Abrams Creek to Campsite 17

 

Little River

 Glad to have such a good fishin' buddy

Tellico Paddle Time

 

Hoopers Bald, Cherohala

 Thankful for some quality time at Hooper's Bald with two of my best buds today

Scoping out Citico Campsites

 I'm very thankful (1) that my Wookie co-pilot still enjoys long rides down gravel roads to recon camping and fishing spots and (2) that he wasn't mistaken for a sasquatch or a bear

I have no idea what we were doing, but it looks like we were doing it at Abrams Creek

 

Chilhowee Re-opening

 Celebrating Chilhowee's re-opening... this kid is a salamander finding MACHINE. The picture of just muddy, silty creekbed below--he found 6 salamanders (his total salamander count for the day was about 15).

Cicade Emerging

 Hanging out in the yard waiting for a cicade to emerge

Gee Creek/Hiwasse

 Another epic adventure weekend is in the books. Started the trip camping with Myers at Gee Creek. Hit up Webb Store to rent some duckies and went whitewater rafting, explored backroads, and hung out in the campgroud. Sam joined us a couple days in and joined for some fishing, rafting, kayaking, target shooting, and lux dump camping replete with roadside diner epicurian delights. 

Backpacking with Myers

 Backpacking with my best buddy. He decided campsite 1 where we've gone the other times we've backpacked isn't far enough away (2 miles roundtrip), so this time we went to campsite 15 (8 miles roundtrip). The last time I was there was with Brandon Everhart when Blount County called out of school for flooding in '98.... much better weather this time, and rangers didn't have to take us out in kayaks, so I'd say it's a win-win!

Oatmeal, straight out of the packet like a good backpacker

Baby Salamander

Start of the trail

Blister prevention 101

Flint and Steel fire, courtesy of Myers