Sunday, December 15, 2013

Smoky Mountains - October 4 - 6, 2013

Bob and his life-long friend, Sam Owens, went on their annual hiking trip to the Smoky Mountains from October 4 through October 6 this year. As always, they stayed in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The only thing that was different this year was that the federal government was closed ... and hiking trails were, too.

Still, here's a photo tour of this year's trip:

An old chimney along the trail.
October 4 , 2013 - 9:28 a.m.

An unusual tree along the trail
October 4, 2013 - 9:43 a.m.

Evans Cemetery along the road
October 4, 2013 - 9::56 a.m.

Hiking suspended? Bob said he saw a bear this day.
October 4, 2013 - 10:10 a.m.

Wooden driving bridge on the way to Ramsey Cascade trailhead
"We had to park by the main road (321) and hike in on foot," Bob said.
October 5, 2013 - 10:44 a.m.

October 5, 2013 - 11:20 a.m.

Sam Owens
October 5, 2013 - 11:20 a.m.

Sam Owens
October 5, 2013 - 11:22 a.m.

Creek at Ramsey Cascade trailhead
October 5, 2013 - 11:23 a.m.

Footbridge at Ramsey Cascade
October 5, 2013 - 11:28 a.m.

Greenbriar area - Trauilhead creek to Ramsey Cascade Falls
Ten miles along the road but a trip to the falls would have added eight more
October 5, 2013 - 11:28 a.m.

Pancake Pantry - Gatlinburg - Front of paper placemat
Bob does this to torture me!
October 6, 2013 - 7:21 a.m.

Pancake Pantry - this is their famous French Toast with a wonderful cinnamon syrup that is so good
it makes my head spin. I've had it a couple of times where Bob gets to wrap his lips around it every fall.
October 6, 2013 - 7:30 a.m.

This is where the guys parked to access the Appalachian Trail
(Mt. Cammerer at Davenport Gap)
October 6, 2013 - 10:00 a.m.

October 6, 2013 - 10:01 a.m.

The asphalt road meets the dirt trail
October 6, 2013 - 10:02 a.m.

Day Three: Twelve mile round trip to Mt. Cammerer
October 6, 2013 - 10:02 a.m.

October 6, 2013 - 10:04 a.m.

October 6, 2013 - 10:22 a.m.
Robert J. Schmidt

Davenport Gap Shelter - Appalachian Trail
October 6, 2013 - 10:32 a.m.

October 6, 2013 - 12:15 p.m.
See the "wood sprite" looking out the hole in the log?

Here's a close-up of the same shot.
The gnome is visible now!

View along the AT on the way to Mt. Cammerer
October 6, 2013: 12:30 p.m.

Sam Owens along the trail
October 6, 2013 - 12:30 p.m.

Moss on a rock 
October 6, 2013 - 12:39 p.m.

Sam Owens
October 6, 2013 - 12:42 p.m.

Sam Owens
October 6, 2013 - 12:42 p.m.

Mt. Cammerer fire tower
October 6, 2013 - 1:32 p.m.

View from the tower
October 6, 2013 - 1:35 p.m.

Another view from the tower ... a minute later
October 6, 2103 - 1:36 p.m.

October 6, 2013 - 1:37 p.m.

Sam Owens (distance)
October 6, 2013 - 1:37 p.m.

October 6, 2013 - 2:13 p.m.

October 6, 2103 - 2:14 p.m.

Survey marker embedded in rock at top of Mt. Cammerer
October 6, 2013 - 1:39 p.m.

Credit: All photos © Robert Schmidt

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