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solomonmaxx · 6 years

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Mt. LeConte

Hiking the Appalachian Trail - May 3, 2015

This weekend we did not hike a section of the AT, but instead, we hiked Alum Cave trail up to the Mt. LeConte Lodge, where we stayed the night at the highest lodge in the Smoky Mountains. Five miles up. Five miles down. 6594 foot elevation.

It was my third time hiking up to LeConte and staying in the lodge, but this particular trek was my younger cousin's first time. We were rather lucky that the weather cooperated, yet again. The hike wasn't particularly long, so we headed to the mountains at 1:00 in the afternoon, which set a relaxed tone for the trip. The Alumn Cave trail is a relatively popular trial in the mountains, and consequently, we passed numerous other hikers.

As I hiked the familiar trail, I thought back to hiking it as a child. Certain views became grander and particular corners in the pathway recalled memories. This time, however, the view from the trail was unimpeded, and I was able to see for miles. Whereas the last time I hiked Alum Cave, it was rainy and foggy. What is great about Alum Cave trail is that you can see the top of Mt. LeConte at various points along the trail, which is helpful in gauging how far there is left to climb.

At the very top of the climb, there is a turn in the trail, and the scenery shifts from rocky mountainside and panoramic views to a contained mountain top forest with trees lining the pathway. From the turn in the trail, it is only ten more minutes to the lodge. We made it to the dining hall just in time for dinner.

Staying at the lodge allows the hiker the advantage of being able to watch the sunset from the top of the mountain, instead of having to hike back down the trail before night fall. We watched a glorious sunset before heading off to bed in our cabin. Our group did not have the best night’s sleep because of cool temperatures and creaky beds, but we awoke the next morning ready to hike back down the mountain.

After a breakfast of pancakes and eggs, we packed up our belongings and started our descent. It was another beautiful day and we ran into a couple of familiar faces as we carefully made our way down the mountain.

As we drove home my cousins and I all passed out in the car and took a well deserved nap.

Until the next trail,

Lo Main

#hiking #lomain #hiking journal #appalachian trail #day hiking #mt leconte #greatsmokymountains #love life #spiritual #sunset #solomonmaxx #lifetothemaxx

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thevividgreenmoss · 6 years

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The Balbec doctor, called in to cope with a sudden feverish attack, gave the opinion that I ought not to stay out all day on the beach in the blazing sun during the hot weather, and wrote out various prescriptions for me. My grandmother took these with a show of respect in which I could at once discern her firm resolve to ignore them all, but did pay attention to the advice on the question of hygiene, and accepted an offer from Mme de Villeparisis to take us for drives in her carriage. After this I would spend the mornings going to and fro between my own room and my grandmother’s. Hers did not look out directly on the sea, as mine did, but was open on three of its four sides—on to a strip of the esplanade, a courtyard, and a view of the country inland—and was furnished differently from mine, with armchairs embroidered with metallic filigree and pink flowers from which the cool and pleasant odour that greeted one on entering seemed to emanate. And at that hour when the sun’s rays, drawn from different exposures and, as it were, from different hours of the day, broke the angles of the wall, projected on to the chest of drawers, side by side with a reflection of the beach, a festal altar as variegated as a bank of field-flowers, hung on the fourth wall the folded, quivering, warm wings of a radiance ready at any moment to resume its flight, warmed like a bath a square of provincial carpet before the window overlooking the courtyard which the sun festooned and patterned like a climbing vine, and added to the charm and complexity of the room’s furniture by seeming to pluck and scatter the petals of the silken flowers on the chairs and to make their silver threads stand out from the fabric, this room in which I lingered for a moment before going to get ready for our drive suggested a prism in which the colours of the light that shone outside were broken up, a hive in which the sweet juices of the day which I was about to taste were distilled, scattered, intoxicating and visible, a garden of hope which dissolved in a quivering haze of silver threads and rose petals. But before all this I had drawn back my own curtains, impatient to know what Sea it was that was playing that morning by the shore, like a Nereid. For none of those Seas ever stayed with us longer than a day. The next day there would be another, which sometimes resembled its predecessor. But I never saw the same one twice.

There were some that were of so rare a beauty that my pleasure on catching sight of them was enhanced by surprise. By what privilege, on one morning rather than another, did the window on being uncurtained disclose to my wondering eyes the nymph Glauconome, whose lazy beauty, gently breathing, had the transparency of a vaporous emerald through which I could see teeming the ponderable elements that coloured it? She made the sun join in her play, with a smile attenuated by an invisible haze which was no more than a space kept vacant about her translucent surface, which, thus curtailed, was rendered more striking, like those goddesses whom the sculptor carves in relief upon a block of marble the rest of which he leaves unchiselled. So, in her matchless colour, she invited us out over those rough terrestrial roads, from which, sitting with Mme de Villeparisis in her barouche, we should glimpse, all day long and without ever reaching it, the coolness of her soft palpitation.

