Prediction? Pain.
04-12-2018, 03:10 PM
My annual birthday hike was postponed last week due to that job thing that I've got to have, but it turned out to be a blessing. The conditions yesterday were incredible -- sunny, mild (upper 40s to upper 60s), solid water flow, and one of the most incredible displays of spring wildflowers I've ever seen.
I hiked the Laurel-Snow State Natural Area, which houses a segment of the Cumberland Trail just outside of Dayton, TN, which is most famous for being the location of the Scopes trial. (The original courthouse is still there, too. Worth a quick stop if you're in the area.) The parking lot for the trail is right at 50 minutes from downtown Chattanooga.
I'll have to do two sets of pics since the wildflowers were so nuts. First, the scenic stuff:
This is a feeder stream within a minute or two of the parking lot with cascades trailing back up the side of the gorge. There's actually a huge waterfall up top way back in the pic that's not very easy to see.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/oFVj0R7ZlcUxAOjUHJfU1EuRqCxQJHHNRBCbIj_Dv8YODJll2W ax626L8jiJRFLI8J_OGVOQEjajEPAu7XFPDEHlBTpB-vi6Wh2aNKP2K97V1-thcH4FO0MxuLDTMMsCl3QXUN0HhPbrOGkfDvchcJjDoylyVVWP YXHm2KX5K_dzgstMSYAQerst9-2RknwG7-YIIOdP9duYX7AR5Q7jB9Jys0WiZ8_UtKMyj98ZfvBC-N0enh7wOsVz8h7GiP95RtDokF1AkeHrbO53Trgcl2Ximf6H6LJ 7QUN6IhL2zsLLK7PRQ6G67llKLQmCGJ-cTzIjWKuj1VN_3VAPPMW9DHaneydpeS9NN29YkM6xw66CmsRYL ru6ot3ta9IhN8N53cuI8mXYf_xNMaOKWZev-UYw7J46lBk1AqCW9IzUoLf6bcCx2V0azEgTiJlWv7nWUGS13N8-KVLiftgg26r6tbQ50oBjg9KdlQIA_Fzs4xJnjpMTcuzNa8OihZ f5liIA_yDML4kUV-iEfn-Xi7RgCYU5w9pLzZ_wt5aGpogsFA-QcAn0Vc1uxBPKDQNKo3W5hCUXtIWKctCkRgSQDhiTw8FT0hofj 2N_Uuku27hLGpR-G1_0h4e6zfaGwmrdbcaZrEHEhj1oROV-AfM-y8r9zWxytgBUwJT_2A=w1266-h949-no
Entrance to an old coal mine. This place was home to a big coal operation in the late 19th century, so there is interesting 150-year-old stonework all over the lower parts of the trail.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2ugdzQZADwZg1-rIY5lNi6CICj3jZPGOQQsPj8c9LD1OcKswYdHYhGdUY_h7y4Pp DIPAs-gKepHXqSrT_1jnf4rmP2GJvHX_-7lUOB00aVX4kuTwSAi1JaIzOqNulHCQm3GpoMeIOOtBOkPNUBV _wxpItS2BlY5NZub8o5kLuy8KcKtnbcAWRQa53ZaqbuVRJoy9M reYZDBuzggqvcDQ3r_qbSQIz_ybWAnOhwAGcNeTFST4iZzAnYw EnnZ1H691y6tjUzoPKmaG9Lb1aAiKsHzJgIaINniAY4FsQQABZ fbcy-yCjFcwORObHLPfN3Vi0jTJv7w-OK5Z1qP79XwUuycoT-DXgoFDJcVCE-g5ORWQwm7C-sG5aWiQlXGstRGJ8G4prp3O8k7FHzACBzExZ0J5q0ZCUYXZtjL lr2ddR_iiRptpYetCj4R3q_kWneqaqPl47y9DrpESmtMVG5jus CSjNGNrd3NjVdWtmQS4KqPQ3HcVd9JciNFocUVPa4_LTROFRde mQCQmey8Ehnog-ZDlruzrlq-fxAREEas37uw-jhxppu_aMMYj5qhl-msXoreaiVY94PyZDOqB9FOI7_06MUgENczJc9euFIm5_rPVmBV POPnvn6fDGAjRp2lycUvIwfnaRL7rFfkHW47xLKvmCZNd6tt_8 g=w712-h949-no
