My son Tyler and myself were out enjoying the awesome Fall colors on 10-16-2010 and we ended up going to the Sam’s Gap area. We were not disappointed as the colors were really good there. We drove to the top and worked our way down stopping at all the cool viewing places. I love how you can see Big Bald and Little Bald right over from you. Also it is a grand place to see all of the Rocky Fork area including everything from Sam’s Gap to Flint Mountain, over past Wilson and Frozen Knobs on down to Cherokee and Buffalo Mountains. It really is quite amazing to see a large part of the ‘big picture‘. The sun was bright the entire week the leaves were in peak so, it made it hard to get quality photos but, the images in my head will live forever. Nature is profoundly beautiful beyond belief at times.
Cows and colors near Sam's Gap
Fall colors seen from Sam's Gap
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Posted on 26 October '10 by RAT, under RATtreks. No Comments.
It has been since March 24, 2010 since I have been able to get back on my section of the Appalachian Trail for any maintenance work. This is due to a motorcycle accident in May that left me with several busted ribs and an injury to my right arm. Unfortunately I was unable to cut the annual growth this year but, I was hoping that due to those circumstances, that the Carolina Mountain Club work crews would take care of it for me. It seems this did not happen. Luckily for the hikers, it was not a bad year for weeds on my section. It has been a bit dry up there so, it was not terribly overgrown, however, it was definitely not up to my usual standards. Thanks to my friend and fellow trail maintainer, Doug Corkhill [who does the section next to mine from Big Bald to Little Bald], I was able to get a ride with him to the top making it easier for me to walk my entire section going mostly downhill, on September 21, 2010. Thanks Doug !
View from TN side of Little Bald (notice all the bugs)
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Posted on 25 October '10 by RAT, under RATtreks. No Comments.
It grieves me tremendously to report that my dear friend Jeffrey “Okeepa” Hager left this world on September 28th, 2010 after losing his 3+ year battle with brain cancer. I have known ‘Okeepa’ since his thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 1996 and we have been close friends ever since. He is a kindred soul and was an adventurer, loving the life that this Earth offered to him .
Okeepa at Hairntville
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Posted on 24 October '10 by RAT, under RATtreks. 1 Comment.
It’s hard to believe that another year has come and gone but, sure enough another RAT birthday hike adventure has been completed. For those of you who keep up with such things you may recall last years 34 mile excursion was from Fox Creek to Damascus, Virginia. (Pics seen HERE ! ). Due to a recent motorcycle accident which left me with several busted ribs and injury to my right arm in May, along with some weight gain, I chose a shorter trek for this year going from Max Patch to Hot Springs, North Carolina approx. 20 miles. My friend Bol’Dar came along; I am happy to say he has never missed a birthday hike yet.
Bol'Dar on Max Patch
Arriving in Hot Springs around 2:30 pm on Thursday 9/9/10, we discovered that it would be after 5 pm before our shuttle driver could take us to Max Patch. This was not planned and although we were anxious to get on The Patch, we had no other choice since Daniel at the Bluff Mountain Outfitters had graciously agreed to take us at a discounted rate due to our affiliation as trail maintainers with the Carolina Mountain Club. While waiting we enjoyed some food and a cold beer at the Rock Bottom Sports Bar and Inn. The chicken/bacon/ranch wheat wrap was delicious ! Afterward we waited on time to pass by sitting on a sidewalk bench observing life in a small town that is quickly changing to a more ‘touristy’ metropolis like Damascus, VA and Gatlinburg, TN. Eventually the time came and we were dropped off at the Appalachian Trail road crossing to begin our ascent of the mighty Max Patch Bald around 6 pm.
Tent at sunset on Max Patch
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Posted on 13 October '10 by RAT, under RATtreks. 1 Comment.
Due to the fast approaching annual RAT birthday hike date (9-9-2010), it was decided that we (Bol’Dar, my son Tyler, and myself) would go to Jerry Cabin (known to us as Sam’s Cabin) to check the flow of the spring there. It is usually a fair indicator of how the area water levels are and it is also a great section to hike. I had not been there since the birthday hike of 2008. It was Bol’Dar’s suggestion to hike in from the North Carolina side by way of the Fork Ridge Trail. This is a direct route to the A.T. right near the cabin, but it is very steep and at least two miles that feels more like four. I guess I needed a test to see how I was going to do on the upcoming week long hike so I agreed to this madness ! It had been at least 20 years or more since I last set a boot on the Fork Ridge Trail and then it was always going down it. I had never climbed it until now and I doubt I will be climbing it again any time soon.
View from the Grasslands 9-4-2010 (now weed and brier lands)
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Posted on 7 October '10 by RAT, under RATtreks. 1 Comment.
