Went on a really nice hike on Saturday. Preston, Matt and I went from Big Cataloochee over Davidson Gap and into the Little Cataloochee settlement for a walk that was 9-1/2 miles round trip. It was really cool ’cause we got to see a couple of old cabins, the church and adjoining cemetary. I still find it hard to imagine what it would have been like to have lived here back in the late 1800’s. Besides what structures the Park Service has restored, there was lots of evidence of former farm sites and such. We ran into a couple of older ladies who had hiked in and were reveling in the history of the valley. Pretty cool. You can clickity-clickity for some more photos of our trip into the Little Cataloochee valley.

The trail.

Matt during an uphill rest break.

No Fall colors … yet.

Preston on the Messer Cabin porch.

The Messer Cabin.

The Little Cataloochee Baptist Church.

A rather large spider was just hangin’ out.

The Little Cataloochee Baptist Church.

A view through the trees.

The Hannah Cabin circa 1864.

The back of the Hannah Cabin.

Porch supports at the Hannah Cabin.

Matt, Preston and myself on the porch.

The waters of Palmer Creek.