Richland Creek, which is the main stream that the trail follows for its first mile or so. If you do some googlin', you can find some gnarly videos of kayakers doing their thing on this creek in high water.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/wMVYWQKQ7oKd5en6gRz7zJEzFzMh_lc1GPgkUZMZc-YPPwPAmi7IPDgBHXsATRPuRpGqKtHJ5Osdq09n3xF2IdLmxpmi 6IBqT9K5TIkBvi5aLwWOBIdGgJGyrMYy3LCOYJiNC9E-QKEoBMuCBTLm_SCL36cHwYt4C22_ED4ZFnmmb0-TPdV2kxxsNxWkaclyDUfo0wZG1RWrc_mUmnsKfrlmXrxTSc9kZ qo2ox7CgFSNmBcAzsTwj3KvKKcxLkqpsCxispV73xPVVYBapz-RIt15569--1Cz9eKCGDMsWoOG_LgOx0jhSn7RsQOx_ZguN80CGUuzPSYYhGX MhdCk-5PftkqiyobPbVBLtwBqJf2CKQGmhdPHPfLqvWxJieOVFBvJdrf kAReKiFwCs_eFOKDuudICOZgEDZyR8xa5xROXDHqvbV0A31OGi O6A279D7GlOYzKeMnDC6zGs0XWKZK9f36D0mxcTx9rTv8gUe5o hbxZiw9D5T1PwAnxDSZL8LfgQwmAeRKEnFACydYOMd74z7kcQA EywYk80VlabyZTZEXULoDDRtSGTlEsZ7iO6V_y21idF8DJqYMR 0W30qYwfdZ2EDlFLFbNAVeLiPmssLKypwIjWIvmyG7t9bFfR1h TkcWsVVc6UaTuOGlOYQwEJJsH-5K6z8Kw=w712-h949-no
A cascade on Laurel Creek, which feeds into Richland Creek.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/EYHRacwe2pzuyIcyNMN-nQgydk6OKOpyFvd6agMJaDLrTBOrM8-9p3RkQyunZZil6h40gi5sxUZM6jTXNkUOH6I8FPPdQiIcYZT4x O6hpqsGmU8iAgewrKzMC_Vg6ehK_s6-icqfrdgt3d13zHreVh_Qkpj1Mxzig3K4Eq-Yh0wTvLhmH4gKsMwT__FMBBQJhJPi28v1zJooxaAQmWEQczUJ6 Sd6XwXsJ1F0Z1f-nCAf5PgqBlu42u9A28ol6XJAWfD11VugCoZsgS8Jvoc0wFgddo DLt_rHYFS1LWSD_sEn7yvvw94DnTjr2g4GBZHdHo4aMp0nMdX7 lHwkUIkaTMFw57zV5yE8h2GhxOmqwf37SEx4dzTfllc8De9KdJ k5cROBt4baAw57CK4GRrwwVagnwShxJm2rGxi26cQhBoxkyaRJ 8L2N0rjHksya8hzjEQHFCACAxHxHZnszSMrYueiITSMumegi9n 5aRSf84E9uS5eKlmT9Kakw3kbVnBOaQ9Y_Fr9MEqmTNyuOQuOq yHtHq2vdRH8-PZiprtusU1NAhILIQkuy9uPEXo9sBmbfCo34nvk-vc3COvJKzdZl9WQDLAM_OBFlo3SIt5KzsB5qo6tWA2jTN4U723 bTvuNHgNfa5L66-GImYWXUsaya97-eBL5B6MeiZg=w712-h949-no
Photo and video of the area's main attraction, the massive Laurel Falls.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/loI_SxteYphm7vUqYReRzX7M9IWgJmD7DlJcT72iovLPfJKCNn 59UgJLgVFwsTRUvxs7UCvMl9GFPFvQ0RVVluKQGT5TrBNgcwHv fFZwnHrCZj4PyGqcu6y8LLuUBVrl26K27yyGjrsiUVB7EDvq5k iRilhUm4HIKsmzUZWmPIkv38dRBHykos6i3Q4vphPQmAStWT6J 47TAt0840g8Vn2ALD0U2zQEwXH3l08CBVLSLRF49T4R_72TUCS eEEIpTlredUFKYqsuduzQhuaCIRPOecbSbAeRDAm2MlY9YWlCw ZJGBQ0IQ5CFC8DCxz7JJXUK3nQPdlAirZw2DbS_O8683TmE3Da HCkaTxy5EyFLH56b1glyRbEmv0zhpZyqdjSxAcXwCj8hCH5avD Bv3Lovyirt82FQbQnu7G7RY7gmX-q-gSubwCftaP4YDDCu6LZE-V13RZ5-Xb98w0K26aKEhy4WEN656UTC9cWyFlSZEDFd72Qxk4vyRvTzFR K4uIlZxXRa2OxrAqvv9bkcACdBg6nSZhJZgm02aI0XCDXLRbaB 2wGwgrtQtghUASCJw1XqQeI5_PSp0iw0MWRIjQgCq1iKs67bq7 FgGdwyDT3IA6rLnL47cb4y1Q93FfPj_6qLU-SHRhtf6F36OPlP4RDcREIHUbsEDwpg=w712-h949-no
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j1n1WSa44c
