As Thanksgiving approached I discussed with my wife and son that I just couldn't "do the family thing" this year (2006). I needed some time away. So while they headed off for a long weekend of family and food I loaded my backpack and headed to the woods.

I had done some hiking in the area on the Appalachian Trail since we had moved here the year before but I had not been in the Pond Mountain Wilderness or to Laurel Fork Falls. I parked off Hwy 321 just outside of Hampton, TN, secured the car.donned my pack and hit the trail.

It starts off very level along a narrow creek bed just on the outskirts of town so you can see old defunct businesses and residences both but luckily the creek is between you and them so it's still a decent start. Before long at all the trail climbs a pretty good hill and turns away from town. The farther you go the prettier it gets. There is a place or two that you climb away from the creek then come back down to it so you get enough elevation gain to definitely be a good workout.

Farther down the trail you climb quite a bit onto a beautiful pine covered limestone buttress that offers fantastic views. From there you maintain the elevation for quite some time until you come to a right hand turn that takes you down many very well built rock steps. You begin to wonder if the steps will ever end when you begin to hear the sound of running water falling over rock.

I firmly believe that life, as any hike or bike trip, is about the journey more than the destination but when you know you're headed for a waterfall that you've heard great things about the destination is pretty important. What a pay off to this journey. Laurel Fork Falls are by no means one of the tallest waterfalls I've seen but they are absolutely beautiful. I spent a long time there, not just to recoup from the hike down and prepare for the hike out but also to take many photos and enjoy a snack to the sound of the water tumbling. I so wished it had been a warmer time of year so I could get in the water but even though the sun had been out on the whole trip November is not a time to get in a pool created by a waterfall.

One thing that really surprised me about this hike was the number of people I had met on the trail and that were here at the falls. I assumed it being Thanksgiving day most everyone would be at home sitting around, watching the parades, getting ready for first lunch then the football games. If I remember correctly I counted 35 other people on the trail that day.

The climb out on the the rock steps was not the most fun thing I had ever done, especially since I took a different route out that had probably 50% more steps than the route I took to the falls but I wanted to see more, including the Laurel Fork Shelter on the AT. Part of this hike was on the AT and part was a spur trail.

The shelter was quite similar to many on the Appalachian Trail being built of lumber on a rock foundation. My wife and I would later hike into here and spend the night at this shelter. Us and the biggest freaking rat I had ever seen. But that is a story for another time.

The hike out was great, just hated to see a great day of hiking come to a close. I thought a lot about the big dinner I had missed. I didn't need a big dinner, that was one of the reasons I did not want to go.I do not have will power for crap when it comes to good looking, good smelling food so my best bet was to stay away from it. I had a can of Vienna sausage and some crackers for lunch and a Honey Oat granola bar for a snack. My kind of day in the woods.

When my wife and son tot home at the end of the weekend they had to admit that they had more fun than they would have had I been there and been fussing about having to be there. I told them I most definitely had more fun where I was!! That's a good thing, it's only a month until Christmas!