Smoky Mountains

Smoky Mountains.

Day 1.

We picked up the car in Asheville and set out on a drive, a drive that gave us the best leg of our trip. The reason it was so good was just the freedom and the accessibility to everything.

Driving along the freeway, we passed a prisoner bus just funny you can see the photo,

Once we arrived in Cherokee NC, we headed to the Information Center to get maps and ideas of what we would do while in the mountains.

After the Information center we headed to where we would camp for the next 3 nights, in Cades Cove. The drive to Cades cove was one of the most amazing drives anyone could experience, especially with the sun hitting it and it just created a whole world that could be mistaken for a magical land of wonder. It was beautiful and I think that if you ever get a chance to drive it then it’s a MUST, it took us about 3 to 4 hours from the information center which is on the out skirts of the Smokies. It was a very long drive with the roads like long stings of spaghetti, the twists and turns.

Wild life in view while driving we almost ran over a copper head snake, once we arrive in Cades cove we set up camp and headed to the cades cove scenic route sort of things. They have a one way road that takes you in to a heart of wildlife, while driving we came across White tail deer, Wild turkey and Black bears. You knew about it if someone in front had seen a bear because there would be about 20 cars stopped. We first saw our bear up in a tree, then one just walking around but the last was the funniest, Carly got out of the car and went looking to see what was up because people group up and there is no point getting our for a deer, this young guy told her to look over here and the bear was only about 5 meters in front of her with her cub, they started playing and Carly came running back to the car.

Later that night as the sun set we saw another bear walking back to his home I guess I don’t know what it was doing.

Day 2.

We went to hike our first trail in the mountains, it was a waterfall, when we arrived to the fall we saw there was a track that continued up more so we decided to continue on walking.

After about 25 minutes of walking, we stopped for water I turned around and saw a bear looking at us he was 5-10 meters behind us, I guess he was intrigued in Carly but guess she would be as difficult to eat, so he went on and continued in a different direction.

Next we went into Gatlinburg, Tn to get some supplies for the next 2 nights, after that we decided to hit the rainbow falls trailhead. This trail was the most difficult trail I have ever walked I went into it tired and with a headache but because Carly only has a little bit of nurofen I wasn’t allowed to have it, we hit this 3.9 mile track and it was up hill and it wasn’t a clear path, but it was a very nice trail, we saw chipmunks so it was cool I also saw a woodpecker like woody.

Day 3.    

This was the best trail head we did and the most beautiful trail, b Falls was a 2.9 mile trail and at the end was a big waterfall and the best little pool I guess.

I swam in the water it was refreshing after the 1 hour and 40 minute walk in the stinking hot.

After this we headed to Clingmans dome the highest point in the smokies, once we arrived the sound of thunder that came every day was loud and you could feel it as we walked to the tower this cloud just came over and it began to rain heavy. We got back to the car and saw the lightning strikes the mountain it was cool.

Day 4.

We moved to a new camp site closer to Cherokee and we drove to Cataloochee, Cataloochee was where they re-released Elk into the wild and it was an amazing part of the part the drive took 3 hours to get there the roads were on the edge of a clip and gravel. When we arrived we just sat there and relaxed in an amazing valley, I got to chat with a park ranger for an hour and learnt about the park and its history.

Jason & Carly
Signing Out
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