The Ballad of the Bobcat and the Bear

Michael Wilson and I took another of our famous trips this past weekend, and Paul DeValk joined us for the epic adventure.   Having camped throughout Virginia and North Carolina, we decided to head to Tennessee and spend some time in the Smoky Mountains.

Based in a cabin near Pigeon Forge, we spent Friday hiking Mt. Le Conte, which is the highest peak in Tennessee at 6,593 ft.  Although we saw no bears or bobcats, Bill the squirrel followed us past gorgeous overlooks up to LeConte Lodge which is at the peak.

 

Saturday we hiked up to Ramsay Cascades, an 8 mile roundtrip hike that cumulated at the 90-ft falls.

It was fun to spend some time with both Michael and Paul.  Being their former church Youth leader, it has been a neat transition from being leader/student to being equal friends.  They have both developed into good Christian men.

Just for fun, here are pics from a camping trip with them several years ago and then from this past weekend, to see how these guys have changed.

Truly an epic weekend.