The Coolest Cisco Links of All
The Coolest Cisco Links of All: "
Okay, here's my thought. I've got some links that I have found very handy in the Cisco world over the years...links that I typically forget about, but then someone shows me the same link months later and I get all excited about them again. Rather than continuing the cycle, I was hoping to enlist your help to create a post that has all sorts of great links. Eventually, we can compile a list and put them in some permanent place on the website. These links include cool resources, utilities (cheap or free), and 'tips'. Please don't include blogs in this list (not that they're not valuable...just a different category). So, here's what I've got so far:
1. Top 100 Security Tools (http://sectools.org/)
2. Switch Inspector (sweet, inexpensive switchport mapper - http://www.switchinspector.com/)
3. MRTG (traffic statistics, free - http://oss.oetiker.ch/mrtg/), PRTG (traffic statistics, cheap - http://www.paessler.com/prtg)
4. Level 7 Password Decryption (http://cfz.ir/ot/?what=ciscocracker)
5. Cain and Able Security Audit util (http://www.oxid.it/cain.html)
6. Kiwi Syslog (free, good syslog server - http://www.kiwisyslog.com/products.php#syslog)
7. Kiwi CatTools (configuration management / change tracking - http://www.kiwisyslog.com/products.php#cattools)
8. TFTP Server (overcomes 32MB limit - http://tftpd32.jounin.net/tftpd32_download.html)
9. IOS Configuration Editor, fairly cheap (http://www.winagents.com/en/products/cisco-config-editor/)
10. IP Chicken - external IP from anywhere...no pop-up ads (www.ipchicken.com)
11. Bandwidth Gauge (Speakeasy has always been my fav. - http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/)
12. Tera Term - my favorite Windows telnet/SSH client (http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA002416/teraterm.html)
13. Boson's Free Utils - bunch of handy/goof around utils (http://www.boson.com/FreeUtilities.html)
That's all I could think of off the top of my head. What else do ya'll got?
"
Stack Rock Overlook
Stack Rock Overlook: "
"
Stack Rock Overlook is found along a very popular stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Located at mile 304.6, it is between the Grandfather Mountain entrance to the BRP and the Linn Cove Viaduct. A short trail (approx. 1/2 mile) leads to enormous boulders (which are so large they're hard to photograph) which the trail climbs around. Above is a small cascade found near the rock formations.
The trail is actually part of the Tanawha Trail that leads from the Beacon Heights Overlook to Price Lake 13.5 miles away. When entering the woods from the parking area at Stack Rock Overlook, turn left on the Tanawha Trail.
The trail is actually part of the Tanawha Trail that leads from the Beacon Heights Overlook to Price Lake 13.5 miles away. When entering the woods from the parking area at Stack Rock Overlook, turn left on the Tanawha Trail.
The Gear Junkie: Family-Tent Roundup
From Outside Blog's Gear Junkie
The Gear Junkie: Family-Tent Roundup: "
"
The Gear Junkie: Family-Tent Roundup: "
Swooping nylon and linked poles, zippered doors, screened windows, and stakes in the dirt holding it down--the humble formula for a tent has long prevailed as an ultimate outdoors habitat for humans in need of a temporary home.
But today's campground cabanas are far from the basic designs of decades past. Indeed, leaky roofs, clammy quarters, and complex setups that take away from your fireside time are not a trait to any quality
tent today.
This column highlights new tents made for families of four or more. Be it in the backcountry, on a canoe trip, or car camping at an area state park, one of these shelters is sure to fit your family's preference for sleeping outside under the summer stars.