Weir Dams / South Holston Dam:
It seems I forgot to mention in my last entry about the trip we took to the Weir Dams on South Holston River and the dam on South Holston lake on 7-10-2010. It was just a short day trip but after all it is an interesting area with a nice walking trail around Osceola Island for some exercise and enjoying nature. The Weir Dams were built to oxygenate the water for the fish and other creatures in between times when the dam is not releasing water (generating power). It was a hot and very bright day so getting any fancy pictures was out of the question but I did enjoy being out walking somewhere and did get a few nice shots. You can see more of them in the photo gallery.
Weir Dams on South Holston River
South Holston river as seen from Osceola Island trail
South Holston Lake
Since it was a short trip we got back fairly early, and I was still feeling energetic, so I drove up to Dry Creek and walked by myself up the old forest road above the Green Mile trail about a mile to the shortcut trail I found the week before.
I decided to take it down to see where it came out and if there was anything interesting to be found. It came out right near the beginning of the Green Mile trail but no water was to be found, nothing interesting, only some bear scat and tracks.
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Posted on 27 August '10 by RAT, under RATtreks. 1 Comment.
I was lucky enough to go on a second trip this weekend, this one to the Roan Mountain area. After a long scenic drive through Erwin, TN. over Indian Grave Gap, then following 197 for a long ways through some very out of the way places to 226 then back around to Buladean, NC., by way of Bakersville, NC., we went to Hughes Gap Road which leads to the top of the mountain where the Appalachian Trail crosses before it heads down to Roan Mountain State park. We ended up at Carvers Gap around 5 that evening.
The road to the top is now closed and will remain that way until this time next year as it seems some of the ‘stimulus money’ is being used to revamp things up there such as new bathrooms at the old Cloudland Hotel site, improvements to the overlook and area trails along with repaving of the road. It was a hot, dry day but clouds were building which promised to make for some decent sunset pics, so we headed North along the A.T. up and over Round Bald enjoying the newest trail relocation that I had not yet hiked. It is a very nice trail which now goes through the woods on the left side before coming out on the bald.
The Roans
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Posted on 21 July '10 by RAT, under RATtreks. No Comments.
Greetings outdoor enthusiasts, waterfall, and blog fans. It has been awhile since my last report to which I apologize. This is due to a dirt bike accident on May 21, 2010 which left me with several busted ribs, damage to my right shoulder, and a knot on my head ! Apparently it takes ribs a long time to heal so I have been unable to do any kind of physical activity until now. I am still in a lot of pain and even sleeping hurts to the point of not getting much rest but I am slowly getting better and look forward to getting back out in the woods again soon.
Trail Daze 2010:
Group Pic at Trail Daze 2010
I did manage to attend Trail Days in Damascus, Virginia the week prior to the accident but I was getting sick with the flu at that time so I still had a lot of chest congestion when I wrecked the motorcycle so coughing with broke ribs has been very painful to say the least. It was really good getting to see all my friends and hiker-trash family again since last years event. There were a couple rain storms but overall the weather was great and everyone had a good time. You can see pics of this years festivities HERE !
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Posted on 9 July '10 by RAT, under RATtreks. No Comments.
After my last trip to Elk Falls (Big Falls) and Jones Falls on 4-18-10 without my good camera which ended up with inferior pics, I was determined to go back as soon as I could and hopefully on a cloudy day. That day finally came this past Saturday and although it wasn’t as cloudy as I would have liked it to be, the sun was not as intense as before so I was able to get better pics. It was unusually hot as a major storm front that was causing unprecedented flooding in the Nashville area was pumping the hot gulf air into our area. Bol’Dar did not attend this waterfall frenzy hike so my girlfriend Linda, and Daisy the dog decided to accompany me. After a fairly early start of 10 ish AM, we arrived at Elk River Falls around 11 AM. The first thing we seen was two anglers proudly toting some very nice trout they had caught that morning. Oh how I wish I would be having that for lunch! The next interesting thing we saw was a Copperhead snake hunting around in the flood debris at the base of the falls near some butterflies. It was the same place my son Tyler had walked all over on our last trip !
Elk River Falls (Big Falls)
Elk River Falls (Big Falls)
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Posted on 5 May '10 by RAT, under RATtreks. 3 Comments.
I finally found the Green Mile trail. Located on the South side of Cherokee Mountain across from the parking lot for the ORV (Off Road Vehicle) trail (located on the Buffalo mountain side) on Dry Creek road. A short distance behind the gated forest service road (# 53522) you will see it leading off to your left. This used to be an open field that was clear cut over 25 yrs ago. I remember riding motorcycles and bird hunting there. It has grown back into a very nice forest with a great hiking trail.
You can come back out on the paved road (left) or take another trail to the top of the mountain (right) and back to the forest road for a nice loop. I forsee this being my new exercise trail since it is so close to my house.
The Green Mile
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Posted on 2 May '10 by RAT, under RATtreks. No Comments.
My name is 'RAT' and I love the mountains and waterfalls of the East TN. area where I live and I hope you enjoy this blog about my outdoor adventures.
