Snips from today's hike
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Hike number 6 for the year was down in Georgia, for a familiar and very wet trail. I got on the trail early, so I had all of Cherokee Falls to myself (it's usually popping with ton of people), and then I proceeded to walk all around the West Rim plateau. It was a great day for a great hike!
Theme: Love Of Landscapes
Year Seventeen Of My 365 Project
Hike number 5 for the year started well and ended bad- but it certainly could have been much worse.
I came to the first of three ravines, and a rock slipped out from under me. I caught myself before I took a much more dangerous fall (weight lifting pays off!!), and kept going to the bottom of the ravine.
As I got past the creek at the base of the cliff, I quickly realized my pants had ripped and my knee was beginning to swell. Before things got worse I decided to turn back. I had completed over a quarter of the hike so I got some good miles in for the day and saw some beautiful views- but it is always better to be safe when hiking.
Theme: Love Of Landscapes
Year Seventeen Of My 365 Project
I planned a different hike for today, but a road closure by TVA made me change plans. Not to worry, this 10-mile hike was a great hike with beautiful weather all day long.
Theme: Love of Landscapes
Year Seventeen Of My 365 Project
The view from Sunset Rock, down to Georgia and then across into Tennessee and over to Chattanooga.
Cold winter morning hike brought amazing colors in the sky as the sun came up and the clouds slowly walked away. This 10-mile hike took me from Tennessee through Georgia and back to Tennessee as I sumited Sunset Rock, which is the sit of several Civil War skirmishes and battles. As a hiker and a Civil War buff, this one ticked a lot of boxes for me!
Theme: Love of Landscapes
Year Seventeen Of My 365 Project
Growing up in Texas, to get to a view like this would require a multi-hour drive far out into West Texas. Now, to check out this beautiful landscape I just have to walk to the end of my street. I said it before and I'll say it again: I love my state of Tennessee!
Theme: Love of Landscapes
Year Seventeen Of My 365 Project
Today was a perfect day for a Fall hike in Tennessee. The air was crisp and cool, the sun was in and out, and the leaves were such a beautiful spectrum of reds, yellows, and golden oranges. The hike to the base of the Waterfall was so much fun, and so very memorable.
Theme: Love of Landscapes
Year Fifteen Of My 365 Project
Took a short hike this morning as it was pretty warm for Tennessee weather. It doesn't matter the season or time of day, I always love the outlooks I get in this beautiful state!
Theme: Love of Landscapes
Year Fifteen Of My 365 Project
It was a great day for a short hike. I had literally just heard about this trail, and decided to go out. Not too bad of a trail, and the views were just amazing. I can't wait to show my parents this trail!
Theme: Love of Landscapes
Year Fifteen Of My 365 Project
Today's hiking adventure was to a very different kind of Tennessee terrain, and I think this quickly became the grandkids' favorite hike. The river cut beautifully through the forest, providing several opportunities for adventures and different things to discover.
After the hike we went for pizza at a local shop with some of the best pizza I have ever had, and then off to the waterfall cave of Ruby Falls, and ending the day at a waterfall hike here on my mountain. It was quite the adventurous day!!!
Theme: Love of Landscapes
Year Fifteen Of My 365 Project
I took my daughter, her husband, and three grandkids on a hiking adventure, and what an adventure it was. We saw five snakes, three of which were venomous. We went up and down the canyon to the waterfall, and had many laughs along the way. I think my granddaughter is ready to move to Tennessee!
Theme: Love of Landscapes
Year Fifteen Of My 365 Project
I took my last day off of work and went for a 10.6 mile hike not far from my house, just outside Chattanooga. This was a historic spot with several battle sites from the Civil War, and despite some on and off again rain that wasn't supposed to happen: it was an awesome way to spend my day and hike in the woods.
Side note: my legs would like to formally disagree with me.
Theme: Love Of Landscapes
Year Fifteen Of My 365 Project
My final training hike was not without some drama… I left early for my final training hike before Colorado, only to get a nail in my tire. A quick trip to the dealership and I was into the mountains. I found three snakes before even departing out onto the trails. Nice omen ha-ha!
Once on the trail everything seemed to come together. The new pack and new water bladder were great. I got back before it started to rain, and even though the hike was not as long as I had wanted- it was a great mini-last-hike.
Monday is my annual medical exam to get the medical clearance; Tuesday I start packing clothes and gear; Wednesday I get my final groceries; Thursday I will start loading the truck and have my last dinner with my parents; Friday I will do my last minute prep and Saturday the journey begins...!
Theme: Love Of Landscapes
Year Fourteen Of My 365 Project
Today's training hike adventure was a total success, but it came with a few prices I had to pay.
The good: I did a 14-mile trek in Alabama, which was more about distance hiking than elevation hiking. This was a hike I'd done before, but last time I had to cut the end a little short because I injured my foot. Not today! I did the entire 14-mile trek there and back, and can mark this a success. However...
The bad: I ended up with extreme dehydration and hiker's rash. Apparently that exists (first time ever getting that). It looks like I walked through a field of thistles on my legs, but it will eventually go away. I didn't realize it, but I drank almost all of the water I took with me (4 liters of water), and I have hikes that will be 25 miles with a 7,500 ft elevation gain. Today's hike was 14 miles with 2,300 ft elevation gain. I got blisters from the boots that I am breaking in. Also, my shoes and socks were completely drenched- not from walking through a creek but from sweat pouring down my legs and into my boots. Ewwww.
The opportunity: The rash will go away. I can proactively wrap my toes to combat the blisters. I can bring a second pair of socks if needed. The elevation I will be at will not have the high temps and high humidity like every state in the South right now, but at higher elevations you need more water consumption to combat elevation sickness which is absolutely no joke. So needless to say it was a great hike, but I have some things to think through and sort out in the next 27 days...
Theme: Love Of Landscapes
Year Fourteen Of My 365 Project
Today's training hike was a double header… Essentially I did one hike that I had done before, and right before I got back to the trailhead I split off and did another hike that I had done before.
All in it was over 10 miles with just under 2,000ft elevation gains. Not a bad... the heat exhaustion I could have done without though.
Theme: Love Of Landscapes
Year Fourteen Of My 365 Project
Today's grand adventure took me to the Foster Falls Overlook. It has not rained much lately so the waterfall was pretty low, but it was still a great (and hot) hike. Best of all: no snakes this time.
It is my last day in Tennessee, flying out tomorrow for business so I better make it count. Will try and catch up on commenting today!
Theme: Love Of Landscapes
Year Fourteen Of My 365 Project
Today's grand adventure took me to Hemlock Falls and the Sitton Gulch Train in Cloudland Canyon State Park, Georgia. This trail had some steep climbs, beautiful waterfalls and cascades, and even a rattlesnake to complete the experience!
Theme: Love Of Landscapes
Year Fourteen Of My 365 Project
I went on a practice hike today in Georgia at Cloudland Canyon State Park. I had been there before, but it has been a while since I did a real serious training hike on the trails.
It was an excellent hike with beautiful overlooks and a beautiful waterfall. I am going to be doing many more of these to train for Colorado so it is game on!
Theme: Love Of Landscapes
Year Fourteen Of My 365 Project
I constantly stand in awe of the nature around me...
Theme: Love Of Landscapes
Year Fourteen Of My 365 Project