Big Agnes Flying Diamond 8 Tent
This top-end shelter accommodates eight adults and is marketed as the "grand daddy of all base camp-style tents." Made for year-round use--winter camping included--the Flying Diamond features a zippered partition wall to create a two-room suite. The tent body is a breathable polyester with nylon mesh windows. Its rain fly and floor are made of polyester rip-stop nylon with a waterproof polyurethane coating. There are 10 mesh storage pockets and a vestibule off the main room. For setup, the behemoth comes with a total of 20 lightweight aluminum stakes. Price: $599.95. Contact: www.bigagnes.com
Kelty Yellowstone 4 Tent
A budget buy from Kelty, the Yellowstone 4 (available for $144.95 on sites like REI.com) is a freestanding four-person shelter good for car camping or canoe trips. It packs for transport to a manageable 10 pounds, 14 ounces, and its nylon walls are watertight, as expected. A mesh ceiling promotes breathability on hot nights. Put on the rain fly and this three-season tent will ensconce you and your little campers even if gray skies and rain drops try and ruin your weekend away. Contact: www.kelty.com
Nemo Asashi
Gear storage is the name of the game with the Asashi, a 63-square-foot shelter that sleeps four and has an optional "garage" vestibule attachment big enough to set up beach chairs inside or store bicycles
standing upright. While the garage is optional--it costs an extra $139--Nemo includes a standard vestibule and four large interior pockets. A gear loft, which hooks to the ceiling and adds a mesh shelf inside the tent, is an extra $18. For dog owners, the Asashi can be fitted with Nemo's Pawprint floor, a polyester covering that snaps on and protects the fabric from dog claws running in and out of the nylon den. Price: $399 (tent only). Contact: www.nemoequipment.com
Eureka N!ergy 9 tent
Light up the backcountry with this two-pole dome tent. The Eureka N!ergy 9, touted as a "powered home away from home," is compatible with the company's E! Power Pack batteries. Charge up the pack at home. Then at your campsite pick from a fan, lights, vacuum cleaner, and other accessories. Further, a 12v DC (cigarette-lighter type) outlet lets campers power items such as laptops, iPods, cell phones or
air-mattress pumps with the appropriate plugs and adaptors. The tent weighs about 15 pounds and sets up to a nine by nine foot shelter to sleep four to five people. Price: $209 (tent only; accessories extra).
Contact: www.eurekatent.com
Sierra Designs Lightning XT 4
Backpackers take note: This mesh tent weighs less than seven pounds but can accommodate four campers and their gear. With 57 square feet of floor space the Lightning XT 4--which comes with a rain fly for bad weather--is an ultimate big tent for use on the trail. Divvy up its contents--stakes to one hiker, poles to another--and each person only has to add two pounds of weight to his or her pack. (Exact
total tent weight is 6 pounds, 13 ounces.) Two doors and two vestibules add easy access to gear stowed outside. Price: $449. Contact: www.sierradesigns.com
--Stephen Regenold writes a blog on outdoors gear at www.gearjunkie.com.
Trail Mix
From CampingBlogger
Trail Mix: "
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Trail Mix: "
4 3/4 Cups of trail mix goodness
Popcorn and s’mores provide plenty of nighttime enjoyment around the campfire, but trail mix is the fuel that keeps the family going, on hikes and excursions during the day. There are as many variations of trail mix as there are stars in the sky, but the classic mix is peanuts, M&Ms, and raisins. The M&Ms tend to melt in hot weather, though, so it is a good idea to substitute additional dried fruits, such as bananas, apples, mangos, or apricots.
If hot weather is not an issue, however, you can really pull out all the stops and create a trail mix that the whole family will clamor for. The first course of action is to dress up those peanuts by substituting mixed nuts, instead. These come in both lightly salted and unsalted varieties, and commonly contain peanuts, almonds, cashews, brazil nuts, hazelnuts, and pecans. This base is definitely a lot more exciting than just peanuts.
Next up is the M&Ms and raisins, just like the traditional trail mix recipe. You can also add a bit more variety to the mix with some dried cranberries, along with the raisins. The final touch, though, is ½ to ¾ cup of Reese’s® Peanut Butter Chips. These are sometimes difficult to find, but are usually in your grocer’s baking section. These add just a bit more pizzazz to the mix, although they will melt into a gooey mess quicker than the M&Ms, in hot weather.
