A Stroll on The Appalachian

Part of the trail at Roan Mountain

It was a long and windy trail…a reaaaallly long and windy trail. In fact, for those with the gumption to do it, the Appalachian Trail is an impressive 2,179 miles (3,507 km) long and follows the rim of the Appalachian mountains from Georgia to Maine. More than just a day-stroll, it usually takes an average of 6 months to through-hike. It’s one of the “great three” walks in the US, the other two being the Pacific Crest Trail (spanning 2,650 miles (4,260 km) from Mexico to Canada over the Western Sierra Nevada Mountains), and the Continental Divide Trail (covering  3,100 miles (5,000 km) along the Rockies). The people who do all three call it the “Triple Crown” and can claim my life-long worship of their hardiness.

Relaxing at Bald Mound on the Appalachian in TN

It always been one of my dreams to hike one of these greats. In fact, for many years I researched the Pacific Crest Trail with the idea that I would take off work for a year to go do it. Then I met Paul, we got the cats, took off to Asia and fate pulled me on a different path. I love my life, but the trails are still on my mind so getting the chance to hike them, even for just a moment, is a very exciting experience indeed. In the Smokies the Appalachian is easily accessible and we got a taste of it’s greatness on Roan Mountain in TN.

Mountain valley curves

So there we went…A sunny fall afternoon, the chill of the mountains bursting in our lungs and the wild wind of the ridges rushing to meet its destiny on the horizon. We hiked to the first bald at ~6,200 feet and sat in awe of the view. Amidst the rolling hills, the deep blue of the Smokies and a whole lotta nature, I can totally see how people get addicted to it.

Maybe one day I’ll come back and do the whole thing.

Desolate nature at its most beautiful

NF Campground Rating – Rock Creek, Cherokee Forest (Erwin, TN)

This is where we’re staying right now and is an absolute gem of a find in the northern end of the Smoky Mountains
Link to campground here: Rock Creek, Cherokee National Forest
Link to map here: Rock Creek Recreation Area

1. Site Quality = 5/5
    For a National Forest these are some of the nicest sites we’ve seen. They’re extremely spacious, flat, hard gravel back-ins with picnic table, fire-pit and shelf area (to store wood and such). Sites are well wooded with lots of separation between campers (in fact it’s hard to see anyone except your closest neighbour). The bonus…all sites have 50 AMP hookups.
2. Facilities = 4/5
   Very decent facilities. There’s flush toilets and showers, all clean and well-kept. Central dump-station and potable water several places around the campground, plus picnic area and playground. There’s even a natural stream-fed swimming hole. Only ding, the showers have one of those 15-sec timers so you’ve got to keep pressing to get water.
3. Location = 5/5
   The location just rocks. You’re a few miles from Erwin which will cover all your basic shopping needs, but you’re well and truely immersed in the forest. There’s a natural creek that runs along the campgroung and hiking trails to water-falls and mountain-tops right from your doorstep.
4. Pet Friendliness = 5/5
   Wonderful place for doggie. There’s plenty of space, hiking trails and streams to play in.

Overall Rating = 4.75
BONUS ALERT = Serene woods, gorgeous creeks and water-falls in the deep midst of the Smoky Mountains

Summary: What a find is really all I can say! We came into the Smokies without any reservations, took a chance on this first-come-first-serve forest campground in the North and are so happy we did. If you want to get away from it all, I can’t imagine a better spot. It’s conveniently located right next to Erwin, TN, but you feel like you’ve submerged yourself into a remote natural wilderness when you get here. It’s densely wooded yet set beautifully next to a natural creek (there’s even a creek-fed swimming hole). Sites are very large, perfectly flat hard gravel back-ins with the suprising bonus of 50 AMP hookup. There’s lots of space between campers and the serenity of being in the woods with hiking trails to mountains and waterfalls right from your doorstep (see some of our pictures from the area HERE). The turns inside the camping loops are a bit tight in places, but are OK if you take your time. Most of the people who come are locals, I guess because they’re the only ones who know the secret. During the week it’s absolutely empty, but fills up in the week-end. We would definitely come back!

 Extra Info:  No connectivity here, but we were able to get internet w/ Verizon using our external amplifier and antenna. All sites first-come-first-serve. 50 AMP hook-ups. Sites are $15/night. Central dump and potable water. Swimming hole.

Typical site view...these are HUGE!

Picnic table, shelf and fire-pit at each site

View of our site at end of loop C

View down loop C to our "neighbours". Can you see them?

View of another of the 3 camp loops

One of the many gorgeous hiking trails

RV Park Rating – River Plantation RV Park (Sevierville, TN)

I’ve managed to fall a bit behind on our park reviews so will try to kick a couple out and get up to date. This first one was a stop-over on our way to the Smokies.

Link to park here: River Plantation RV Park
Link to map here: River Plantation RV Park

1. Site quality = 4/5
   Nice site quality here. All sites are large, hard gravel with full hook-ups (30/50AMP), cable and decent water pressure. section of back-in and pull-through. There’s decent separation between campers, especially for a private campground plus lots of trees and nice landscaping. Each site has a concrete patio area with picnic bench and fire pit. “Prime” sites along the waterfront are definitely the nicest and worth the few extra $$ they cost to be there.
2. Facilities = 4/5
   Decent facilities. The showers were pleasant, clean and well-kept with shelf and hooks for your belongings.
3. Amenities = 3.5/5
   The resort has a good selection of amenities, except that a few fall short of expectations. There’s a laundry room, propane, game room, playground, pool & hot tub (both were closed, unfortunately), and free WiFi. The reason for the ding in ratings is the WiFi was quite poor with very slow (almost unusable) connectivity while we were there.
4. Location = 4/5
   This is a good “city” location to explore Sevierville, Gatlinburg and the beginning of the smokies. You’re within a short drive of Dollywood and there’s lots of activities and restaurants around the area. Only negative, nothing in the way of hiking without a longer drive.
5. Pet friendliness = 4/5
   This is a pretty decent city park for pets. There’s a dog walking area along the riverfront with a bit of green to play, but no trails and no-where to really run off-leash. No breed restrictions and poo bags on site.

