Square Foot Garden

This year we are planting a "Square Foot Garden". The idea is that you basically create boxes that are 4 ft wide by however long you want and divide them into square foot sections. I had to dig out the hill a good bit to make the ground flat enough to put the 4 x 8 boxes on it. We made the boxes out of 1 x 8 cedar, added rabbit fencing, and made the "grid" out of mason string. The "soil" is peat moss, compost, and vermiculite by thirds.

You can read about the benefits of square foot gardening by clicking here.

Cheoah River

Yesterday we hiked the Appalachian Trail from Stecoah Gap to Yellow Creek Gap. On our way back from Yellow Creek to pick up the other car, we went by the Cheoah river. As it turned out, they had a release that day. The Cheoah is apparently one of the best rivers in the east when they release water from the dam (see more at www.cheoahriver.com). I have been by the river before, but during the release it was pretty dramatic. Below are pictures of kayakers playing in a hole nearby, and the suspension bridge that goes out over the river.

Mt. Cammerer

Saturday we hiked to the fire tower on Mt. Cammerer. This was one of the best views I've seen in the Smokies period. The view from the top is 360 degrees and completely unobstructed. The fire tower has been restored and is open, which was good because it was so windy you couldn't stand outside for long. It was actually a little scary and after taking a few photos my hands were absolutely freezing. The wind was loud, but not uncomfortable for the rest of the hike.  We took the Low Gap trail out of Cosby campground, then intersected with the AT at Low Gap. The trail to the fire tower is a short spur trail off the AT. The total mileage out and back is roughly 11.