- 10 oz. Can of Mixed Nuts
- 6 oz. Plain M&Ms
- 1/2 Cup raisins
- 1/2 Cup dried cranberries
- 6 oz. Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips
See also…
Resources: Free eBook: Introduction To Family Camping | Authentic Whitewater Family Excursions | Outdoor Gear for Pets and People
Tigé Boats Gets Touch Screen Control System [Summermodo]
From Gizmodo
Tigé Boats Gets Touch Screen Control System [Summermodo]: "
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Tigé Boats Gets Touch Screen Control System [Summermodo]: "
We don't hear much about in-boat technology, but at this week's Surf Expo Industry Show manufacturer of watersport tow boats Tigé is debuting its touch interface for its 2010 Tigé RZ and Vé models.
Dubbed TigéTouch the inboard system uses 'proprietary Tigé software' that includes engine and speed control functions. With the tap of a finger you can create up to 20 athlete presets that can save riding speed, ballast settings and TAPS2 positioning (which is apparently technology that adjusts the size of a wake). It also has the expected iPod interface functionality for rocking some waves. 
No mention of the type of touchscreen (assuming resistive) or if the screen is waterproof, but we assume they thought of that. [Tigé Boats]
Mt. Mitchell
Mt. Mitchell: "
Mt. Mitchell, originally uploaded by boonejag75.
A detour off the Blue Ridge Parkway worth taking is up to Mt. Mitchell. A wonderful NC state park hosting the highest peak east of the Mississippi. The actual height of Mt. Mitchell is 6′684ft. This is a view from the top parking lot, just below the observation deck. It’s beautiful mountain and a has spectacular view all around you.
Mt. Mitchell, originally uploaded by boonejag75.
A detour off the Blue Ridge Parkway worth taking is up to Mt. Mitchell. A wonderful NC state park hosting the highest peak east of the Mississippi. The actual height of Mt. Mitchell is 6′684ft. This is a view from the top parking lot, just below the observation deck. It’s beautiful mountain and a has spectacular view all around you.
BerryAddon All-In-One Utility
BerryAddon All-In-One Utility: "
I came across a cool app in the forums called BerryAddon which is currently in beta. The app adds a ton of cool features to your device, and acts as an "All-In-One" for tweaking simple tasks on your device. BerryAddon has a small footprint and huge output. Some of the features are:
- Vibrate on call connect/disconnect
- Vibrate when ringing
- After call, prompt to add call number to addressbook
- When creating contact, you can add new contact or update exist contact
- Log blocked call to calendar
- Email signature
- Save sms/email/pin message as text document
- Insert contact's number or email address into sms/email/pin message
- Auto lock keypad when screen goes blank. you can create exceptions to disable this feature
The app is availble to download during the beta, and a full version is set to be released soon. You can check out the forum thread to view updates and discussion. Check out the OTA links below to download.
CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. BerryAddon All-In-One Utility
"
Official OS 4.5.0.138 For The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 And Curve 8330 From Verizon
Official OS 4.5.0.138 For The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 And Curve 8330 From Verizon: "
This story originated from BlackBerry Rocks! and is sponsored by the BlackBerry Rocks! Store. All your favorite BlackBerry apps, games, themes and accessories in one location, now with a Mobile App Store which you can download at blackberryrocks.com/appstore.
Follow @BlackBerryRocks on Twitter and check out the Facebook Page!
Link: Official OS 4.5.0.138 For The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 And Curve 8330 From Verizon
"
Joe let me know that Verizon has just released OS 4.5.0.138 for the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 and the Curve 8330.
The BlackBerry Curve 8330 update resolves the following issues:
- Email received by the mail application with a registered attachment handler (such as RSA Token) no longer loses attachments.
- The RSS rendering engine no longer impacts the Repligo application when used as an embedded screen.
- Third-party headsets were sometimes not detected correctly by the device when used on AUX-capable car stereo systems. This has been corrected.
- When answering a call, the BlackBerry sometimes triggered a short, loud noise on the receiving end. This has been corrected.
The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 update resolves the following issue:
- Email received by the mail application with a registered attachment handler (such as RSA Token) no longer loses the attachment.
This is not the latest available OS for either BlackBerry (4.5.0.160 is), but some might only be able to upgrade if it’s from their own carrier.
To get this update head on over to the Verizon BlackBerry download page at vzw.smithmicro.com/blackberry. Don’t forget to make a backup first, or if you need help upgrading your OS click here.
