On Saturday following Thanksgiving, my hiking partner and I started off from out lodgings at my brother’s house at 6:30 for a 2 1/2-hour drive to Savage Gulf State Park. It is not particularly close to anything which is a bane and benefit. We had expected it to be in the low-20’s, but clouds held in heat overnight for a low-30’s beginning. I had never been there before though I had it on my bucket list for years. The draw was the Stone Door. The name seems mysterious if not odd for a natural feature, so I wanted to see it. I knew that we could also see some waterfalls. There were several more than I had expected and more water flowing over them than is usual for the Cumberland Plateau. My brother later told me that it had been raining quite a bit down their way which explains it. If you want to see some of what we experienced, check out “Water Falling.”
Archive for the ‘Nature’ Category
Savage Gulf
Posted in General, Hike, Nature, Outdoors, Waterfall, tagged Cumberland Plateau, Hike, Nature, Outdoors, Savage Gulf State Park, Stone Door, Waterfalls on December 15, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Bays Mountain Cragging
Posted in Climbing, General, Nature, Outdoors, tagged Bays Mountain Park, Climbing, Outdoors, Rock Climbing on November 16, 2025| Leave a Comment »
I am happy to have gone outdoor climbing for the 5th month in a row, and the young people who I am with are lively, cheerful, challenged to climb hard, and respectful. We had the best of November weather, low 60’s, overcast which was great on a south-facing crag, and dry with a pleasant breeze. The small line of broken cliffs at Bays Mountain Park, as Mountain Projects euphemistically calls it, is “not a destination” crag with only 10 mostly top rope climbs, but the climbs are good moderates 50-yards from the car. Once again we had a goodly crew, seven of us in all. The difference was the ease of setting up top ropes and the use of four ropes and four belay devices. Everyone attempted all seven climbs that we set-up, and a few of us multiple times to clean the anchors. If want to see a little of the action, click on “BMC“.
Another First
Posted in Climbing, Nature, Outdoors, tagged Climbing, Fall Colors, Hidden Valley Climbing Area, New Adventure, Outdoors, Rock Climbing on October 31, 2025| Leave a Comment »
I had never been to Hidden Valley climbing area north of Abingdon, Virginia. Not knowing what I was getting into, I bought a climbing guide and researched the climbs that I wanted to attempt. The line of cliffs running near the top of the ridge has a rich climbing history. There are moderate climbs, but many are stout. It is so good to have climbing partners who will give it a try. We climbed a 5.8+, two 5.7’s, and a 5.10a. As I gain my confidence back after several years off, I may try some a bit harder, but safety for me and my partners is key. It has solid sandstone with many varying feature for interesting and challenging climbing. It was such a beautiful day and the drive was shorter than the others we have gone to. I plan to go back and explore more of this area. We had a very good time.
Check out the party at “Hidden Valley Revel.”
Return to The Channels
Posted in Exercise, General, Hike, Nature, Outdoors, tagged Hike, Nature, Outdoors, The Channels on September 24, 2025| Leave a Comment »
I have repeated many hikes over the years, but usually it is after the passage of considerable time. I had planned a hike with two young couples, one of whom asked that we go to The Channels because she heard that it was cool. Off we went. I have still not gone up from the Gap, however. For even though we got there reasonably early, there was no parking spot. So, I knew the trailhead on the other side of the mountain, and we made our way there, hoping the gates were open. They were. One advantage to this side is that we only saw one other couple on the trail. I hope that you enjoy the pictures of our hike at “Channel 2“.
Soggy Bottom Creek
Posted in Climbing, General, Nature, Outdoors, tagged adventure, Climbing, Hike, Hiking, Nature, Outdoors, Rock Climbing, Travel on September 7, 2025| 1 Comment »
As was the case on my last trip out (“New Attempt“), the weather only marginally cooperated. It had rained vociferously the night before and a fog lay heavily over the forest silencing nearly all voices. Little Wilson Creek, however, sang out joyously, her pulchritudinous cascades heavily laden with the copious runoff of the recent deluge. I tried to get on the warm-up climb, Jigsaw, but the way to the first bolt was dripping and treacherous. After abandoning this initial attempt, it rained lightly. Thinking that climbing was not in our purview for this day, we nonetheless searched Mountain Project for the order and difficulty of climbs, as my memory was a bit remiss concerning details of climbs with which I had much earlier been familiar. We found a climb within my wheelhouse under a small roof that was only damp. I knew that I could not go to the rings at the top of the climb since the climb above the roof was actively being rained upon, albeit lightly. The roof was just sufficient for my group of eight and their equipment to avoid a slow soaking. I set off up the route adding several cams between bolts. Though the face was only damp, I quickly discovered that the crack needed to ascend was party to a small trickle that would not be slowed by any amount of chalk. After several skating hold failures, I gained the roof and set up a three cam anchor. Everyone attempted it more than once, several successfully. I cleaned it at the end, and after all the visual beta, I climbed it clean. All the while, the multitudinous attempts and further belay training, the weather and single climb to be done dampened no ones spirits or conversations, many stories and smiles being shared around. Our hope is to return for the next outing on a dryer day to attempt several of the other climbs. Check out our pictures of the trip at “Soggy Scaling.”
