Great Smoky Mountains Documentary - AdventureArchives
video description
The trail up to the Chimney Tops is one and a quarter miles, which doesn't seem like too much, but it's a very steep trail. I had hiked it before, in the summertime, when I was camping with my parents. But things were different on this day. it was difficult to stay on the trail, with all the snow, and eventually we lost it completely and wound up climbing right up the side of the mountain, pulling up thru the trees, which was horrible considering all our clothes became wet from the snow. I had brought cloth gloves, which was all I had at the time, and THAT was bad, because when they were soaked, my hands were freezing. And all the ascent was done in the shady side of the mountain, so we didn't get any warmth from the sun until we reached the upper region of the mountain. We hadn't brought anything to drink with us, so all we had to eat or drink on the climb were giant icicles, some of which were 3 and 4 feet long. We were just not prepared for this extensive a hike as we faced, but we just kept going, as kids will do sometimes. It took over six hours to reach the sun-lit tops of the mountain, but what a glorious feeling it was when we broke thru to the sun.
At the top there are some steep and dangerous areas of rock that had to be negotiated to cross from the first chimney to the second 'main' chimney. At some points the way across was blocks of rock maybe two feet wide that we carefully crawled across, with a drop of hundreds of feet on either side (very precarious place to be, but at least it was dry and warm in the sun. Once we reached the furtherest point we could go, the view was phenomenal of the lower valley and the stream by the campsite we had used. We remained there for a good hour, warming up and drying our clothes as well as possible. Then the oldest of us, a junior in our school (the guy with the car) began goofing around and stumbled into the main chimney, falling 15 or 20 feet down, which shot him out onto the side of the mountain (the hole was shaped like an L). We all scrambled down to help him, but found he had severely sprained his foot and ankle so badly that he wasn't able to walk at all. So we all rested there for a half hour or so until we realised that we had to get him and us down before dark, or we would be in big trouble.
We decided that maybe the best idea was to go straight down the side of the mountain, using jumps to get down. We could just jump out toward the valley, and instantly go down 15 or 20 feet, due to the slope of the hill. And our crippled friend could manage that, too, on one foot. So we did that, jumping down the steep side of the mountain, but at least we were in glorious sunlight, which made it okay, even fun. And eventually we made down to the not-so-steep part of the mountain, and eventually found the river, and followed it down to the campground.
It was the worst camping trip I had ever experienced, but we all agreed that it was something we would never forget. NEVER EVER!
Date: 2022-04-30
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 9
Kevin
Any piece of fire starter, small piece of fire log even. Gather as much tooth pic size wood, I mean a bunch. I use an umbrella which helps keep rain off fire. Light fire starter, carry 2 or more lighters double plastic. Put tiny bits of wood, but lots of it. As that grows, bigger wood. Once going good start stacking wood around the fire to dry bigger pieces. Put wood in the dry if possible. Gather lots of wood before starting. Eventually drag two big logs, prop on rocks above the fire to keep rain off. Add wood underneath. Cook on the crack between the logs. Always have multiple fire starting methods, kept dry. Now I have ate cold creek water noodles because I was ready to bug out and no time for fire. Yall I love your videos, the emerald forest is magical and spiritual. Thank you.
reply
Any piece of fire starter, small piece of fire log even. Gather as much tooth pic size wood, I mean a bunch. I use an umbrella which helps keep rain off fire. Light fire starter, carry 2 or more lighters double plastic. Put tiny bits of wood, but lots of it. As that grows, bigger wood. Once going good start stacking wood around the fire to dry bigger pieces. Put wood in the dry if possible. Gather lots of wood before starting. Eventually drag two big logs, prop on rocks above the fire to keep rain off. Add wood underneath. Cook on the crack between the logs. Always have multiple fire starting methods, kept dry. Now I have ate cold creek water noodles because I was ready to bug out and no time for fire. Yall I love your videos, the emerald forest is magical and spiritual. Thank you.
reply
Francis
I truly can't believe I just stumbled upon this video. I've been watching AA vid's for at least a year but, guys, this is by far one of - if not THE - absolute BEST! the creativity and result is aaaamazing! the idea of having the three of you go separate and place clips side-by-side and providing narrative along the way - STUPENDOUS! seems like one of your earlier works since it's 6 years old but I am completely entertained - thanks you so very much for all the hard work it took to put together.
reply
I truly can't believe I just stumbled upon this video. I've been watching AA vid's for at least a year but, guys, this is by far one of - if not THE - absolute BEST! the creativity and result is aaaamazing! the idea of having the three of you go separate and place clips side-by-side and providing narrative along the way - STUPENDOUS! seems like one of your earlier works since it's 6 years old but I am completely entertained - thanks you so very much for all the hard work it took to put together.
