First Hike of 2009 - Greenleaf Trail - Cumberland Gap

With yesterday being the first day of Spring, and today we found ourselves with hospitable weather, we decided it was time to do away with the crampness of the winter indoors and let our souls and spirits be free to roam in the great outdoors. That's right, we decided it was time to get out under the blue sky and soak in some Vitamin D. With that in mind, last night we sat down to plan where we would set ourselves free. In the end, we decided upon Cumberland Gap State Park.

Considering we hadn't hiked all winter long, and that we are totally out of shape (unless of course you consider round a shape), we figured tackling the Wilderness Road Ridge Trail to Hensley Settlement or White Rocks would best be left for another time. Instead we opted for a nice little one-mile nature trail called Greenleaf Trail. The trailhead is located in the Wilderness Road Campground at the amphitheatre. The trail itself is only .8 miles or so, but we had to park at the group camp parking area and walk through part of the campground to get there.

Upon entering the trailhead just past the amphitheatre the trail meanders downhill all the way until you meet up with the Station Creek. Along the way down, well I won't try to describe the trail the way the trail guide does that you can download from the Cumberland Gap NPS Site does but I'll just say that it's quite leafy on the trail. Be careful as you start as the trail is not blazed but being a nature trail it's not that hard to follow. We stopped about half way down as I had spotted some little red flowers of some sort that were beginning to pop out of the ground. This then lead to the spotting of some little red insects. It was at this point that Robin decided to pull out Fluzzy and take a few shots to get the camera setup and ready for anything that caught her eye further along the trail.

After a few shots we continued on all the while spying the bottom of the trail with Station Creek in sight. The creek is a gentle flowing creek through the bottom of the trail area. The creek added to the tranquil setting of the woods. Upon reaching the bottom of the descent the trail continues for a nice little stint along the creek. At one point you come to a point where the creek runs into the trail bends around and back through the trail again. To cross the trail, is a nice foot bridge with a spot, halfway through, that allows you to take a branch off the trail to the trailhead for Honey Tree Trail. There is a nice clearing in this area and the junction is more like a cross roads. Off to the left you can rejoin the Greenleaf trail and continue the trek back up to the Amphitheatre and the end of the trail.

It was in this area we stopped for thirty minutes or more while Robin played with the camera, take shots of anything that caught her eye. Of course our trusty sidekick Beene was a bit distraught as she could continue to walk and stop and sniff the whole trail, but it wasn't long before she was happy to do just that.

It wasn't long that we were back on our way up the trail and a few more shots taken with the camera that we started the inevitable trek back up the hill. The ascent back to the Amphitheatre wasn't to bad at all. Total elevation change on the trail is roughly 160 ft. We got back to the car unhitch our packs and ventured back towards home. By the end of the day our spirits had been lifted by the thought that winter is now behind us and a new hiking season lays before us.

Until next time, remember to tread lightly, get out and enjoy what mother nature has to offer for us, and always take the road less traveled. There is always adventure out there waiting to be found.

Robin and Tim

Now for some of the photos:

Ashby laying in the Sun.

Ashby through the looking branch.

Free and Pretty Spirits in the Woods

Legs swinging free

Tim and Beene at a junction

Spring is springing

Another sign of Spring

Ashby Creekside

The Bridge to Somewhere

Robin and Tim adventure again.

Our Annual Corn Maize I mean Maze trip

Thursday we decided to make our annual trip to the corn maze in Corryton, TN at Oakes Farm. This has been a tradition of ours for the last 5 years. Every year before Halloween, we make the journey to Oakes Farm to find our way through the corn maze and to take a hay ride to their pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin or three. Each year the maze is a different design. In the maze there are numbered posts with a hole punch. Before entering the maze they give you a map card with numbers on it that you must punch out with the hole punches at each of the posts. Once you've completed the maze with the correct punches, you can submit your card for a prize drawing. Well we've never submitted our card, it's prize enough to know that we can read a map and make it through the maze in the dark.

Their is more there than just the maze and the hay ride. They also have a maze that is haunted. In years past, they only had the one maze and on certain nights it was a haunted maze. The first time we went it was haunted. Let's just say that we've made sure to go on un-haunted evenings since. Now they have a separate maze that is haunted so when you go you can choose either the non-haunted or the haunted or, if you can afford it, both.

