Retired Nomads - Part 2 : Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park – TN - July 14

We left early again hoping to see bears. They supposedly have a lot of them in the area and they are found on almost every sign and business. On the drive there we saw a couple of turkeys. (hens) We also saw a Ground Hog on a sidewalk eating the grass around it. (Ground Hog aka Woodchucks & Whistle Pigs)

We arrived at the park (no entrance fees) and stopped for a photo op of the Little River which flows throughout the park. It was a popular spot for people fishing, swimming, tubing and just hanging out.

We started the day with an “unofficial hike” to a waterfall. It was well marked and well-traveled, but it belongs to the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. It was a couple mile hike and much of it was scrambling over small streams, rocks and some really great stairs carved out of a log that had been notched with a handrail attached. Very good idea!

Along the way we saw a Pygmy Salamander. Very tiny! We continued on to the waterfall and it was very pretty and peaceful despite the others that made the hike. Photos were right into the sun, but can’t change that.

Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont

the start of the hike

shelters along the Appalachian Trail

water tank

at first there were a few switchbacks

occasionally there were great views when there were gaps in the trees

trail

small stream to cross

the trail continues - can you find it?

Greg did

another small stream to cross

the trail continues

pretty insect

Pygmy Salamander

Greg on the noched log stairs

more of the trail

almost to the waterfall

the waterfall

On the way back I saw a snake wrapped around the base of a tree. Just a harmless Garter Snake. A man and his daughter came by and checked it out with us. She was saying she named a lizard Fred and it reminded her of Fred. So, I said we can name this one Fred 2. She was delighted. He and Greg got to talking since the guy is stationed in Jacksonville, Fl and they discussed a program that they both had worked on. Greg mentioned working on a program that he worked on while at Martin that he knew was something at Jacksonville and the guy said he just left that program and moved on to a different one. Small world.

Garter Snake (aka Fred 2)

back at the parking lot

We stopped at a Visitor’s Center after we finished the hike and then we drove the short distance to Gatlinburg. Wow, that town is one large tourist trap. It reminded me of the Wisconsin Dells with all the things geared to tourists. We went to get some ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s. The only parking was a parking lot that charged $12 if you stayed an hour or all day. We really wanted Ice cream I guess since we parked there.

on the way to Gatlinburg

this was a popular stop - it was lovely and the teens loved jumping from the cliff into the water - Scott, your teen years have long gone, but I said if you were there you would have done it

downtown Gatlinburg

We then went in search of the last trail we wanted to hike. It was short nature trail on what was an old farm. A few of the buildings were still there. It was thundering and we made it back to the car before it started to rain. We did see a deer hidden pretty well beside the trail. The trail had tons of different types of mushrooms. There was one stream that wasn’t easy to cross, we did OK, but there were a few ladies wearing flip flops that were having a hard time. I was ready to wade across they were taking so long to cross.

the farmhouse

the old barn

deer right next to the trail

another log bridge

a small stream to cross

me crossing the next bridge

another small stream to cross

white flowers littered the path

the trail

We drove back into the park and were going to visit Cades Cove, but took a wrong turn which became evident when we passed through 2 tunnels that we didn’t go through in the morning. So, by the time we turned around it was time to head back to the hotel and have some dinner.