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The Wandering Appalachian

Adventures in the Appalachian Mountains

Home: Welcome

Can you spot the typo? Because I sure didn’t until I decided to post this 😅

I’ve been having lots of thoughts about social media consumption and my relationship to it and my phone, clearly. What about y’all?

#wanderingappalachian

I realized the other day that I haven’t edited photos from my camera since late September 😅 But, it was a joy looking through and reminiscing on the many beautiful things I’ve seen on my hikes lately—like several SC waterfalls!

I’ve said it before, but I truly think waterfalls of the South Carolina mountains are some of the best out there.

#wanderingappalachian

I’ve been going lots of places and seeing lots of pretty landscapes lately. This is one of them 🍃

When the weather gets chilly, I start to crave swampy forests and bald cypress trees. As I trek through South Carolina’s state parks, luckily, there are plenty of those to see!

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'Tis the season of bare branches, embracing the dark, (too much) introspection, and admiring apricity 💙

How have y'all been?? I've been going through a social media ick phase, and I don't think it's quite over yet lol. I'm also mentally prepping myself for the cold months by tricking my little neanderthal brain into thinking that it's gonna be a great time. And you know what, I really think it's going to be!

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These are my wishes 🙏 (but fr always tell someone where you’re going on a hike for safety!)

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I explored Deep Creek for the first time recently and fell in love with it! I haven’t spent nearly enough time on the North Carolina side of the Smokies. What are some of your favorite spots to explore in this area?

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Saw some non-venomous pals slithering around in the forest 👀 Have y’all seen any critters in the woods lately?

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Touch grass. Embrace the grass. BE grass. Look away from a screen, smell the fresh air, and engage your senses with something real.

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I don’t think I’ll ever love anything more in this world than sharing a beautiful view with the people I love most in life 💚

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Had to pay a visit to one of my favorite cascades. It was so good to see her 💚

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Appalachia through my lens 📸

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The waterfalls of the Bradley variety in Saluda are all beautiful (iykyk), but this one is probably my favorite. The creek crossings on the way here are no joke, and I’m a baby when it comes to those 😅 I don’t mind getting wet, but in my mind, I’ll take a bad step on a rock and fall and succumb to the current and get washed away into the void. It hasn’t happened yet though, so onward to pretty waterfalls we go!

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I finally caught the bug… a little lol. I’m not ready for summer to be over honestly 😅 Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE fall. I’ll double fist pumpkin spice deliciousness with the best of them. But I’m also not ready to let go of long days and leaves 🍃 what about y’all?

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More waterfalls, fewer worries 💚

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I explored some waterfalls last weekend and felt my body completely relax and fall back into nature 🍃

There’s so much I want to see and explore while it’s still summertime. I’m not ready to let go of the green mountains and longer, sunny days. It’s time to prioritize some adventures and get out there!

#wanderingappalachian

Calhoun Falls is a lovely little spot on Lake Russel, a sparsely developed lake in the western midlands of South Carolina. It was a delight 💚

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Not to pick on Yankees specifically, but just anyone who exploits the land for profit and greed. Or folks who move to the south/Appalachia and complain that they can’t find a good New York bagel or pizza. Maybe, and I know this is hard to comprehend, it’s because you’re not in New York (thank god) 🙃

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Baker Creek State Park in Lake Thurmond has a nice pavilion, camping area, and other lakeside opportunities in the SC midlands 🍃 have you been?

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Every time I get on the interstate the bitin’ list gets longer 😅

#wanderingappalachian

Hamilton Branch State Park was a lovely little place! Have y’all visited before?

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Hickory Knob State Park was a grand old time, and the fried okra from the buffet was 💯

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This post is a reminder to my future self: yes, waking up early for the sun rise is worth it. Grab some coffee, rub your eyes, and go see as many as you can ☀️

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Mountains and metal are a combination I’m a big big fan of 🤘🏻

Charlie’s Bunion has been on my to-hike list for a hot minute, and the views were just as magical as I had hoped. I don’t hike in the Smokies as often as I’d like (I hate crowds & getting up early isn’t easy), but this inspired me to plan more trips! Which one should I do next??

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On my best days, on my worst, and in every other in between, these old, wise mountains are home. And I’ll never lose my love for exploring them 🫶🏻

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She’s a tall glass of water, ain’t she? 🌈

It’s not common to get this beauty all to yourself, but I was lucky enough to get about 10 lovely minutes with just my hiking crew and Rainbow on the 4th of July. The crowds at Jones Gap tend to keep me away, but I can totally see why she’s so popular!

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I think I’m at 27 hikes this year? So I’m pretty sure that puts me on track for 52 for the year? I’ve fallen off hard with documenting each and every one. But honestly I think I’ve enjoyed them more that way. These pics aren’t even from any recent hikes, it’s just a roadside view on 441 😂 I’ve edited quite a few pictures though and I think they’re some of my best ones yet, so I’ve gotta show them off at some point!

#wanderingappalachian

I love living in a rainforest 🍃 There’s no place quite like Appalachia!

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I went down the Appalachian geology rabbit hole after a recent hike to Charlie’s Bunion, care to join?

