Trip Report: A Birthday Hike to Oscar Blevin's Farm

This past Saturday, I celebrated another year of life. In honor of that, I decided that I wanted to go hiking with my girls. The night previous, we hadn't a clue as to where to go. We wanted to make sure that where ever we ended up going, there was a destination for Bug to get down and explore, so that hiking becomes a "Fun" activity for her and something that she'll want to continue to do.

The next morning, we awoke and hung out around the house doing the usual morning routine and overall we were just being lazy. After a little while though, we started to get things ready and packed into the car so that we could head out to go hiking.

The weather was perfect. Mostly sunny and in the mid 70's. We finally hit the road just after noon and decided that we would head up to The Big South Fork NRRA. We had a couple different trails going through our heads, and finally decided that we would hike the Oscar Blevin's Farm Loop. This was a relatively easy to moderate trail that we hadn't done since Kiddo was about 5 or 6. That happened to be the year that we beat a nasty storm front off the trail and watched an amazing light show put on by mother nature. What we didn't realize at the time, was that the light show was a precursor to the destruction that hit the area we had been hiking in later that evening.

Trail Report - Slave Falls/Needle Arch Revisited (A Father's Day Hike)

I really couldn't ask for a better family. Constantly and always on my mind, are the Great Outdoors. Having four walls around me on a daily basis is actually quite confining, suffocating, and if it weren't for the light switch, the fluorescents would be deadly. So when asked what I wanted to do for Father's Day, naturally I wanted to get in the woods for a hike with my girls, and that is exactly what we did.

I had two hikes in mind, one being at Frozen Head, the other in The Big South Fork. Considering that Robin and I had just run a 5k the day before and Robin's back has been and still is in a "shape," I figured hiking to the fire tower at Frozen Head wouldn't be such a good idea. So I opted for the Slave Falls Loop trail. Robin and I hiked to the falls and to Needle Arch last year while she was pregnant with Bug so I figured we could revisit them now that Bug is here.

O&W Bridge - A Hike on National Trails Day

We were recently blessed with the opportunity to do an actual hike (and by "actual" I mean something more than a half mile with a stroller) since Bug has been born. Since she's been doing so well in public, we decided it was time to carry her into the woods. We chose the O&W Bridge trail (4.6 miles) because of its ease and accessibility. A few weeks previous to this day, we'd tried to hike this trail and found that (1) it is not stroller friendly by any means and (2) thunderstorms looming + baby = bad idea. The trail, however, is virtually easy with small elevation gains and the occasional rocky runoff crossing.

The Ghost Train to Blue Heron

We hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend and was able to get out and enjoy the wonderful weather. Where did you go? What did you do? We'd love to hear all about it. Did you get out for a hike, go camping, or just hang out doing yard work? Luckily for us, most of all the home buying work has been done so we had a free (for the most part) weekend to do what we wanted.

In Memory of Tom, KK4TA

As you know from our post last week, we had the Ten-Tec hamfest to attend on Saturday morning to sell gear for our friend who lost her husband to cancer earlier this year. We really couldn't have asked for better weather. The turn out was a lot bigger than in previous years thanks to the gorgeous weather. Robin and I arrived just before 7:00am and were swarmed by "old men" (don't worry, that's what they're called in Ham Radio) wanting a chance at the sweet gear we brought to sell. By 11:30am we had sold all we were going to sell (nearly everything!) and it was time to pack it up and head home to prepare for our next event of the day.

Hamfests and Ghost Trains

This weekend looks to be a busy one for us. First thing early Saturday morning we have a Hamfest to attend. For our hiking friends, a Hamfest is an event where amateur (ham) radio operators gather together to sell equipment, check out and buy equipment from radio vendors, attend classes, seminars, and demonstrations, and hope to win a cool door prize. Not much different than an Outdoor Retailer type event, just on a smaller scale. The biggest thing about these events however are the food and fellowship amongst other Hams. Anyway, this weekend is the Ten-Tec Hamfest in Sevierville, TN. We will be up there early in the morning trying to sell some Ham gear for a friend of ours who's husband went SK (silent key, aka passed away) earlier this year. There's plenty of good radio gear to purchase and you'd also be helping out a fellow ham/widow with some of her expenses. So be sure to come out if you are in the area and are a ham or even want to be a ham. They give amateur radio exams during the hamfest, too.

