Cummins Falls!

My husband and I love hiking. So we're game to go anywhere and try anything.

And when I mentioned a place called Cummins Falls, my husband was eager, even though it was a two-hour drive, each way, down back roads with no names. And even though it was in the 80s and we had to take the vehicle affectionately known as the "sweat mobile." (It has no air conditioning.)

But Cummins Falls was worth it!

To the left, is a photo I took from the top of the gorge before we hiked down.

It was a long way down. Thankfully, there were steps on some steep sections. Because of foreshortening, you can't tell how steep this is--the rises between the steps were often well over 18 inches. I felt like I was on the Stairs of Cirith Ungol. Especially on the return when everything was uphill.

On our way hiking up the gorge to the falls.

Here is my husband putting his boots back on. We had to ford the river a couple of times.

 Once we reached the gorge, we climbed up part of the waterfalls. And an another adventurous climber took our photo.

Even though we are in the midst of a severe drought in Eastern Tennessee, the falls were gorgeous.

The water was freezing cold. I had the shivers despite the heat.

My husband swimming in one of the top swimming holes in Tennessee.

Couldn't close the post without a shot of my hiking boots. These shoes have given me more than twenty years of hiking pleasure. And have seen their share of bears and stepped on more than one rattlesnake--though those are other stories.