On a rainy Saturday morning, Tammy, Rhonda and I headed out for an adventure. This hike is the first one I have set out on in the rain. I have been caught out on the trail and the rain roll in, but to deliberately leave the dry comfort of home in a steady rain…well it was a first. I have decided that rain should be no deterrent. It rains a lot after all. Looking at the weather bug app, I see a chance for rain every day. If rain is to determine my plans, my plans would be to lay in bed and read. This would lead to a bad outcome after a while. I need to move. Hiking provides an extremely important physical outlet.
Backbone Falls Trail is a short loop hike that climbs up above Backbone Falls and crosses over the top of the Falls then heads back down. There are rock steps and unprotected ledges. The Falls are not huge, but they are lovely, falling 40 ft to a pool in the base of a small gorge. Well worth the short walk. Â It is one of two trails accessed from this parking area. One crosses the road to see the Falls.
Backbone Rock trail head is at the back of the parking area marked with a trail sign beside a huge set of steps. We started up the awesome rock stair steps toward the top of Backbone Rock. Backbone Rock itself is a rocky spur off Holston Mountain in Shady Valley, Tennessee in the Cherokee National Forest. A tunnel was cut through the rock by a railroad company. It is a popular rappelling and rock climbing spot. Today, in the rain, we had the parking lot to ourselves.
At the top of the stairs we turned left and headed towards the AT. There is a spur trail that takes one to the top of the rock. I passed on that. I am not a fan of heights. We made our way along the trail, which is well marked with blue blazes. The trail is well maintained, but there were places where it was overgrown and I lifted my arms and passed through weedy patches, the wet weeds slapping my legs and drenching my wet pants. The pants I chose did their job, the material proving it’s worth in the inclement conditions. My jacket soaked through and proved it’s unworthiness as true rain gear for lengthy exposure.
The rain and mist made the forest seem ethereal. This sight is not one a body enjoys from the couch at home. The trail did seem to go on forever. Sometimes, this happens. You decide you’ve probably walked far enough to be further along than you are. As you turn a corner, round a bend, come out of the undergrowth you expect to see the intersection or some other landmark. It doesn’t happen, you keep walking filled with expectation and you keep getting disappointed as the trail stretches on and on.
I caught up to Rhonda and Tammy at a campsite where they were taking a short break. We talked about how far we thought we had come along and decided we just had to be near the intersection. To our delight we were practically on top of it.
The AT has a powerful draw for me, the length of it and popularity, intrigue me. The white blaze that marks its length promises all kinds of adventure my imagination picks up and runs away with. The trail itself is very well maintained. We had 4.8 miles to get us back to Damascus, Virginia. Rhonda took off like she had been shot out of a gun, I looked up and she was gone, Tammy followed at a good pace and I brought up the rear of our little trio. I reminded myself they couldn’t leave me, I had the keys. I caught up to Tammy and passed her while she took a short break to snack. I broke out my Baby Ruth and munched it as I walked. It didn’t take Tammy long to catch and pass me. Down Hill is something I pace myself at for the sake of my joints.
At the border we met a couple of through hikers and chatted with them. Tammy shared a king sized Snickers. They gleefully tore into and shared the candy bar.
I hiked this section of the trail solo in March of 2016.
The difference in the trail was significant. Last time it was wide open spaces compared to the verdant tunnel we walked. The vegatitation was in full growth mode. The sunshine, rain, sunshine cycle fueling the forest to life.
The rain that had been falling stopped. The sun came out and we hiked. We passed a couple set up under a canopy offering trail magic of a certain herbal variety we politely refused. Another through hiker passed us at trail speed. Like slow moving traffic we moved aside.
The trail comes out of the forest into people’s yards. Just like that civilization. The trail goes a little ways straight then bears a left towards downtown Damascus, Virginia. We caught up to Rhonda in the park.
It was a great little hike. Glad to be on the trail with such good friends. Looking forward to our next hike!
MrsSmithsLifeUnexpected 