Related Posts:
- Verizon now allows BlackBerry Maps with GPS on Pearl 8130 and Curve 8330
- Official OS 4.5.0.81 for the Curve 8320 from T-Mobile
- New from Verizon: Pink Pearl(8130) and Curve(8330)
- Official OS 4.5.0.131 for the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 and Curve 8330 from Sprint
- Official OS 4.5.0.124 for the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 from T-Mobile
This story originated from BlackBerry Rocks! and is sponsored by the BlackBerry Rocks! Store. All your favorite BlackBerry apps, games, themes and accessories in one location, now with a Mobile App Store which you can download at blackberryrocks.com/appstore.
Follow @BlackBerryRocks on Twitter and check out the Facebook Page!
Link: Official OS 4.5.0.138 For The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 And Curve 8330 From Verizon
Create your own BlackBerry quick launch icons
Create your own BlackBerry quick launch icons: "
"
Where has this application been all my life? So many times I’ve thought that I visit a particular website, or a particular portion of a website, so often that I should just have an icon on my BlackBerry desktop for it. After all, these quick launch icons exist for plenty of sites — and there’s even a site that compiles them — but to date I haven’t seen an application which allows me to create my own. That is, until I happened upon this post by Bla1ze. The application is called LaunchPad, and it allows you to create your own quick launch icons, from the URL to the icon itself.
After entering in the URL, you can then choose the icon you want to appear. Making LaunchPad even better is a feature which allows you to grab the favicon from the website. This will make the icon the same as the one which appears in your address bar. If you for some reason can’t get the favicon, or just want to use an icon of your own, you can choose one from your device memory or memory card — the max size is 72 x 72, so you’ll probably have to do some resizing first.
Of course, you can create your own quick launch icons for free, but it requires a bit of know-how. LaunchPad just makes the process so much easier. Plus, it’s super cheap. You can get LaunchPad for just 99 cents at the BBGeeks Store until August 15, at which point it will return to its normal $1.99 price, still pretty cheap. Unfortunately it’s only available for OS 4.6 and up. If you’ve got it, though, I definitely recommend this one.
This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about Verizon BlackBerry.
Create your own BlackBerry quick launch icons
This post originated at BBGeeks.com - home to all things Blackberry! Also a great source of info about Verizon BlackBerry.
"
Cops Bust Guy Selling Oven Door Disguised as HDTV [Crime]
Cops Bust Guy Selling Oven Door Disguised as HDTV [Crime]: "
"
Wow, good try. San Leandro, California police stopped a man after reports he tried to sell an HDTV at a Wal-Mart parking lot. However! It turned out to be a plastic-wrapped glass oven door with Sony and Best Buy stickers.
The man is suspected of trying to charge $100 for what appeared to be a 37-inch flat screen television. He had even stuffed electronic cables and a manual in the back.
San Leandro police Lt. Pete Ballew called it a variation on the old 'rocks in a box' scam, in which a box is presented as containing new, expensive electronics for sale but is actually full of rocks.
Most of us would spot the scam a mile away, but it does make you wonder if anyone would fall for it. I certainly know a couple of people (including my Dad) who might. [The Oakland Tribune via Gear Diary via Slashgear]
Hidden hiking treasures of the Blue Ridge Parkway
Hidden hiking treasures of the Blue Ridge Parkway: "Karen Chavez from the Asheville Citizens-Times published an article yesterday that points out some of the hidden treasures of the Blue Ridge Parkway – places tourists often pass by.
Among some of the lesser-known “must-sees”
along the parkway, the article included a handful of trails that beg to be explored:
• Chris Ulrey, the parkway's plant ecologist, suggest taking the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, near Milepost 363 at the Graybeard Overlook, and walking north for about a mile. “You'll be on top of a ridge, where you'll see Carolina phlox, azaleas and rhododendron, Turk's cap lily, all through the summer something is blooming. And in late July and early August there will be blueberries.”
• The Douglas Falls Trail is one of the less crowded hiking trails along the parkway. Start just north of the Craggy Gardens area at the Graybeard Overlook at Milepost 363. This rugged trail drops down into virgin hardwood forest on its way to the 70-foot Douglas Falls, deep in the Pisgah National Forest. It's a 7.2 miles round trip.