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Just me and my heavy breathing against the world 💪🏻

I really didn’t want to leave the Smokies after this, they have that magical pull 💚

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The waterfalls of the Chattooga are some of my very favorites 💚 I’ve said it a thousand times before, but South Carolina’s wilderness and waterfalls are unmatched

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We were supposed to hike to a waterfall, but we came to a creek crossing that I just wasn’t prepared for, womp womp. I’m a baby when seeing a creek crossing because I’m convinced that I’ll slip and fall and cease to exist 😂 BUT the woods were so pretty and this creek is pretty and life is so much prettier when you go outside!

#wanderingappalachian

The rugged, scenic landscape of north Georgia is one of my favorite corners of the Appalachian Mountains 💙💚

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Looking Glass Rock was doing her best to take my breath away from this angle. I recently got a new camera, and the shots it manages to capture make me feel like a better photographer than I really am 😅 But, when you have a subject that’s this beautiful, it’s difficult to get a bad shot.

#wanderingappalachian

Finally, I feel so relaxed 😌

#wanderingappalachian #appalachianmountains #hiking

Oops! It slipped 😌

Bye bye, inbox! Be free. Melt back into nature where you belong!

#wanderingappalachian

Hikes 18-22, all over the Carolinas 💚💙

I’ve seen some beautiful things over the past month. Happy Trails to you all!

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Appalachian to my core ⛰️

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A remote bend in the river in Appalachia? Sign me up 💚

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Can we circle back? I’m gonna piggyback on that thought. Actually I’m not sure if I have the bandwidth. How much of a lift is this gonna be?

Pls make it stop I just wanna touch dirt and be outside 😭

#wanderingappalachian

Trail verse Tuesday 🖤

I’m clearly pretty passionate about Appalachia and its people, beautiful landscapes, and culture. My fear every time I see a new development in the area is that some part of it is being lost. Times will change regardless of my feelings. However, I can’t help but feel a pang of nausea every time I see another swath of trees cut down for yet another row of soulless, gray buildings. Some folks don’t have the same level of place attachment that I do. We’re all different—I understand that. But I do wish that there was more respect, or maybe even more understanding for the land, for the people that were already here. . . for our home.

#wanderingappalachian

“South Carolina doesn’t have mountains” 🤡

Yeah? Well your face doesn’t have mountains, pal. I know we don’t have a lot, but what we do have is wild, beautiful, and special, and I love it so very much 💚

#wanderingappalachian

Sadlers Creek State Park was a lovely little stop for some rural, Lake Hartwell bliss 🌊

#wanderingappalachian #lakehartwell

Lake Hartwell State Park, you were a fun time 💚

Just a note, this trip was pre-algae scare, so be sure to check up on that before getting in the water!

#wanderingappalachian #lakehartwell

Trail verse Tuesday 💚

There was a wicked thunderstorm yesterday that sounded like the sky itself was being ripped apart. Over the past year or so, I’ve realized that I really love thunderstorms. Of course, I love them most in the mountains 💚

#wanderingappalachian #poetry

My home mountain is healing 💚

Through the scorched ground, new life is everywhere. The laurels are really showing out this year. There are critters in the forest. As if by design, Spring has wrapped her healing hands around the still-scarred landscape. My heart was swollen with happiness to be here, home.

#wanderingappalachian #tablerock

Campsite ✨aesthetics✨

Not pictured: the run to Walmart because we forgot a pan to cook on (lol), me falling in the camp chair, the sassy fire that would NOT STAY LIT, and the general tomfoolery that always accompanies a good camping trip 🏕️

#wanderingappalachian #lakehartwell

Trail Verse Tuesday 💚 a bit of poetry musings from the depth of winter when I was really, really missing the foliage

#wanderingappalachian #poetry

Once I learned about the Kentucky mummies of Mammoth Cave, I followed the rabbit hole as far as it would take me! Have you heard of them before?

#wanderingappalachian #kentucky #mammothcave

Congaree is a beautiful, wild place. While paddling here, I saw owls, turtles, snakes, fish, and wouldn’t have been surprised if Sasquatch made an appearance. I thoroughly enjoyed this excursion on the water, and it definitely won’t be my last 💚

#wanderingappalachian #nps #congaree

America’s “worst national park”? I beg to differ. Congaree is a magical place that I plan to visit again soon 🛶

#wanderingappalachian #congaree

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The Wandering Appalachian

Adventures in the Appalachian Mountains

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For more Appalachian content, follow along on Insta

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Death in the Appalachian Mountains: The Chilling Tale of Frankie Silver

Blue Ridge Escarpment: The Wonders of The Blue Wall

The Search of a Summer Soul: An Appalachian Poem

Appalachian Ghost Stories

Appalachian Strong: An Ode to the Region After Hurricane Helene

Appalachian Legends and Monsters: Exploring the Mysteries

Mount Mitchell: The Deadly History Behind NC’s Tallest Peak

The Lost Appalachian State of Franklin

Appalachian Balds: Uncovering the Mystery of Grassy Balds

Legends and Folklore: Uncovering Appalachian Myths and Mysteries