Courtesy of BSFNRRA

The next big thing on our plates for this weekend is the First Annual Ghost Train up at Big South Fork NRRA and Big South For Scenic Railway. The scenic railway is located in Stearns, Kentucky and takes groups down to the Blue Heron mining community in the Big South Fork for tours of the area.

A Hauntingly Good Time

Courtesy of BSFNRRA

As most of you know, and if not then you should read this blog more often (hehe), this past weekend was the "Haunting in the Hills" Storytelling Festival at Big South Fork NRRA. It should also be a no-brainer that we went as usual as it has become sort of a tradition for us. This is one festival we make a point to clear the calendar and attend.

This year was no different. We made sure our day was clear to head out to Big South Fork for the festivities. It didn't matter that UT was playing against Flordia. Besides, UT loses to Florida more often than not so it really didn't matter much to me. After all, I was able to keep tabs on the game while enjoying the festivities. Anyway, we had planned to arrive early this year so that we could really take in all there was to offer. In years past, we usually would arrive just as most of the crafters were packing it up and heading out.

Friday's Giveaway Roundup (FGR) 9/16/11

Courtesy of BSFNRRA

Happy Friday everyone! The weekend is here or will be very soon. Does anyone have anything exciting planned for the weekend? We'd love to hear what plans y'all have. We are planning on attending "The Haunting in the Hills" story telling festival in The Big South Fork this weekend, and maybe even get in a hike. Regardless of what you're doing get outside and enjoy what mother nature has to offer. And with that, who's ready for some giveaways?

This week we have a couple good ones to mention and a recap of current giveaways going on out there. Shoes, watches, hammocks, first aid kits, GPSs, and shirts. What more could one ask for? If anyone has any outdoor gear related giveaways going on they'd like for us to promote on our FGR, shoot us an email at appalachiaandbeyond (at) gmail (dot) com. We'll be sure to get them posted. Now onto the giveaways.

A Haunting In The Hills Is Coming

We hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day Weekend. We celebrated it in grand fashion: we scrubbed the outside of our house before the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee decided to dump over six inches of liquid sunshine on us. It's was Labor Day right? That means we work right? Honestly, we really had to get that done.

Anyway, enough about that stuff. With September having arrived, the weather cooling off a bit, and our favorite time of year (Autumn) being right around the corner, that can only mean one thing. It's time to get outside for some hiking and festival attending. All the autumn time festivals are getting ready to ramp up. Next weekend, there's a real treat of an event going on at The Big South Fork NRRA. It's the 19th Annual Haunting in the Hills Story Telling Festival on September 17th.

Interpretive Programs This Weekend at The Big South Fork

Summer is here and nature is calling...erm not that kind of calling. Nature beckons us to get outside and enjoy all there is to offer. What better way to do so than by going to a state or national park for picnics, hikes, camping, etc? If you are planning on hitting your parks this weekend, the summer time always offers plenty of activities for the whole family. Most parks have seasonal interpretive rangers on staff and that means a full list of daily interpretive programs.So be sure to stop in at your park's visitor center to find out more information on these great programs.

This weekend and through the month of June at the Big South Fork is no exception. They have a full list of programs for the whole family. Saturday, June 11, they have a nature hike along the O&W trail down at the Leatherwood Ford area starting at 10:30am. At 2:00pm one of the rangers will have a program on box turtles. Saturday happens to be free fishing day in Tennessee and at 7:00pm join one of the BSF rangers for a fun time fishing. In the Blue Heron area of the park at 7:30 there will be an Owl Prowl. On Sunday the only program on the list is a hike on the Oscar Blevins Trail, this starts at 10:30am.

The Big South Fork has more information on their programs throughout the month of June on their website. Check it out or contact Howard Duncan @ 423-569-9778 for more information.

Happy Trails,
Tim and Robin

National Trails Day is Around the Corner

Saturday June 4th is National Trails Day and there's a lot of hikes and volunteer activities being held all over the place just for this occasion. In addition, our President just declared June as National Great Outdoors Month.