...How often in Paris, during the month of May of the following year, was I to bring home a branch of apple-blossom from the florist and afterwards to spend the night in company with its flowers in which bloomed the same creamy essence that still powdered with its froth the burgeoning leaves and between whose white corollas it seemed almost as though it had been the florist who, from generosity towards me, from a taste for invention too and as an effective contrast, had added on either side the supplement of a becoming pink bud: I sat gazing at them, I grouped them in the light of my lamp—for so long that I was often still there when the dawn brought to their whiteness the same flush with which it must at that moment have been tingeing their sisters on the Balbec road—and I sought to carry them back in my imagination to that roadside, to multiply them, to spread them out within the frame prepared for them, on the canvas already primed, of those fields and orchards whose outline I knew by heart, which I so longed to see, which one day I must see, again, at the moment when, with the exquisite fervour of genius, spring covers their canvas with its colours.

Before getting into the carriage, I had composed the seascape which I was going to look out for, which I hoped to see with Baudelaire’s “radiant sun” upon it, and which at Balbec I could distinguish only in too fragmentary a form, broken by so many vulgar adjuncts that had no place in my dream—bathers, cabins, pleasure yachts. But when, Mme de Villeparisis’s carriage having reached the top of a hill, I caught a glimpse of the sea through the leafy boughs of the trees, then no doubt at such a distance those temporal details which had set it apart, as it were, from nature and history disappeared, and I could try to persuade myself as I looked down upon its waters that they were the same which Leconte de Lisle describes for us in his Orestie, where “like a flight of birds of prey, at break of day” the long-haired warriors of heroic Hellas “with oars a hundred thousand sweep the resounding deep.” But on the other hand I was no longer near enough to the sea, which seemed to me not alive but congealed, I no longer felt any power beneath its colours, spread like those of a picture between the leaves, through which it appeared as insubstantial as the sky and only of an intenser blue.

Marcel Proust, Within a Budding Grove

#*#marcel proust #within a budding grove

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findamericanrentals · 5 years

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Best Pigeon Forge vacation rentals by owner, Tennessee vacation homes, villas, cabins, cottages & Vacation condo Rentals in Pigeon Forge. No service fee book directly at findamericanrentals.com.If you re looking for a view of the mountains and the sparkle of the city lights, Paradise Ridge is the cabin for you, Unobstructed views overlooking Mt. LeConte and the downtown lights of Pigeon Forge will set the stage for a magical evening.

#Vacation home Rentals Pigeon Forge

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thehikingviking · 5 years

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Lone Pine Peak (12,944 ft) via Meysan Basin

This year’s California Mountaineering Club Summer Outing was located at the Whitney Portal Campground. I intended to spend Friday and Saturday night at the reserved site and climb Mt Whitney on either Saturday or Sunday. I was 0 for 2 on my last two lottery tries, so I tried to get a walk-in permit. I figured if we could get awarded the permit and start as late as 9am in the morning, we would still have enough time to make it to the summit, even if the last few return miles would be in the dark. I showed up to the Whitney Ranger Station at 8am, but there were no permits available for that morning. I learned that they do the drawing for the walk-in permits the day before in the earlier afternoon. This meant I had to come back around 2pm or find something else to do. I was disappointed, but I had a backup plan. Lone Pine Peak was only a 14 mile hike with roughly 5,000 ft of gain, which fell well within our abilities. We drove back up to the portal and began our hike from our campsite at 9am. The hike starts off following a paved road through some cabins, then enters the Meysan Drainage along a gradual trail. The sandy trail switchbacks up the north side of the canyon.

There were multiple fires going on concurrently at separate locations throughout the Sierra Nevada.

I had been up this trail several years prior on an attempt of Mt Mallory but I succumbed to altitude sickness and didn’t reach the summit. The trip left a bad taste in my mouth, but I was in much better shape than I was back then.

Our route would have us leave the main trail and cross Meysan Creek before heading up the northern slopes of Meysan Drainage. I planned to cross at Grass Lake, which seemed to be the path of least elevation change.

At about five miles into the hike we reached a signed turnoff to Grass Lake. We followed a use trail here as it snaked through brush and large rock formations.

We stopped at Grass Lake for lunch at about 10,800 ft. There was a nice campsite with good sitting rocks. The weather was good and the surroundings were peaceful.

Afterwards, we crossed Meysan Creek and started up the talus northwest slopes. Down below was Peanut Lake.

We followed a ditch with good footing for the first few hundred yards.

This ended before too long and the next portion of the route consisted of loose rock and sand. Only 2,000 ft of gain remained, but most of that would be slow and tedious.

The route got steeper as we entered the main chute. With Asaka below me, I tried my best not to knock down any of the many loose rocks.

Mt Whitney, Mt Russell and Mt Carillon emerged over the ridge to the north.

There is not much to say about this section. It simply sucked.

Mt Mallory and Mt Irvine stood to the northwest with Meysan Lake below.

Once at the top of the chute, we angled our way to the top of the ridge.

The summit was now visible to the east.

The last half mile took much longer than I expected. A combination of altitude, poor air quality and sandy slopes made our progress slow.

We finally reached the summit at 2pm, which was decent timing considering we had a late start. To the north were Mt Muir, Mt Whitney, Mt Russell, Mt Carillon and Mt Williamson.

Down below was the Meysan Drainage.

To the west were Mt LeConte, Mt Mallory and Mt Irvine.

To the south was Mt Langley.

To the east was Owens Valley.

We signed the summit register and had some snacks. While the smoke obstructed the views, but I was content for a day without thunderstorms.

We wanted to get to camp before dark so we left the summit at 2:30pm. As we descended, the air quality began to improve.