Crossing a series of three 50-foot bridges over Henderson Creek.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFYrozAATRY
Once you cross the creek, you hike up the other side of the gorge. Here's the final part of that ascent, which passes through a break in the bluffs at the top of the gorge.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/TN-UggD1n161V-DzSJBLkBiF8ccMbNfuuRHm1R5a3hdscQfkqsw8CIYQ43XCfU61 KJGlTI6BXhZuCw2SY5ATX10KOZNRcfNzcUQxooR4swoRWZZQyh u90iRBOilGVtbjsnNG89ClJ21x7WH6eZq1lYxhCv0iN0n31reH jtOXknv30zBu5icHw6zFCVeobAUgGDJHZlHGZe7OQHY9y1z38k YuFvcSp-c9wEgELdffgT2PpTltUV_9d4O154OPGoj_j2OcbQTSYpPdKuNX Eh5HG9MVKytbYv5Vuy-qUlg2hzPAAbmNbq9Md711CjYvL2d1c2j8RNE7RA9OgO-DWHRSj9-0LwtZz2X3Vz8n7D_pt3Y5f_J20sbnL_sVROiqtBQA8yefp9t4M 1rbhatM7mnWS3YnMbqzWe_4SK1_ZC7haC8S8fJvKyT098AWxi_ _dlt5CKjqvleBNqOtexj3-RZWXM4IBmKpgAh5OYyuaNdp3rdwLXrkYANmlK_0nxOnJyDpPsY jSsnRWcv3fc5W08Dr8EdZzXbwhOSm3FGbRk9L9wIU6kkK4Wmq_ 4CCdFgrSYFDpvYoctqQZdMENOSivWb7RDhekQlwbZTzr5SiR1g iJ16392Ujbf2DRi5nBm6XBCkoRplYlIOxYr367cCpp8vrI2vAL 3vkkxQe7Q=w712-h949-no
Another half mile or so gets you to a rock outcropping that's at the point of a ridge. There's a small bridge over a deep, dark chasm right before the forest breaks.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/0GpoHFrLPxjVPKbE76RTTXMqJaEp5dOrbKwA5e7iZ1PZgULTcM l0qtVjYxZBp0wEFn9NSTqNXLSyh8ZIdff6XwPrADfH-oyd5hwYsjVCp00Fq41qv9W1yxijZGhQMMTceOpOGdI97dv-e1x4wYrdD7VHKrq9I_J7jsZ-M3QzHOun7Qvbl8W0SlmM4nG5HQqbq2HT182tIVy-v3KsdQOC6EaGgcYf0-1961Oj9Cid9HHWX5nilPHczBTbUWVQPGxYeQEjwfX23Z70bKpg Ao217KZRioSxZVIWfvHM9YYdwtIWHzb4GPQXcsy7_vmNI8H-AILAbGao1oGDO7W1lAcmPXhId4fY_5ZFyHGPbBNn5eaqMu0Xhb _tfxZgFqKvvECi8QkUOXZ7abOENnYBntclU6eAfZe9dVolDgok KI8mmUxSRWHb7xo-ZBlKH0DNQGbdzq9y1B3-WkmzRyHsiWeQs3L7edmoA0K2ZPqtGI9peT_6pm_fd764rIYPLj Fmkdl5rUUCZ3HwigFwU6csMxXWkiFEi3s5dZ1Tn_xj20XVT1K1 43PuAo7zWmTkyDFlQn4LLC0rv6YBW0ScsANOD5alSeUYe5Vev6 ldmaGkvtwW=w1265-h949-no
And finally you're at Buzzard Point, which offers a stellar 300-degree view.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pmN4tHxJ4I5keiBfnZZQpnHhiOweuF6X6S8e2PhmgiF7y_CvMK C-sFVqwyepdB03MxI4ZsQEgDLEVY1XMkP0FYcYJQhrm2kBszLhly Mz96Zb6wyB7BwiUkWwGsvCx-AkKVmJGjdDnT4tOvuAnMAr-cptBADtlTv0AQgEvWDpUUdHpPv4EvIuBllAmYVSGWFNq8uD4_0 arxpJcxKD5T2UJUJzRxJA1Qzq72vpOu6zCQwbpxebQM_NszrnZ SjJOnbtjd1HP1QQq2tuWYxETMAunRXrCpMtUfJWybu4szQ_eth 6732agwNeMqiY8NEAKZbZG3V9qfn_iOSnk632IHSGpuzXYOpT_-7bhi6EfI_-e3SdYczh4cmTLTDp9TeaFJA347QlauwkvghqvMDj7TmXtNCLpK d8LUtCCri9zacg6bccXhaVjlxYN1LRNIyGz7Yvwezv--8GLE1WRCaO3RQQ9AO9qVcp6nSetDVRqc8hxBMvVOKgNO2dz_st RLXTm9PWoSGQr20CsyCW7GVYtZgPQOQAFd4UG1-pdYoBRclG3D-4XqZXC5OGSHzQyFiSEWAg8ou5n47D2wWtvMX-4TEwKJj2Vu96p1ytgkkHChpagNz072WpvVGHdeyDqiPtkfxv51 8iPPMUcZtGmAi_JLBGHknOxUuj9RICLQ=w712-h949-no
