4th of July in Nashville & a look at Virgin Falls Pocket Wilderness

Tonight myself along with some of the other staff went to Nashville to enjoy what was ranked the 2nd best fireworks show in the nation this year. It was incredible to see and be a part of over 100,000 people crammed into the riverfront area, crowding the bars, getting food, walking and enjoying festivities.

The four of us found a spot on the walking bridge for the firework show which turned out amazing. The sheer fire power in the last minute of the show was mind blowing...or in other words, it was sick! I was able to take video of only a portion of the entire 20 minute show. But if you don't feel like watching the whole thing then at least check out the end...it really is a ridiculous finale. (Don't forget to take into account that all the videos and pictures in the blog are from my cell phone which isn't the greatest quality.) In the end it was a really good time, if you don't mind crowds, and I would really recommend checking it out and being a part of it in the future.

This week contained a lot of different things that were all very beneficial and some of them very fun. Since we had no groups in this week, we were able to do some maintenance at some of the elements and work on creating new labyrinths for the future. We had a really fun get together/party with popcorn and ping pong and such. I had the opportunity to take the guys from the boys' home through the cave and then make hobos with them, which was really fun. We also made a "sweat lodge", which was great. For those who don't know what that is, it is basically a home made sauna/steam room when you are camping; pretty cool stuff.

The other awesome thing we got to do was take a day-trip hike out to Virgin Falls in the VF Pocket Wilderness area outside Sparta. If you haven't been there and you are a camper/hiker/nature lover, then go there. It is a beautiful hike, 8 miles round trip. The hike is certainly more strenuous, but definitely worth every step. The trail takes you along side a creek which continually gets bigger, though not always full of water, and eventually runs into Big Laurel Falls, the first major attraction. And a very beautiful area it is indeed. Behind Big Laurel is a big dome cave that is accesible to all and which also makes a pretty cool campsite. Big Laurel is about the half way point to Virgin Falls. To get to Virgin Falls, you would have to make a left at the first fork in the trail (a right takes you to the Sheephead Cave) and then take a right at the second fork (a left here would take you to the river, another beautiful campsite that is wide open with plenty of space, water access, and a rope swing.) Stay on the main trail to the falls. You will eventually be able to find it by simply following your ears. Virgin Falls is a really pretty water fall with plenty of great campsites either up top or at the trail access. Each spot provides great background sound of the falls and a nice cool breeze from the water. Here is a secret that most people don't know about Virgin Falls. If the water is a little lower, you can walk down to the base and go under the water and behind the falls to find some really beautiful cave formations, tunnels, and bottomless pits. There are several pillars that form various rooms that all connect somehow through different tunnels. It's really a cool place to explore around in...as long as you are careful enough. A more well known cave is at the top of the falls, at the mouth of the creek. Inside the cave the temperature drops tremendously (at least in the summer) and most of it is filled with at least calf high, freezing water. The entrance brings three tunnels, all of which lead to the same room. This room provides an alternate way out or, if you make a left and travel through the big rocks, you will continue on throughout what seems to be an endless cave. I still haven't seen the end or even come to a place where it has gotten any smaller than 15 foot ceilings and very wide walls. The cold water is home to a large number of small shiny rocks, white sand, and transluscent white crawfish of some sort.

So, if you are looking for beauty, peace, adventure, etc...and especially a cool look at God's creation, than you should check out Virgin Falls. (Contact me if you want directions) God has been so good to me this summer. I had to stop and think why I was getting paid to hike trails and explore caves. It's been real...


in Him,

Ben