New Attempt
Posted in Climbing, General, Nature, Outdoors, tagged Nature, Outdoors, Rock Climbing, Teaching rock climbing on August 2, 2025| 1 Comment »
You can’t always make it to your destination, but you can keep making effort and most usually progress in that direction. Since the age of 41, I have considered myself a rock climber. It is not the most important thing about me, nor the most permanent, but it is good fodder for conversation, anticipation, challenge, and blog entries. Since moving back to East Tennessee after 30 years of absence, I had only climbed three times on rope and about three times bouldering in three years (1).
Besides time, there was the issue of finding a partner. I may have solved that problem. I began going weekly to a Bouldering Gym in Bristol (2) in February. I have met many enthusiastic young people who want to climb outdoors. I offered a trip to one of my old crags for Saturday last. Five climbers responded, three of which had never been climbing outdoors and another who had not been rope climbing. I harkened back to teaching climbing to high schoolers in Western North Carolina. Getting six busy people to schedule on the same day at the same time is a bit challenging, but we made it happen, albeit on a less-than-ideal weather day (3). To see a bit of what we did, click on “Old Digs, New Gig“.
- https://creatorworship.net/2023/05/15/playing-along-the-line/ , https://creatorworship.net/2023/06/02/at-long-last-2/ , https://creatorworship.net/2024/04/09/bays-mountain-climbing-again/
- https://www.appalachianboulderingcenter.com/
- It was that seventh partner that failed to totally coordinate with the others, but we worked around his schedule.
Bushwhacker’s Special
Posted in Exploring, General, Hike, Nature, Outdoors, Wildflowers, tagged Herbaceous varieties, Hike, Lichens, Nature, Outdoors, Pond Mountain Wilderness, Wildflowers on June 16, 2025| Leave a Comment »
A bit over two years ago my hiking partner and I went across the Pond Mountain Wilderness at Pond Mountain Peak from Watauga Lake to the Appalachian Trail (see “Bushwhacking Pond“). This day, several Saturday ago now, we were headed back to the wilderness to explore up a mountain creek that looked interesting to my partner. Now, I thought, ‘Bushwhacking up a mountain creek involves rhododendron/laurel thickets’, which gets a bit wearisome without a goal and set amount of time. But hey, I’m up for most anything, so in we plunged in, this time with an Initiate. After perhaps a half of an hour, I suggested that we add a goal and possibly a way out of the thicket. This holler is at the base of Pond Mtn. So, straight up slope we went. The thickets thinned and thickened but really didn’t subside all the way to the ridge. When you get on the side of the ridge in trees and particularly thicket, you cannot see the top. We did fairly well though, peaking the ridge less than an eighth of a mile from the peak and benchmark. None of us wanted to retrace that route back down, so we decided to follow the ridge along the heretofore low maintained trail back to the lake. Well, that was two years ago before Hurrican Helene. Except for short stints of reasonable trail, there were piles of down trees of every size to go around and through. When we finally got back to the road and the lake, we had done approximately six miles. Problem was, we estimated that we were two and a half miles by road from the car. So, I left my pack and ran/walked to the car. As I progressed up the holler, the road kept getting steeper. If you really like bushwhacking, I’ve got a “Bushwhacker’s Special” just for you. Click on it to see a few pictures.
So Nice To Get Out Again
Posted in General, Hike, Nature, Outdoors, tagged Hike, Little Stony Falls, Nature, Outdoors, Waterfall on April 22, 2025| Leave a Comment »
I have so meant to put up more blog entries about catechism questions and progress on my workshop, but life has gotten so busy that I may not even continue with this blog for the foreseeable future. I’ve said that before and have taken some months off now and then, but I have always come back to it since I first started in 2007.