• The Richland Balsam Trail touches the highest point for any hiking trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway, peaking at an altitude of 6,410 feet. Just 1.4 miles, round trip, with an elevation gain of less than 400 feet, the trail begins at Milepost 431, roughly 50 miles southwest of Asheville. The pull-off parking area offers an extraordinary view of the Shining Rock Wilderness, including Cold Mountain. The trail traverses through a spruce-fir forest reminiscent of the northern, rather than the Southern Appalachians, and it's scenic, peaceful and un-crowded at any time of year.
• The Tanawha Trail is an excellent choice for autumn hiking. This 13-mile long trail, starting at Milepost 304, is in the Grandfather Mountain region of the parkway. In the fall, the tulip poplars, hickories and maples are blazing with color, which you’ll see up close and from rock outcroppings that offer sweeping panoramas of color. The Tanawha, which means “great hawk” in Cherokee, also passes under the Linn Cove Viaduct, the engineering masterpiece completed in 1987 that swings out and away from the fragile plant life on Grandfather Mountain.
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Amazon.com is offering an opportunity to receive a FREE National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. Go to Amazon’s new Outdoor Recreation Store for more details.
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Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
"
Among some of the lesser-known “must-sees”
along the parkway, the article included a handful of trails that beg to be explored:• Chris Ulrey, the parkway's plant ecologist, suggest taking the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, near Milepost 363 at the Graybeard Overlook, and walking north for about a mile. “You'll be on top of a ridge, where you'll see Carolina phlox, azaleas and rhododendron, Turk's cap lily, all through the summer something is blooming. And in late July and early August there will be blueberries.”
• The Douglas Falls Trail is one of the less crowded hiking trails along the parkway. Start just north of the Craggy Gardens area at the Graybeard Overlook at Milepost 363. This rugged trail drops down into virgin hardwood forest on its way to the 70-foot Douglas Falls, deep in the Pisgah National Forest. It's a 7.2 miles round trip.
• The Richland Balsam Trail touches the highest point for any hiking trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway, peaking at an altitude of 6,410 feet. Just 1.4 miles, round trip, with an elevation gain of less than 400 feet, the trail begins at Milepost 431, roughly 50 miles southwest of Asheville. The pull-off parking area offers an extraordinary view of the Shining Rock Wilderness, including Cold Mountain. The trail traverses through a spruce-fir forest reminiscent of the northern, rather than the Southern Appalachians, and it's scenic, peaceful and un-crowded at any time of year.
• The Tanawha Trail is an excellent choice for autumn hiking. This 13-mile long trail, starting at Milepost 304, is in the Grandfather Mountain region of the parkway. In the fall, the tulip poplars, hickories and maples are blazing with color, which you’ll see up close and from rock outcroppings that offer sweeping panoramas of color. The Tanawha, which means “great hawk” in Cherokee, also passes under the Linn Cove Viaduct, the engineering masterpiece completed in 1987 that swings out and away from the fragile plant life on Grandfather Mountain.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amazon.com is offering an opportunity to receive a FREE National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. Go to Amazon’s new Outdoor Recreation Store for more details.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
Hiking the Boone Fork Trail
Hiking the Boone Fork Trail: "
Price Park Campground and the Boone Fork Trail
By Virtual Blue Ridge Intern, Mary Clark
On Monday I took a friend and set out to hike the Boone Fork Trail! This trail conveniently loops around Price Park Campground allowing campers to hike through many different environments during their stay.
More than half of the trail runs beside Bee Tree Creek, which includes many interesting sections of moderate to slow moving rapids.
It would be a good idea to wear appropriate hiking sandals so you can get your feet wet. Chacos or Tevas are among sandals that were made for the type of terrain Boone Fork Trail entails.
I dipped my feet in the cold mountain water at every creek crossing. It was very refreshing on this warm summer day. If you enjoy being alone, plan your hike for a weekday and you won’t be disappointed!