I rinsed off at Meysan Creek. It was very refreshing and afterwards I felt completely re-energized.

As we made our way towards Grass Lake, Asaka and I both spotted a strange animal. It was gone within seconds, but we both got a good look at it. It was unlike anything I had seen in the past. At first I thought it was a deer because its legs were so long, but it was clearly a large cat. It was not a mountain lion, but didn’t look like a bobcat either. Asaka viewed it from a different angle and noticed very pointy ears and grey fur with spots. I am confident that what we saw was a Canada lynx. Per official records, lynx have been extinct in California for over a century. Their primary food source is the snow shoe hare, which are quite common in the High Sierra. The wolverine was also thought to have been extinct in California until one was recently captured on a game cam. Similar to the wolverine, I think a small population of lynx may have also escaped the death grip of human influence.

Once back at the trail, we made it down to camp in less than 2 hours. It was nice to already have our tent set up. We enjoyed a relaxing evening by the campfire. I planned to sleep in the next morning.

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clarkfamily · 7 years

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PNT DIARY 1908

Note: Empty entries have been omitted.

Note: PNT had his own system for recording the weather although he only uses it sporadically in the first month of this diary year. The notations occur after the date in each entry. Please see the post for 1906 to read the key.

1/1 ± I am 5 ft 9 in tall without shoes. I weigh 121 lbs. The ground is bare.

1/2 No snow.

1/3 No snow.

1/4 ->0 a little.

1/5 + Colder. Did chores and read.

1/6 Harry went back to U.N.H. A breeding ewe died. They drew straw. I dried some Baldwin apples. -2°

1/7 +-0. Elgar cut my hair. They drew up logs with the steers. Trimmed turnips. [to feed sheep]

1/8 Thawed a little all day. Trimmed turnips at the lower barn. Wednesday.

1/9 0. Made 5 pounds of butter. Papa went to the Grange. We did not feed the sheep tonight.

1/10 Papa and I doctored about 55 lambs and sheep for worms. 2 lambs died.

1/11 Dried apples all day. Ellice came home from Hazens. Saturday.

1/12 Read a little. Began to read "A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers."

1/13 Thawing.

1/14 Papa and I doctored 9 ewes (for worms).

1/15 Dried apples all day.

1/16 Hazen called. Trimmed turnips. Papa cleaned out the hog house.

1/17 Went out into the north woods. Found a little spruce tree there.

1/18 Had the gripes last night and today. Stephen and Howard Townsend were here from Woodstock. Saturday.

1/19 Yesterday Mama finished reading Le Contes Geology [Elements of Geology, Joseph LeConte] to me. I stayed in the house all day. Sunday. -6°

1/20 cold last night. Did not go out. Joe began to draw hemlock logs to the mill, from the Fox place.

1/21 Did a few chores. Hugh sawed hemlock logs in the S. woods on Fox place. Joe drew logs. Thawing.

1/22 Thawing. Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Hazen and Annah Hazen came to dinner. Did not go out. Joe drew lumber.

1/23 Did chores again.

1/24 +

1/25 Polly came late tonight. Dried Baldwin apples.

1/26 Walked up Ela's hill. Bea came and stayed overnight.

1/27 Most of the snow melted last night. The road is all ice. Made 5 1/2 pounds of butter.

1/28 Colder. It is icy and poor sleighing. I sold my watch and chain to Joe for $1.10.

1/30 Trimmed turnips in the potato bin in the cellar. It is the coldest day yet. -13°

1/31 Cold and clear. Dried Baldwin apples. The temp. only got up to -5°. Friday. -16°

2/1 Stormy. We stayed in as much as possible. About 6 inches of snow came and drifted. Warmer.

2/2 My cherry log is 35 years old. Finished reading "A Week on the Concord" by Thoreau.

2/3 Hugh began to go to L.H.S. in the '08 class. Joe drew my black cherry log to mill with hemlock logs. -10°

2/4 I feed the sheep twice, the horses at night, the 5 calves at 8 am, and the hens twice. Cold day. -16°

2/5 Did chores about all day. The thermometers did not agree. -20° to -24°

2/6 Snow last night. Trimmed turnips in the cellar. We did nothing but chores. Thursday.

2/7 Edgar drew out his old maple from the S. woods. Joe brought home 6 cherry boards for me.

2/8 Papa and I stuck up my lumber in the cider mill. Saturday. -8°

2/9 Went down into the woods. Mama and I sorted books.

2/10 Hugh took Billy to go to school. He put him up at Dr. Smith's.

2/11 Made a box to feed the birds in. Went down into the woods and saw a large horned owl at 3 P.M.

2/12 Fine day. Trimmed turnips.

2/13 Trimmed turnips. Hugh stayed at home with a cold. Joe was away all day.

2/14 Fog. Papa and I cut a black birch in the S. woods. It was 96' tall, 110 years old 1.5' at butt, and the only one.

2/15 Still thawing. Snow is going fast. We did not do much but chores. Saturday.

2/16 Joe and I walked up to the log cabin out South on Oregon. Had the gripes when I got back.

2/17 Better but lame. Hugh stayed at home. Papa and Joe do all of the chores.

2/18 Hugh went to school. Feel still better.

2/19 - 3/4 [Empty]

3/5 Had appendicitis operation (Dr. Gile, surgeon). ]This appears to be Alma's handwriting and is in pencil. PNT's is in ink.]