Overall rating = 3.9
BONUS ALERT: The river runs through it!

Summary: This was a stop-over stay for us on our way into the mountains, and it came well recommended from several TN locals. All in all it’s a really pleasant city park with a lot of green and space for its location. The sites are nice, large, with all the necessary hook-ups and well-landscaped with lots of trees and grass. The park is unique in that it has a river all alongside the back where you can walk doggie and fish. There’s a good selection of amenities (pool, game room, playground etc.) with the only ding that the WiFi was excruciatingly slow while we were there. If you want to explore Sevierville & Gatlinburg (including Dollyville) this is a good location. You’re right in town and within a short drive to all the attractions. Just don’t expect any hiking out the door.

Typical site view with concrete patio area in back

View along main road

View down riverbank sites

Patio area with picnic table and fire pit

View along riverbank. You can just see the backs of RVs on your left.

SP Park Rating – Cumberland Mountain State Park (Crossville, TN)

A lovely, relaxed location on our way to the Smokey’s.

Link to campground here: Cumberland Mountain State Park
Link to map here: Cumberland Mountain State Park

  

1. Site Quality = 4.5/5
   We were very happy with the sites here. The main loops (2, 3 & 5) have large, flat, concrete pads with 30 AMP+water, a nice sitting area with picnic table, fire-pit and grill. The other loops (1 & 4) have more shaded, slightly smaller sites but still very nice. Loop 1 has some full hook-up, loop 4 is more primitive (15 AMP or no hookup). The coolest little touch…each site has its own (very own) little garbage bin which is emptied daily. Quite the fancy get-up!
2. Facilities = 4/5
   Very decent facilities. There’s hot showers and flush toilets, and they’re spotlessly clean (at least in our loop #5). The surrounding park has picnic areas, boating, fishing, dump station and even an on-site local restaurant where they serve a dish of the day (locally caught catfish is on Friday’s). Only ding…no laundry on-site.
3. Location = 4.5/5
   Excellent location here. You’re just a few miles from Crossville which is a very decent sized-town, yet you’re right in the middle of Cumberland Mountain and the forest. There’s lots of hiking trails right in the park, as well as boating and fishing on Byrd Lake.
4. Pet Friendliness = 5/5
   Another great park for doggie as with all state parks. Lots of space to hike, play and go in the water.

Overall Rating = 4.5
BONUS ALERT = Wooded & relaxed campground in the midst of Cumberland Plateau 

Summary: This was a lovely little campground which we stumbled across on our way to the Smokeys. We initially only planned 2 days, but enjoyed the area and the people so much that we stayed a week. Sites are large, flat and nicely separated with water/electricity and the cute touch of individual garbage bins. The surrounding park is lovely with miles of hiking, a pretty lake and an old rock bridge. While we were in town a band of bluegrass players were camping in loop 3 so we had free music every night (how awesome is that!). Plus, Crossville had an Apple Festival and a Classic Car Rally. Our campground hosts (Skip and Opal) were the most inviting people we’d ever met and definitely made the experience all that much better. We’d come back in a heartbeat! 

 Extra Info:  Both AT&T phones and Verizon wireless worked. All sites first-come-first-serve. Selection of full hook-up, electricity/water and primitive. Sites are $20/night for 30AMP electric/water. Central dump and potable water. 

Typical site view. See the little bin in the front?

View of sitting area

View down loop #5 (where we stayed)

View down loop #3

Lovely Byrd Lake

The old stone bridge & dam

Shrooming It in TN – A Story of Hidden Beauty

“There is nothing ugly; I never saw an ugly thing in my life: for let the form of an object be what it may, light, shade, and perspective will always make it beautiful.”
John Constable

"False" chanterelles...pretty but not for eating

Shrooms can bring to mind a wide variety of thoughts from exclusive tastings of  musky and odorous tuber melanosporum (French truffle) to psychedelic experiences of the fungal kind . As a politician might say, while I may or may not have participated in the latter activities in my youth, this story is more about finding the hidden beauty in small things. 

As a photographer I always love the changing form of light and how it can alter a landscape.  On bright days I seek the big views, on heavy evenings the sunset and on misty mornings I look to the small things. It often amazes me how the mere dimming of light can bring an almost luminous glow to everything underfoot. And so it was, one thick morning with the moisture of dawn baking off from a TN stream I suddenly found myself surrounded by mushrooms. The perfect combo of a week of rain followed by sun had coaxed these elusive fungi from the earth and created a bloom of beauty right at our footsteps. 

Just the right light for a luminous glow

It’s enough to make your average mushroom hunter wild with excitement, and quite an event it is. Mushrooms are actually the fruit of hidden fungal organisms and it takes just the right conditions to get them blooming. Amateur mycologists avidly seek the most elusive and tasty varieties keeping their locations a closely guarded secret. It’s a historic and noble pursuit, needing an experienced eye to distinguish the poisonous ones from the others. As a child I used to hunt in the Danish forest for shrooms and always had a good nose for the sport. I’m no longer an expert, but I still enjoy the wild and fanciful curves and colors of the many types. As they say, it’s very groovy, baby and I don’t need no psychotropics to see the beauty in that view. 

Possibly a tasty treat...possibly not

Layers and light

Blooms on decaying bark