We started at 4:30 in the afternoon and hiked on into the summer evening. On weekends the trails tend to be busier, but a 5-mile stretch allows hikers to set their own pace and generally be alone. Just be sure you allow at least three hours of daylight to complete the trail.
I would go as far to say this is my favorite North Carolina hiking trail. With so many changes of scenery, it is far from being dull. About a quarter mile into the trail, I heard some rustling in a thicket behind me. Suddenly a light brown figure came running towards the trail.
Not used to seeing wildlife on the weekdays, I immediately thought “Oh no! Someone has lost their golden retriever”. To my surprise a large deer had emerged from the trees and ran across the path.
This time camera ready, another deer crossed at the same spot just in time for me to get a photo. Wildlife is prominent in this area and at any time of the year you may come across one of these creatures. I also saw grey squirrels, dragonflies, and a very neatly constructed beaver dam.
Rhododendron bushes greet hikers on every mile of the wooded journey. In my opinion, this plant gives the North Carolina Mountains its distinct smell. If you don’t smell rhododendron, check to make sure you are still in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
White or pink blooms and long slick leaves set these bushes apart from the rest of the forest. Pine trees can also be found along the Boone Fork Trail. These become recognizable when the path starts to be scattered with brown pine needles.
A personal favorite of mine were the ferns. Not as frequent as the rhododendron, but certainly as enjoyable, the ferns lined at least a quarter of the trail.
I highly recommend this trail to hikers ready for a long picturesque walk. Take a friend with you, bring some water, and set out to enjoy this awesome trail!
If you plan to spend a day in the area, also take advantage of the campgrounds in addition to this trail.
Linville Falls Campground, Peaceful, Charming, Picturesque
Linville Falls Campground, Peaceful, Charming, Picturesque: "
By Virtual Blue Ridge Intern, Mary Clark
The Vastness of the Blue Ridge Mountains never ceases to take my breath away. When you live in Boone, the parkway and all it has to offer seems as if it should be for tourists only.
For those who haven’t had the opportunity to soak up the inconceivable views, sleep among the North Carolina trees, or feel the cool evening breeze all around them.
Reality is, those privileged enough to call the mountains home, love the surroundings just as much as the visitors of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
On my trip to Linville Falls Campground, I stopped at several parkway overlooks. Around milepost 300 the parkway opens up on the left side and there are no longer trees blocking the view of the mountains.
The mountains stretch as wide as the eye can see, and just tall enough to make you feel like an ant. With monarch butterflies stopping on each wildflower, it was a beautiful sight.
I saw many cameras, and even some bikers stop to take a breather from their cycling. In the daytime I spotted numerous cyclists.
Soon after, around milepost 315 I crossed the Linville River Bridge. Next, on the right came signs leading to Linville Falls visitor center and campground. Once the road split off, the first turn was to the campground.
I stopped at the registration center to pick up some information and was greeted by two very friendly hosts of the campground. They directed me in the steps of registration as I picked up a few maps.
I continued on to loop A to check out the river behind some of the campsites. The sound of the river created a very peaceful atmosphere and a great place to set up camp. Out of all the sites, these were my favorite.
Just off the road through the campground, there is a large open field with a forest at the edge. This edge also houses a few campsites for visitors to set up camp. The contrast of the field against the trees leading into the riverbank was very picturesque.
Like any campground, Linville Falls was filled with that inviting smell of a campfire. The thing I liked most about this campground was how quaint it was. The entirety was about medium size, as the sites were fairly spread out.
In my opinion, it was big enough to be able to walk around and explore, but small enough for it not to feel crowded. Sites in Loop B had a large field beside them. This allows children and pets to roam around freely.
Also with Linville Falls large trail system right around the corner, the days spent in the area are sure to be exciting. What I gathered from my trip to Linville Falls Campground was that it is a peaceful, charming area that should be taken advantage of.
Whether you venture north or south on the parkway from the campground, there is plenty to keep you occupied and plenty of views to take in.
