I left this (Saturday) morning with the intent of getting a ride in. I had stared at the map and really had no intended plan. I figured I would find out as I went along.

Before I even got to the gas station (less than two miles from the house), I had decided that I wasn’t “feeling it”. It’s not that I was “off in the curves” or missing my marks or anything, but just that, for whatever reason, I just wasn’t into it. I figured it best to forego riding for the day.

However, I didn’t want to go back to the house just yet. I decided that maybe a hike and some camera time would be just the ticket.

Megan, my mom, and I were supposed to go hike last weekend, but we had Mom’s dog and pets are not allowed on hiking trails. So, since we didn’t go last week, I decided I would today.

Ramsay Cascades is one I have wanted to hike it for years but just never have gotten to it. It is in (well, outside of) Gatlinburg, which is only a half hour away, so that seemed perfect. The pictures I have seen of the cascade are rather impressive.

I pointed the bike south and head down to Gatlinburg and try to find Roaring Fork Motor Trail. I had been on this before, but it’s been years. It took me a little bit, but I found it.

Roaring Fork Motor Trail is a one-way loop. There are a few places to hike along its path. I had it stuck in my head that Ramsay Cascades was one of these. As I was going along there was a roadside cascade and I figured this would be time to bump some rust off my photography “skills”.

I took some pics and then took some more, and more. Many were overexposed, but that is the beauty of digital cameras. I took over 125 pictures for the day – about 40 of them had to be deleted, but that was because I kept playing with the exposures to try and get a good picture with the effect I was wanting. You *expect* to lose some when doing that.

 Here are some of the “keepers” of the roadside cascade ….

 

I reached the end of Roaring Fork and never saw a trailhead for Ramsay Cascades, so I stopped at a store and asked where it was. I got the information I needed and pointed the bike to it. Luckily, it was only six miles up the road.

By the time I got to the trailhead, it was about 1 PM – plenty of daylight remaining to get this hike in. It was 4 miles to the cascades (and, of course, 4 miles back). It’s been months since I have been hiking, and, even though, I have lost weight, I am far from “in shape”. This will be interesting.

The trail was rather navigable and fairly easy with no drastic changes in elevation. So, a nice easy walk it was. I have heard this is a difficult trail. So far there was no indication why.

I am strolling along pretty well and come across this pretty little girl.

She was quite interested in the vegetation there, and I let her have her fill without interrupting her. I watched her for about 10 minutes, I think, before she wandered off into the woods.

Then about a mile and a half into the trek, the rock and gravel trail gave way to roots and mud, and there became more of a noticeable incline. I knew it couldn’t stay “easy” forever. ; ) Still, it wasn’t too bad.

I spotted this hollow tree that looks Holloween-ish and had to take a pic …

see? it;s hOllOw!

Then, all of a sudden the trail started going down. The river is getting louder now and soon I came to this bridge.

It was interesting crossing it. The wisdom of crossing a span is not to look down. Well I wanted to make sure I placed my feet on the bridge so I was looking down. As I got out to the middle, I got a vertigo-type sensation, because the water below is moving and the bridge, of course, is not.

Now back to gaining altitude again. Rock steps, Root structures, and mud. The terrain is quite a bit more difficult to navigate now, as well as the elevation gain. Then it dropped again and *another* crossing of the river. WTH?!?

Who designed this trail? You started out with some elevation, drop down to cross the river, rise again, drop back down to RECROSS the same damned river only to have to CLIMB back up to again. Yeesh!

Along the trail, I came across this old guy

That tree has been there for *many* years. There were two more within 30’ of it that were nearly as big.

My legs are feeling like I am lifting lead by now. It’s hot, and I am drenched in sweat. My legs are tired. I am spent!

I half entertained turning around and going back. I certainly was questioning the decision to do an eight mile hike. However, at this point I was too far into it to just turn around, so I kept pushing lead. It seemed that every time you get to a “clearing” all you see is more steps to climb. Does this ever end?
Diversions were welcomed
and I sat down a few times as well. Sometimes, I would just stand still and listen to the sound of the woods. You could hear the rush of the river and over there the sound of a bird singing.

There were no signs of human life. It’s not often you get to experience that these days.

During one of those breaks, a family was coming down the trail. The father asked how I was, and without reservation I told him I was tired. As they wandered off, he told me that the top was just another 40 minutes away.

FORTY?!? UGH! I am not so sure I needed to hear that!

Shortly after that I came across another hollowed out tree. This one was a carcass though and another welcomed diversion with the camera ensued.

 More climbing and grumbling followed. Then finally, I spied the Cascades through the trees. I was soo happy to see that.

I was wore out! This meant I could finally sit down for a bit.
What a beautiful place. The hike was definitely worth it as the cascades were indeed impressive. I took some pictures and hung for a bit,

 

but then it was time to get going again. It had taken about three hours to hike four miles. The way back will be much easier, as it is mostly downhill, but it’s already 4 PM. I took a couple more pics on the way back,

but I kept moving most of the time.

My feet became progressively heavier with each step. It was almost a chore to walk.

I arrived back at the bike a little after 6. The hike back took an hour less as I wasn’t stopping as frequently.

It was a lengthy and strenuous hike, but it was well worth it!