So what are your plans for Trails Day? Are you going on a hike or planning on giving back by volunteering in a trail maintenance activity? Let us know, we'd love to hear your plans. If your having troubles find activities or don't know what's available, check with your local State or National Parks. There's plenty of opportunities and it's not hard to find them. Remember Google is your friend.



For the East Tennessee area there are all sorts of events planned for different parks from hikes to clean ups and even trail maintenance. Tennessee State Parks page has a whole list of events on their website. To name a few, there is a trail work project to celebrate Trails Day at Frozen Head State Park on Saturday. Call the park office at 423-346-3318 for more information.

Slave Falls and Needle Arch - Big South Fork - 5/21/2011

As you have heard, yesterday was supposed to be the rapture and Robin reported that we were going out in our style. Of course that meant walking in the woods. After Robin had been cooped up in the house most of the week and me having a busy week at work, we were both itching to seek solace in the trees and sandstone geology of The Big South Fork NRRA. This time we decided to do a hike that we hadn't done in close to 10 years: the Sawmill Trail to Slave Falls and Needle Arch.

Our original plan was to do the Slave Falls Loop. Of course with Robin working overtime all the time right now, we decided that she would make the call as to whether or not we would do the whole loop or come back out after seeing Slave Falls and Needle Arch. We really couldn't have asked for better weather as the rain was forecast to hold off another day. I suppose if there was one complaint, it would have been for the temps to be a couple of degrees cooler but nonetheless we weren't going to complain and enjoyed our time.

The trailhead is located on the graveled Fork Ridge Road. To get there from Knoxville, you travel north on I-75 to the Oneida exit in Scott County. From there you take Highway 63 through Huntsville. At the light turn right on Highway 27 to Oneida. At the first stop light in Oneida's industrial area take a left onto 297 and continue left on 297 at the stop sign. From here follow the signs to The Big South Fork NRRA. Once in the park stay on 297 all the way through the park until you come to Highway 154. This is a bit of a drive so don't worry, you will stay on 297 until you get to 154 and have no choice but to turn right or left. At this junction turn right towards Pickett State Park until you come to the sign for Charit Creek Lodge. Turn right at the sign onto the graveled Divide Road and then turn right onto Fork Ridge Road. Go down Fork Ridge Road until you come to the parking lot for Sawmill Trail. It's just past the Middle Creek Trailhead area.

From the trailhead we donned our gear and were ready to head down the trail when a lady exited the trail with a full pack. Minutes later, as I was waypointing the trailhead, a man exited the trail with a nice sized pack as well. It was at this point he asked Robin if she could get their picture. Turns out the man and woman were together and had just hiked out from Charit Creek Lodge where they had stayed the night. After he took a good 5 minutes to explain how to properly operate his point and shoot to a woman holding a Canon 60D (bless his heart!), Robin snapped a few pictures for them and the gentleman offered to do the same for us. I handed him my camera and we (Robin, Clover, and I) posed for our group mugshot.

After exchanging pleasantries we finally set down the trail which followed alongside the graveled road we drove in on. Within two to three tenths of a mile we came to the point where the loop begins and you can turn left to cross the road or right to take the loop in a clockwise direction. It was also at this point, while once again waypointing this spot, we were met by a large group of adults and kids hiking back from what appeared to be a scout outing on the trail. Everyone admired Clover and one little boy mentioned that at first he thought "We were walking a skunk" because all he seen was a black and white tail. Too cute.

We turned right at this point and headed downhill on the trail through a mixed pine, hemlock, and hardwood forest. Along the way, we enjoyed the sound of birds flitting and chirping throughout the forest. We spotted toadstools and other fungi, as well as many different wildflowers amongst a fern-covered forest floor. We had the trail to ourselves and relished in that fact. We continued hiking, making mention of things we both saw.

At one point in the trail, about a half mile in, we noticed that a creek was meandering along to the right of the trail. We took a moment to let Clover get her paws wet and discussed how that would be a great water source for backpackers. Once Clover was done playing, we continued on for another .2 miles when we came upon a footbridge that crossed over the creek. We decided once again to take a small detour and let Clover play in the water once more. She absolutely loves playing in the creeks if you hadn't noticed by now. The interesting thing about the creek at this point was that it seemed to drop in behind a rock and then flow out of it's opening, which was pretty cool.

