Little Stony Falls National Recreational Trail

What a simply breathtaking hike!  A wet spring and summer has made for a lush, green forest and gushing falls!  Unfortunately, the wet weather made for slick, damp terrain too.  Although we didn't hike the entire trail due to its deteriorating condition, we saw three falls, huge rocks and cliffs, and lots of rhododendron in bloom.  We even got to sit and have our lunch on a big rock in the creek bed, and feed the trout our leftovers.  Good times!  

Rhododendron

Upper Stony Falls

The gang except for Brenda, the photographer

Brenda atop one of the many huge rocks

Next Hike

Don't forget to check the scheduled hikes page or the Facebook page for hike information.  We will hike Little Stony National Rec Trail this Saturday the 29th.

Bays Mountain-Lake Road, Fire Tower Trail

There are many trails to hike at Bays Mountain.  We met at Dot and drove over, paid at the gate and got a trail map.  After looking it over we decided on a combo trail that would include Lakeside trail, Lake Road trail, Fire Tower trail, and River Mountain Road for about a 4 and 1/2 mile hike.  The Fire Tower Trail was the most challenging, with a bit over a half mile climb, but we all made it to the top, although some of us were breathless!  

Several benches at the fire tower offered a view and a rest.

A familiar site as you enter Kingsport, the fire tower offers a different perspective.

  

Beavers have been here!

This deer was looking for a handout and got one from the next table!

Overlooking Kingsport from the Fire Tower.

Lake Keokee Loop - Hike #3

June 1, 2013

After a cool, wet spring, we finally had a bit of warm weather for this hike. We covered the 3.7 miles in about 3 hours.  The going was a bit slow in places.  The hike wasn't difficult in terms of elevation gain, but the path was narrow at times and crossed several gullies that were bridged with logs.  We spotted several wildflowers, flowering shrubs, and other interesting plants or fungi that made their homes in the wooded habitat.  There was a nice breeze on the lake, we had no encounters with potentially dangerous critters, and I managed to stay on my feet for this hike, so I count it a success!  Stay tuned; we are planning more hikes!

Flame Azalea

Now those are some large ferns!

View from Earthen Dam

Speckled Wood Lily