Category Archives: Camping

Camping, Hiking, Parks

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park

01/06/2015 Danielle Huddleston Leave a comment

We went to the Smoky Mountains after Christmas!

I thought I would share some of my favorite pics!

Laural Falls

Chimney Tops Trail

Snow!

There were a lot of steps on the Chimney Tops Trail!

Really cool homestead at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

Beautiful hike on the Appalachian Trail from Newfoundland Gap.

We went up to Daniel’s Bunion.

It was 9+ miles total, out and back.

Gorgeous Views!

This hike was definitely my favorite!

This part made me nervous but it was beautiful.

Mingus Mill.

Beautiful sunset on the Carolina side.

Our last hike was on the Alum Cave Trail.

We just went up to the arch but it was still really neat to see.

I can’t imagine what this place is like during the summer since it was pretty crowded during the week in the winter!

So beautiful though!

Have you ever been?

What was your favorite spot?

Camping, Hiking, National Forest

Boardstand Trailhead, Ouachita National Forest ~Day 5

11/24/2014 Danielle Huddleston 1 Comment

We really like loops but since the Boardstand Trail & Old Military Trail loop is over 23 miles I knew that would not work.

We went ahead and went, thinking we would do an out and back.

When we got there we saw a road that kept going past the trailhead and decided to see where it went.

It ended up following the Old Military road trail with several intersections with the trail!

You can check out what we did on Endomondo.

Check out the trail map, here.

We just started on the trail at one of the intersections with the road, hiked on the trail for a while, and came back on the road.

Making our own loop.

The road was almost like a wide trail anyway.

Beauty Berries everywhere!

Starting back on the road.

We ended up with just over 5.5 miles and our very own loop!

Here is the start at the actual trailhead.

Smore’s!

Smore’s are better with Reece’s Cups…

Last night camping!

We started the trip back the next day!

Camping, Hiking

Earthquake Ridge, Ouachita National Forest ~Day 4

11/21/2014 Danielle Huddleston Leave a comment

I got winter weather for my 31st birthday!

There was frost everywhere and snow/sleet coming down.

You could barely tell it was snowing and it was the kind of snow that feels like it is trying to kill you but that did not stop me from dancing a jig.

And squealing…

The boys did not exactly share my enthusiasm.

It was so moody and beautiful.

It was freezing and very windy but the boys were still hoping to climb the tower.

I was not that disappointed to find out that it is only open on the weekends.

They have an old graveyard that you can see right off the Talimena Drive.

The Earthquake Ridge Complex Trail system is located right outside of Mena.

They have a lot of different trails.

The Orchard Trail is nice and easy and less then a mile.

We went into Mena to get lunch and then did another short hike.

They seem to be a little worried that you might lose the trail…

The boys decided to build a bridge.

Because obviously they needed a bridge to cross the creek.

Pumpkin pie on my birthday!

I bought myself cupcakes but I could not wait until my birthday and ate them.

I thought about buying myself more cupcakes but thought it might be a bit much.