We continued on once more making our way further down the trail towards Slave Falls. It was around this point that I noticed the "CPS" had lost the satellite signal. Previous to our starting down the trail, Trimble decided to throw some sort of exception error. I had to restart the program and it appeared that all was well. Unfortunately, we were no longer recording our trip past the footbridge and it wasn't til the next day that I discovered it wasn't going to record any trips until I reset the whole phone. Oh well, c'est la vie.

Shortly after the footbridge we came to a point in the trail where it traverses the rim edge of the hollow where Slave Falls is located. Another .2 miles and we reached the junction in the trail where we could turn right to the Indian Rock House and continue the loop or continue straight for another tenth of a mile or two to the point in the trail where we had to decide if we wanted to go to the falls first or the arch first. We opted to turn left on the trail and head down to the falls. The trail to the falls is .2 miles and meanders alongside the rock overhang of the hollow rim. This part of the trail is where you can expect to get, in the very least, dirty and at the worst muddy as water from rain and runoff continuously drips from the overhang.

As we continued to descend into the hollow alongside the rim wall, we finally made it to the falls. There is an observation point here with fence and sign to allow safe viewing. However, being the photographers that we Robin are is, we decided in order to get the shot we had to CLIMB down the trail to the rock pool at the foot of the falls. This is where we got the dirtiest as we had to slip and slide down steep, muddy trail and butt slide down boulders to get there. (Makes me wish I had brought our climbing rope. :P). Once at the bottom we snapped several photos and then let Clover off the leash to romp in the pool created by the 60' Slave Falls -named for the slaves that took refuge in the rock overhangs in the area and the amphitheater that was created by the erosion from wind and the waterfall.

After what seemed like an hour enjoying the waterfall and surrounding scenery, it was time to head back up and check out Needle Arch. Of course this meant scrambling back up the muddy embankment to the observation area and then back to the main trail. Once back to the main trail we turned to the left from the falls trail and hiked another .2 miles to the arch. Needle Arch is a natural sandstone arch formed over time from erosion. At the arch, you can go right on the trail for another 1.5 miles to Jake's Place and then eventually to Charit Creek Lodge. However, after spending a little bit at the arch admiring the geological formation and taking Robin's 10 week pregnancy picture we decided to head back to the loop trail. After all if we were going to do the entire loop we had to get a move on.

We headed back the way we came until we came to the decision point as to whether to finish the loop or just head back out the way we came. Robin was feeling pretty tired after climbing down and then back from the falls so we opted to take the short route and head back out the way we came. We took our time and enjoyed what was left of our time in the woods, snapping a few more pictures. We came to the point where the trail traverses along the rim and I decided to see if I could give Robin a mini heart attack walk to the edge and glimpse the waterfall from above. Unfortunately, all I did was get a scolding for sliding down the rock to the ledge as Robin thought I was gone 60' down in a hurry.

At this point we continued our walk back to the car and enjoying each others company. We got back to the car to realize as always our car was the last one in the parking lot. We kicked off our shoes, removed our packs, put on our flip flops and headed home. We had to take time at the trailhead long enough to enjoy our PB&J sandwiches and oatmeal cream pies though. We had definitely earned them.

On our way back home we made countless jokes about the rapture. It wasn't quite "time" yet but drawing closer. We decided to stop at a little market (The Hitching Post) to grab a couple of sodas and a bottle of water for the Beene. We decided that it had that "Wrong Turn" feel to it as it reeked with that creepy vibe. It couldn't have been a more fitting place for the "pending rapture".

Nothing happened - as we all knew it wouldn't. Jesus will come in his own time, not some quack's time. Until then, there are plenty more trail to follow.

For bunches more pictures, go here and view this hike's web album.

BTW - we're transitioning to Picasa for our photos. Soon we'll have them all moved over from our Flickr.

