Perhaps It Wasn't A Complete Failure
Unnamed Falls
LeConte Creek
Rainbow Falls Trail
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Tennessee
I got up early to hike the trail to Rainbow Falls along the Roaring Fork Motor Trail outside Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Arriving at the trailhead well before dawn for my first solo hike, I began trekking up the trail. The sign at the trailhead said "Rainbow Falls 2.7 miles." I thought to myself "sure I can do 2.7 miles." Little did I realize just what kind of 2.7 miles this was going to be. I stopped and photographed a couple of small falls that are abound on the creek and continued up hill. After about 3/4th of a mile of continuous rugged uphill hiking I stopped by this little falls and got some perspectives of it. After I was finished I started thinking about what lies ahead. Another 2 miles of this and decided that it was going to take me some time to reach my destination and I only had a few hours. So I decided to turn around and head back to the car, drive to the much shorter Grotto Falls trail and save this falls for a time when I could take my time and photograph all the little falls that littered this creek plus I wouldn't be rushed and kill myself in the process. Later that day I bought a Smoky Mountain waterfall guide and discovered that I had attempted a 2.7 mile hike with an elevation gain of nearly 2000 ft, surely not the best to start off the day without having warmed up the legs on a few shorter trails.
Perhaps It Wasn't A Complete Failure
Unnamed Falls
LeConte Creek
Rainbow Falls Trail
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Tennessee
I got up early to hike the trail to Rainbow Falls along the Roaring Fork Motor Trail outside Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Arriving at the trailhead well before dawn for my first solo hike, I began trekking up the trail. The sign at the trailhead said "Rainbow Falls 2.7 miles." I thought to myself "sure I can do 2.7 miles." Little did I realize just what kind of 2.7 miles this was going to be. I stopped and photographed a couple of small falls that are abound on the creek and continued up hill. After about 3/4th of a mile of continuous rugged uphill hiking I stopped by this little falls and got some perspectives of it. After I was finished I started thinking about what lies ahead. Another 2 miles of this and decided that it was going to take me some time to reach my destination and I only had a few hours. So I decided to turn around and head back to the car, drive to the much shorter Grotto Falls trail and save this falls for a time when I could take my time and photograph all the little falls that littered this creek plus I wouldn't be rushed and kill myself in the process. Later that day I bought a Smoky Mountain waterfall guide and discovered that I had attempted a 2.7 mile hike with an elevation gain of nearly 2000 ft, surely not the best to start off the day without having warmed up the legs on a few shorter trails.