Black Mountain 9.13.2025

 It was a beautiful day to hike Black Mountain. The sky was blue, with moderate temperatures, leaves hinting a change of color and acorns dropping to the forest floor. We hiked to the cave and peered in. Continued on switchbacks up the mountain to the “Gateway”- huge house sized rocks with a stairway to attain the summit. Lunch was on the south overlook, one of the grandest views from the plateau to the valley below. After lunch, some of the hikers explored the trail just below the bluff to see more rocks & crevasses in the bluff edge. We returned to our cars, putting in 7.5 miles with an elevation gain of 1512 feet.

If you would like to see some photos taken during this hike, click here or on the photo to the right.  

Collins Gulf 8.26.2025

 What a perfect day for a hike.  Upon meeting at the trailhead, the temperature was around 67 degrees, very low humidity, sunny skies & a low variable cool breeze.  This hike started off very easy for the first ¼ mile, but once you pass the campground and begin the descent down to Suter Falls, the terrain becomes rocky with a sharp down hill climb.  We could hear the roaring sound of Suter Falls and the anticipation to see its glory was overwhelming.  We continued further down the trail and “enjoyed” a little boulder hopping and more rock scrambling till we reached the overlook at Suter Falls and the Collins River.  What an awesome view!  With all the rain we have had lately, the river was flowing in full force.  We then made the semi-circle turn into the rock canyon to get better views of the falls and to continue on the trail.  After we crossed over the Collins River via the swinging bridge, we made it to “Fantasy Island”.  If you have never been, I highly encourage it!  Take a lunch and enjoy the falls. We continued on to explore the Housepound Falls.  The trail had several more areas of rock scrambling and boulder hopping but nothing too crazy.  Once the terrain became less rocky, we began a further decent to the second falls.  We proceeded another 1 ½ miles and finally arrived at the exquisite Housepound Falls. Like Suter Falls, it was “gushing” from the flow of the Collins River.  Everyone took a snack/lunch break and enjoyed the sights and sounds of the river.  We then retraced our steps and returned to the main trailhead.  Fortunately, most of the uphill climb back included several switchbacks and flatter areas to take short hydration breaks and catch your breath.  This was a great hike but tough due to the terrain and 870’ elevation gain on the return trip, especially for a Tuesday hike.  Although everyone preserved and finished the full 5 mile out & back hike (with one hiker doing the full loop - 12 mile hike), all seemed to enjoy the awesome views which made the journey much more enjoyable.  Hikers included TTA Scenic City members: Tim Booth (hike leader), Tammy Hendrick, Susan Kroll, Barbara Hill, Tom McElhone, Bob Anderson, Betsy Darkin and one TTA Murfreesboro member: Sara Pollard. (Submitted by: Tim Booth)

If you would like to see some great pictures taken during this hike, click here or on the photo to the right.  

Raccoon Mountain 8.19.2025

It’s hot out there! But this was the perfect time to hike Raccoon Mountain.  Lots of shade, a few cool breezes, some elevation gain but not too much.  The only tricky part was getting people to and from the right place for the shuttle.  Just the right hike for a warm August day. 

If you would like to see a couple of photos from this hike, click here or on the photo to the right.  

Sewanee Perimeter Trail 8.16.2025

  Saturday's Perimeter Trail hike turned out not to be the hot humid hike the weather forecast  predicted. The heat index was forecast to be 100 degrees at noon in Sewanee. As it turned out, it was  hot and humid, but didn't feel like 100 degrees. I think the humidity was lower than forecast. 

 We set out shortly after 8:30 EST along the perimeter trail all the way to past Otey View overlook.  There wasn't much of a view to be had at the overlook due to the lush growth provided by the ample rains we have had this past summer. We continued on the trail until we reached a point on the trail where we left the Perimeter Trail and hiked to Bridal Veil Falls. When we arrived at the falls, there  wasn't much water falling – just a trickle, which was unexpected considering all the recent rain we have had. After we had our snacks, we hiked back up the mountain to the Perimeter Trail and Morgan's Steep. From there we took the Proctor's Hall Trail back to the Memorial Cross trailhead.  The hike up from the falls was the most difficult part of the hike. It was steep and what I would classify as difficult. 

 The hike back on the Proctor's Hall Trail was also a challenge. It was a narrow up and down trail on a steep grade. About 2 tenths of a mile from the trailhead, there was a steep rock climb up and through an opening in the rocks. This climb was steep and precarious enough that it resulted in a 3-way split up amongst the hikers. 2 hikers made the steep climb up and through the rock opening, 2 hikers made their way up an alternate near-by trail leading to a road above the trail where we could walk on the road back to the trailhead, and 2 hikers back-tracked back to the Perimeter Trail. The split-up resulted in the 3 groups arriving at the trailhead approximately 5 minutes apart from each other.

All in all, it turned out to be a good, albeit hot, 6 mile difficult hike.

If you would like to see a couple of pictures taken during this hike, click here or on the photo to the right.

Durham Mines, 8.12.2025

 Six intrepid hikers got a bit wet exploring new (to us) trails at Durham Mine Trails.  

If you would like to see some pictures taken during this hike, click here or on the picture to the right.