3/6-3/24 [No entry; in MHMH hospital]

3/25 I came home from the M.H. Hospital.

3/26 - 3/27 [Empty]

3/28 We three gathered 8 bbl of sat. Saw first flock of robins. The jays made a commotion about it.

3/29 - 4/7 [Empty]

4/8 Jay and Harry Farnam called this evening and we sat up late. [b day turns 18]

4/9 - 4/12 [Empty]

4/13 Edgar boiled sap. Joe gathered sap.

4/14 - 4/15 [Empty]

4/16 Edgar boiled sap. Rlins (Rollins?) Hotel burned last night and I saw the light out east. A cold day.

4/18 They gathered 8 bbl of sap and the buckets. Went down to the south end of the woods. Saturday.

4/19 Edgar finished boiling sap. Dana called.

4/21 A cold chilly day. The snow all melted in the afternoon. Went down to the Fox place. Tuesday.

4/22 They split wood. Went down to the Fox place. The ground froze last night. Mama washed buckets.

4/23 - 4/24 [Empty]

4/25 Warm.

4/26 Very warm. Hugh and I went over to see Harry Farnam.

4/27 Warmest day yet.

4/28 Saw 2 bald eagles here. Had a hard thunder storm last night.

4/29 Cobb and Harrington began to shear our sheep. Edgar and I went over to the Jones farm.

4/30 - 5/22 [Empty]

5/23 Bob came.

5/24 Hugh and I went down to Sintres. Dana and Richard called. Sunday.

5/26 Went to town and traded a little. Julia Cummings came. Awful hot.

5/27 Helped decorate the lawn. Harry came home late. Papa has set a lot of hitching posts. [Preparations for Ellice's wedding the following day]

5/28 Ellice and Dana had a wedding on the lawn. About 100 guests. There was a reception at the Hazens'.

5/29 Harry, Bob, and Polly left.

5/31 Edgar took me to W.R. Junction to see a camera. Went to walk with Mama.

6/1 Uncle Bert and Aunt Mary went home.

6/2 Chilly day. Saw the first American Goldfinch.

6/3 - 8/17 [Empty]

8/18 Heard first green crickets.

9/15 Dug potatoes.

9/17 Papa and Joe finished getting in the corn a week from today.

9/19 My fountain pen came. We dug potatoes and finished the gold coins. Got a swarm of bees to robbing Sept. 20.

9/20 The bees began to rob.

9/21 My Italians [bees] brought live black bees late last night and early this morning. Sunday.

9/22 Dug potatoes. Went across to the grange.

9/23 We finished digging potatoes. Helped get corn.

9/24 Took Punch down town. Sent an order to W. W. Cary & Son for bee supplies. $15.16 cents in all. Came home with Papa.

9/25 Tried to keep the bees from robbing. Began to feed out in the open. They husked corn.

9/29 Husked corn. Went after [illegible] after supper.

9/30 Peabody came and threshed buckwheat, barley, and oats. He showed me how to weld and some other things.

10/1 They finished threshing. Mr. Ober bought the black mare Dolly which Papa has boughten.

10/2 Cold. We picked the squashes in the garden. Papa and I weighed the bees. Put cases on them without packing.

10/3 Joe and I finished picking corn.

10/4 Warmer.

10/5 We began to pick apples on a tree here and there. We are going to pick any good apples, even natives.

10/7 Fine day. We three finished up 4 1/2 bbls of butternuts on Fox place, also some apples. Packed up bees Wed.

10/8 Divided the queenless bees. Half in no. 3 and half in no 6.

10/9 Found 1 bus. of nuts which we missed (5 now). Those bees got cast out and killed in each swarm.

10/10 Finished packing up the bees. They jacked up the old cow shed. Joe finished drawing sweet corn fodder.

10/11 Papa, Grammie and Mama took the span and went to Brookside. Joe and I kept house. Milked 1.9(?) cows.

10/12 We three gathered cider apples in the sheep pasture. (to cook and eat). Lugged them up across.

10/13 Recreation [magazine] came out this week. The fog does not clear until 10 A.M. Joe and I went onto the Jones and Driscoll places.

10/14 Fine day. Painted all day on the handy wagon wheels. Joe and Papa fixed the barnyard fence. Wed.

10/15 - 10/23 [Empty]

10/24 Went down town. My bee supplies came. 5 hives, supers, etc. Papa had 2 bus. of buck(wheat?) ground.

10/25 - 10/27 [Empty]

10/28 We dug on the ditch and got wet. Began a winter case for my two swarms of bees.

10/29 Tinkered and helped David on the well. Papa went downtown. Joe plowed.

10/30 Papa and I dug in the ditch and Joe plowed in the south field.

10/31 Papa and I finished the ditch and tapped the spring out north. Joe began to plow in the barn field. Sat. Cold.

11/1 Colder. Milked 2 cows. Harry came home last night to vote Tuesday.

11/2 - 11/8 [Empty]

11/9 Warm. The bees came out a little. Moved 3 swarms to one side. The spring runs 1 quart a minute.

11/10 Warm. We turned up stones in the N. pasture and drew them to the new well.

11/11 Rain last night. Made 9 storm doors for bee hives, and a holding frame. Papa stoned more in the well.

11/12 Colder. Papa finished stoning the spring and we grounded up etc. Yesterday Papa got Edgar's cow.