Well this year we went and were able to make it through the maze again with out getting lost, and collect all the punches. We decided however not to take the hay ride and opted instead to buy pumpkins that they had out front the barn. We had a really good time and got one nice big pumpkin and one warty pumpkin that we thought would be really cool once carved. So if you ever find yourself in the area during the Fall season and like mazes, be sure to take a trip out to Oakes Farm and go through the corn maze.

And now for the pictures. Enjoy!

Ashby in front of Wagon

Tim and Ashby on the Pumpkin Truck

Enter the Corn Maze

Tim and Ashby in the Corn Maze

Cumberland Gap Birthday Camera

September 28th was Robin's birthday and having got her a new Panasonic DMC-TZ4 camera, she wanted to get out and about and play with it some. So without any plan in hand, we got into the car and I took us North. We ended up heading to Cumberland Gap National Historic Park at the TN/VA/KY border. We stopped at the visitor center and walked around the grounds for a few while Robin took some photos.

After getting the pictures she wanted we decided to head up to top of the mountain to Pinnacle Overlook. Up here, there is a wonderful view back into the valley of Harrogate. Along the trail to the overlook there is a spot where the border between KY and VA runs across the trail. Upon seeing this, Ashby, our trusty sidekick Clover, and Me all stood stradled over the line so Robin could get a shot of being in two states at the same time.

Anyway, Cumberland Gap National Historic Park is a pretty big park with lots to do. So if you ever find yourself up that way, take some time to check the area out. You'll be glad you did.
So now it's time for what everyone likes: THE PICTURES.

Ashby, Tim, and Clover enjoy a view from the rocking chairs.

A tobacco worm that about climbed my leg.

The Traders Post

A look inside the trader's post

Ashby in Red

Clover and Me

Ashby and the Corn

Robin and Clover at the Foot of the Pinnacle

Ashby, Tim, and Clover get two states for the price of one

Ashby fire away.

Robin, Ashby, and Clover Sittin Purty

Robin and Clover Perched on a Rock

Fort Norris Dam???

It was a couple of weekends ago, and we had originally thought about going hiking after running some chores. By the time we were done with our chores, the kids (Ashby and JoJo) were done at the movies and ready for us to come pick them up (I know what you're thinking, no we didn't let two 12 year olds go to the movies by themselves. They were with Jody's mom, Aunt Patty). So we picked them up and ended up taking the kids to Norris Dam State Park, to let them play on the playground located behind the pool area, and of course to let Robin play with the new digital camera I got her for her birthday, a Panasonic DMC-TZ4. We also took our trusty side kick, Clover Beene. She loves to go to the park.

So we went to the park and the kids played and posed. Clover sniffed all over and well I won't mention what else, and Robin played with her new camera. The playground at Norris Dam State Park is this huge fort playground. We've been here before, and I tell you want, I wish I had got to play on a playground like this when I was a kid. Of course I really can't do the playground justice with words so I will post the picture instead along with some other nice shots Robin took with her new camera.

Little Creek outside the visitor center

Mirror Images

Sign post at Visitor Center

Ashby on the Fort

Beene in the Fort

Beene goes sliding

Jojo in Fort Prison

Okay, so we didn't get any good photos of the whole fort but the next time we are there, we'll be sure to get one. Regardless, if you happen to find yourself at Norris Dam State Park make sure you check the playground out (Kids or Not).

Catch ya on the trails and out in the parks.

T.

Looking for the Big South Fork, again, at Angel Falls

It was September 21st and the weather was wonderful. With that being the case, we had the itch to get out and enjoy. It's definitely that time of year where we like to get out more often and hike, stargaze, camp, and everything else that comes with Fall. This time around we decided to head to the Big South Fork. It had been sometime since we had been down the Angel Falls trail in the Leatherwood Ford area. The trail itself is beautiful. There are several gorges that run from the hill out to the river and are passable by nice wooden bridges. Also, there are beautiful views of the river all along the trail.

I would tell you about the falls but unfortunately we didn't quite make it back there. Robin and Ashby weren't feeling too good so we turned around about a half mile in and hiked back out. Clover, our trusty side kick enjoyed the hike, or should I say sniff, as always. However, she has still yet to find the "Big South Fork". She is hoping there is some good food on it when she does find.

Unfortunately, we have no pictures for this one so with that said... stay tuned for the Fort at Norris. There are definitely pictures for that one.