Tri-State Peak

Thursday June 5
Today was dry, very warm and humid. In the morning, we went hiking to Tri-State Peak which, as the name suggests, is the point at which Kentucky (top right), Tennesee (lower left) and Virginia (lower right) meet. A little way along the trail, you pass the remains of an old iron furnace, set on the banks of Gap Creek, which was in use from the 1820s to the 1880s, creating iron for use by area blacksmiths. Further up, you come across the pyramid shaped marker, top left celebrating Daniel Boone’s trail. This was placed by the Tennessee Daughters of the American Revolution to commemorate the work to create the historic Cumberland Gap, opening up the West. At the peak, there is a gazebo over the point where the three states meet. There are signs for each state giving facts such as its nickname, square mile area, state capital, date of statehood, state bird and state flower.
After our hike we descended into the village of Cumberland Gap, and had an ice cream, sitting by a small stream. You had to watch where you walked or sat though, as it was under the shade of a mulberry tree, which was dropping its blackberry-like fruit! Then we drove the winding road up to Pinnacle Overlook (see extra collage) which offered amazing views over the area. Then it was back to the campground for a cup of tea, shower, and then dinner, followed by a game of Qwirkle.