Smoky Mountain National Park- May 2021

By on

 Mountain Time 

Having been born in Southern California and then transplanted to Missouri as a child, mountains were not something I'd gotten to experience much of. As soon as we set foot here, I knew that needed to change immediately. I don't know what it is about the Smokies, but they really are a magical place, and have become something I have to take in at least once a year. They're located on the Tennessee/North Carolina border. 

Rainbow Falls

The first trail we did as we jumped out of the car from South Carolina was Rainbow Falls. The trailhead is not on the main drive through the park (441 hwy) and is accessed by driving through Gatlinburg. We arrived in the afternoon and there was a small parking lot with a 1 way loop you could circle until a spot opened up at one of the lots in that region. The hike itself is as advertised on AllTrails- 5 miles out and back and took about 3 hours or so. It was a beautiful hike, moderate elevation gain on the way there. There was a smaller falls prior to the main one, and this trail will continue up to Mt. Leconte via the Bullhead Trail (that's 13 miles so not a quick side quest if you decide). There were a decent amount of people at the falls, but there was plenty of space on the trail on the way up to take it all in. 

Alum Cave to Mount LeConte 

The next morning, it was supposed to thunderstorm. Me, being the stubborn lady I am, decided to "get out early and reach the summit before the storm hit". My friend decided to sleep in and not get up at 4am to get to the trail with me, understandably. So I got to the trail head at sunrise, and started up the mountain. This trail is so beautiful and exciting, with a small cave to walk through early on, overhanging bluffs, a forest near the top that's so silent it's almost spooky, and beautiful overlooks all the way up. This is one of my favorite hikes of all time, even in the thunderstorm. This trail is 11 miles out and back, and takes about 6 hours. I did it this time in 4 hours, because I was determined to get to the top before the thunderstorm started. I did not, and hiking up a mountain surrounded by lightening and thunder was mmaayybbbeeee not my smartest move, but it leads to a feeling of being so small and vulnerable, but also large and powerful and it was a very cool experience. I got to the lodge in the rain, and elected not to go all the way up to the summit (it was only a quarter mile or so via Cliff Top, but standing on top of the mountain in a lightening storm sounded a bit too much like tempting fate). The lodge was honestly not that exciting, but there was a bathroom to use at least. I then power walked back down and was FREEZING by the time I made it back to the car, but very happy and fulfilled. I did make it back the next summer in the sunshine, and it was even more rewarding to get to the summit the second time around (that story is in this post). 

I headed back and met up with my friend who was warm and dry (and happy with her decision to sleep in) at our BnB and took a trip to Asheville, NC, which is one of my favorite places, and drank a few well deserved beers. I like to stay in Bryson City, NC when I go to the Smokies, out away from Gatlinburg. And the other perk is it's only about an hour from Asheville, which is well worth the drive for food and breweries!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mount Rainier National Park- July 2023

By on
Image
Before visiting Seattle, I thought people were a little intense with how much they love this mountain. But, I can confirm it's justified. I lucked out with another beautiful, sunny day. The mountain really can hide behind clouds that come out of no where at a moment's notice, though. There are two main sides to the park, Sunrise and Paradise. They are about an hour and a half drive apart, so best to do some research and decide which you'd rather visit, as both in a day would be challenging. I chose the Paradise side, which is the more popular side, especially for wildflowers during the summer. Even on a Thursday, I got there before 8am, the main lot was almost nearly full. So get there as early as you can!  Skyline Trail According to AllTrails, this is about a 6 mile loop with 1800ft of elevation gain. There are a ton of other trails off of it, so I ended up at about 8 miles with the different routes I took, with about 5 hours worth of meandering. I started in a counter-clo...
Read more

Zion National Park- February 2023

By on
Image
 A magnitude of incredible that can't be described.  I've saved this page for last, mostly because I want to dedicate some time to doing this park justice, but understand it is so much more than I can say. Zion has been the top of my National Parks Bucket List for as long as I can remember, and it really was an ethereal experience. Looking back on these pictures honestly feels like a dream, and I'm so lucky to have experienced all that I did over the two days I spent hiking here. I have never been so tempted to pack up and move somewhere in my life. Okay, I say that every time I go somewhere. But, I meant it more this time. There is something about this region of the country that resonated deep in my soul and I cannot wait to go back. The minute you drive into the park is jaw-droppingly beautiful, and there is so much to love and feel and experience. 10/10 would recommend, and take me back with you when you go.  Angel's Landing  It's really fun. It's kinda scary...
Read more

Rocky Mountain National Park- October 2023

By on
Image
I have been to Denver at least 6 times in the last decade to visit friends. Every time I go, I state I want to go to the Rockies, because I've never been. So this time, I rented a car and took control of the situation, and even got to drag my boyfriend on his first trip to the mountains. We stayed in Estes Park, and it quickly became one of my favorite towns I've ever seen. It was so beautiful and adorable and there were herds of elk just hanging out. There were perfect coffee shops (this picture was from Coffee on the Rocks), and the fall colors at that elevation were at their peak the second week of October. I loved everything about it.  Four Lake Loop Trail  We had one day to fit in a good hike, since neither of us adjusted well to the elevation, and that definitely had nothing to do with an EDM concert at Red Rocks the day we got there. But, this hike was the best given those circumstances. There are two parking lots that allow you to access this loop, one at Glacier Gorge...
Read more