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_D92bELgmzFInyccHKJhl6HG-L1A1tluba3u7QBAF-oIezlPHe2mUA4xaFgSCfzdCs30H1ff1mPJsOCNzvMAC6Y2ydA7 VaWXckJsniDoxYV4iXRKTL2RvtRmdCGrB7PHBigjTWUed1WGpR XXpSzwvgG6yh1Q2sPANidhGGL_aNx2KuRezMKQo0_2uLSeSnBn n4yfh-po3LQNI4o1oXmu7oCk_qInroOB_PGqJP4zu72UQOOLQ00Kt6Kq LS3zKvrDdAcIs2mLPG6VpsxEOAXmldXaNbEgKoaui-C_Gd2y1DmlDotsF0wruVS5GLVk6HDkO5ijg9LwChJ_0NiMJZ6a p2h-wRNob1S5aQZVbpC8QL18paby5N1oKMi_TuBGoGGamNk03Jg70O CkXtPBzhdXjk5A54ysvuG5t-SLz_IW-aRckbOqWtDE1Z7BlerNQl2Zn0CaZftNjLIN_jU89b1qeH_NUlo uu2lPSC-hl5ndCeZW46W-mAJEyhLGQsOGznh6grIlnTOCiISJnFnITnaOWpyuGyEQI9ghIN OQEHaUXIio4FBdby_YZ4sEunICbRMOKRat5xFePbR8qWR9kjUR dQ6Nqrlw7UU4FGB68OihPi5Bo_NOP_Bwz_UZQDJhg7uKtCPrI7 oHE0FeYQ9SSLzglSEmMBIdu6xr6w=w712-h949-no
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS6k0HLOu6U
And then on the way home and again that evening, I indulged in a couple Tennessee staples.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ghy2GqON8tCDGah7-ULF5TX7xN-LVbN4Jigpr3-zzuj_-KY4V1mSt9wy9INDwjkWzA9WkbA5aPTIReJSCV-QZ7XU0Yuph2tGXse5RSm9RWNYomxP5lblACXOnBKMrlyS7laeR aKcBybk7ipHls4oyLC6n1UVDIEpT6rlicQS2PjxQKUEroFHNri pg3AzNrWUJ0RoFnHQG2CLmCbb-_PADFB5cLD4xdVKdW52GZM33jWgFgg0gitbPhDT8sSmUaeKB_w Jeby0oDtV4YLjpPg71t6V1z0nUJctYUFdyMwySBTgQ0WXPUKJG nlGXBUYQf9V2N4uwDf597nRHPeUy9gccjIGdpW-uHLA7K2nUllDPydwZ929FdgRM_TqTBtrUnNd-Mymy2Wwc0lyQhjr_DARJNj4Eu9EtyxZwkT54pIEdvX75AP0yXr h2ihbz5kl-X-d0mOHvtB8WCToVMHhhj5iKhMR5pQPKPX1lRI3Guae4ShG3uEyB kuXr-bBkgxRJBPH4IvBjDQaokLPe7VZa4h6TAdSmkF3eQHIAxZp2eD1 SGt-YvoTiCrAvDzgwcLFkaL4BngOneKVpDOt40Gli0F63laP1V3zCl OyOycpda0DLm6RgtD9_htIcE-CHIUVY1F8UtduWPAO3pqRUOd4jJCmL8y6ZzOGs-niEA=w712-h949-no
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cJU99SednH2XZ14kveijRs6SoMZaB9OjMdRmlnxsqGC6qhnkLW IGQFzgKRoqgBcGqV98nTz3NvkAntR6Uv-RBJpp4IZuMJXnbNjg_B3eLPxCLkUq9FbBtZx1NObpNzkHJalvd TiOiRYVia2rCLth4_X7NWZlUmtxYY1b8KcXEFfcTyLLU4INpQW U_Qe8iSnVwTJlIwrEkEaUgew7sV1nSArCrw6oMVSeUwgFuUaBY H7W7_owPJGpjuMVXhI2bIJa74dwpeMQZ_YsscG9M33--kr6fQbVECRtmhn8uGl7WHUG-uxpDt5JyAM_Vt0jDcnbsDF1tb9GM-82h4vNU7XuBCs5n5lOZk01XThM7NuNpTBEny7cA8pVRC75wZva MbxD53B2U_lbIweJefETr8h3yEQ2Own2QNFUY8KUsPBRRwpKRJ Od8MWYOunySPDfrgstvZfMTxu88ibKi2AWRfgGpzswhygJvZx7 ltD3P2tkYsXO9dTYnaV3DpgwRcobyXBT99xvvsmeK_8KrPubnD mgzICq3nLYty1MOUz3GBAtwODWm5Oyznfsh5POYeAz8ekgaWKl HYu1QuQ3px6lRcKqd21bTAT6GO-c7W4KU7Xyh3TZ8PsQlsRrZksIXH41fFhOFs8Wuhwb2-IHV_RaV1D3EhYcVbpXx2Ak0A=w1266-h949-no
(Dr. Enuf is to east Tennessee what Cheerwine is to western North Carolina, I guess. Sorta like a mix between Sprite and Mountain Dew (but with vitamins!). (Fun fact: it's made by the company that invented Mountain Dew. They made both Dr. Enuf and Mountain Dew back in the day, then sold the latter to Pepsi.))
