Hornets, Mowing & A Beautiful Sunset At The Cabin

As Pete so abruptly said we went to the Cabin early last week for three days of rain, mowing, and hunting hornets but unfortunately no hiking. 

Anyway, the two reasons for the visit were mowing, again, and doing something about the Bald Faced Hornet problem in the barn. I talked about it when it was the size of a softball, but now more like a basketball. I went up after dark on Sunday and set off one of the large foggers I ordered from Amazon. The next morning they were still flying in and out. Since it was a little rainy, I hit it with foaming hornet spray. Then Monday evening I emptied another can and set off the other fogger. The next morning the hive looked quiet...so we will see.

One other thing of note...on Sunday evening I didn't plan to run the drone, but at sunset, the colors were too good to resist. To make a long story short, it went up. Well, that was the first part of the week, the Smokies were to come...

Photos: SmugMug

Whuppin Tails & Shredding Trails In The Smokies!

I was in Hiking Machine Heaven this week when I camped on the AT (Appalachian Trail) at Icewaters Springs Shelter! I started the week at the Cabin and since we didn't hike it doesn't matter to me (the Lummox can talk about that). Then he's babysitting those slobbering hounds which means no nights on the trail for weeks. So, on Hump Day I threatened to kick the Lummox in the nuts if we didn't hit the trail...so we did, HELL YEAH!

The Lummox wanted to do a wussy car, no way I said the Smokies High County and it was off to Newfound Gap. I then loaded our pack and the Lummox and headed out. Because of the extra weight of the Lummox, I didn't get to Icewater Spring Shelter as fast as I can at my trail crushing best.

Once there the Lummox wanted to stay at the shelter because we had done three miles, but you know what I said HELL NO! We went past Charlie's Bunion, then the "Original" Bunion, and past Dry Sluice Gap on out to the Sawtooth. That was two miles from the shelter. I wanted to go on, but the Lummox was tired...wuss! But, he wasn't too tired to r** **** ***** ***e. As a compromise, we went to both Bunions before heading back.

There were a lot more people there than when we left. Some were even tenting, I think it was because of a "Shelter Mouse." The Lummox thought he was cute, but that night a gave that mouse the ass-whupping a wanted to give that damn Crumbsnatcher a few years back!

Thursday morning I grinded back to Newfound Gap with 200+ pounds on my back. But when we got to Clingmans Dome I dropped the big back and shredded another 1.5 miles. Oh, I loved all of those tourists, like the Lummox, when the clouds rolled in and squashed their dreams and views from the tower...NICE! Anyway, that's about all I will let the Lummox go on about those damn bears. If I had my way there would have been plenty of bear rugs to go around...HA, HA, HA! Well, I just have one more thing to say...I'm out BITCHES!

Over And Above The Wilderness In Unaka's Green Shadow

This past weekend I got to enjoy two of my favorite spots. Camping at Rock Creek Recreation Area and a visit to the Beauty Spot near Erwin. However,  I got to enjoy both with a new perspective from above with my drone.

Pete was right I did get a lot of drone photos and not just at Beauty Spot but I also got some over Rock Creek and even got pics of Saturday's Sunset. It was cool to see this excellent campground from a different perspective. 

Some sites around Rock Creek Recreation Area

Up goes the drone over campsite...

...& view of Unaka Mountain Wilderness.

Sundown Saturday Night!

Still, the main event was Sunday with a trip to the Appalachian Trail (AT) and the Beauty Spot. I first flew it from my 2020 campsite near the top of the Bald (on the summit there was a religious gathering). I got some excellent shots, even with clouds touching the tops of the highest peaks...including Unaka Mountain. 

Above Beauty Spot looking east towards Unaka Mountain.

Both ends of the bald.

Looking west...

;;;south...

...north.

My second launch site was on Unaka Mountain Road (old AT) just past where the trail touches the road. It was here I got great pictures of Unaka Mountain, again, and where I had been...the Beauty Spot. As I was getting ready to bring the drone down it caught the attention of a hawk. When he took a swoop at it I hit sport mode and got it down.

Launching from Unaka Mtn. Road (old AT).

Panoramic looking east, south & west.

Don't forget the north view

Drone (left) & angry Hawk (right).

It wasn't only from above that I made some observations. One jarring one was the difference between my last trip in Winter versus this one in Summer. Back in February, it was white but Sunday it was draped in green...the difference is amazing.

Beauty Spot: Winter (left) & Summer (right)...

Unaka Mountain Road: Winter (left) & Summer (right)

Running the drone was a highlight but just camping was number one. Link to more photos below......

Photos: SmugMug

Hiking Machine Highlights Camping & AT Hiking In The CNF

You know the old saying if you want something done do it yourself! So, with the Lummox busy going through his stupid drone pictures (and he will do a blog with mostly them I would bet) someone needs to document our overnight at Rock Creek Campground (Recreation Area) and I guess it will have to be the Hiking Machine! I didn't do this yesterday because I was tired and just didn't feel like it. Doing some hiking, sitting by the fire but mostly getting to sleep outside in my tent is f**king sweet! The only thing that would have made it better would have been a bear showing up so the Lummox could piss himself and I could open up a can of WHOOP-ASS!

