Posts Tagged ‘Hiking’

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Down Memory Lane: Mount Nebo Waterfalls

July 1, 2010

I’ve mentioned several times how much Betsy and I like going to Mount Nebo in Arkansas.  We always stay in a beautiful rustic cabin on the edge of the mountain where we can enjoy the fantastic views.

But as you might expect, if we keep going back there have to be some waterfalls as well.  There is a Waterfall Trail that leads down the mountain not too far from the cabin.  I usually hike that trail at least once during our stay and, if we spend the day on the mountain, will often hike it along with one of the other trails.

The Waterfall Trail leads past one pretty falls, Upper Nebo Falls,  on its way to the main drop, Mount Nebo Falls.  Since both are near the top of the mountain the water flow can be low during much of the year, but they are pretty in the early Spring.  The collage above was made from pictures I took of the waterfalls during our visit in March, 2009.

To see these pictures and others, click HERE.

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Posted in Waterfalls | 13 Comments »

Down Memory Lane: Hen Wallow Falls

March 18, 2010

Scenes from our hike to Hen Wallow Falls. March 27, 2009.

Betsy and I visited Serenity Falls for the first time in March, 2009.  In addition to the time we spent at the cabin enjoying the waterfall right there, we also got to enjoy the  Cosby, Tennessee, side of the Smokies.

The area around Cosby is often referred to as the ‘Quiet Side of the Smokies’ because most visitors head toward Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.  In many ways it seems possible to enjoy the beauty of nature more because there are fewer distractions.

Hen Wallow Falls is one of the taller waterfalls on the Cosby side of the Smokies and the hike to the waterfall is slightly over two miles.  Of course, once we got to the waterfall we had to get back to the car, but the trail through the forest was very pleasant.  We saw only one other couple on the trail during our entire hike.

Our hike to Hen Wallow Falls was a very wonderful way to spend part of a day.

To see these pictures and others, click HERE.

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We’re making a trip to Hendersonville today so I can take my Dad to the doctor.  It’s just a routine checkup, but it does mean I’ll be away from my computer most of the day.  I’ll try to catch up as quickly as I can after we get back up.

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Posted in Waterfalls | 14 Comments »

Hiking the Rim Trail

March 6, 2010

Scenes from the Rim Trail on Mount Nebo, Arkansas. March 10, 2009.

This post is a good indication of how far behind I am in getting my pictures organized.  One of these days …

As many of you know Betsy and I were at Mount Nebo, Arkansas a couple of weeks ago.  This is one of our favorite places to visit, and we’ve been there six times since we got married.  Last month I hiked one of my favorite trails on Mount Nebo, the Rim Trail.  The Rim Trail is a 3.5 mile trail that circles the mountain just below the top.  The trail offers some magnificent views of the mountains and the Arkansas River Valley.

But these pictures are from the hike I made in 2009.  The skies were better this year, but I don’t know when I’ll get this year’s pictures organized.  If I’m lucky it will be before we go back in 2011!

To see these pictures and others, click HERE.

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Betsy and I went to Hendersonville on Friday to help out my folks.  We found them to be in good spirits, but they are obviously getting more frail.  But I am grateful for each  opportunity to see them and to give them a helping hand.

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Posted in Hiking | 10 Comments »

Turtle Rocks

March 4, 2010

Turtle Rocks at Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas. February 24, 2010.

When Betsy and I visited Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas last week, we hiked a couple of trails which were new for us.  One of the trails was Rock House Trail, which is fairly short, but did lead us through the “Turtle Rocks” shown above.

“Turtle rocks” are mounded structures resembling a turtle shell which have been carved in thick sandstones.  Turtle Rocks are found only in Hartshorne Sandstone, which is found at several locations in the Arkansas River Valley.

It’s not known how the “turtle rocks” were created, but they are certainly are interesting.

Can you see the turtles through the trees?

As we followed another trail we spotted on “turtle” on another, as shown in the picture above.

The “Turtle Rocks” of Petit Jean certainly added to our day at the park.

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Posted in Travels | 16 Comments »

Watery Wednesday #74: Waterfall on Log Hollow Branch

February 10, 2010

Waterfall on Log Hollow Branch, Brevard, North Carolina. December 12, 2009.

This is my post for Watery Wednesday.  To see more of our beautiful watery world, or to join and post your own pictures to share, click HERE.

In December, 2009, Betsy and I spent a couple of days in Brevard, North Carolina, visiting waterfalls.  Since it was cold while we were there, we didn’t  have to worry about crowds on the trails, although we did meet a few other hardy souls.

Our longest hike was along Log Hollow Branch north of Brevard near Looking Glass Rock.  On our two-mile hike we saw three waterfalls, including the one above.  There was a good flow of water over the falls, and if you look closely (the picture can be enlarged by clicking on it), you’ll even see a few icicles.

