Dreamin' is Free

When I didn't have so many writing projects to take care of, one could find me hiking and backpacking with every second of leisure time that I had. These days, with the writing having become something like a job, I can't go hiking and camping the way I once did. But that should change this year, since we have several trips planned that will take me to places where I can get outdoors for a while.

Next month we're heading to the West Virginia high country. If there's snow (there should be) I'll at least go sledding, and I'm going to make an effort to take a stab at cross-country skiing.

Until then, I can go through some of my old digital photos and dream about the mountains.

Summit of Mount LeConte, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, March 2005.

Giant poplar tree, Boogerman Grove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 2004.

Pickens Nose, near the NC/GA border, 2004.

John Rock, Pisgah National Forest, 2004. (Looking Glass Rock in the background.)

Alone at a place called Devil's Elbow, Panthertown Valley, September 2004.

Whoops! Didn't get to my spot fast enough for a self-portrait. Wonderful waterfall on the Holly River, in Holly River State Park, West Virginia.

Summit of Flat Top Mountain, at Peaks of Otter, Virginia. 2004.

Me, me, and me. Crowder Mountain State Park, North Carolina, 2004.

On the broad summit ridge of Stone Mountain, Stone Mountain State Park, North Carolina, 2004.

Our Beautiful Mother

I stitched this together from a number of photos I took on the Boogerman Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This was in a classic cove hardwood forest, about as pretty a place as one is ever to see. This was in the midst of summer and the place was GREEN. I love Nature. This photo captures much emotion for me.

Click to enlarge.

Winter/Summer

I've hiked the Boogerman Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park more than I've hiked any other trail there. I've hiked it in every season of the year. It's a great trail for me because it travels through one of the greatest old growth forests in the park. Here are a few photos I've taken from the same spots in both summer and winter.

Everyone has to walk inside this tree (right on the trail) and have their photo taken in the hollow area. (Talk about your Mother Nature!)

This rock wall is one of many built and maintained by the former owner of the land, and the namesake of the trail "Booger" Palmer. Which is how the Boogerman Trail got its name. This old mountaineer kept refusing offers for his timber rights because he liked looking at the trees more than he did spending money.

This is the footbridge at the very beginning of the trail.