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My Mom’s house where I was raised is only two or three miles from the Cracker Barrel where you ate dinner. ❤️

I live near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park now. But, I was born and raised in Middlesboro, Kentucky, about four miles from the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park visitor’s Center. I will always say, that Cumberland Gap has everything the Smokies has without the huge crowds. That makes it even better for me. ❤️

When the 300,000 pioneers saw the white rocks from the Wilderness Road trail, they realized that they were only four or five miles away from the Cumberland Gao and their destinations in Kentucky. The white rocks served as a beacon for the pioneers.

Sky light cave is a short hike from the pic-nic area at the Wilderness Road campground. You don’t have to take a long hike to see the cave, if you don’t want too. You guys just decided to take the long way to see it. LOL! 😂

I was born and raised in Middlesboro, Kentucky. I was a park ranger at Cumberland Gap National Historicial Park from 1983 to 1992. I loved my job so much. But, time went on, I got married, and I had to move away from Middlesboro. I know that I have a biased opinion, but I think, on a smaller scale, Cumberland Gap has everything that the Smoky Mountains National Park has, minus the huge crowds of people. And, I think the Wilderness Road Campground, that is part of the park, is the best campground in the whole southeast region. It is so quiet and peaceful, there are plenty of woods with mature trees providing constant shade over all the camp sites! You have electrical hook ups, clean bath houses, and all the other amenities that any other campground provides. If you are into back country camping, Martin’s Fork campground is not only a nice place, but they did provide a very rustic cabin that you could make reservations to stay. I have been away for a long time. I am assuming that the cabin is still there, and it can be reserved. Someone can correct me, if I am wrong. But, when I was a park ranger in the 80’s, you could hike four miles up to the Martin’s fork campground, pitch a tent, or reserve the cabin and have a very nice experience there. Hensley Settlement is less than a mile away from the Martin’s Fork camp site. So, you have all the cabins and sights to see there. As I said, Cumberland Gap offers everything that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers. But, you will not be inundated and surrounded by huge crowds of people. So, that makes it even better. I feel very privileged and blessed that I not only was able to grow up there, but to be a part of the park service there for so many years. Those were the best days of my whole life.

Well hot dang, me and my friends were staying at lonesome lake the exact same night as you fellas! You just missed the snow on that monday. But you're absolutely right, that Wednesday morning wakeup was beautiful! We came in from the other way, hiked up and over texas pass on Sept 5, and stayed two nights in the cirque.

Many more beautiful miles to paddle down stream from there. All the way to Muskegon Lake.

Decapitated? yeah right!

Very nice Kayaking trip with an special cloudy day! Nice to see you good my friend!!

_Wow, Pigeon River! Calming waters, gorgeous scenery - pure bliss on kayak. Love the idea of exploring nature at your own pace. This trip is inspiring!_ _Thank you for sharing this wonderful inspiration with us._

We are somewhat new to kayaking. We have 12 1/2ft kayaks. Would this be a good river for newbies?

When i worked 3rd shift, i used to nap in that park most mornings.

Glad you enjoyed it. Have fun.

A cold one delicioso amigo eres único disfruta y gracias por su visita bendiciones

Maravilloso es la magia de un México bello y su gente siempre brindando lo mejor gracias por visitarnos desdé Arkansas les deseo lo mejor bendiciones

Excellent video, thanks for sharing. I am hoping to do this exact loop!

Very cool

Thanks for sharing, How long did it take you to do the hike?

see any gators?

I’m also starting the trail on February 22nd. of 2024.. I’m going lake to ocean though and it’s been raining!!! I’m expecting to slog miles of water, but I’m super excited to get on trail. Thanks for the video.

Hi, do you have information in a pdf doc about your route i could use as a guide? Thank you!!

Thanks

I watch you and Di hike the Israel National trail. Great job. Since I will not leave the states, too old, I can watch you hike through countries that I will never visit, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and Di. Bill

Great video with lots of great information about the trail!

Nice video, looked like a great adventure. That's one of my favorite rivers.

Beautiful thanks 🙏 for sharing

_Cool and interesting hiking adventure video with incredibly informative narration and enhanced by beautiful music, the beauty and exciting of marvelous Porcupine Mountains trail scenery are clearly and distinctly explored. Thank you for sharing your insight and expertise with the world._

Like number 32. Awesome hike. Michigan needs to upgrade there trails. When I was a kid , we never had ticks in Michigan. Now they are bad.

Beautiful place I hiked a good selection of that with Mike TrailHawk Dunn he is currently hiking from the bridge back home the white cloud, roughly 350 miles he’s less than 100 miles from home right now

Great video! Can't wait to go back!

Huge thanks for showing this.

New to your channel nice video. New to kayaking will be uploading kayaking videos soon

Thanks for sharing this with us! Now I’ll have to check it out.

How much are those foldable kayaks?

Neat video, I'm looking forward to following in your footsteps here at the end of the month, but in the opposite direction

@Ken Outdoors I love kayaking in Ohio River ... thanks for the video

Great job with your videos! We’ll be doing this trail in June. Any advice on camp sites and bugs? Thanks

🫡

Thanks for sharing this one! I'm looking forward to heading back there again soon!! Happy trails!

Thanks for walking around so much, enjoyed seeing how the train looks overall ! Derek..Colorado

Good video my friends

Great content sad those masks what nonsense we had to put up with thank goodness l didn't get vaxed.

Awesome adventure and great friendship! Inspired me to hike this trail :)

What time of year was this?

Ken, I’ve read that blue is about the worst color to wear in the woods? It attracts bugs, and deer see it the easiest. Maybe, try one guy wearing a blue jacket and the other guy a different color? Then switching later on to see difference of attraction? Courtesy of Half Vast Flying

That was cacao, not passion fruit. I was making chocolate from the cacao tree when we were living in Portsmouth in 2018.

I worked in dominica for three years. the place was a paradise, literally, with waterfalls in the middle of lush forests, hot and cold sulfur springs, unspoiled beaches, well-maintained hiking trails into thick pristine forests and tall mountains, etc., and even the ordinary people knew how to take care of their environment. the dominicans were the friendliest people greeting you good day when you get into the bus or offering you a ride, guiding you how to get around warning you the places you have to avoid, and you feel safe hiking to isolated places and trails. the dominican cuisine was to die for even in casual diners, more so in established restaurants where the local creole taste and presentation were brought to the fore, and they were cheap. the best three years of my life and it made feel like a dominican myself. this is the best place for people who love nature.

What the name of that last restaurant you visited in the video? And were there any rooms to rent for the night?

Did you reach out to the youth camp to camp there?

Awesome adventure....fun paddle...thanks 😊✌️