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I’m very grateful for all the wonderful people I’ve met in Blogland.

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Posted in Watery Wednesday | 22 Comments »

Machine Falls

January 7, 2010

Scenes from our hike to Machine Falls. February 14, 2009.

Since we’ve been having some cold weather, I’ve been able to spend more time indoors at the computer and am actually getting some things done that should have been done long ago.

One of the folders that I got cleared away contained pictures of a hike Betsy and I made last Valentine Day to Machine Falls.  Machine Falls is in the Short Springs State Natural Area between Manchester and Tullahoma, Tennessee.

The day was beautiful and the hike was very pleasant.  There wasn’t a great deal of water going over the falls, but the flow over the bluff was quite impressive.

To see these pictures and others click HERE.

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I’m grateful for the beauty of God’s creation and for the opportunities we have to enjoy it.

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Posted in Waterfalls | 10 Comments »

The Benefits of Waterfalling

December 7, 2009

George and Betsy at Wilderness Falls, Unaka Mountain, Tennessee. November 27, 2009.

As most of you know, Betsy and I collect waterfalls.  We enjoy researching waterfalls in an area and then visiting as many as we can.  That’s what we did over the Thanksgiving weekend.

A waterfall doesn’t have to be big to be enjoyable.  We often get to a waterfall by driving or hiking through some of the prettiest scenery you could imagine.  Since we photograph our waterfalls I have a tripod in the car and a small tripod in my backpack.

We found this pretty little waterfall on Unaka Mountain along the Tennessee/North Carolina border, and of course we had to get our picture.

Pretty waterfalls, beautiful scenery, and fresh air.  Yes, there are many benefits to finding a new waterfall!

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Posted in Waterfalls | 12 Comments »

Watery Wednesday # 64: Millstone Creek Falls

December 2, 2009

Millstone Creek Falls, Erwin, Tennessee. November 27, 2009.

This is my post for Watery Wednesday.  To see more of our beautiful watery world, or to join and post your own pictures to share, click HERE.

Betsy and I spent most of Thanksgiving weekend visiting waterfalls in Northeast Tennessee.  Most of them were fairly small, but pretty nonetheless.

Millstone Creek Falls is on undeveloped private property, but the owners allow visitors to the falls.  The owners’ home is on the adjacent lot and the house has a beautiful view of the falls.  But we enjoyed our short hike through the woods to this view of the falls.

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Posted in Watery Wednesday | 7 Comments »

Watery Wednesday #61: The Distant View

November 11, 2009
HurricaneFalls091014

Hurricane Falls, Tallulah Gorge State Park, Georgia. October 14, 2009.

This is my post for Watery Wednesday.  To see more of our beautiful watery world, or to join and post your own pictures to share, click HERE.

Last week I posted a couple of pictures of Hurricane Falls in Tallulah Gorge State Park, Georgia.  Those pictures (which are HERE) were taken from the base of the falls at the bottom of the gorge,  To get those pictures I had to go down (and back up) 590 steps.

After getting back up to the rim of the gorge Betsy and I hiked along the South Rim Trail.  We found an overlook that looked down on Hurricane Falls, which is where the above picture was taken.

I’m guessing we’ll go back to Tallulah Gorge since we like it so much.  Will I hike down to the base of Hurricane Falls again?  Probably.  But I will definitely stop at this South Rim Trail overlook to view the falls from this vantage point.  Closer isn’t always better!

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Posted in Watery Wednesday | 18 Comments »

Lynn Camp Prong

September 3, 2009
Middle Lynn Camp Falls, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. June, 2007.

Middle Lynn Camp Falls, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. June, 2007.

There are many popular areas in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that almost everyone who visits the park have seen or at least heard about — Cades Cove, Laurel Falls, and Clingman’s Dome to name just a few.

Betsy and I have been to all of those places, but some of our favorite times in the Smokies have been when we visited lesser-known areas of the park.  One such area is along Lynn Camp Prong.

In southern parlance, a prong is a branch of a river.  Lynn Camp was a lumber camp before the park was formed.  Lynn Camp Prong is a small stream that runs through the location of that old lumber camp.

To reach Lynn Camp and the hiking trail you have to go past Tremont Institure (off the road to Cade’s Cove) to the very end of the road.  The trail heads up along Lynn Camp Prong as it tumbles over several cascades and small falls.  Although they are not very big, the falls are pretty.  The hike is not difficult, and the chances are that you will have the trail and the cascades all to yourself.  There are even a couple of benches along the trail at which you can enjoy the views.

If you would like to see more of our hike along Lynn Camp Prong click HERE.

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Posted in Hiking | 9 Comments »

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