The Reasons Why

This week we took a couple of days to scout out some new spots.  It’s summer in the southeast which means I put up with  gnats making constant attempts to fly into my eyeballs.  I travel along poison ivy covered trails looking mad, as I swing trekking poles in a futile attempt to not wear ALL the spider webs.  And sometimes I throw caution to the wind to sit with mosquitoes at the banks of a river or stream.   More fun than you can handle?

Going through all that lovely summertime fun I still smile knowing the reasons I’ll get out there and do it again…

To explore and find new swimming holes like this…

Helton Creek Falls

 

For views like this…

from Tray Mountain

 

And for moments like these…

Hemlock Falls

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It’s been some time since I’ve posted, but we’re still out there exploring just the same.  I hope everyone’s getting outside as well, enjoying the summer!

 

The Drive Home

I always find the drive itself to be part of the adventure.  If I have the time on the way home I’m always looking to scout out a new destination, find a place to put up my hammock, enjoy a view, or continue exploring.  Here are a few photos from the drive home from my most recent trip to Virginia.  Much of the time we followed the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The first stop we made was at Linville Falls.  I had been to the Linville Gorge Wilderness area, but had never stopped at the top to see the falls….until this trip.

Here are some shots from the parkway where the beautiful fall colors had just started coming out.  The clouds were constantly rolling through, covering and then exposing the amazing views.

We stopped for one night and camped at Mt. Pisgah campground.  It was a beautifully clear night and I laid down by the fire and stared off into the Milky Way for a long time.   What’s even better is I got to snuggle up with this guy…

 

The last day of our drive home we caught some more views.

 

And then stopped by the Chattooga River to stretch our legs a bit.

Ellicott Rock Wilderness

Someone’s getting tired

 

 The End

Ocoee Land: Little piece of paradise

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to spend two days running the Ocoee in a Shredder. Look it up, it’s one hell of a ride!  Afterwards I had a day to get back home and I wanted to get a short hike in.  I stopped by the Cherokee National Forest Ranger Station and met a super cool lady at the desk.  She shared great stories of her time around the Ocoee River and recommended a hike nearby that was just under 4 miles with two beautiful waterfalls.

It was perfect for what I wanted to do, in the short time I had.  I got to run, hike, scramble, and play in the water at the falls.  Bonus – I had it all to myself!  So for just a couple hours I had a piece of the forest, a little piece of paradise, all to myself.

I’ve been overwhelmingly vague at best about the location of this hike.  One of the reason’s this hike was so great was that the only plan I had was to go somewhere I had never been.  So get out there and explore a piece of the forest you don’t know and create your own adventure.  That, in and of itself is half the fun.

These butterflies were everywhere.

Upper pool

Wider view of upper pool

Between the two main pools

Lower pool