Trials and Tribulations of the Hiking Kind - Ramsey Cascades 2/5/2012

On Sunday, February 5, Chad and I took one more step towards our goal by hiking the Ramsey Cascades trail.  Side note: Most trail maps spell Ramsey as Ramsay, but the park sign was spelled Ramsey so that is what I will use. I must say it was a very interesting, and at times trying, day.  We left around 10 that morning and headed towards Greenbrier, which is just outside of Gatlinburg.  It was overcast, but the forecast predicted sun and a high around 50.  Needless to say, we never saw the sun, and at times it felt as though my upper thighs and buns would fall off (if I remember correctly, fat freezes before muscle, so this is totally understandable). 

The drive to the trailhead was so relaxing!  Turning onto Greenbrier Road, you follow the Little Pigeon River for about 5 miles crossing over 2 very narrow bridges until the road dead ends at the trailhead parking area.  The dirt road narrows in a few spots with a steep drop off on the left.  I admit I was a little frightened, but Chad’s masterful driving skills got us through!  The Little Pigeon River is more or less a large mountain stream and is absolutely gorgeous.  Rhododendron and other evergreen line the banks and fill the surrounding forests.  I can’t wait to return in the summer when the leaves are on the trees and the fern have reached their full growth.  We saw many fly fishermen doing their thing, and I shiver at the thought of wading into that frigid water.  We reached the starting point around 11:20, loaded up our packs and away we went! 

The trail itself proved to be quite a challenge for my novice legs and lungs!  Many websites have the trail listed as a moderate hike, but on our way there I read in my “Hiking Guide to the Smokies” (a must have for any serious hikers in our area) that the hike was considered strenuous and rated a 12.75, of which I still don’t know exactly what that means except that it was very difficult!  The trail climbs steadily along the Ramsey Prong through virgin forests for 4 miles, eventually emerging at the base of the 90-foot Ramsey Cascades.  It begins at 2,100 feet elevation and ends at 4,200 feet elevation.

Chad and I started off strong, following the graveled footpath that was once an old logging road for about a quarter of a mile before I started to feel the burn.  That didn’t take long, did it?!  Anyway, the trail was a steady uphill climb and I stopped OFTEN.  After the first mile, while resting on a log, I had my first mini breakdown of the day (yes, there were a few more).  But, being the stubborn fool that I am, we continued.  I realized while pouting on my log, that this was not a race and I was not a trail runner, so we slowed the pace considerably.

The next few miles were steady and the scenery was beautiful.  We crossed 2 single-log-bridges and 4 stream crossings before we reached one of the largest tulip trees I have ever seen!  It was amazing!  I can only imagine what it looks like when in bloom.  After the large tulip tree the trail steers away from the stream and traverses through beautiful virgin forest.  We had reached much higher elevation at this point and were in the cloud cover.  Everything was misty and I began to feel like I was in one of the Twilight movies.  This is where the trail really became difficult.  It began to get steeper and more stops were needed.  Chad even asked for a break, and for him to show any weakness takes an act of God!  The trail met back up with the stream and that is when it changed from hiking to mini rock climbing.  That’s right folks; I said “mini rock climbing”.  I’m not kidding...  It was a constant struggle for me to navigate my every step along the narrow boulder passages.  The last mile seemed like 10, and with each turn in the trail Chad was constantly encouraging me with, “It has to be just around the next corner” or “This is it, I can feel it”.  Yeah right!  Instead it was a constant disappointment.  He would get my hopes up just for them to be crushed with the onset of more trail around the next bend.  Naturally, this is where more pouting, whining, and sudden fits ensued.  Tears almost came at one point, but then when all hope was lost we emerged at the foot of one of the prettiest waterfalls I have ever seen.  It was totally worth it!

Ramsey Cascades is the tallest waterfall in the park that is accessible by trail.  The spray off of the water combined with the sweat I had produced caused for a VERY chilly rest.  I piled on additional clothing and still shivered, but was thrilled I had conquered the mountain, literally.  We ate a small lunch I had packed, and then Chad stupidly decided to climb to the top of the fall while I worried and froze.  He made it to the top and took an amazing video before climbing back down and receiving a heartfelt tongue lashing from moi. 

The descent was much quicker than the ascent.  We only had 1 slight catastrophe when I slipped on a tree root and fell back on my bottom.  Luckily I was cold, so I did not bruise very much.  I think it scared Chad more than anything (serves him right!).  We reached our car around 5:30, a little weary but overjoyed that we had accomplished what proved to be a most eventful adventure.  It was a beautiful hike and I would love to do it again once I have more experience and endurance.  Hopefully that will not be long from now! 

                                     

                                                                   And so it begins.....

The old logging road, turned trail.  This lasted for the first mile.

The Ramsey Prong.

1.5 miles in!  This is where the trail started to get a little tougher.

Chad and I named this section "the tunnel".

1 set of many stone steps along the trail.

The large tulip tree.  Chad is such a good tree hugger, don't you think?

267 year old!  I counted...

"Gorillas in the Mist" or "Twilight"?  You decide.

Chad during his requested rest stop.

The falls!  Now, to climb these last few boulders.

Me in a not-so-flattering photo, in front of the falls.

Chad after climbing to the top... what an idiot.  I DO NOT recommend this!

And me freezing at the bottom of the falls while he loped around up top.

All in all, it was a wonderful and exciting day.  I can't wait for the next adventure to begin!  Happy trekking...