12/13 Took the small cases off my two bee hives and put on my new big ones with 5" of straw packing. Ellice came.

11/14 - 11/17 [Empty]

11/18 The pump in the kitchen gave up for lack of water. It will still furnish a little.

11/19 We get water enough to drink and cook from the well in the kitchen. Tinkered. Two inches of snow in all.

11/20 Joe finished plowing the Garden field. I made a hot bed frame, placed it S. of barn and filled with straw, etc.

11/21 Snow is melting. Ellice and I went hunting out S.

11/22 Our new spring runs 3/4 quarts per minute. Milked two cows.

11/23 Helped saw up skidway on Fox place. I weigh 164 pounds without dooring(clothing?). Warm and misty.

11/24 The bees came out in fine shape. Warm. Edgar got after and wounded a deer.

11/25 Joe and I went to Coles'.

11/26 Papa, Mama, and I had dinner at Brookside. Got home after dark. Warm and Misty. 54° after dark.

11/27 Joe began to plow in the west field. Very warm. Boiled and hulled corn.

11/28 - 11/30 [Empty]

12/1 Warm. Papa and I trimmed trees in the Baker lane. The bees had a fight.

12/2 - 12/30 [Empty]

12/31 We cut wood up the road. We three visited Harry Farnam in the evening.

#Philip Townsend #diary #text #storrs hill

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nataliewhorn · 5 years

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4 Best Winter Hikes in the Smoky Mountains to Try When You Visit

The Smoky Mountains are a beautiful winter wonderland! When you visit during this season, take some time to explore the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and choose from more than 850 miles of trails to hike. From frozen waterfalls to snow-covered mountaintops, you’ll be surrounded by gorgeous views. Here are 4 of the best winter hikes in the Smoky Mountains to try when you visit:

1. Alum Cave Trail

To see the most impressive icicle formations, hike the Alum Cave Trail! It’s about a 4.5-mile hike to Alum Cave and back, and worth every step. At about 2 miles into the trail, you’ll reach Inspiration Point, which offers incredible views. A little further and you’ll reach Alum Cave, a concave bluff that is about 80 feet in height and 500 feet in length. During the winter, the water that drips off the ledges above form large icicles. It’s a stunning sight you don’t want to miss! The trail continues up to the summit of Mount LeConte, the third-highest peak in the Smoky Mountains.

2. Rainbow Falls Trail

Rainbow Falls Trail is a 5.4-mile round-trip hike to the waterfall and back. The trail gains about 1,500 feet in elevation on its way to the falls, so it’s considered moderate in difficulty. However, the views you’ll get when you reach the falls make it well worth it. During the winter, an ice formation builds around the 80-foot waterfall, creating a picture-perfect sight. If you want to continue your hike after you reach the falls, the trail continues 4 miles to the summit of Mount LeConte.

3. Porters Creek Trail

From historic sites to a waterfall, the Porters Creek Trail has it all. It’s known for its variety of wildflowers during the spring, but it’s just as beautiful during the winter! It’s one of the best trails to hike in the Smoky Mountains during winter because it has easy car access and lower elevation, meaning there aren’t any strenuous climbs. It’s a perfect trail for the family to complete together! You’ll see John Messer’s cantilevered barn that was built in 1875, the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club Cabin that was built in 1934-36, and a 40-foot waterfall. When temperatures are cold enough, you can see the waterfall in its frozen state!

4. Andrews Bald

To get to Andrews Bald, you’ll take the Forney Ridge Trail from the Clingmans Dome parking lot. Andrews Bald is an outstanding destination for who want to see breathtaking views of the Smoky Mountain highlands. At 3.5 miles roundtrip, the hike is just long enough to escape the crowds at Clingmans Dome, but just short enough for the whole family to enjoy. Enjoy views of the mountaintops covered in snow. Be sure to bring a camera with you to capture the incredible scenery.

About Rocky Top Sports World

Located minutes away from downtown Gatlinburg, Rocky Top Sports World is one of the very best tournament destinations in the nation. Boasting 7 fields, 6 basketball courts, 12 volleyball courts, team rooms, and an onsite grill, our 80-acre athletic complex has everything you need for an unforgettable sports event. Check out our Tournaments page to read about all of the fun arriving at Rocky Top Sports World in the coming months.

The post 4 Best Winter Hikes in the Smoky Mountains to Try When You Visit appeared first on Rocky Top Sports World.

from Rocky Top Sports World https://rockytopsportsworld.com/blog/winter-hikes-in-the-smoky-mountains/

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heavenlybackside · 2 months

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Just a cozy little cabin, nestled in the woods.

Actually, at the Leconte Lodge, on top of Mount Leconte in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park there are several cabins for guests and staff.

“That’s different” is just the beginning …. Consider that the only way to get there is at least a 5 mile hike up mountain, you can begin to appreciate how truly unique a stay at this National Park Lodge really is.

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marymperezga · 6 years

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15 Best Hiking Vacations In The USA (And Other Top-Notch Outdoor Activities)

Dust off your hiking boots and grab your backpack for this wanderlust-worthy roundup of hiking vacations in the US. From family-friendly, scenic trails to heart-thumping climbs, we’ve uncovered 15 great hiking trips you can take—no matter the season.

