Tom W
10th of July 2005 (Sun), 19:27
The XT and I took a little hike this weekend, up Rainbow Falls trail in the Great Smoky Mountains near Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The trail is about 2.7 miles long from the parking lot to the falls, with an elevation change of about 1500 feet from the parking lot to the base of the falls. For those interested, the trail is rated "moderate to strenuous". The trail continues on from the falls up to the summit of Mt. LeConte, over a total of 6.1 miles and an elevation gain of almost 4000 feet.
Needless to say, we stopped at the falls as this was only a day hike and we didn't want to run out of day.
As we traveled up the trail, LeConte Creek is always nearby. At times, we ventured close enough to catch images of the creek cascading down the mountain. About 1.5 miles into the hike, we came across the first log bridge. The bridge provided a nice view of the creek flowing across its rocky bed:
http://www.pbase.com/photosbytom/image/46025256.jpg
A bit further up the trail, a larger falls was found:
http://www.pbase.com/photosbytom/image/46025257.jpg
We had yet to spot Rainbow falls, but were told by others on the trail that it was soon to be found. Sure enough, about 1/2 mile further, we came upon Rainbow falls with its impressive 70-80 foot drop:
http://www.pbase.com/photosbytom/image/46025258.jpg
We reluctantly (well some more reluctant than others) climbed across a few rocks to get a different view of the falls (and no, 24 mm is NOT wide enough on the XT):
http://www.pbase.com/photosbytom/image/46025259.jpg
Needless to say, today, I'm a bit sore from the hike. But it was very enjoyable and I hope to do a bit more hiking in the near future.
Needless to say, we stopped at the falls as this was only a day hike and we didn't want to run out of day.
As we traveled up the trail, LeConte Creek is always nearby. At times, we ventured close enough to catch images of the creek cascading down the mountain. About 1.5 miles into the hike, we came across the first log bridge. The bridge provided a nice view of the creek flowing across its rocky bed:
http://www.pbase.com/photosbytom/image/46025256.jpg
A bit further up the trail, a larger falls was found:
http://www.pbase.com/photosbytom/image/46025257.jpg
We had yet to spot Rainbow falls, but were told by others on the trail that it was soon to be found. Sure enough, about 1/2 mile further, we came upon Rainbow falls with its impressive 70-80 foot drop:
http://www.pbase.com/photosbytom/image/46025258.jpg
We reluctantly (well some more reluctant than others) climbed across a few rocks to get a different view of the falls (and no, 24 mm is NOT wide enough on the XT):
http://www.pbase.com/photosbytom/image/46025259.jpg
Needless to say, today, I'm a bit sore from the hike. But it was very enjoyable and I hope to do a bit more hiking in the near future.