One reason I come back is that I enjoy sharing the joys of getting out in the woods and spending time with family and friends. After too long of a time, I persuaded 5 young people to go on a little hike with me. The day was beautiful, the wildflowers were abundant, and the conversation was encouraging.
Check out a few of the things we saw and did at Little Stony Falls.
A Frozen Head Hike
Posted in General, Hike, Nature, Outdoors, Thanksgiving, Waterfall, tagged Frozen Head State Park, Hike, Outdoors, Waterfall on December 22, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Times, they are a changin’. My extended family has had a Thanksgiving tradition that has built up over 35+ years. We gather at my oldest brother’s house, eat lunch together, play flag football, watch a football game, go for a hike the next day, and meet back at my brother’s house for “haystacks” (1). Other parts to this tradition, like night-before soup supper have come and gone. Number of attendees at this gathering have varied from somewhere in the teens to over 60. Visits to in-laws, children, sickness, friends and classmates have caused a constant flux in the numbers. This year there were 24 souls in attendance, greatly reduced from just a few years ago. That did not dampen our joy at sharing the thankfulness for all that God has provided, family being high on the list. My generation, the four siblings were there, however, I am the only one from that generation who still plays in the flag football game. The group agreed that the next morning, which was supposed to have temperatures in the teens, was not a good time to hike for young and old. I convinced my older brother to go out on a hike anyway. Though I have hiked many places over many years, I had never been in Frozen Head State Park. He said that there was a 3-mile hike to a waterfall. It was far better than not going at all, and the prospect of just two of us meant that we could converse more deeply and catch up.
Present pursuits have limited my hiking and blogging. It explains why three days before our First Advent Celebration (2), I am just now blogging about a Thanksgiving hike. Pictures and commentary at “Two Frozen Head Waterfalls.”
- “Haystacks”, as my sister-in-law labeled them, is an individual’s mixture of salad parts topped with meat (turkey most usually or ground beef), cheese, salsa, beans, and whatever else is available and lacking whatever the individual does not prefer.
- It doesn’t slip off the tongue quite so easily as Merry Christmas, nor does it meet traditional muster, but it is more accurate.
An Easy Cruise and Views
Posted in Fellowship, General, Hike, Nature, Outdoors, tagged Fellowship, Hike, Outdoors, Views on September 9, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Since I returned from my trip to the Northeast in June (“Challenging, Tiring, and Inspiring” and 5 others), I have focused on a project around the house, purposely setting aside hiking. Saturday before last, I took a break from that project and went hiking with my partner and two guys I recently met. We had the easiest 10-mile hike I believe that I remember through a shady forest of reasonably old trees to some decent views, all the while conversing over things of substance in good fellowship. Check out a few pictures at “Pinnacle Mountain Fire Tower“.
Miscellaneous Moments
Posted in Beauty, Nature, Random thoughts on July 25, 2024| Leave a Comment »
So often blog entries are about big events, big moments, and big thoughts. In order to enjoy everyday life, one must notice the little beauties, oddities, and profundities. Check out a few of mine from the last few months at “Miscellaneous Moments“.
A Bright Morning
Posted in Beauty, Exploring, General, Hike, Nature, Outdoors, Poem, tagged Baxter State Park, Glacial Pond, Hike, Naure, Outdoors, Poem on July 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »
My fast and furious vacation was only 10 days, for reasons of scheduling and finances, so why am I still talking about it 3 weeks later? Well, it was that good, and I like to tell stories. Please be patient; I will be done soon.
I slept in on my 8th day of vacation, not arising until 5:30. The sun was up, the woods were calling, I could sleep later another day. I arrived at the trailhead of my last hike, Kidney Pond, at just before 7 AM. I didn’t have a goal other than to enjoy the scenery one more time, so I hiked a short distance to find a spot where I could get to the shoreline and sit down. The morning was glorious, bright, cloudless with a light breeze sufficient to keep the insects away. The sun was already high, and I was looking into it, which caused the other shoreline where there were cabins to be shadowy. It felt as though I was all alone, though in such situations, I only feel the lack of people. As time goes along, I am trusting and feeling more of God’s presence as I lean into Him, therefore, I am aware that I am never alone. The details of this very trip, how everything fell into place with incredible moments in nature and with people, both family and friends as well as strangers, strengthened my sense of His presence. It is days like these that we must remember when more difficult and mundane days challenge our resolve to live thankful and trusting.
