Tennessee Christmas (and some December catchup)

Christmas Eve sunset on Tellico Lake in Tennessee

We spent Christmas with Andrea's family in Tennessee this year, and it was HOT... as in: 70+ degrees every day! Great weather for running and just hanging outside. 

Some photos...

And for some December catching up. Andrea spent the middle of December in Shanghai and Hong King (for work). Here's her summary...

Poor girl. Here's what I was doing while she was in China...

Tennessee Wedding

Andrea and I at the new property we purchased
(we wish!)

A couple photos from a four day trip to Tennessee. This is apparently the stretch of time when our best childhood friends get married - Andrea's friend Meghan this past weekend, and my friend Mike's coming up next month. Makes for fun travel!

The wedding was at Crescent Bend on the Tennessee River

ALWAYS wear Saucony shoes. Even with a suit.

On Monday we walked around the Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville

Tennessee Mountain Wedding

Our friends Nate and Nora got hitched in Tennessee over the weekend. We went down for 3 days and had a heck of a good time. Perfect place to have a wedding and fun weekend in the mountains (outside of Gaitlinburg TN), and the weather cooperated nicely - sunny and 70 degrees every day!

Since they hire professionals to walk around w/ camera at weddings, we didn't take too many pictures, but did snap a handful...

A few that I stole from my buddy Sean...

Still some fall colors left in the Smoky Mountains...

And this is what we returned to in Utah... 50 inches of snow in the mountains over 2 days... I guess we'll be skiing soon! :-)

Frozen Head State Park

View from the top of the Fire Tower

My parents and I took a trip to Frozen Head State Park. It's a beautiful area and, for those interested, it's also where the infamous Barkley Marathons event is held. The mountains in the southeast are such a contrast to those out west. I love how GREEN and lush it is. The only frustration is that the trees are so abundant and so tall that you often don't have any views until you are at the very top!

This dayhike started on Old Mac Trail (.3 mile). We took Spicewood Trail (2.5 miles) which connects to Chimney Top Trail. We then took that just over a mile to the Lookout Tower Trail and the top of Frozen Head. We returned to the parking lot on the South Old Mac and Judge Branch trails. The loop was about 8 miles total.

We had a great time! Although I grew up in TN, I had never been to this state park before. It seemed very well maintained and a nice alternative to the Smoky Mountains. I was really surprised with how little (to no) water was in the streams. I thought there would be much more since it's only May...hope the area gets some rain before it really starts to get hot! The poison ivy was definitely out in full force. I don't think I've ever seen so much, and I'm really hoping that I don't break out in hives tomorrow. We didn't see any wildlife except for about 1,000,000 bugs!

Satellite map of the hike

The trails are much more obvious than in the Rockies!

Dynamite?!

Wildflowers

Wild mushrooms

The 'rents.

I just love these trees!

My dad is trying to squish me :)