I'll try to get to the pics of the wildflower display later. It was nuts.
I hiked the Laurel-Snow State Natural Area, which houses a segment of the Cumberland Trail just outside of Dayton, TN, which is most famous for being the location of the Scopes trial. (The original courthouse is still there, too. Worth a quick stop if you're in the area.) The parking lot for the trail is right at 50 minutes from downtown Chattanooga.
I'll have to do two sets of pics since the wildflowers were so nuts. First, the scenic stuff:
This is a feeder stream within a minute or two of the parking lot with cascades trailing back up the side of the gorge. There's actually a huge waterfall up top way back in the pic that's not very easy to see.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/oFVj0R7ZlcUxAOjUHJfU1EuRqCxQJHHNRBCbIj_Dv8YODJll2W ax626L8jiJRFLI8J_OGVOQEjajEPAu7XFPDEHlBTpB-vi6Wh2aNKP2K97V1-thcH4FO0MxuLDTMMsCl3QXUN0HhPbrOGkfDvchcJjDoylyVVWP YXHm2KX5K_dzgstMSYAQerst9-2RknwG7-YIIOdP9duYX7AR5Q7jB9Jys0WiZ8_UtKMyj98ZfvBC-N0enh7wOsVz8h7GiP95RtDokF1AkeHrbO53Trgcl2Ximf6H6LJ 7QUN6IhL2zsLLK7PRQ6G67llKLQmCGJ-cTzIjWKuj1VN_3VAPPMW9DHaneydpeS9NN29YkM6xw66CmsRYL ru6ot3ta9IhN8N53cuI8mXYf_xNMaOKWZev-UYw7J46lBk1AqCW9IzUoLf6bcCx2V0azEgTiJlWv7nWUGS13N8-KVLiftgg26r6tbQ50oBjg9KdlQIA_Fzs4xJnjpMTcuzNa8OihZ f5liIA_yDML4kUV-iEfn-Xi7RgCYU5w9pLzZ_wt5aGpogsFA-QcAn0Vc1uxBPKDQNKo3W5hCUXtIWKctCkRgSQDhiTw8FT0hofj 2N_Uuku27hLGpR-G1_0h4e6zfaGwmrdbcaZrEHEhj1oROV-AfM-y8r9zWxytgBUwJT_2A=w1266-h949-no
Entrance to an old coal mine. This place was home to a big coal operation in the late 19th century, so there is interesting 150-year-old stonework all over the lower parts of the trail.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2ugdzQZADwZg1-rIY5lNi6CICj3jZPGOQQsPj8c9LD1OcKswYdHYhGdUY_h7y4Pp DIPAs-gKepHXqSrT_1jnf4rmP2GJvHX_-7lUOB00aVX4kuTwSAi1JaIzOqNulHCQm3GpoMeIOOtBOkPNUBV _wxpItS2BlY5NZub8o5kLuy8KcKtnbcAWRQa53ZaqbuVRJoy9M reYZDBuzggqvcDQ3r_qbSQIz_ybWAnOhwAGcNeTFST4iZzAnYw EnnZ1H691y6tjUzoPKmaG9Lb1aAiKsHzJgIaINniAY4FsQQABZ fbcy-yCjFcwORObHLPfN3Vi0jTJv7w-OK5Z1qP79XwUuycoT-DXgoFDJcVCE-g5ORWQwm7C-sG5aWiQlXGstRGJ8G4prp3O8k7FHzACBzExZ0J5q0ZCUYXZtjL lr2ddR_iiRptpYetCj4R3q_kWneqaqPl47y9DrpESmtMVG5jus CSjNGNrd3NjVdWtmQS4KqPQ3HcVd9JciNFocUVPa4_LTROFRde mQCQmey8Ehnog-ZDlruzrlq-fxAREEas37uw-jhxppu_aMMYj5qhl-msXoreaiVY94PyZDOqB9FOI7_06MUgENczJc9euFIm5_rPVmBV POPnvn6fDGAjRp2lycUvIwfnaRL7rFfkHW47xLKvmCZNd6tt_8 g=w712-h949-no