I have some pictures and commentary of this last wee hike at “Last Morning in Baxter“, but before you go there, I’d like to share the poem that began coming to me as I strolled the 1/2-mile back to the vehicle, completing it in my journal:
Kidney Pond, Baxter State Park, ME, 7:30 AM 6/21/24
Morning sunlight glimmer
Water deeper, dimmer
Woodpeckers pecking away
Bullfrogs calling their way
Water on granite boulders lapping
Breeze cooling, stirring, laughing
Mountains against bluest sky
Spruce, fir, pine, cedar point high
Alone ‘til now when far across
Fishermen cast in shimmer loss (1)
Voices few but come on breeze
Just in shadow of far trees
Water lilies bob on the gentle swell
Almost blooming, all is well
So, God gave me this final pleasure
At Kidney Pond I drank full measure
I left B.S.P. probably never to return, but I take a piece of it home with me as memories. For me, this is what vacation is all about, making memories and learning to make more memories in the daily challenges, opportunities, and privileges of life, whether a bright day by a beautiful pond or a rainy day of further darkening skies. God is worthy and I benefit.
- A little artist license with the verb agreement
Baxter State Park
Posted in Camping, Exploring, General, Hike, Nature, Outdoors, tagged Baxter State Park, Camping, Hike, Nature, Northern Forest, Outdoors on July 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Baxter State Park is about Mt. Katahdin, right? It is certainly the most popular destination in the park, but it is a true wilderness with very few roads and those are all gravel. It has other mountains. It has streams, waterfalls, ponds galore, and some 209,000 acres of northern forest. The day after I climbed Mt. Katahdin, I took several hikes adding up to 10 miles that sampled some of the other sites of the park. Check it out at “Pond, Peaks, and Falls“.
Deep on the Bucket List
Posted in Camping, General, Hike, Nature, Outdoors, tagged Bucket List, Hike, Mt. Katahdin, Nautre, Outdoors on July 7, 2024| Leave a Comment »
When I was a 17-year-old, I hiked for 7 days in Maine. It had been intended to be a month, but health and other issues shortened the trip. Also, Baxter State Park was having major forest fires and was closed at the time. So, ever since then, I have wanted to hike up Mt. Katahdin. I only had to wait 47 years. Check out my wonderous day on the mountain at “Mt. Katahdin.”
An Easy Day?
Posted in Camping, Exploring, Family, General, Grandchildren, Hike, Nature, Outdoors, tagged Exploring, Grandchildren, Hike, Nature, Outdoors on July 3, 2024| Leave a Comment »
What do you do on a day after achieving a serious goal? Rest, celebrate? Sure, that works, but how do you rest and celebrate? Frequently, circumstances dictate what you do, but I had the joy of spending it with grandchildren, yet again doing what I love to do, explore in the woods. Together with their father and mother, we went to Diana’s Baths and then Cathedral Ledge, and then I was on the road again. See for yourself at “The Baths“.
The Reason We Went
Posted in General, Hike, Nature, Outdoors, tagged Hike, Mt. Washington, Nature, Outdoors, Sixers on June 30, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Continuing on my vacation (see “Challenging, Inspiring, Tiring“) by leaving the blessed fellowship at church in Essex Junction, VT, I headed east to North Conway, NH, to meet my daughter and her family. I realized from road signs that I would soon be passing through Montpelier, the capital of Vermont. As an elementary school child, I was always very interested in geography, certainly because of my family’s vacations, family discussions, and National Geographics in the home. Trivia facts about places clung to me like flies on flypaper. I was always fascinated by the prospect of the Montpelier capital building dome coated in gold. I must see it I thought. As this story unfolds, you will see several examples of things that I have wanted to see or do for decades. One major one was to bag a sixer. Come along for the ride to see just what I mean by clicking on “A Fierce Mountain To Be So Short“.
Challenging, Inspiring, Tiring
Posted in Camping, Exercise, General, Hike, Nature, Outdoors, Vacation, tagged Church Fellowship, Hiking, Nature, Outdoors on June 25, 2024| 2 Comments »
I just had the privilege of going on my first vacation in several years. Oh, I’ve taken a weekend here or there, but this trip was 10 solid days. The title represents how I have been describing it when someone asks how my vacation went. Each of those words has a double meaning to me.
Challenging can be good or bad, and it was both. I enjoy being challenged by a strenuous physical activity. I climbed two significant mountains and did other hiking. Conversely, I drove many miles and endured black flies in Maine.