If your favorite part of a hike is getting back to home base with a sense of accomplishment, FlipKey has you covered. Each of these outdoor getaways offers amazing cabin rentals available to book right on our site. Enjoy a celebratory, post-hike drink on the private patio, utilize the full kitchen for a home-cooked meal, then light up the fireplace and hunker down for a movie night.

And it’s not just the stellar trails and cabins that make these some of the best hiking vacations in America—after all, you may want at least one day of lighter outdoor recreation. That’s why we’re also featuring top tours, activities, and in-destination experiences to enjoy during your stay—courtesy of our friends at TripAdvisor (FlipKey is a TripAdvisor company). Think guided photography tours of Yosemite, visiting a conservation center in the Adirondacks, or a wine-and-waterfalls excursion in Oregon.

Acadia National Park, ME

Acadia National park is one for superlatives—both the most-visited national park in the Northeast and home to the highest peak along the North Atlantic seaboard, Acadia is one of the best hiking destinations in the US. Make the drive up Cadillac Mountain to take in stunning views from the 1,500-foot tall peak, or challenge yourself to hikes like the Gotham Mountain Trail. You can even rent canoes and kayaks to take out from Bar Harbor. Check it all out on your own or join a guided tour, like this 7-day Food, Brews, and Hiking tour of New England, to see the park’s highlights.

Find a great place to stay in Acadia National Park!

Glacier National Park, MT

Montana may be landlocked, but a visit to Glacier National Park is all about the water. Hike to pristine alpine lakes, drive past waterfalls, or take a white-water rafting trip down the Flathead River. The Grinnell Glacier stands as a looming challenge over the park, but its rewarding views are unbeatable—be sure to bring plenty of food and water if you do the 8-mile trail on your own. Then, give your legs a break when you drive down the 52-mile Going-to-the-Sun-Road, a scenic highlight reel of Glacier National Park’s diverse wildlife and incredible landscapes.

Find a great place to stay near Glacier National Park!

Yosemite National Park, CA

In Yosemite, steep granite cliffs tower above redwood trees and host tumbling waterfalls. Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and El Capitan stand out as the park’s most recognized natural formations. Though so much wilderness makes Yosemite one of the best hiking vacations you can take, the park is also a hit among photographers. Follow in the footsteps of Ansel Adams on a Yosemite photography tour to find the park’s best angles. Plus, unlike many parks that are far from urban centers, Yosemite is easily visited on a day trip from San Francisco, Tahoe, or San Jose.

Update: Due to the recent wildfires, please refer to the National Park Services’ website for information about accessibility and permissibility in Yosemite.

Find a great place to stay in Yosemite!

Big Sur, CA

Rocky coastlines give way to crashing Pacific waves in Big Sur, a gem of a hiking destination along the California coast. Big Sur is easy enough to fit in during a California road trip—the area is right off Highway 1—but Big Sur’s incredible natural beauty merits its own visit. Take a hike through Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park or at the Point Sur State Historic Park for gorgeous views of mist-shrouded cliffs and waterfalls dropping straight into the ocean. If you don’t have your own car, consider visiting as part of a tour, like this Pacific Coast Highway day trip.

Find a great place to stay in Big Sur!

Great Smoky Mountains, TN/NC

The Great Smoky Mountains are one of the best hiking vacations for their rolling hills and scenic trails. Hike up Mount LeConte to see the Smokies stretching endlessly into the horizon, or check out the popular Alum Cave Trail, which leads you past rushing rivers through fields of wildflowers. Though well-marked trails make it easy enough to explore on your own, go with a guide to make the most of every moment. Specialty tours include a Smoky Mountains Waterfall Adventure and a historic Smoky Mountain hike that highlights Cherokee and settler history in the area.

Find a great place to stay in the Great Smoky Mountains!

Zion National Park, UT

Zion National Park is easily one of the most-recognized hiking destinations in the US, known for its mesmerizing red rocks smoothly carved out by water. Bring your A-game to the trails at The Narrows, aptly named for the tight squeezes needed to get through columns of river-bound rocks. Once through, you will be richly rewarded by a number of viewpoints around the park that will surely take your breath away. If you’re looking for extra adventure, try a rock climbing and canyoneering tour or combine a visit to Zion with other nearby parks on a multi-day guided tour of Utah.

Find a great place to stay in Zion National Park!

Blue Ridge, GA

The sleepy town of Blue Ridge is full of historic Southern charm. Ride down old train trestles on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, stroll through the quaint boutique-filled downtown, or bring the whole family for a day of outdoor fun at the Toccoa River Swinging Bridge or Long Creek Falls. Plus, because it’s nestled in the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the town is an ideal home base for a mountain retreat.

Find a great place to stay in Blue Ridge!

Estes Park, CO

Estes Park is the quintessential Rocky Mountains vacation destination and aptly known as the Gateway to the Rockies. Between its homey downtown and easy access to some of the best hiking trips in Colorado, Estes Park is a top stop for serious backpackers and casual hikers alike. Experienced hikers can use Estes as a basecamp for longer ascents into the Rocky Mountains, while nature-lovers of all hiking abilities love the easy Adams Falls Trail and hike to Lily Lake. If you aren’t looking to attempt hikes on your own, a guided tour like the Discover Rocky Mountain National Park tour or a private wildlife safari offer good introductions to the area’s rich wildlife and scenery.

