set a precedence for the other festivals we plan on attending for the next few weekends. Honestly though, we went last year and this time around, it really seemed to be more of a junk sale or there were too many booths for those who wanted to make a small buck selling by their gold, and not near as many crafters as we remembered from last year. Anyway, we decided people-watching in Gatlinburg would be more fun and I had an itch to check out NOC's new Great Outpost in Gatlinburg, located on the main drag just before you enter the Great Smoky Mountains. That place is huge and has all the outdoor gear you could possibly want, albeit at a much higher price than you can normally find online for most things.

Hello October - Thank You Bloggers

October is here and we all know that means time for leaf peeping around these parts. Here the leaves are starting to turn. The Dogwoods have turned their normal dark red and other low lying trees as well. Up high in the mountains, the leaves are turning as well. Another week, and the autumn colors will be in full regalia showing off their grandeur. If you're anything like us, then you are out and about every chance you get hiking, attending festivals, or any other outdoor activity that affords you the opportunity to enjoy the brilliance of Autumn. So if you haven't already, get those plans together to get outdoors and enjoy the show. You can always check here for ideas and events for where to find prime leaf color viewing spots and of course any of the other numerous outdoor blogs out in the web-a-sphere.

Speaking of other outdoor blogs, that brings to the main reason for this post. Being that the first of October has finally made it here, it's time again to say thank you to the many outdoor bloggers with whom we've forged relationships with and in turn send traffic our way via links on their sites. So without further ado, let us thank the following blogs/outdoor websites and their owners for doing what they do best and for being our friends:

• The Outdoor Blogger Network
• GPS Track Log
• High on LeConte
• Diary of a Day Hiker
• Two Heel Drive 
• Hiking the Smokys
• Trail Sherpa
• My Life Outdoors
• Meanderthals
• Live Free and Hike New Hampshire
• Owl Jones
• Mamabug Nature Photos
• Mountain Ultra Light
• Hiking Fiasco
• Hiking Finland
• Backpacking North
• Metro to Mountain
• Fat Man of the Mountains
• Brian's Backpacking Blog
• Cloud Hiking
• Trout MaGee
• Off On Adventure
• Our Appalachia
• The Adventures of Tom and Atticus
• Family Wilds
• Living Life in Rural Tennessee
• Daily Hiker
• Four Season Angler
• Southern Oregon Fishing Reports

Thank you all for linking to us and sending traffic our way. We hope that we have been able to do the same for you all, and keep doing what you are doing. See you all outside.

Happy Trails,
Tim and Robin