Happy Trails,
Tim and Robin

Gotta Keep On Keeping On

It's Saturday night, and Tim and I spent all day in the woods. And since the end of the world didn't show it's ugly face, I suppose we'll have to pay the bills and feed the cats after all. But that can wait until we're done being lazy by the fire.

See, the way we seen it, if we were going to be "called" today, then we were going out in style. Our style, that is. We dressed ourselves in our favorite hiking clothes (well, I had to improvise a bit as the baby has caused my favorite hiking pants to be a bit snug around the waist) and set out for a hike in the Big South Fork. It took me us all day to hike roughly 3 miles, and Tim and Clover were very patient with my numerous stops and out-of-breath-ness. Building a baby is hard work!  We hiked to the beautiful Slave Falls - where I ruined the seat of my drawers by literally having to slide down large muddy rocks to get the perfect shot - and on over to Needle Arch where Tim took my 10 weeks photo. He doesn't know it yet but it was the perfect place to take this one since it occurred to me not two days ago that in less than seven months I'm going to be forced to pass a camel through the eye of a needle. Needle Arch - the beautiful, naturally-formed, sandstone archway - will never be the same to me again. I will forever look upon it with fear and dread. And with those thoughts in mind, it was slightly disappointing that Jesus didn't show up to give me a reprieve.

On a side note - and a bit of personal trivia - what you may or may not know is that this is Tim and I's first birth together. Ashby - whom I've raised since she was three - is Tim's biological daughter and my adopted daughter. Although that's not relevant to our outdoors blogging, we thought it might clear up some things if we happen to sound like newbies all over again.

I know Tim is looking forward to detailing our hike for you - he loves that part of blogging! And I love to let him do it. So for now, and since I'm still here, I'll be working on the photos for his post in the very near future.

Oh, and Chip - these are just for you! The laurel is starting to bloom in the BSF.

Until then - Happy Weekend!
Robin and Tim

Closures in Parks from Wednesday's Storms

As most of you know, this past Wednesday major storms passed through the southeast with devastating effects that have been felt in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and more. Our heart and prayers go out to those affected.

For those planning on trips to our area for hiking, camping, and other outdoor related activities, you may want to consider the following and alter plans in case these closures affect them.

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area:
Big Creek Road is closed to vehicular traffic until further notice. The road is unsafe for use due to a landslide caused by Wednesday's storms. The park is already working with a contractor to make necessary repairs with hopes to have the road re-opened by sometime next week.

For more information and updates check out their websites current news releases here: http://www.nps.gov/biso/parknews/newsreleases.htm.

Great Smoky Mountain National Park:
Abrams Falls Trail and Beard Cane Trails are closed until further notice. Significant windfall and washouts have made the trails unsafe for hiking at this time. Abrams Falls Trail is closed from it's trailhead inside Cades Cove to the intersection with Hatcher Mountain Trail, but is expected to be re-opened by May 6. Beard Cane Trail is closed from Cooper Road Trail to Ace Gap Trail. There is no estimate as to when the trail will be re-opened. In addition Campsites 3 and 11 are also closed until further notice as well as Rich Mountain Road and Parsons Branch Road all in the Cades Cove area of the park.

For more information on road and trail closures and conditions in the park check out the following page on the parks website: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm.

We aren't blind....

We just wanted to stop by for a moment and let you all know that we haven't turned a blind eye to the possibility of a government shutdown, and hence the closure of our National Parks.

We are just as concerned as every other American, and very frustrated indeed.

We just haven't written about it.

Why? Because this is an Outdoors Blog, not a political platform. And because even though it angers us that our National Parks may face closure - a topic this blog should cover - it angers us more that our active duty military and their families may go without pay. In other words, there are bigger fish to fry.

All we ask is that you pray for this country, and pray that our government gets their act together - and soon.

With love for America,
Robin & Tim

What to do About Fido?

Just the other day someone found Appalachia & Beyond by searching one of the search engines for the search terms "frozen head state park dogs". I don't think they found exactly what they were looking for, at least not directly, but perhaps they used our link over there on the right side to the park's website. This gave Robin and I the thought that maybe we should provide some of the pet policies at our area parks for our readers and visitors.

