Great Smoky Mountain trip report
 

Hi, we just returned from a great hiking trip in the Smokies. We hiked Grotto Falls, Laurel falls/Cove Mountain, Andrews Bald, Juney Whank falls, and The Chimney Tops. The hikes were awesome and many of the flowers were in full bloom including Rhododendron, flame azalea, and mountain laurel. If you would like to read trail descriptions and see our photos feel free to check out our website at http://www.naturalbornhikers.com Thanks and enjoy

Impressive website!

It amazes me how many people go to Gatlinburg and Pidgeon Forge and never go into the park much less get out of the car and hike some of the fabulous trails.

Maybe this will encourage more people to do so. There are trails for all kinds of fitness levels.

Connie, thanks for the positive feedback...glad you liked our website. I know what you mean about Gatlinburg, people just don't know what they are missing. I hope this inspires some hikers out there too! Pigeon Forge was a mess when we were there...we sat in traffic for an hour and 20 minutes! They need a Pigeon Forge bypass like the Gatlinburg bypass. I mean, I love to shop in both towns for an hour or so, but then I much rather head to the wilderness. Thanks again for the nice words. velodurt(weisey)

Dauster's a cutie

Velodurt, I *loved* your website! It's terrific. I must confess, I spent well over an hour there today looking around at the various hikes you all have done. I even found something for the Tampa area where I live which I wasn't aware of--the boardwalk near a section of the Hillsborough River, though from the looks of that, I'd sure only do it during winter while the snakes are sleeping! That would be their domain otherwise and I make a habit of not arguing with them over territorial rights! :) Although we've done the park at Homosassa Springs, I've never done Crystal River swim but your descriptions were so terrific, we'll plan on that some time when the kids are visiting. It's something I've always known about...but never thought too much about doing myself until reading your description of the encounter. Fascinating. It'd be a thrill for all of us. I had my own unexpected manatee encounter here at our dock while I was hosing down a motor on a boat after being out. It came up no more than a foot from my hand (which was at the prop) and just stared at me for about 20 seconds. I realized after the fact that it was probably wanting a squirt from the hose, but I was too stunned at the time to react!

I sent your web address on to our daughter who lives in Phoenix and is always looking for great new hikes. We've done some of the same hikes that you have from that area, and she and her husband have done many, but I know they haven't done the Wave and they would love that one. Your pictures of that area were incredible. Likewise with the Antelope Canyon pictures...another we plan on doing some day. Fantastic photography! Did you have to wait for ages for just the right light conditions to catch those shafts of light as you did?

I left the website with one question. Are you all just a group of friends that found each other in school? A hiking club from some city? Just curious as to how you got together initially~ Again, great job with the website. Certainly made me feel like digging my boots out of the closet and heading west!

X: I will pass the compliment on to Dauster ;-)


OliveOyl: Thank you so much for the kind words!!! You have made our day! Glad to hear you will be trying out the boardwalk at John B Sargent...it was really cool! I agree with the snake thing though...did you see our hike in the Cayman Islands called The Mastic Trail? Creepy hike!! Lots of snakeys LOL

What an awesome encounter with the manatee! That had to be really exciting! You must make the trip to Crystal River and swim with those gentle giants...fantastic!

Thank you for sending our site to your daughter, I hope she enjoys it! And yes, if she ever gets a chance she must make a trip to The Wave...you should all plan an expedition! I did have to spend several hours in Antelope Canyon(eating sand)while waiting for the light shafts...but it was worth it! By the way..the light usually appears right around noon.

About our group...yep, we are just a group of friends and a sprinkling of family who get together whenever we can to hike and travel. We started with 3 (Pick,Lulu, and Weisey)back in the eighties and have been dragging along new friends ever since! We started our website in 2000, after our Grand Canyon trek, as a way to show our relatives our trips...turned out to be pretty helpful to other folks as well! We love hearing from people and sharing stories! Thanks again for posting such a nice reply...please email us(link is on our site). We would love to keep in contact...send out updates and such. Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks again, velodurt

We just got back from Gatlinburg also. It was our 3rd time there, but this time we hiked the trails. What fun that was. It was pouring rain. We purchased some ponchos, and off we went. Great time !!

We did the Chimney's the last time we were in GSMNP and thought it was a great hike....one of the best in the park. I'm surprised that you risked it out to the "2nd" chimney