We started with a hike to Laurel Falls, a 2.8 mile round trip --mostly uphill (I'm sure it was both ways). However, since this was a Saturday, and since it was school vacation here, and since it was a beautiful, warm, day, the trail was packed all the way there and back. It was nice, but I prefer fewer crowds. So, a park volunteer suggested another, less traveled waterfall--which we actually did the next day.
After the hike to the waterfalls and back, we drove out to Cades Cove. This was a drive along side of a beautiful mountain stream, twisting and turning, ups and downs, for about 20 miles. Then, it ended at a loop drive through an old abandoned area where settlers used to live and farm. I can just imagine waking up to seeing the ridge of mountains in front of my "house" each day--I'm sure it was a hard life, but amazing energy about the place.
We ended the day with a quick hike out to Cataract Falls, behind the visitor center.
We decided to eat dinner in Gatlinburg, the town just before you enter the national park. As the traffic into this tourist town was hardly moving, we decided to try and go around the downtown tourist area. So we ended up on these roads that went up into these amazing, fancy condos, built along the mountain ridges overlooking the town. But again, the roads were so steep and curving, I can't imagine anyone actually living there and doing that drive everyday. At least I was driving the car, not the RV. I thought Colorado knew how to build houses on mountain sides and ridges, but Tennessee tops the bill.
Laurel Falls hike:
Cades Cove drive:
No comments:
Post a Comment