A Good Beginning

 I like hiking. I have done several thousand miles over the many years since I was a teenager. The last year or so life has gotten far too busy for leisurely or any kind of hike. My daughter has decided to get in shape by various means including hiking. So, last Saturday was the beginning of a goal and challenge. As you can plainly see we started at Carver's Gap on the NC-TN border. Her son was not having any of the photo op. I had another almost identical picture of the sign with him looking down in the opposite direction. It reminded me of the Dancer "5" on "A Charlie Brown Christmas" who does a two-dimensional head turn (A Complete Guide to the Dances of A Charlie Brown Christmas | Top Hat Sasquatch).

Part of the getting in shape is carrying the Boy.

Do you recognize Jack in the Pulpit without the bloom?

There was this miniature fern forest on a seep just up into the woods.

These beauties were all over the place.

Without a doubt there has already been killing frost on the slopes of Grassy Ridge as suggested by the Milkweeds.

Roan High Knob (6285") is both beautiful and massive.

The open balds have some of the best 360 degree views of anywhere. I am partial to further north on Hump Mtn. though.

Here I am atop Grassy Ridge with Roan in the background and my son-in-law checking the elevation on his GPS. He seemed believe everything was about 100 feet lower than marked based on his phone. I would suggest that his phone was precise but not accurate.

Down the Tennessee slopes of Roan

My children give me a hard time concerning this long held tradition of taking a picture of peak benchmarks with a hand in view. Frequently in the past there might be a Nalgene bottle, too. The funny thing is, at least two of them now do it.

Thrive and bloom where you are planted, even if it is between a rock and a hard place in a harsh environment.

As I passed the young people on the trail, I was asking about their hike and the enjoyment of the gorgeous day. Then I hear, "Hi, Mr. F!", and I usually think that I have come across a former student. Instead, he was a friend of one of my sons in college who I had taken climbing one time.

Looking back at Grassy Ridge (6189')

The fir trees are obviously not very old, but somehow being among their moss and lickened trunks feels like some ancient forest.

As we again approached the gap, the birches began to predominate. My daughter said that their bark and shape is almost enough to make you believe in Dryads and Naiads. Obviously a bit whimsical and mythological, but a grove of low growing birches do resemble dancers. 

What is about with toadstools perched among the trees?

Back at the gap we searched around for where the trail crossed the road. Knowing how it used to be is a disadvantage when they move it. I had to retrace back to following AT blazes. The new trend is to go around busy spots in illogical circumventions for getting from one point to another. As I looked, I found this fence, which is holding its own, but few could find it a mere 30 feet off of the road for all of the living things trying to overtake it.

When the fungus first emerges from the moss it seems sinister.

Then it grows into a jaunty staghorn.

Even the lichens appear as a tiny forest.

I was amazed at the good shape of this 1934 copper benchmark. It has a name and elevation, somewhat rare to see both together. It is somewhat hidden if you don't know where to look. Oh, that's not my hand.

Moss beard on the fir

The flash caught my grandson a bit off guard.

I realized when I was explaining to my son-in-law how I knew that the trail shelter cabin was there originally as the hovel for fire tower watchers that I had been coming to this cabin infrequently since 1976. Wow, when did that happen! Now I am standing with the next generation.

Just before the field where the hotel once stood is a chimney quite sturdy. My grandson wanted to know where the cabin was.

After eating a picnic lunch at the parking area, my wife and granddaughter and I went for another 1 mile hike to Roan High Bluffs (6267').  I spy a Pink Perched Prissy.

The years change us but not our love of the mountains.

Another generational sharing

"What are they, grandpa?" Aster is almost always the right answer.

Well, I guess, unless it's not.

Fall is so full of yellow and white wildflowers. The cool, high humidity is perfect for so many varieties.

"Home again, home again, jiggy jog." How about a family picture journal?

God has blessed me with family and love of His creation. I never tire of observing and relating to both.

Margarette and Bailey Falls

 A family hike to get together and get out into the woods. Use any excuse available, a birthday for example. When my great-nephew climbed up on the rock and declared himself king, both parents rolled their eyes and said something to the effect that 'Yeah, that's him."

The trail actually traverses 1/2 mile of private land along a gentle upslope of sandstone gravel.

There was even more conversation than appears here with much stopping to finish a story or observe a flower or rock. The trail slowly progressed in steepness and roughness. It tests your stabilizer muscles in places.

A jewel (Black Swallowtail Butterfly? Where are the blue markings?) on a Jewelweed.

Creeks are fascinating and varied in shape and habitat. Check out how clear the water is.

My wife just entered the bridge and three others of our group talk and look.

I was interested to see that this is a new breed of creek bridge, all fiberglass. That shouldn't rot any time in the next century and UV damage will be minimum in the narrow draw with tree cover. Plenty of smiles for the camera.

Margarette Falls

Scale is hard to discern, so check out below.

So, about 30 feet, perhaps? The rock layers certainly determine the water flow and character of the cascade.

Turtleheads (Chelone sp.)

The rock, rhododendron, creek scramble. After lunch at the falls, I asked my nephew, the dad of five if he wanted to take the boys to see the two upper falls, commenting that it is quite the scramble. The three boys were all in and mom encouraged dad to take the oldest girl, age 3. My older brother also went.

They were about to give up and give in, when I said I would go ahead as scout while they rested, since I thought we were close. I topped another boulder about 200 feet ahead and saw the falls another 300 feet ahead. The crack got narrower and higher. We had to negotiate the side walls, but we managed to stay out of the water.

Here is the crew at Lower Bailey Falls.

In order to get around the lower falls we had to scramble up the side via a knotted rope someone had slung around a tree above. Here we are at the top of the lower falls.

Upper Bailey Falls

What it lacks in size it makes up for in uniqueness. This must be quite the scene and totally inaccessible during high water.

When we arrived back at the parking lot, my wife was holding down a boulder quite contently.

In fact, almost everyone took a perch.

I will have to say that I am a bit envious of my sister-in-law's time with her grandchildren. Nonetheless, I am thankful that my grandchildren are well and being taught about the Lord.

I am sore today from lifting youngin's over boulders and across the creek multiple times, but the adventure for all was worth it and the family time was precious for young and old alike. Life is good, because God is good.