Free time in January was spent in N. AL, and TN's Cumberland Plateau.
Week 1
New Year's Day dayhike. In and out the lower 4 miles of the Chinnabee Silent Trail at Cheaha State Park in AL, plus the Lakeshore Trail.
Cheaha Falls.
The view from the Cheaha Falls shelter on the ridge above.
Couple from the Devil's Den, a series of small drops/falls.
Lake Chinnabee from the Lakeshore Trail.
Late start meant a late end. Back through the Devil's Den after sundown.
Week 2
From the Walls of Jericho on the AL/TN border.
Water flowing from the entrance to the amphitheater of the Walls.
The water comes from a cave inside the amphitheater, and sometimes through the Walls themselves.
After climbing up into a second raised area beyond the main amphitheater, one can go up to, and down into, The Grotto.
A little size perspective, though it is indeed a perspective pic, so the falls are taller than they appear. Here I is!
Week 3
From the Savage Gulf State Natural Area, TN. Stone Door Trail to Big Creek Gulf to Greeter Falls loop to Big Creek Rim. Oh, and the short walk down to Laurel Falls.
Laurel Falls.
Big Creek, flowing Big! This is all dry in months that are, well…drier.
This is the trail to Ranger Falls, which is kinda blocked at the moment.
The "sink" where the creek goes underground in drier times.
The seasonal fall there was flowing well.
Big Creek has more volume, and is narrower above the sink.
There are many scenic rapids, and boulders to take a break on.
The gorge is 5-800 feet deep. On the way up to Alum Gap, a stream cascades down the side of the canyon.
Upper Greeter Falls on the Greeter Loop.
Lower Greeter Falls is particularly beautiful.
Love this fall, and the creek below it.
There is a "hidden" unnamed fall off-trail on the loop between Greeter and Boardtree Falls(which I did not get pics of, being preoccupied with having left my sunglasses at Lower Greeter Falls-crap!).
Week 4
Trip to Fiery Gizzard canceled as I received a call that a member of our church fell ill, and tried(unsuccessfully) to get back home to see him before he died. I had camped on the Grundy Day Loop, and did the WHOLE two miles. What a nice preview it gives of the Gizzard, though, which was an instant favorite of mine, and will probably be done for week 1 or 2 of February.
9F that night, quite chilly.
Gizzard preview:
Week 5
From Savage Gulf's other side, which is a loop comprised of the Savage Day Loop, North Rim, Connector, Collins Gulf, Collins Rim, and South Rim trails.
Frozen stream on the Savage Day Loop.
Cascade above Savage Falls.
Savage Falls.
From a side trail to the Savage Falls Overlook.
Looking into the Gulf,
…visibility wasn't that great.
Another frozen stream.
Did not take many pics the following days.
Going up the opposite side of the gorge on the Connector looking back up the the North Rim where I'd been 1.5hrs before.
Horsepound Falls.
Suter Falls.