reply
mo
-Great Horned Owl, to be PRECISE. -
-No, that might have been a Barred Owl. -
Dude, once you've -PRECISED- your proclamation. don't ever contradict yourself in the next breath. When you said -to be precise, - you sound like an ornithologist, no one would have ever doubted that was Great Horned Owl. But then when you immediately follow up with -or maybe a Barred Owl, - it sounds like you are just pulling shit out of your hat. now, for all I know, it was some chickens or a 'possum.
reply
-Great Horned Owl, to be PRECISE. -
-No, that might have been a Barred Owl. -
Dude, once you've -PRECISED- your proclamation. don't ever contradict yourself in the next breath. When you said -to be precise, - you sound like an ornithologist, no one would have ever doubted that was Great Horned Owl. But then when you immediately follow up with -or maybe a Barred Owl, - it sounds like you are just pulling shit out of your hat. now, for all I know, it was some chickens or a 'possum.
reply
travel
I don-t like to eat mushrooms (50+ year old woman that eats like a picky 5 year old child, but I love them aesthetically and these videos really make me want to study them. And I love all you guys do and am so grateful for your videos. I would suggest going to Isle Royals National Park: it is quite a long and expensive journey to get there, but worth it. I was with my mom and aunt so we stayed at the lodge. I did hike up to Mt Franklin. It was beautiful!
reply
I don-t like to eat mushrooms (50+ year old woman that eats like a picky 5 year old child, but I love them aesthetically and these videos really make me want to study them. And I love all you guys do and am so grateful for your videos. I would suggest going to Isle Royals National Park: it is quite a long and expensive journey to get there, but worth it. I was with my mom and aunt so we stayed at the lodge. I did hike up to Mt Franklin. It was beautiful!
reply
travel
Man, you guys got poured on in the smokies and I have been there and I know that is some toouuggghhh hiking. Add filming on top of that and the journey sounds arduous. Solo hiking too but you guys hit it out of the park and you toughed it out. But the smokies still took you to school like they do to everyone. It actually could have snowed considering you were there in March. You really lucked out about the snow. I loved the Appalachian Trail shots -
reply
Man, you guys got poured on in the smokies and I have been there and I know that is some toouuggghhh hiking. Add filming on top of that and the journey sounds arduous. Solo hiking too but you guys hit it out of the park and you toughed it out. But the smokies still took you to school like they do to everyone. It actually could have snowed considering you were there in March. You really lucked out about the snow. I loved the Appalachian Trail shots -
reply
Trail
We feel for you guys. My husband and I will complete hiking all the trails in the GSM this year. (It's a part of an all-trails challenge that hundreds of people have done)
You guys hiked some of the harder most strenuous trails there. Buy the Hiking the Smokies brown book if your going to hike and get a waterproof map of the trails if you don't have a trail app.
reply
We feel for you guys. My husband and I will complete hiking all the trails in the GSM this year. (It's a part of an all-trails challenge that hundreds of people have done)
You guys hiked some of the harder most strenuous trails there. Buy the Hiking the Smokies brown book if your going to hike and get a waterproof map of the trails if you don't have a trail app.
reply
Kellie
Well, I made it to where that guy dropped to his knees on at trail sign. And I suffered through someone thinking there are flat, straight trails through these mountains. And I deeply questioned why someone who hates going uphill hates switchbacks so badly. I mean, did he think going straight up would be better? I'm bailing out. I can't take anymore. Good Lord
reply
Well, I made it to where that guy dropped to his knees on at trail sign. And I suffered through someone thinking there are flat, straight trails through these mountains. And I deeply questioned why someone who hates going uphill hates switchbacks so badly. I mean, did he think going straight up would be better? I'm bailing out. I can't take anymore. Good Lord
reply
Shay
When Robby mentioned Princess Mononoke my heart soared! One of my favorite movies growing up, and definitely helped start my love for nature. I'm taking my first trip to the Smokies in November with my sister, and I'm unbelievably excited. They look so magical. Even when raining it just seems like a fairytale. Loved the video!
reply
When Robby mentioned Princess Mononoke my heart soared! One of my favorite movies growing up, and definitely helped start my love for nature. I'm taking my first trip to the Smokies in November with my sister, and I'm unbelievably excited. They look so magical. Even when raining it just seems like a fairytale. Loved the video!
reply
Al
Easily the most depressing hiking video ever! Andrew, the most depressing. You should give up hiking or at least give up being a so called expert. Brian must have learned from his brother, but he still has hope. Robbie you are a joy to watch. I have seen all the AA videos and some more than once. THIS WAS THE WORST -
reply
Easily the most depressing hiking video ever! Andrew, the most depressing. You should give up hiking or at least give up being a so called expert. Brian must have learned from his brother, but he still has hope. Robbie you are a joy to watch. I have seen all the AA videos and some more than once. THIS WAS THE WORST -
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
8:22
7:46