The beauty of God’s creation always inspires me in two ways. We are drawn to beauty, variety, order, bigness, in a word, grandeur. The reason we are drawn to beauty is because it points us to God’s beauty, power, knowledge, creativity, and supply for us. That in turns causes me to want to worship and serve Him more and better.
Most people I talk to want a vacation to be relaxing. I smile to myself and think of the Norman Rockwell painting of the family in the car on the way to and from vacation (1). I choose to embrace the tired and take on some bucket list challenge. Afterall, you come home in order to get rest from vacation, right? My definition of vacation is an enjoyable change of pace that puts you mind at ease. That may be relaxing or strenuous, depending on your personality and physical, mental, and spiritual state. On the vacation that I am beginning here to detail, it was tiring for two reasons. I hiked 38 miles in 8 days. For an AT through hiker that is two to three days, though I say even most of them have trouble with 21 of those miles that I did. Secondly, I drove 2650 miles to get to these hikes and visit several friends and family members along the way. Being somewhat of a stats guy, that means that I drove 70 miles for every one mile that I hiked. That probably means that some of you are questioning my sanity (yes, including you, BST!), but when you have certain limits, challenges are increased. There was also a heat wave in the NE that pushed me to beat the heat with early rising, 4, 4:30, and 5 AM.
With that thorough introduction, let me begin the story of my 2024 trip to New England by you clicking on “Lackawana to Smuggler’s Notch“.
Bays Mountain Climbing Again
Posted in Climbing, Consequences, Nature, Outdoors, Problems, tagged Climbing, Outdoors on April 9, 2024| 1 Comment »
I believe that last Tuesday was only the fourth time that I have climbed since I moved to Tennessee over a year and half ago. I have maintained a good portion of my contact strength for holding onto holds by doing hands and fingertip pullups, but as I found out, I have not retained much endurance. It was the most pleasant weather for climbing and the company both new and old was good. Click on “Cheese Grater Special” to see and read what happened.
Jones Falls
Posted in General, Nature, Outdoors, Waterfall, tagged Hike, Jones Falls, Outdoors, Waterfalls on March 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Back in October I went on a hike with three young people from my church. I had been to Elk River Falls numerous times in years past and even recently, but I did not know until recently that there are two falls beyond that on downstream tributaries. My hiking partner and I were looking for the second one but didn’t find the trail. We have to go back and try again. On the way back I stopped for water and a snack while he went to catch up with the other two who had turned back after Jones Falls. They temporarily got off trail and I passed them, going all the way back to the parking lot at back. Finally, we met up, but I must confess that I was a bit nervous for them. None of that spoiled the beautiful day we enjoyed in the woods finding something new. Click on “Jones Falls” for a few pictures.
Mount Rogers VA
Posted in General, Hike, Nature, Outdoors, tagged Hike, Lewis Fork Wilderness, Mount Rogers, Mountain Ponies, Outdoors on March 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Due to time, distance, and responsibility, no sixer (1) in reach, we decided to hike Mt. Rogers, the highest point in Virginia at 5729′. The easiest access is from Grayson Highlands State Park, but that is not how we roll. So, we came from VA 603, 6.5 miles to the summit. The road does most of the elevation, leaving a 2400′ elevation gain to the summit. Though listed as hard, for 13 miles out and back, this is a very moderate route with easy grade and smooth trail surface.
My daughter and I hardly felt tired at the summit, so we decided to go back another way, lengthening the return a little and the difficulty a bit. But it was well worth it because the best views and most interesting details were on the return trip. We followed the Appalachian Trail around to the Lewis Fork Wilderness Trail and then the Lewis Fork Spur Trail back to the Mount Rogers Trail back to VA 603. As best I can calculate, our return trip was 7 to 7.5 miles. Being conservative, we hiked 13.5 miles. The cost was some bouldery, ankle-twisting sections and a good half-of-a-mile boggy section. My daughter corrected me to say it was a fen since it was flowing, but I don’t know if there is a term for flowing saturated flat areas in a high mountain forest. It was wet, squishy and required much rock and log hopping to navigate.
When got to the section where the Appalachian Trail and Grayson Highlands Trails used the same path, it was well frequented. On the rest of the Mount Rogers and Lewis Fork Trails, we saw no one. The hike was moderate enough that we finished in less than 8 hours with much sight-seeing and some lounging for peaks and views. If you would like to share a small bit of our adventure, click on “Virginia’s Highest” for pictures and commentary.
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