Find a great place to stay in Estes Park!

Big Bear Lake, CA

Big Bear Lake may be small, but it packs in plenty of outdoor activities. This lakeside retreat in southern California is best known for its winter skiing, but also offers a number of hiking trails like Castle Rock Trail that are perfect for exploring in the summer. The area also features the popular Big Bear Alpine Zoo, which rehabs native animals and offers visitors a great chance to learn about local wildlife, including the lake’s namesake creatures.

Find a great place to stay in Big Bear Lake!

Columbia River Gorge, OR

In addition to being one of the best hiking destinations in the US, Columbia River Gorge is one of the most popular and scenic day trips from Portland. Take a half-day tour from Portland to the picture-ready Multnomah Falls—a wine-tasting and waterfalls tour is also an option—or spend the afternoon wandering down well-marked trails and taking scenic drives on your own. Dewy forest floors and wildflower-filled fields make Columbia River Gorge a hiker’s dream. Opt for a cabin in Hood River and you’ll be just a few miles away.

Find a great place to stay in Hood River, just minutes from the Columbia River Gorge!

South Lake Tahoe, CA

Clear glacial waters hemmed by towering snow-capped peaks make South Lake Tahoe a popular vacation destination. Though hiking Mt. Tallac Trail or to Lower Eagle Falls are good trekking options, the area is also well-known for its water sports and cultural activities. Take a cruise on Emerald Bay, book a parasailing adventure, or snag a kayak for a day paddling through blue waters. Then, hit up the town’s many restaurants, bars, and clubs for a fun end to a full day.

Find a great place to stay in South Lake Tahoe!

Kauai, HI

A whole island full of gorgeous scenery and exciting outdoor activities, Kauai makes for a paradisiacal hiking vacation. From the jagged ridges of Na Pali Coast State Park to the gulches of Waimea Canyon, hiking opportunities abound—and more. Rev your adrenaline with an off-road adventure, unwind on a sunset dinner cruise, or opt into one of the most popular helicopter tour destinations in the country. With a whole island of activities to choose from, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy.

Find a great place to stay in Kauai!

Jackson Hole, WY (Grand Teton National Park)

Jackson Hole is a skiing paradise in the winter, but has hikes to waterfalls, crater lakes, and woodland wonderlands during warmer months. From the family-friendly Cascade Canyon Trail to the heart-thumping Static Peak Divide, Grand Teton National Park is by far one of the best hiking vacations you can take. Pack in even more adventure by booking a Grand Teton safari for chances to see animals like elk, bears, and bison in the wild.

Find a great place to stay near Grand Teton National Park!

Jay, VT (Jay Peak)

A high-end ski resort turns summertime bucket-list destination in Jay, a cozy city with family-friendly amenities and plenty to keep kids entertained, including the popular Jay Peak Pump House. The town’s best hike is to its namesake summit, Jay Peak, a moderate 3-mile trail past wildflowers, boulders, and pastures.

Find a great place to stay in Jay!

Adirondacks, NY

The Adirondacks have great hiking, to be sure, but they offer a whole lot more: go white-water rafting, learn about conservation at the kid-friendly Wild Center, or make some waves on glassy Lake Placid. Be sure to get to Bald Mountain, too, for an easy hike for the whole family.

Find a great place to stay near the Adirondacks!

This post was originally published on the TripAdvisor blog. FlipKey is a TripAdvisor company.

The post 15 Best Hiking Vacations In The USA (And Other Top-Notch Outdoor Activities) appeared first on The FlipKey Blog.

from Tips For Traveling https://www.flipkey.com/blog/2018/08/14/15-best-hiking-vacations-in-the-usa-and-other-top-notch-outdoor-activities/

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mrrolandtfranco · 6 years

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15 Best Hiking Vacations In The USA (And Other Top-Notch Outdoor Activities)

Acadia National Park, ME

Find a great place to stay in Acadia National Park!

Glacier National Park, MT

Find a great place to stay near Glacier National Park!

Yosemite National Park, CA

Update: Due to the recent wildfires, please refer to the National Park Services’ website for information about accessibility and permissibility in Yosemite.

Find a great place to stay in Yosemite!

Big Sur, CA

Find a great place to stay in Big Sur!

Great Smoky Mountains, TN/NC

Find a great place to stay in the Great Smoky Mountains!

Zion National Park, UT

Find a great place to stay in Zion National Park!

Blue Ridge, GA

Find a great place to stay in Blue Ridge!

Estes Park, CO

Find a great place to stay in Estes Park!

Big Bear Lake, CA

Find a great place to stay in Big Bear Lake!

Columbia River Gorge, OR

Find a great place to stay in Hood River, just minutes from the Columbia River Gorge!

South Lake Tahoe, CA

Find a great place to stay in South Lake Tahoe!

Kauai, HI

Find a great place to stay in Kauai!

Jackson Hole, WY (Grand Teton National Park)

Find a great place to stay near Grand Teton National Park!

Jay, VT (Jay Peak)

Find a great place to stay in Jay!

Adirondacks, NY

Find a great place to stay near the Adirondacks!

This post was originally published on the TripAdvisor blog. FlipKey is a TripAdvisor company.

