Tag Archives: Tellico Plains

My Sunday Adventure pt.2

Posted by Ed on

So at the end of yesterdays post I had made it to the top of the mountain and the Stratton Meadows turn around, now its more easy getting down. I put the truck in 1st gear and basicaly idled my way down so I could keep an eye out for photo ops. I stopped a few time and turned the truck off just so I could listen to the creaking of the upper tree limbs blowing in the breeze in the snow covered silence. Then a few hundred meters I stopped again to listen to the water run off and the creaking of the limbs, a true nature orchestra.

The Bridge is the Cherohala Skyway where it crosses Stratton Meadows and the turnaround before heading back down the forest road to the bottom.

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My Sunday Adventure

Posted by Ed on

Yesterday after a great Breakfast of eggs benedict made by my dad Chuck I decided to take a wonder drive up the mountain via the Cherohala Skyway. Usually I make it to Stratton Meadows where I then head down the mountain via forest roads to where I start. Well I found snow,ice and fog and had to head back down the skyway.

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After backtracking down the mountain I decided to give the North River route a try to get up the mountain, its mostly gravel/dirt forest roads and should give good traction up to and above the 3000ft mark. When I hit the road it was nice and dry and green, that would soon change.

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On the way up it was pretty nice but I wanted snow and I did’nt have long to wait.
At the 2800ft make it started to snow turning the forest into a winter wonderland, it was sooooo quiet, the only sound was the running water and an occasional bird chirp.

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It was real nice till I hit the 3000ft mark and it started snowing but I was bound and determined to make it to the top and Stratton Meadows where I could safely turn around and head back down the mountain. So in 1st gear my venerable Ford F-150 made it up the last 800ft climb and I got turned around for the creep back down the mountain… and more pics.

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I’ll do a few more pics tomorrow before we head back to the Air Museum.

Black and White Tuesday

Posted by Ed on

The woods were quiet with little bird noise, but then it was overcast and raining a bit, just the way I like it.. 🙂

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Macro Monday

Posted by Ed on

While on my wonder drive Friday I was up around 3000ft and hit a Jewel Weed bonanza. I was driving along this spine of a ridge and the Jewels were on both sides of the road so I stopped for a few pics in the light drizzle.. 🙂

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Off Time!

Posted by Ed on

I got home for a visit on Thursday morning, yesterday was a few hours of wonder driving in the Cherokee National forest discovering new forest roads. I have a great topographical map of the area and I’m pretty good at map reading( thanks, army) so I put my skills to use and had a good time. While it was raining and overcast I did manage some good pics and had a turkey shoot at Green Cove pond and found the mother load of Jewell weed on a ridge crest at about 4000 feet. I’ll be posting the pics in the coming week. Today its off to Knoxville to do the farmers market and practice my urban/people pics.. 🙂

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