Richland Creek, which is the main stream that the trail follows for its first mile or so. If you do some googlin', you can find some gnarly videos of kayakers doing their thing on this creek in high water.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/wMVYWQKQ7oKd5en6gRz7zJEzFzMh_lc1GPgkUZMZc-YPPwPAmi7IPDgBHXsATRPuRpGqKtHJ5Osdq09n3xF2IdLmxpmi 6IBqT9K5TIkBvi5aLwWOBIdGgJGyrMYy3LCOYJiNC9E-QKEoBMuCBTLm_SCL36cHwYt4C22_ED4ZFnmmb0-TPdV2kxxsNxWkaclyDUfo0wZG1RWrc_mUmnsKfrlmXrxTSc9kZ qo2ox7CgFSNmBcAzsTwj3KvKKcxLkqpsCxispV73xPVVYBapz-RIt15569--1Cz9eKCGDMsWoOG_LgOx0jhSn7RsQOx_ZguN80CGUuzPSYYhGX MhdCk-5PftkqiyobPbVBLtwBqJf2CKQGmhdPHPfLqvWxJieOVFBvJdrf kAReKiFwCs_eFOKDuudICOZgEDZyR8xa5xROXDHqvbV0A31OGi O6A279D7GlOYzKeMnDC6zGs0XWKZK9f36D0mxcTx9rTv8gUe5o hbxZiw9D5T1PwAnxDSZL8LfgQwmAeRKEnFACydYOMd74z7kcQA EywYk80VlabyZTZEXULoDDRtSGTlEsZ7iO6V_y21idF8DJqYMR 0W30qYwfdZ2EDlFLFbNAVeLiPmssLKypwIjWIvmyG7t9bFfR1h TkcWsVVc6UaTuOGlOYQwEJJsH-5K6z8Kw=w712-h949-no
A cascade on Laurel Creek, which feeds into Richland Creek.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/EYHRacwe2pzuyIcyNMN-nQgydk6OKOpyFvd6agMJaDLrTBOrM8-9p3RkQyunZZil6h40gi5sxUZM6jTXNkUOH6I8FPPdQiIcYZT4x O6hpqsGmU8iAgewrKzMC_Vg6ehK_s6-icqfrdgt3d13zHreVh_Qkpj1Mxzig3K4Eq-Yh0wTvLhmH4gKsMwT__FMBBQJhJPi28v1zJooxaAQmWEQczUJ6 Sd6XwXsJ1F0Z1f-nCAf5PgqBlu42u9A28ol6XJAWfD11VugCoZsgS8Jvoc0wFgddo DLt_rHYFS1LWSD_sEn7yvvw94DnTjr2g4GBZHdHo4aMp0nMdX7 lHwkUIkaTMFw57zV5yE8h2GhxOmqwf37SEx4dzTfllc8De9KdJ k5cROBt4baAw57CK4GRrwwVagnwShxJm2rGxi26cQhBoxkyaRJ 8L2N0rjHksya8hzjEQHFCACAxHxHZnszSMrYueiITSMumegi9n 5aRSf84E9uS5eKlmT9Kakw3kbVnBOaQ9Y_Fr9MEqmTNyuOQuOq yHtHq2vdRH8-PZiprtusU1NAhILIQkuy9uPEXo9sBmbfCo34nvk-vc3COvJKzdZl9WQDLAM_OBFlo3SIt5KzsB5qo6tWA2jTN4U723 bTvuNHgNfa5L66-GImYWXUsaya97-eBL5B6MeiZg=w712-h949-no
Photo and video of the area's main attraction, the massive Laurel Falls.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/loI_SxteYphm7vUqYReRzX7M9IWgJmD7DlJcT72iovLPfJKCNn 59UgJLgVFwsTRUvxs7UCvMl9GFPFvQ0RVVluKQGT5TrBNgcwHv fFZwnHrCZj4PyGqcu6y8LLuUBVrl26K27yyGjrsiUVB7EDvq5k iRilhUm4HIKsmzUZWmPIkv38dRBHykos6i3Q4vphPQmAStWT6J 47TAt0840g8Vn2ALD0U2zQEwXH3l08CBVLSLRF49T4R_72TUCS eEEIpTlredUFKYqsuduzQhuaCIRPOecbSbAeRDAm2MlY9YWlCw ZJGBQ0IQ5CFC8DCxz7JJXUK3nQPdlAirZw2DbS_O8683TmE3Da HCkaTxy5EyFLH56b1glyRbEmv0zhpZyqdjSxAcXwCj8hCH5avD Bv3Lovyirt82FQbQnu7G7RY7gmX-q-gSubwCftaP4YDDCu6LZE-V13RZ5-Xb98w0K26aKEhy4WEN656UTC9cWyFlSZEDFd72Qxk4vyRvTzFR K4uIlZxXRa2OxrAqvv9bkcACdBg6nSZhJZgm02aI0XCDXLRbaB 2wGwgrtQtghUASCJw1XqQeI5_PSp0iw0MWRIjQgCq1iKs67bq7 FgGdwyDT3IA6rLnL47cb4y1Q93FfPj_6qLU-SHRhtf6F36OPlP4RDcREIHUbsEDwpg=w712-h949-no
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j1n1WSa44c
Crossing a series of three 50-foot bridges over Henderson Creek.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFYrozAATRY
