Since it was my spring break this past week, Troy and I decided to take a recommendation from Bryan and Erin who have been to the Smoky Mountains in the past, and rent a little chalet outside of the mountains for a few nights. We were quite anxious to get to our chalet on Wednesday after staying Tuesday night in Kodak, Tennessee, so at 3pm on the dot we checked into our chalet. We followed the back roads to get to our chalet "Barely Naked", and couldn't believe our eyes when we saw the driveway to get to our chalet. Unfortunately the pictures don't do it justice, but lets just say that after I tried and Troy tried twice, we could not make it up the driveway in my little Prius (they didn't mention the need for a 4 x 4 truck to get up the driveway on the website!). So we just decided to park it at the bottom of the hill, which unfortunately just meant that we had to climb and descend it any time we returned or left to go somewhere.
(looking up the driveway)
(the top of the driveway, facing the house)
On Wednesday we just settled in and on Thursday we went on quite a hike. We traveled an 8 mile round trip trail to see Ramsey Cascades Waterfall. The travel guide did say that the trail was "strenuous", and boy was it, but it was definitely worth the hike up. On the way, we crossed little log bridges, saw mini waterfalls, and even some bears!
(Troy crossing our first log bridge)
After our long hike and dinner, we then took a drive to Clingman's Dome. It is the highest point within the Smoky Mountains (and technically in North Carolina), at 6643 feet above sea level. We went for sunset on Thursday, and then for sunrise on Friday morning. Although the weather on both days was beautiful, it was quite chilly up at the observation tower!!
(before sunset)
(sunset)
(sunrise)
After sunrise on Friday morning, we decided to do a bit of a shorter 2.6 mile roundtrip hike to Grotto Falls. These falls were pretty cool in the fact that you could actually walk behind the falls to get to the other side.
Saturday morning, it was time for us to go! We woke up with the sun and got ready to come back to Michigan. Aside from our 10 hour drive back, our vacation was just about over!
(Sunrise from our bedroom window in our chalet)
** Troy has some very nice pictures that he took from his good camera, which I will share with you as soon as I can download them onto my computer. They include better sunrise/sunset pictures, the inside of our chalet, the bears we saw, and some awesome pictures of Grotto Falls. They will be posted in the coming days!!
3 comments:
Looks like such a pretty place! I can't believe that driveway...would've been nice to know about that beforehand huh? Welcome back :)
The chalet looks pretty nice. Can't wait to see the inside. I'm sure it was nice getaway.
BTW, did Troy come to any conclusion about his "wedding" shirt?
As for the driveway, shifting the car in L would have probably gotten you up that hill. Too bad it wasn't a Saturn, I heard those cars are beasts! A tiny 80 degree incline is nothing for a Saturn, or so I hear... Glad to have you guys back, I missed the company.
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