Porters Creek Trail

Porters Creek is a 4 mile hike in the Greenbrier section of the Smoky Mountains, about 6 miles east of Gatlinburg.  If you enjoy a nice walk in the woods while listening to a rushing stream, discovering old buildings and reading headstones in an old cemetery this hike is for you.  To top it off, if you continue on up the trail you will be rewarded with great views of Fern Branch Falls.  This is where the trail ends, it's all downhill from here!

Porters Creek is located in the Greenbrier section of the Smoky Mountains

These steps once led to the Cantrell farmstead, only a few remnants remain

A little further down the trail we found the Ownby Cemetery dating back to 1903

Smoky Mountain Hiking Club Cabin built 1934-1936
They used it until 1981

The cabin was built around an existing chimney of the Whaley house

John Messer Barn built in 1875

An example of a double-cantilever barn, unique to East Tennessee 

Old Whaley Springhouse

We were thankful for the bridges over Porters Creek

The creek was really flowing

These interesting fungi almost look like golf balls

Fern Branch Falls 

A closer look at the falls before we head back down the trail

Mt. Cammerer Lookout Tower

Today, we set out for the Mt. Cammerer Lookout Tower, our first hike in the Smoky Mountains.  The trailhead is about 20 miles east of Gatlinburg.  Our hike began at Cosby Creek Campground, it was steep from the get-go through the dense forest.  Once we reached the Appalachian Trail the hike was much easier, though still gaining in elevation as we traversed a ridge.  We had nice views all the way to the summit of Mt. Cammerer.  We were surprised by the number of hikers we met up at the top, it was fun visiting with them; hikers are interesting!     

We are headed to a Lookout Tower on Mt. Cammerer via the Appalachian Trail

First things first, rock hopping across Cosby Creek
(We would soon learn that there was a bridge upstream!)

The first 2.9 miles was a steep climb, gaining over 2000 ft.

It felt good to arrive at Low Gap
This is the Tennessee-North Carolina border 

 We are now hiking on the Appalachian Trail or AT, as the locals call it . . whoohoo!

Some of the trees were changing along the trail

Almost there . . . !

Mt. Cammerer Lookout Tower built in 1937 by the CCC

We made it!
Almost 6 miles one way with an elevation gain of 3045 ft.

Nice views and a beautiful day makes for a perfect hike

Several other hikers joined us at the top

We were amazed at the ages of the hikers we met ranging from the 20's to 80's

So pretty and interesting

Neat fungi

The many colors of Fall

It almost doesn't look real, but it is!

After about 12 miles we took the easy way across the creek using the bridge!

The next day we had a great view of Mt. Cammerer from the Foothills Parkway

We really enjoyed our time in the Great Smoky Mountains . . . we hope to return one day!

On the Road to the Great Smoky Mountains

Yesterday we spent the day driving north of Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway, today we'll head south towards the Smoky Mountains.  Living in Southern Utah, we don't see fog or fog banks so it was quite a sight for us.  It turned out to be a beautiful day, we enjoyed some spectacular scenery and historical buildings. 

The morning started out foggy in Asheville

Fog Bank over the French Broad River Valley

The Pisgah National Forest

Once we started heading west it cleared up

We were thankful for no traffic

All together we drove through 25 tunnels

Yay! The Great Smoky Mountains

Mountain Farm Museum

The house was well built and the perfect size . . . if only I'd been a pioneer!

The peaceful Oconaluftee River

Mingus Mill built in 1886 uses a water-powered turbine

Even though Clingmans Dome was closed for repairs,
 the 1/2 mile walk up was worth the views

Great views all the way down the path

The blue haze of the Great Smoky Mountains comes from the water vapor
 and hydrocarbons given off by the trees

Newfound Gap, the Appalachian Trail (AT) crosses here

You can't see them, but there are most likely people hiking the AT right now

On the road again . . .

Blue Ridge Parkway

This Fall we decided to do something different; we headed for the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We started in Asheville, NC; it took us an entire day to drive 70 miles!  Of course, the speed limit is only 45 and we had to stop often to take in the views.  We enjoyed waterfalls hikes, beautiful scenery, perfect weather and meeting people along the way.

Dry Falls on the Cullasaja River near Highlands, NC

Who could resist these pumpkins?

We have arrived!

In September, Hurricane Irma pummeled more than 300 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The entire mountainside near Craggy Gardens was leafless

At 6684 ft. Mount Mitchell is the highest point east of the Mississippi River

There are several varieties of trees, flowers and shrubs making the Blue Ridge Parkway
 a great place to visit any time of the year

We had some great views along the Parkway

The tunnels were large enough for most RV's 

Crabtree Falls is a beautiful 70 ft. cascading waterfall

It's starting to look like Fall

 Crabtree Falls is a 3 mile loop hike

So many pretty colors

Linville River

Upper Falls

 Linville Falls from the Chimney viewpoint

The Blue Ridge Parkway covers 469 miles, of course we didn't have that much time 

Second Falls at Graveyard Fields

There are 26 tunnels on the Parkway and they are all named

Some amazing views 

Looking Glass Falls, near Brevard, NC is the most accessible waterfall,
 it can be seen from the road 

We drove past this neat pottery shop and quickly made a U-turn, what a fun little shop!