Once you cross the creek, you hike up the other side of the gorge. Here's the final part of that ascent, which passes through a break in the bluffs at the top of the gorge.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/TN-UggD1n161V-DzSJBLkBiF8ccMbNfuuRHm1R5a3hdscQfkqsw8CIYQ43XCfU61 KJGlTI6BXhZuCw2SY5ATX10KOZNRcfNzcUQxooR4swoRWZZQyh u90iRBOilGVtbjsnNG89ClJ21x7WH6eZq1lYxhCv0iN0n31reH jtOXknv30zBu5icHw6zFCVeobAUgGDJHZlHGZe7OQHY9y1z38k YuFvcSp-c9wEgELdffgT2PpTltUV_9d4O154OPGoj_j2OcbQTSYpPdKuNX Eh5HG9MVKytbYv5Vuy-qUlg2hzPAAbmNbq9Md711CjYvL2d1c2j8RNE7RA9OgO-DWHRSj9-0LwtZz2X3Vz8n7D_pt3Y5f_J20sbnL_sVROiqtBQA8yefp9t4M 1rbhatM7mnWS3YnMbqzWe_4SK1_ZC7haC8S8fJvKyT098AWxi_ _dlt5CKjqvleBNqOtexj3-RZWXM4IBmKpgAh5OYyuaNdp3rdwLXrkYANmlK_0nxOnJyDpPsY jSsnRWcv3fc5W08Dr8EdZzXbwhOSm3FGbRk9L9wIU6kkK4Wmq_ 4CCdFgrSYFDpvYoctqQZdMENOSivWb7RDhekQlwbZTzr5SiR1g iJ16392Ujbf2DRi5nBm6XBCkoRplYlIOxYr367cCpp8vrI2vAL 3vkkxQe7Q=w712-h949-no
Another half mile or so gets you to a rock outcropping that's at the point of a ridge. There's a small bridge over a deep, dark chasm right before the forest breaks.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/0GpoHFrLPxjVPKbE76RTTXMqJaEp5dOrbKwA5e7iZ1PZgULTcM l0qtVjYxZBp0wEFn9NSTqNXLSyh8ZIdff6XwPrADfH-oyd5hwYsjVCp00Fq41qv9W1yxijZGhQMMTceOpOGdI97dv-e1x4wYrdD7VHKrq9I_J7jsZ-M3QzHOun7Qvbl8W0SlmM4nG5HQqbq2HT182tIVy-v3KsdQOC6EaGgcYf0-1961Oj9Cid9HHWX5nilPHczBTbUWVQPGxYeQEjwfX23Z70bKpg Ao217KZRioSxZVIWfvHM9YYdwtIWHzb4GPQXcsy7_vmNI8H-AILAbGao1oGDO7W1lAcmPXhId4fY_5ZFyHGPbBNn5eaqMu0Xhb _tfxZgFqKvvECi8QkUOXZ7abOENnYBntclU6eAfZe9dVolDgok KI8mmUxSRWHb7xo-ZBlKH0DNQGbdzq9y1B3-WkmzRyHsiWeQs3L7edmoA0K2ZPqtGI9peT_6pm_fd764rIYPLj Fmkdl5rUUCZ3HwigFwU6csMxXWkiFEi3s5dZ1Tn_xj20XVT1K1 43PuAo7zWmTkyDFlQn4LLC0rv6YBW0ScsANOD5alSeUYe5Vev6 ldmaGkvtwW=w1265-h949-no
And finally you're at Buzzard Point, which offers a stellar 300-degree view.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pmN4tHxJ4I5keiBfnZZQpnHhiOweuF6X6S8e2PhmgiF7y_CvMK C-sFVqwyepdB03MxI4ZsQEgDLEVY1XMkP0FYcYJQhrm2kBszLhly Mz96Zb6wyB7BwiUkWwGsvCx-AkKVmJGjdDnT4tOvuAnMAr-cptBADtlTv0AQgEvWDpUUdHpPv4EvIuBllAmYVSGWFNq8uD4_0 arxpJcxKD5T2UJUJzRxJA1Qzq72vpOu6zCQwbpxebQM_NszrnZ SjJOnbtjd1HP1QQq2tuWYxETMAunRXrCpMtUfJWybu4szQ_eth 6732agwNeMqiY8NEAKZbZG3V9qfn_iOSnk632IHSGpuzXYOpT_-7bhi6EfI_-e3SdYczh4cmTLTDp9TeaFJA347QlauwkvghqvMDj7TmXtNCLpK d8LUtCCri9zacg6bccXhaVjlxYN1LRNIyGz7Yvwezv--8GLE1WRCaO3RQQ9AO9qVcp6nSetDVRqc8hxBMvVOKgNO2dz_st RLXTm9PWoSGQr20CsyCW7GVYtZgPQOQAFd4UG1-pdYoBRclG3D-4XqZXC5OGSHzQyFiSEWAg8ou5n47D2wWtvMX-4TEwKJj2Vu96p1ytgkkHChpagNz072WpvVGHdeyDqiPtkfxv51 8iPPMUcZtGmAi_JLBGHknOxUuj9RICLQ=w712-h949-no