So you want to go camping or stay in a cabin at one of our parks, but you don't want to leave your four-legged pal(s) at home. If you are camping, renting a cabin, or some other variation in-between, don't fret. Pretty much all the parks in East Tennessee are pet friendly to some sort of degree or another. I won't break down each park specifically, at least not the state parks anyway. That would be one long post as there are at least a dozen or more state parks in our neck of the woods. I will break down the major national parks in our area however as they are a bit easier to do so.

Tennessee State Parks
For all the Tennessee State Parks, the pet policies are pretty much standard. There may be some slight differences and for any specific questions or concerns, it's always best to call the park directly for more information. However, as a general rule of thumb, all the state parks here in Tennessee are pet friendly.

In the campgrounds, Fido and Fluffy are both allowed so long as they remained leashed, crated, or caged at all times. Your dog(s) and/or cat(s) cannot be left unattended at any time. Additionally, park officials may request proof of rabies shots and a physical description of your pets at any time. Furthermore, park officials reserve the right to restrict any pet from the park if they pose a threat to anyone. One other restriction, pets are usually not allowed in certain areas such as swim/pool areas, food service areas, etc.

There are several state parks in Tennessee that offer other lodgings aside from campgrounds. These include, rooms at an inn, lodges, cottages, and/or cabins. For our four-legged companions most of the same rules apply. Pets must remain leashed or otherwise restrained at all times, and cannot be left unattended. Park officials again have the right to prohibit pets that pose a risk to other people and/or animals at any time. If you plan to stay in one of the available lodgings, it's best to call and reserve your accommodation ahead of time as the parks only designate a few number of rooms, and one cabin  as pet friendly.

Other rules/policies/restrictions that apply to pets staying in the lodges, cabins, etc. are as follows:

• There is a $15 per night pet charge.
• Additional fees may be charged for any damage done to carpet and other furnishings of the room/cabin.
• Rooms/Cabins will not be cleaned if pets are present.
• Extra fees may be charged for disruptive pets that results in complaints from other guests or refunds to guest that leave due to the disruptive pets.

Most of the trails at our state parks are pet friendly as well. Just be sure to keep them leashed or restrained at all times. Additionally, if pets are restricted from particular areas or trails, there will likely be a sign signifying such. Of course this doesn't apply to service animals as all State and Federal lands have to abide by ADA laws. If you have any other questions or concerns about the state park's pet policies you can check out the Tennessee State Parks FAQ page, their park policies page or call the specific park's office/visitor center for more information.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Pets are allowed in the campgrounds, picnic areas, and along roads in the Smokies. Of course the national parks are no different than the state parks when it comes to keeping your pets leashed or restrained. All pets are required to be leashed, crated, or caged at all times and if on a leash it can be no longer than 6 feet in length. Also, pets are not to be left unattended in RV's or other vehicles.

As for hiking with your trusty side kicks, The Great Smoky Mountains National Park have banned pets from all BUT TWO hiking trails in the park. The only two trails that you can enjoy with your furry friends are the Gatlinburg Trail at the Sugarlands Visitor Center and the Oconaluftee River Trail at the Oconaluftee Visitor center. You must keep your pets leashed or otherwise restrained at all times while on the trails and you must pick up after your pets as well. (Moving on).

If you have any questions or need additional information check out their pet policy page and as always, you can call any of their visitor centers and a staff member will be more than happy to assist you.

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

Big South Fork NRRA is a pet friendly park. They allow us to bring our canine/feline companions to camp and hike with us so long as we keep them leashed as usual (have you distinguished a pattern here yet?). Here at Big South Fork, the leashes are to be no longer than 6 feet in length. Being that the Big South Fork is a river park, if you plan to have your pets on the water with you, it is recommended that your pet, along with you as well, wear personal flotation devices. The currents in the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River are usually swift and unpredictable so use caution here.

There is one exception to the leash rules at Big South Fork. There are certain areas in the park where hunting is allowed (I don't know the specifics as I don't hunt so be sure to call the office and always make sure you have all the appropriate clearances, certifications, permits, etc. before hunting). If you are hunting in these areas and you have your pet hunting with you, they are not required to be on a leash if they are actively pursuing game with/for you. However, if you enter a safe zone,  the you must restrain your pet immediately upon entering said zone.