After the Rain
After the Rain: "
"
 | If you’ve seen Cataract or Laurel Falls on an average Summer day, you won’t believe how they looked after the heavy downpour we had last Friday! Click here or on the photo to view the video. Closed captioning is available for this video by clicking the caption button in the lower right-hand corner of the video controls. |
Twisting Falls
Twisting Falls: "
Twisting Falls (also known as Compression Falls) is found in the Elk Mills area of Carter County near the border with North Carolina. As you can see this waterfall is a popular place to be in the summer. It's listed as 30 feet high, but that seems to be a low estimate. Of course it made me nervous watching the young people climb the rope to the right and then either slide down or jump off the falls. Above the main falls, they were also jumping into another large 
pool from a high perch above. Obviously this is dangerous and not something I can recommend... Back in June a college student was injured there and it took rescuers five hours to bring her safely out. To be honest, I'm surprised (and very thankful) it doesn't happen more often. That said, this waterfall is in a beautiful, remote setting -- open to the sun, with the falls large enough to send out a constant spray of mist, perfect on a hot summer day. But getting there is pretty tough. It's not a long hike (about 3/4 mile) but it is the steepest 'trail' I've seen in this area. The first part of the trail leads you through the woods to a clearing where there are overhead power lines. Bang a left, and you begin your descent. It's straight down. And down, and down. Hiking poles or walking sticks may help. I can't imagine attempting to make it down the trail after a rain -- it was treacherous enough when dry. There was a rope halfway down that really helped -- although I'm not sure if it's always there or not. But take your time, watch your footing, and you'll reach the Elk River. At this point, you'll hear the falls from around the corner to your left. A trail will lead you over and around the slippery rocks until you reach the nearby falls. Enjoy the view and be careful! Click here for more information.
"
Twisting Falls (also known as Compression Falls) is found in the Elk Mills area of Carter County near the border with North Carolina. As you can see this waterfall is a popular place to be in the summer. It's listed as 30 feet high, but that seems to be a low estimate. Of course it made me nervous watching the young people climb the rope to the right and then either slide down or jump off the falls. Above the main falls, they were also jumping into another large 
pool from a high perch above. Obviously this is dangerous and not something I can recommend... Back in June a college student was injured there and it took rescuers five hours to bring her safely out. To be honest, I'm surprised (and very thankful) it doesn't happen more often. That said, this waterfall is in a beautiful, remote setting -- open to the sun, with the falls large enough to send out a constant spray of mist, perfect on a hot summer day. But getting there is pretty tough. It's not a long hike (about 3/4 mile) but it is the steepest 'trail' I've seen in this area. The first part of the trail leads you through the woods to a clearing where there are overhead power lines. Bang a left, and you begin your descent. It's straight down. And down, and down. Hiking poles or walking sticks may help. I can't imagine attempting to make it down the trail after a rain -- it was treacherous enough when dry. There was a rope halfway down that really helped -- although I'm not sure if it's always there or not. But take your time, watch your footing, and you'll reach the Elk River. At this point, you'll hear the falls from around the corner to your left. A trail will lead you over and around the slippery rocks until you reach the nearby falls. Enjoy the view and be careful! Click here for more information.Directions: Take highway 19E to Hampton, TN and then turn north onto route 321/67 toward Mountain City. Drive 9.7 miles and turn right on route 321 which leads to Boone, NC. Drive 7.2 miles till you reach Elk Mills Store (which will be on your right), turn right after the store onto Poga Road. After 0.2 miles the road will split, keep left, cross Jack Campbell Bridge, and then you'll immediately turn right again to continue following Poga Road for 3.6 miles. Then turn right onto Clawson Road and drive 0.5 miles. You then turn right onto Dark Ridge Road and drive another 0.5 miles (it will eventually turn to gravel). You'll see an old barn up on the hill to your left, there is a parking area next to it. The trail head is across the road from the parking area and marked with yellow and red paint on a tree.
Wild and Crazy Banjo Guy
Wild and Crazy Banjo Guy: "Steve Martin—side-splitting Saturday Night Live comedian, blockbuster film star, and prolific author—is now exposing the world to his musical talent on the banjo. That’s right, the Hollywood legend picks a mean tune, which can be heard on his recently released album The Crow. But this year Martin is also bringing his five-string on the road [...]"