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_D92bELgmzFInyccHKJhl6HG-L1A1tluba3u7QBAF-oIezlPHe2mUA4xaFgSCfzdCs30H1ff1mPJsOCNzvMAC6Y2ydA7 VaWXckJsniDoxYV4iXRKTL2RvtRmdCGrB7PHBigjTWUed1WGpR XXpSzwvgG6yh1Q2sPANidhGGL_aNx2KuRezMKQo0_2uLSeSnBn n4yfh-po3LQNI4o1oXmu7oCk_qInroOB_PGqJP4zu72UQOOLQ00Kt6Kq LS3zKvrDdAcIs2mLPG6VpsxEOAXmldXaNbEgKoaui-C_Gd2y1DmlDotsF0wruVS5GLVk6HDkO5ijg9LwChJ_0NiMJZ6a p2h-wRNob1S5aQZVbpC8QL18paby5N1oKMi_TuBGoGGamNk03Jg70O CkXtPBzhdXjk5A54ysvuG5t-SLz_IW-aRckbOqWtDE1Z7BlerNQl2Zn0CaZftNjLIN_jU89b1qeH_NUlo uu2lPSC-hl5ndCeZW46W-mAJEyhLGQsOGznh6grIlnTOCiISJnFnITnaOWpyuGyEQI9ghIN OQEHaUXIio4FBdby_YZ4sEunICbRMOKRat5xFePbR8qWR9kjUR dQ6Nqrlw7UU4FGB68OihPi5Bo_NOP_Bwz_UZQDJhg7uKtCPrI7 oHE0FeYQ9SSLzglSEmMBIdu6xr6w=w712-h949-no
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS6k0HLOu6U
And then on the way home and again that evening, I indulged in a couple Tennessee staples.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ghy2GqON8tCDGah7-ULF5TX7xN-LVbN4Jigpr3-zzuj_-KY4V1mSt9wy9INDwjkWzA9WkbA5aPTIReJSCV-QZ7XU0Yuph2tGXse5RSm9RWNYomxP5lblACXOnBKMrlyS7laeR aKcBybk7ipHls4oyLC6n1UVDIEpT6rlicQS2PjxQKUEroFHNri pg3AzNrWUJ0RoFnHQG2CLmCbb-_PADFB5cLD4xdVKdW52GZM33jWgFgg0gitbPhDT8sSmUaeKB_w Jeby0oDtV4YLjpPg71t6V1z0nUJctYUFdyMwySBTgQ0WXPUKJG nlGXBUYQf9V2N4uwDf597nRHPeUy9gccjIGdpW-uHLA7K2nUllDPydwZ929FdgRM_TqTBtrUnNd-Mymy2Wwc0lyQhjr_DARJNj4Eu9EtyxZwkT54pIEdvX75AP0yXr h2ihbz5kl-X-d0mOHvtB8WCToVMHhhj5iKhMR5pQPKPX1lRI3Guae4ShG3uEyB kuXr-bBkgxRJBPH4IvBjDQaokLPe7VZa4h6TAdSmkF3eQHIAxZp2eD1 SGt-YvoTiCrAvDzgwcLFkaL4BngOneKVpDOt40Gli0F63laP1V3zCl OyOycpda0DLm6RgtD9_htIcE-CHIUVY1F8UtduWPAO3pqRUOd4jJCmL8y6ZzOGs-niEA=w712-h949-no
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cJU99SednH2XZ14kveijRs6SoMZaB9OjMdRmlnxsqGC6qhnkLW IGQFzgKRoqgBcGqV98nTz3NvkAntR6Uv-RBJpp4IZuMJXnbNjg_B3eLPxCLkUq9FbBtZx1NObpNzkHJalvd TiOiRYVia2rCLth4_X7NWZlUmtxYY1b8KcXEFfcTyLLU4INpQW U_Qe8iSnVwTJlIwrEkEaUgew7sV1nSArCrw6oMVSeUwgFuUaBY H7W7_owPJGpjuMVXhI2bIJa74dwpeMQZ_YsscG9M33--kr6fQbVECRtmhn8uGl7WHUG-uxpDt5JyAM_Vt0jDcnbsDF1tb9GM-82h4vNU7XuBCs5n5lOZk01XThM7NuNpTBEny7cA8pVRC75wZva MbxD53B2U_lbIweJefETr8h3yEQ2Own2QNFUY8KUsPBRRwpKRJ Od8MWYOunySPDfrgstvZfMTxu88ibKi2AWRfgGpzswhygJvZx7 ltD3P2tkYsXO9dTYnaV3DpgwRcobyXBT99xvvsmeK_8KrPubnD mgzICq3nLYty1MOUz3GBAtwODWm5Oyznfsh5POYeAz8ekgaWKl HYu1QuQ3px6lRcKqd21bTAT6GO-c7W4KU7Xyh3TZ8PsQlsRrZksIXH41fFhOFs8Wuhwb2-IHV_RaV1D3EhYcVbpXx2Ak0A=w1266-h949-no
(Dr. Enuf is to east Tennessee what Cheerwine is to western North Carolina, I guess. Sorta like a mix between Sprite and Mountain Dew (but with vitamins!). (Fun fact: it's made by the company that invented Mountain Dew. They made both Dr. Enuf and Mountain Dew back in the day, then sold the latter to Pepsi.))
I'll try to get to the pics of the wildflower display later. It was nuts.