As always, if you need further information please check out the park's pet policy page or call the park office.

Cumberland Gap National Historic Park

Cumberland Gap NHP is a pet friendly park. (YAY!!!) It even says so on their website's pet policy page. Remember that theme I mentioned earlier? Pets are required to be leashed/restrained at all times and cannot be left unattended. Of course I'm sure most of the other rules apply as well and if there are trails that your pooch can't be on, it will likely be designated as such at the trail head. As always, you can call the park office/visitor center for more information.

As you can see, most parks (State and National) in East Tennessee are pet friendly to one extent or another. Just be sure to use some practical common sense when it comes to your pets in the parks, you'd be surprised at how many don't. If you are ever in doubt or have a question about specific rules or policies, be sure to give the park in question a call and ask. Better safe than sorry I always say. Pretty much all the parks have their office/visitor center numbers listed on their websites. Furthermore, we have most of the State and National Parks websites linked over there on the right side of the page listed under East Tennessee and Surrounding Area Parks.  Have a fun and enjoyable trip with your fuzzy, four-legged friends.

Happy Trails,
Tim and Robin

Exploring Maude's Crack - 02/06/11

This past weekend seemed to fly by. I don't know where time went, but we spent most of Saturday trying to get caught up on some necessary evils (aka chores). We did get a small walk in at the park around sunset, and a longer one hunting food items at the grocery store. Saturday was pretty gloomy anyway, and the wind was crazy! Sunday promised clearer skies and nothing more than a whisper of wind, so we were bound and determined to utilize our Sunday time playing outside.

Before I go any further, let me explain that the roles are reversed here a little. Tim usually writes these trail posts, and I usually tote the camera around hoping to capture a cute little something to add to his words. This time, he's taken all the photos, and I get to be the post-writing queen. So let me apologize in advance for the less-than-technical trail post, and the likely ensuing bathroom humor.

See, Tim has been the epitome of wonderful husbands, and has purchased me a brand new appendage --- err... camera! So, even though the Present Truck hasn't brought my new baby yet, I've passed down my other baby to him. He's very interested in learning at least the basics. I can't wait to see what he comes up with. I'll still help him with post-production (it takes a while to learn the ins and outs of Photoshop), but I'm sure he'll pick up quick.


Anyway - back to the trip....

Sunday morning, I crawled out of bed long after Tim had. I stumbled into the kitchen hoping to find an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, but was greeted only by hot coffee. At least it was hot, right?! Things can always be worse.




It was already after eleven, I was feeling a bit more than sluggish, and one glance at Tim told me he was feeling the same: like poo! We've both been trying to convince ourselves (and each other) that we hadn't contracted Ashby's recent cold -- Mind over Mountain, yes?! -- and so I posed the inevitable question...

"Did you decide where we should go today?"

His response, "I was thinking about Maude's Crack."

Hilarity followed. Tim had only mentioned Maude's Crack to me once before, and I couldn't help but laugh hysterically then. This time, I thought it fit our situation (and the way we felt!) just perfectly. That's exactly where we belonged: in Maude's Crack.

Maude's Crack is a geological wonder, a large crevice in sandstone, situated on the backend of the western boundary of BSFNRA, right near the banks of No Business Creek.

And I am not joking. I can't make this crap up!

Now, to locate Maude's Crack you'll need a car that is preferably not a recently washed tiny little Nissan Versa. But if that's all you've got, then you'll have to swallow your pride and drive that baby for a long, long way down the bumpy, rutty, washed out, muddy, two-way but single lane Divide Road. Did I mention it was a long way? It took us nearly 30 minutes to drive to the trailhead once we left the paved road going a maximum of 25 mph. After finally reaching the Terry Cemetery Trailhead parking area, Maude's Crack is a short, easy 1.2 miles away. The trail is relatively level - a couple small elevation losses and gains - and was wide enough most of the way for us to walk side-by-side.

