Mount Le Conte

Beautiful fall season is HERE!!!
I went to Mt. Le Count via Alum Cave Trail to enjoy the fall color.
The pictures don’t even tell half of what the mountain really looks like. You just have to get there next year!!!

紅葉の秋!　スモーキーのラコント山へ行ってきました！　アルムケイブからの４時間ほどのきつい登り。でも会があった!　写真はその綺麗さをフルに出せていないのが残念。是非自分の目で見に行ってください。

It was cold in the morning!




Arch Rock (looking up)





Alum Cave Bluffs



whoever made this, THANK YOU...












The restaurant is open for public now, but if you want to eat, you have to order 48 hours ahead. It smelled REALLY good in the restaurant, but anything taste good after the hard hike and the great view.

一番頂上のレストランはロッジに泊まらなくても食べられるのですが、４８時間前の注文が必要です。中はいい臭いがしていました。でも運動した後は何でも美味しく感じる。


Le Conte "Power" Bar and hot coffee :)

Just ready to be in a traffic jam after the hike... :(

Maryville's Fall Festival & Taste of Oak Ridge

I have known this festival for a long time, yet this is the very first time for me to go to the Maryville’s Fall Festival.

このフェスティバルは長年知っていたのですが、今回初めて行ってきました

This day turned out to be SO COLD and WINDY! But there were lots of people

この日はいつもよりとても寒く風がきつい日になりました



I think main event in this festival is the music. It is outdoor and you have to buy a ticket to get in. I didn't have the ticket, so I just took picture of the stage.

このフェスティバルのメインは野外のコンサートの様でたくさんの人が折りたたみのいすを抱えてステージのほうへ。券がいるらしく、私は持ってないので写真だけを



They were so cute, so I had to take it

あまりにもかわいいので思わず撮ってしまいました

There are different areas. I love to go craft area, but there are things for kids, also

クラフトやアート、子供用のイベントがところどころで行われている

Food is always my thing :) This was delicious!

食べ物もいろいろな所で買える。これはカロリー高そうだけどおいしかった！

Downtown Maryville / Broadway

Then I went to The first annual Taste of Oak Ridge. It was getting very cold and stated to rain a little, so when I got there, people weren’t even ready for the festival.

メリビルの後はオークリッジのテーストオブオークリッジへ。　寒くて雨もぱらぱらとしだしたので行ったらまだ準備中のところも。お客さんは私だけ?!?!?

I was getting tired, so I only got my FAVORITE from the Jackson square. I actually got 2 because it was only $3 each! They do lunch and of course the ice cream is awesome there. MUST TRY when you are there.

疲れていたので今回はとりあえず私の好きな食べ物やさんで何かゲットして帰えることに。　サンドイッチ１つ＄３だったので２つお持ち帰り。　アイスクリームも美味しい。機会があれば是非お試しを!

For your info, this festival serve beer and wine. Normally I would have one or two, but since it was so cold, nobody was near it. Maybe better next year…

このフェスティバルはビールとワインも売っていたのですが寒さのため誰も飲んでませんでした。来年また頑張って!

I love fall festivals! Let me know if you know any other good ones that I can visit next year! 　

秋のお祭り大好きなのでもし他で知っているところがあれば、是非教えてください!

Cataloochee - Elk viewing

I had an AMAZING experience today!!! I went to Cataloochee to see and listen Elks “bugling.” My friends had suggested me to go several times, and I wasn’t really sure what bugling is and what that was for… I also thought that chances of seeing Elks are like seeing bears in Smoky… I was excited to go to see first Elks in smoky, but at the same time, I was skeptical.

今日は大変良い日でした。友達に前から聞いていたカタルーチと言うところへエルク（ヘラジカ）を見に行って来ました。何度か前から行くように言われていたのですが、どれぐらいの確率でエルクが見られるかなど詳しく知らなかったので、まあちょっと見られたら良いかと言う感じで朝出かけたのです。

I left 5 am and was there 7:30 am. The gate doesn’t open until 8 am, so I went to restroom to get ready. FYI, Cataloochee campground has flushable nice toilet with toilet paper. Girls, you don’t have to be afraid! You don’t have to go in the wood :)

5時に友達と待ち合わせて7時半にキャンプ場に着いたのですが、ゲートがあって8時まで開かないと言うことで、キャンプ場のトイレにとりあえず。トイレは水洗式で紙もついていて、かなり山の中なのにきれいです。道でトイレに行く覚悟をしていたので、ちょっと安心。



While I was waiting, I talked to other people who were in line to see the Elks. They told me their great experiences, and I was just pumped! Maybe I will see bunch of Elks today!?!?!

待っている間いろいろな人と話していると、エルクを見られる確率はかなり高いらしい。期待が出きる!!!
As soon as I drove into the meadow, I spotted one male Elk 50 feet away! Oh MY GOODNESS! How many would I spot them today?!?!?

門が開いてまもなく運転していると第1号の雄のエルクが!　こんなに早く?!?!　何匹見られるのだろう!？
Drove in a little more, then there they are!!!! A BUNCH! もっと運転すると団体が!!!






I thought I was going to pass out form excitement! Then, I hear “bugling”
Here is Bugling sound like

超感動!　で、直後変な音が！これがビューグリングと言ってオスがメスを誘う声





WOW! Unusual sound… This sound supposed to attract female Elks… 変な音～！



I saw more than bugling… but I won’t put it here. You just have to go see it.
草原ではいろいろな事が起こっていました…　全部は見せられません。自分で見に行って下さい。

After spending 1 1/2 hours and 100s of pictures, I went on hiking
1時間半後、100枚以上写真をとった後、ハイキングにも行って来ました

I did see some fall wildflowers 秋の野草も咲いていました

Some awesome bridges and stairs. I want to say thanks to the one who takes care of this trail! Doing a great maintenance job!

このコースの途中の階段や橋は丁寧に作られていました。作った人、手入れしている人に大感謝!

There are some old buildings to see, too

古い民家などもこのエリアにはある

On the way back, I had to go back and see how Elks are afternoon. The ranger/volunteer was there to educate us. He was very nice and knowledgeable.

ハイキングの後もう一度エルクに会いに行ったらボランティアーの人がいていろいろと教えてくれました

I strongly suggest going there in the morning, because there were more people than Elks in the afternoon.

午後はエルクよりも人の方が多いので朝行った方が良いと思います。

If you have chance, you should go! 　If you love nature, you will LOVE IT!

秋いっぱいは見られるそうなので是非見に行って下さい