Rainbow Falls Trail - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Day 1 we hiked the Rainbow Falls trail which is a few miles into the park from the Gatlinburg entrance. It is 2.7 miles to the falls on a moderate grade and terrain. The scenery is absolutely beautiful. It is early September and the leaves haven't much begun their colorful transformation before departing their accompanying tree but later this month and early next the canvas will be a different show. Water flows through the park along this trail and there are several smaller yet equally gorgeous falls all along the way. The uniformed hiker might think they have found Rainbow Falls and turn around in haste after meeting some of these wonders but it is worthwhile to continue another hour or so up the trail to find the actual falls that give the trail its namesake. The water streams toward the rock cliff in a lemming like manner, plunging itself a hundred feet straight down and crashing on the rocks below and continuing its tumble down and down, rock after rock. We were there in the afternoon and passed it twice in the span of two hours and the view was different each time as the sunlight streaming through the trees hits the water differently. Later in the day there was a purple hue to the falls which gave it a wondrous vibe.
We hiked on up the trail which leads to the top of the mountain. The terrain remains the same but the views from higher and higher up are clearer as you proceed above the trees you were earlier buried under. We didn't reach summit mostly because there was a football game I wanted to watch. We turned around and made our two and a half hour descent back down the mountain. All told, it was about a 7 mile journey and worth every inch.
And a highlight for my wife, we saw a black bear cub as we were driving out of the park - the second bear of the trip which is ironic because we spent early, early mornings and many hours scouting bears in Shenandoah National Park and came up goose egg.
Gear Review
This is the first time I have done any significant hiking in my Vibram Five Finger footwear. I have done some running and milling around the yard in them and for that have been a fan. Hiking wise, I am still a fan. I lugged a backup pair hiking shoes up the mountain with me just in case but didn't need them.
The Vibram Five Fingers fit over your feet like a glove and give you the sensation of being barefoot except there is a protective layer of Vibram rubber (the same quality rubber you will find on rock climbing shoes) between your feet and the ground. They are extremely light and your feet will be sensitive to the terrain beneath them. I felt as agile as a deer in the shoes while navigating this trail. The trade-off for agility though is protection. Reckless bumbling through rough terrain could cause easier toe injury if you are not being completely mindful of every step. My mind wondered a few times and I snagged each small toe on a root and rock that hurt like an SOB but otherwise uninjured. After that, I was really focused about what I was doing and actually made my journey in the “now” more vivid.
As I write this, I am lounging in the sun and acutely aware of the soreness in my calf that I probably would not have otherwise experienced. If I had worn the Five Fingers more diligently prior, I would most likely have the foot strength already in place. But it is a good sore and really provides a sense of how unnatural conventional shoes allow us to walk. Spend a day in the Five Fingers and walk the way humans were designed to.
I love this product and recommend it to everybody. I look forward to the day that it is socially acceptable to see people going into their offices with these type foot gear.