Then on Sunday, I wanted to hike up Rattlesnake Ridge or go up the AT (Appalachian Trail) to Beauty Spot. Well, I had to settle for driving and hiking the AT around Beauty Spot. S**t, it might have been more than even THE Hiking Machine can carry. I got to go up to the AT and like I say that is better than a day when I'm not. Well, that is all my Peteaholics I just have three words...I'm out BITCHES!

The Summer Heat Was On At CNF Waterfalls

Summer...I know many people love it, but I am not one of them. This blog like summer takes too long. Also, I do less hiking; when I do, it is usually a backpack because it is generally at a higher elevation and it just takes longer to get to these places. So most of the time I do a day hike to somewhere like Margarette Falls, where I headed last Wednesday. Well, since it was hot I did my seasonal Summer Hike to Bailey Falls in the Cherokee National Forest (CNF). 

While this outing had more problems than I really want to share but I will say one good thing came of the hike...I got to test out my new hiking boots. These are my new day hikers, Salmon Ultra-4s. While I had to make adjustments but by the end of the hike, they were dialed in. Well, for a blog this short it did take a while to write it, but this is the end...enjoy!

Photos: SmugMug

It Has Been Too Long, But The Hiking Machine Is Back!

A whole month...A WHOLE DAMN MONTH, that is how long it has been since I was on this blog! All of the Peteoholics out there are jonesing for the Hiking Machine! So, I dragged the lazy slug, the Lummox, out today to Margarette and then Bailey Falls!

Oh, first the Lummox forgot the SD Card for his drone...LOL!  Anyway, we went to Mid-point Falls and then up to Margarette Falls. But that wasn't all, we then headed up the man manway over the "Wall" and towards the double cascades that make up Bailey Falls. God, I love hiking to these falls because it is just a creek bed...HELL YEAH! After wading through water to get to each waterfall I had to carry the Lummox because he was overheating...what a wuss! Still, it was a good day on the trail, Lummox and all. So to all the Peteoholics just one more thing...I'm out BITCHES!

Adventures With Buddy AT The Cabin In Ft. Bearmore

 

On my trip to the Cabin last week I thought most of my time there would be dodging rain mowing and getting my pictures from the drone. However, all that changed on Monday night when a bear showed up at the Cabin and this time it was Buddy. 

It was just after 8 pm and Dad came in from the porch and said a bear was headed down from the area of the Cabin. So, I grabbed my camera and started taking pictures before he moved on, but to my excitement, I would soon learn that wouldn't be the case. First, how did I know this was Buddy and not Bernie? Good old Bernie has been around a while my first encounter with him was in 2015. But around 2018 another bear showed up and wasn't two years old, so I named him Buddy. I knew he was coming around because I would catch him on the trail cam (when it was working). Buddy would appear and the last time he appeared to have the Mange. So, he had always been on the thin side and when I next saw a bear at the Cabin two years later I didn't think it was Buddy because this bear was too big so I thought Bernie. Same with the bear I saw in June, he was a good size. But this bear was clearly an adult but he was slim, trim and a little scruffy...that's Buddy.

Left: Buddy (2018, 2019); Right: Bernie (2020, 2022) Bottom: 07-2022

Buddy went to the Peach Tree and laid down to eat one. Next Buddy decided he wanted another Peach and what better place than in the tree. Then he came down and decided he wanted bird seed. He sniffed the porch looking for bird seed. I had put bird seed in the feeders on Sunday. Buddy couldn't reach the red feeder in the Cedar Tree. 

Eating Peached...

...checking the porch...

...standing for bird seed.

He thought about climbing it but decided that the middle Maple Tree, where the silver feeder hung would be a better opportunity. I think Buddy knew that the Maple would support him better than the Cedar and he proved right. He climbed into the Maple Tree and then broke the limb holding the feeder. With it on the ground, he laid down and enjoyed his prize for at least 20 minutes. Buddy was at the Cabin for over 45 minutes. I finally stepped out and he got up and moseyed off stopping to look back and then headed across the branch. 

Maple tree climb for bird seed.

Enjoying a hard-earned snack.

However, that wouldn't be all as the next morning there was evidence that Buddy returned. He came back and shook the Hummingbird feeder for the tree, but to Buddy's disappointment, it was empty.

The next morning.

Adventures with Buddy wasn't the only thing going on at the Cabin and I am not talking about mowing. No, I did take the drone up and filmed some (future video) and got some pictures of the sunset. This was all on Sunday as Monday and Tuesday were cloudy plus some rain. Anyway, I guess I need to start calling Fort Blackmore...Fort. Bearmore

From 400 feet.

More Photos: SmugMug