Maude's Crack, however, is steep, rugged, and extremely muddy this time of year. Definitely not the place this girl wanted to be feeling cruddy and crusty already, but Tim ventured inside Maude's Crack while Clover and I waited at the opening. Clover took time away from "bear watch" to sniff all around Maude's Crack while I rested against the moss-covered walls. Upon return, Tim reported that Maude's Crack was the prettiest he'd ever seen, and that it opened up quite nicely on the other side. My stomach still hurts from giggling at every insinuation that crept inside this silly head of mine.

Even though we felt terrible and the trip to the trailhead took a whole heckuva lot longer than we expected, we had a great time on this short little trail. Hopefully soon we can return and continue the length of the trail down to the creek and the ruins of the old community, No Business.


Until next time,

Robin and Tim

Burnt Mill Bridge Loop - BSFNR

The weekend was upon us once again, and in the dead of winter, Mother Nature was kind enough to provide a sunny day for hiking.  A couple of hikes have been on our to-do list, and a quick deliberation lead us north to the Big South Fork National River and Recreation for a relatively easy 4.3 mile hike on the Burnt Mill Bridge Loop Trail.

After readying our packs, layering our clothes, and packing an after hike lunch, we were out the door and on our way with the mercury rising by noon time.  It was a pleasant, uneventful drive up I-75 to our exit towards Huntsville, TN in Scott County.  As we ventured further north and up the Cumberlands, the peaks showed what was left of their white winter blanket.  It wasn't long before we reached the trail head, geared up, and headed down the trail.

Burnt Mill Bridge Loop is an absolutely gorgeous hike, especially in the winter time.  We had hiked in the same area back when we did Honey Creek Loop in the early fall of last year. The trail is relatively flat, and the terrain isn't very difficult, featuring soft footing and sandy stretches as you follow alongside the Clear Fork River for most of the trail. There are, as always in Tennessee, some rooty and rocky parts, a few foot bridges, a couple sets of stone steps, and one ladder -- dubbed by the Kiddo as the "bestest part of the trail."

The scenery was so much like the Honey Creek trail, only much milder, that we were glad we could finally share this with Ashby.  Remember, Honey Creek is the trail that's on steroids... not something Ash would be fond of. But this trail was perfect for her. Tons of opportunities for ooohs and ahhhs (Robin ended up with over 250 photos!), vistas as far as your eye would take you up and down river, rock shelters and bluffs, icicles taller than us, and lots of sweet little swimming holes if you're out in summer -- all packed into this kid-friendly hike.

If you're doing the trail clockwise, like we did, you'll find one of these swimming areas about .36 miles from the parking lot. There's a tree there with boards nailed on to fashion a ladder and a nice rope swing.  There's another rope just two trees down. If it'd been summer, I would have been hard pressed to have resisted the inner child. The water looks deep enough here for jumping, and the rope looked to be in decent shape. But looks can be deceiving, so it never hurts to be cautious. This summer, a hot, sweltering day may find us picnicking here, and taking turns jumping in the river.

Overall, this was one of the prettiest trails we've been on.  The website states that it's 3.6 miles, but our GPS confirmed others that have said the same - the trail really tops out at 4.3 miles. The trail is rated moderate, but I don't think it's the terrain that causes this. There were signs that the river had raged over the trail, and we met a friendly couple and their dog along the way who confirmed this.  During heavy rains, part of the trail may be covered, and the current of that river looked very swift at times. You wouldn't want to be caught out there when flash flood warnings are in effect. Otherwise, the trail was very easy with a small elevation gain (about 150 feet that we could best guess) towards the halfway point.

With lots of resting spots (backcountry campsites galore!) and way too many things to look at for the time allotted, we had a hard time keeping ourselves moving. Towards the end we were losing light fast, but we really didn't mind. Although the temp was dropping and the Hamgeek (Robin's dad) would be worried, we couldn't help but watch the evening sunlight dance through the rhododendrons and sparkle off the many ice cascades near the end of the trail. The opportunity to behold the majesty of hemlock forests at sunset is worth the cost of tired feet and chilly noses. We can't wait to visit here again and again to watch the landscape change with the seasons.

Happy Trails,

Tim and Robin

PS... We've created a Flickr account so we can share more pictures with you! So, if you're interested in seeing more photos of this hike, click here.