among nature: South Cumberland State Recreation Area

Nice little weekend trip with beautiful weather, ugly comrades, leaf-deafening hikin', and cowboy campin'.

Trails walked: Stone Door, Big Creek, Connector, North Rim, and Savage Day Loop.

We got in late Friday night, hiked in the dark to a campspot, and crashed after an evening by the fire. I never left the fire's side all night - you can see my "tent" in the photo next to the ugly Mexican poncho guy.

This was one of the most well maintained trails I've ever traveled - in fact a bit too maintained in places, but nice nonetheless.

Laurel Creek Falls near Stone Door.

Stone Door overlook.

We got so tired of this view :)

Descending the many steps of Stone Door. I did a little illegal off-rope maneuvering to get this vantage point, but don't tell anyone.

The many steps of Stone Door.

Into the abyss.

I really wanted to rope up and join the many rock climbers. May have to come back to get on belay.

Stick straight trees.

There were many suspension bridges. Made you feel like Indiana Jones.

This tree decided to eat an intruder.

Interestingly, as the dry creekbed in the this photo suggests, all the water in the area is not in the Gulf. It runs along the Rim, down into the Gulf, and disappears underground into the many area sinkholes. The Gulf creekbeds only run with water during heavy rains. The Rim creeks are always running. Flash flooding can be a problem.

Above me is over 100 feet of solid rock. The water pours out of the rock here in Schwoon Cave, our mid-day source. Outside the Cave is a 100 foot vertical cliff.