If you’re following this concrete stairway into nature, I hope that you don’t mind getting your feet wet – watch your step! This photo was taken at the Obed Wild And Scenic River National Park, in Tennessee. Prints are available in my gallery.
Thanks for stopping by!
This gritty, high-contrast black and white photograph features a series of rock steps on the trail at Piney Falls – located at the Fall Creek Falls State Park, in Tennessee. Prints available.
This black and white forest trail was photographed on my return hike from Upper Meigs Falls in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Prints available.
[ November 2019 ]
I visited Debord Falls at Frozen Head State Park, located in the Cumberland Mountains near Wartburg, Tennessee. It’s an easy 1/2 mile hike each way to see this 12-foot waterfall, which, depending on the season and recent weather events, can vary greatly as to volume of water. Fun for the entire family, dogs are also allowed but must be leashed.
Photographs
Prints
Fine prints are available in my gallery at Pixels – great for the home, office, lobby or cafeteria!
Video
This digital imagery is based on an earlier artwork. Now, it features a giant glass sphere, presumably encapsulating a pedestrian and his umbrella while trekking through the city.
Listen closely. Do you hear laughter? No, me either, just rainwater splashing on city streets. Enjoy my digital watercolor rendition of a sun shower in the city when you visit my gallery at Pixels. While you’re there, pick out a print or something else.
Thanks for stopping by!
Close-up black and white photography featuring goose steps imprinted across a snow-covered field. See more in my gallery.
Round and around, either up or down, spinning steps on this stairwell may well lead to infinity. At a minimum, hopefully to the floor you’re looking for.
In the meantime, check out my gallery at Pixels…
Sunlight beamed through the forest canopy in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, illuminating the trail along which I enjoyed peace and quiet on a morning walk. You, too, might enjoy this scenery in your home or office – if so, visit my gallery at Pixels. Several print types are available to select, in addition to other items.
Based on a photograph, this digital artwork features crowds of people walking on a city street. The sketchy-style and perspective might be just what you’re looking for? If so, please visit my gallery at Pixels to select a print.
As part of my House Mountain in Knoxville, TN series…
Part Four: Conclusion
It was a great day hiking House Mountain, and I certainly would recommend this as a day-trip for anyone in the area wishing to enjoy the great outdoors! Bring the proper clothing, water and camera – and prepare to rest along the way to fully enjoy the scenery. And, expect to be sore the next day!
Following 4 miles of hiking up the Mountain Trail (blue trail) and back-and-forth along the Crest Trail, I began the 1-mile decent down the mountain. Here are some photographs I took along the way…
It’s difficult to see, but if you look closely at Photograph 3 & Photograph 4, you’ll observe that the trail turns abruptly at times, usually associated with steep, rocky terrain. In a few instances, I had to pack my camera in order to free both hands for a safe descent around such turns on the trail. So, be careful!
Visiting House Mountain –
If you’d like to review my collection of House Mountain photographs as prints, then stop by my gallery at Fine Art America to have a look around! Thanks.
I plan to return to the mountain for another hike, probably along a different (red) trail…so, see you then!
I recently visited Mead’s Quarry Lake, part of the Ijams Nature Center, a 315-acre park along the Tennessee River in Knoxville, where I hiked various trails for a few hours. One of my favorites was the Ross Marble Quarry Loop, which included the Keyhole. A sign along the trail read:
If you take the time to look around, you will find large blocks of limestone strewn about this abandoned quarry pit and the wall that surrounds the Keyhole. Operations began in the early 1900s on the property originally known as the John M. Ross Quarry. The quarrying involved removing overburden, drilling the marble to form large blocks, prying the blocks from the rock face, lifting them using derricks and cables and transporting them out for cutting and polishing elsewhere.
Additional information included the following:
Mead’s Quarry Rail Line. FYI Railcars moved the large marble blocks to the nearby Tennessee River along rail spurs via adjacent Mead’s Quarry. During the 1920s, operations shifted to the Williams Lime Manufacturing Company, which is an indication that the large-scale marble extraction had tapered off.
When I came across the area called the Keyhole, I looked down to see a pathway leading to two sets of stairs. Recent rains had left the ground damp and the clay-mud dangerously slick. And, with moss growing everywhere, I decided to proceed with caution.
Winding my way across ledges, over rocks and around puddles, I could finally see the Keyhole at the base of a 40′ wall of stacked rocks. It was an impressive sight to be sure, no small undertaking.
Standing at the entrance, I felt small among the many massive boulders. The passageway itself was probably 7′ from floor to ceiling, a scale not apparent in these pictures.
On the other side, I encountered Sasquatch! Just kidding, but there were surprises around every corner. I was greeted by the sun brightening the surrounding landscape, and I descended a series of steps toward the bottom of the quarry.
Standing in the middle of the forest while surrounded by walls made of large blocks of limestone was certainly an unusual and interesting way to spend the afternoon. And I wasn’t alone, either, meeting several people who were also visiting the area for their first time. Which brings me to my advice – if you have time, the weather is decent and you’re in the area, I suspect you’ll enjoy hiking this quarry!
I’d also recommend hiking the Haworth Hollow trail – more on that another time…