1st GSMNP Hike - Abrams Falls

On Sunday we embarked on our first official hike in the GSMNP.  Chad, Gavin, Caden, Kael, and I left our home in Knoxville for Cades Cove around 10a.m. and arrived around 11:15a.m.  Our plan was to hike the Abrams Falls trail.  It is located about halfway around the Cades Cove loop, before you reach the visitors center and old grist mill.  Caden (10) and Kael (6) had never been to Cades Cove, so we took our time getting to the trail and stopped at the Methodist Church along the way.  Caden, my lover of history, was interested in the graveyard.  A highlight was a tombstone of a man who was born in 1746 and died during the Revolutionary War by the hands of “rebels in NC”.  Kael was particularly excited about the turkeys.  We probably saw about 100 throughout the day.  Gavin, being the perfect teenager, complained often and requested we get on with it.  We finally arrived at the trail head and set out around noon. 

The trail itself begins by crossing Abrams Creek on a wooden bridge.  It runs parallel to the creek except for when the creek turns away from the trail creating a horseshoe shaped turn to meet back up with the trail shortly.  The trail began rather level with a single log bridge crossing before it began a steady uphill climb.  Halfway to the falls, we reached a peak of the ridge, and the boys enjoyed climbing on the rocks and resting for a bit.  After about 10 minutes we continued down the other side of the ridge.  Much to Gavin and Kael’s relief, it was mostly downhill.  There were two more single-log bridge crossings before we reached the falls.  The boys rushed ahead and around the last bend when they heard the roar of the water. 

The falls themselves are really breath taking and a just reward after a 2.5 mile hike.  I had packed a few sandwiches and snacks, which were devoured while we gazed at the falls as a family.  For once everyone was smiling and happy!  After about a 20 minute rest we started back to the car.  Towards the end of our hike, Kael began to complain, but he made it without any assistance.  He was entitled to a little complaining after a 5 mile hike on 6 year old legs.

As we left the parking area there was 2 deer in the field.  We stopped and I got out to take a picture.  The boys quickly scrambled out and began to creep closer and closer.  I never realized how quite they could be!  The deer were completely content and never spooked.  This was excited to them, but saddened me.  It goes to show how accustomed they have become of human interaction.  I made them stop within 20 feet, so as not to disturb them further.  Once back in the car, I explained that this is not the norm and to never approach a wild animal.  In retrospect, I probably should not have allowed them to get so near the wild animals.  Oh well...

Anyway, to complete the day we visited the old grist mill and probably saw about 100 deer while in the park.  We left and drove towards Gatlinburg, stopping at the Sinks for the boys to see the falls. 

The weather was beautiful all day and Sunday proved to be a wonderful start to our adventure.  This weekend, Chad and I hope to hike to Ramsay Cascades... weather permitting!  Happy trekking!

Could this be our new Christmas card picture?

Me in front of the falls.

Kael and Gavin eating lunch by the water.

A beautiful buck in the field at Cades Cove.

The Old Grist Mill at Cades Cove.

First... An Introduction

As I was driving home with my husband and three sons after our first hike in the Great Smoky Mountains, we joked about the idea of creating a blog to track our progress as we set out to hike all the trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea.  Not only will I be able to document our progress, but I will be able to easily share our progress with family, friends, and the strangers who happen upon my blog. 

How it all began.  3 weeks ago, my husband, Chad and my 3 sons (no theme music please!), decided to hike House Mountain in Knox County Tennessee.  We loved it!  I started to look up different hikes in the area and came across the website for the 900 Miler Club, http://www.900miler.com/ .  This was a group of people who have hiked all 900 miles of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  I was awestruck and excited about the possibilities, and did not shut up about it for about 2 weeks.  Finally, I decided I wanted to be a member of the 900 Miler Club!

You may be asking yourself "Why try to hike all the trails of the GSMNP?"  I can't speak for everyone, but here are my reasons:
1) I love to hike!  I'll admit that I have not hiked very often in the past couple of years.  Mainly I have hiked small day hikes, my favorite being the loop in Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forrest in western North Carolina.  This will provide an opportunity for me to enjoy an activity I love, but have not gotten to do much in the past.
2) Hiking the trails of the GSMNP will be a new way for me to experience nature and the mountains I have loved as a child.  Yes, many people hike the trails in GSMNP, but being able to say you have hiked all the trails will give me more intimate knowledge of the "hills".  Being an anthropology major, I want to better understand how my ancestors and Native Americans lived.  Ok, warning, total cheese alert: I want to walk the trails they walked and see the views they saw on a day to day basis.  It is sad to see what has been taken from us all, for this was our heritage. Now, only fragments of these great forests remain.
3)  I want to see what lies beyond the next ridge! It is time for a new adventure in my life. 
4) Bragging rights.... 'nough said.
5) Spending more time with my family away from school, work, sports, video games, and TV.  Don't get me wrong, I love technology and all the conveniences of today as much as the next person, but you would be surprised how much your kids will talk to you when you are the only one around.  Even teenagers!
6)  I want to be in better shape physically.  I am by no means overweight, but I would like to tone up and improve my endurance.

And last but not least...
7) Why not?!

There are many unforeseen challenges that lie ahead, and I am ready to face them head on.  But there are other challenges that I am worried about (don't forget that I am a city girl):

1) BEARS!  Ok, I know that as long as I respect the wildlife and follow the advice of the park rangers then there will be a 99.9% chance that nothing will happen.  But there is still that .1%... just sayin'.
2) Yellow Jackets.  They love me!  I can be 50 feet away and one will make a bee-line for me (pun definitely intended).
3) Back-country camping.  Have I mentioned I'm a city girl?  Chad, my husband, used to back-country camp, hike, rock climb, you name it! So I am sure he will help me through this obstacle.  But, I also want to overcome this challenge for myself!  I don't like being a wimp.

So, this is the beginning of my journey.  Today, we hiked our first GSMNP trail, Abrams Falls in Cades Cove.  I will have to write about it next time.  Below are some pictures from our House Mountain hike.

Until next time....