The post 15 Best Hiking Vacations In The USA (And Other Top-Notch Outdoor Activities) appeared first on The FlipKey Blog.

from The FlipKey Blog https://ift.tt/2P37MI6

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rickklane · 6 years

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6 Great Hiking Trails to Get You Back into the Spring of Things

April 26th, 2018|Tags: corporate partners, eddie bauer, recreation|0 Comments

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By Leah Rambadt, American Forests

As the weather gets warmer, you’ll probably look for activities that let you stay outside longer and let you enjoy nature. Here are some hiking trails that’ll help you get psyched for spring and the outdoors!

For those who aren’t hiking enthusiasts, let’s define the three types of trails that are listed below:

Loop Trail: Brings you back to your starting point without walking on the same path.

Point-to-Point Trail: Designed for you to walk from one place to another, and is too long to return to the starting point.

In and Out (or Out and Back) Trail: You follow the trail to its end, and then walk back the same way to the starting point.

Hite Cove Trail, California

The first two miles of the trail features wildflower views from March through mid-May. Credit: Bernadine Diele/alltrails.com

Difficulty: Hard

Distance: 6.5 miles

Elevation Gain: 980 feet

Best Time to Use: Accessible year-round (wildflower walk: March–mid-May)

Hite Cove Trail is located near Mariposa, California. It’s an out and back trail that leads down to the abandoned Hite Cove mining settlement. The trail is accessible year-round, and used for hiking, walking, nature trips and birding.

Lily Mountain Trail, Colorado

Check out interesting geological features as you climb up Lily Mountain Trail. Credit: Gary Tindall/alltrails.com

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 3.6 miles

Elevation Gain: 1240 feet

Best Time to Use: March–September

Lily Mountain Trail is an out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado. It’s used for hiking, walking, nature trips and birding, and you’ll also see beautiful wildflowers. The first part of the trail is a gradual climb through pine forests, which then steepens as you climb the mountain. It goes over the summit, though the last ¼ mile of the trail may be harder to follow. From the summit, you can see Longs Peak, Estes Park and Twin Sisters Peak.

Battle Creek Falls Trail, Utah

The trail’s difficulty increases after crossing Battle Creek on a small, wooden bridge, as the trail narrows and steepens. Credit: Tracee Brown/alltrails.com

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 2.9 miles

Elevation Gain: 1236 feet

Best Time to Use: March–October

This out and back trail is located near Pleasant Grove, Utah. It follows Battle Creek as it goes up the canyon, and you can choose to continue past Battle Creek Falls. You’ll see a couple of more waterfalls, and enter a steep climb that reaches a junction where you can transfer onto Curley Springs Trail and head towards Dry Creek Canyon.

Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte, Tennessee

Alum Cave Trail has interesting geological features, such as Arch Rock. Credit: Dwayne Allen/alltrails.com

Difficulty: Hard

Distance: 10 miles

Elevation Gain: 2854 feet

Best Time to Use: March–November

Alum Cave Trail is located near Twin Creeks, Tennessee. It’s an out and back trail that features views of Little Duck Hawk Ridge, The Eye of the Needle and Myrtle Point. There is also a lodge and cabins near the top of the mountain – if you’re interested, you can make a reservation and stay the night!

Pine Creek Trail, Pennsylvania

Wildflowers blooming along Pine Creek trailside. The trail is well-maintained and covered with finely crushed limestone. Credit: PJ Wetzel/alltrails.com

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 61.6 miles

Elevation Gain: 908 feet

Best Time to Use: March–November

This point-to-point trail is located near Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. It has numerous trailheads, comfort stations, campgrounds and small towns along the route, which allows you to plan for short and long excursions. There are many access points to the trail with parking lots that you can use.

Bear Lake Trail, Florida

Bear Lake Trail takes you through pine flatwoods and bluff forests full of southern magnolia and hickory trees. Credit: Jason Flynn/alltrails.com

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 3.7 miles

Elevation Gain: 55 feet

Best Time to Use: Year-round

This is a loop trail that’s good for all skill levels. It’s located near Munson, Florida, and goes around an impounded reservoir that flows into Sweetwater Creek. In addition to hiking, it’s also an excellent spot for birding. You may see a swallow-tailed kite on your hike!

Remember, these are just suggested hiking trails to get you started. Choose any trail you’d like, close by or far away, and hike out!

Also, if you share #WhyIHike with our partner, Eddie Bauer, you could win one of three hiking destinations!

The post 6 Great Hiking Trails to Get You Back into the Spring of Things appeared first on American Forests.

from American Forests http://www.americanforests.org/blog/great-hiking-trails/

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instapicsil2 · 6 years

Photo

Gatlinburg lit up in the distance, while a kerosene lamp glows in my former boss Tim Line's cabin at LeConte Lodge. Tim retired after 44 years as general manager of the lodge this March. He met his wife and home schooled two of his kids on the mountain. After one 8 month long season of living without electricity and a WiFi signal (for the most part) I feel a little overwhelmed with nostalgia when I think about my crew mates or go back and look at mountain pictures. I cannot imagine the amount of memories and stories he has acquired over the years. I have so much to say about the benefits socially of living away from technology and how rich and fun relationships become when everyone is paying more attention, but I will save that for another night. If any of my crew mates are reading this hi! Miss you guys. #greatsmokymountains #lecontelodge https://ift.tt/2GfFf1n

#Insta New 2 #Insta All

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gustavosmithies-blog · 6 years

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