Weekly Trials and Tribulations of the Scenic City Chapter of the TTA

Weekly Trials. Tribulations and Photos experienced while hiking

Stringers Ridge 6.3.14

6.3.14  There were 14 adults 1 child and a dog on this  approximately 3 mile hike. It was pretty humid out there but at least the ground was dry. An easy walk. We got back just in time. A bus load of kids just arrived as we were getting off the trail.

Retro Hughes to Leggett Road

5.31.14    With today’s hike by the Soddy Daisy chapter we experienced low turnout but high temperatures so I guess it evened out.  We began by meeting at the Soddy Ball Fields prior to driving up to the trailhead on Retro Hughes Road.  Our hike was to take us from the Rock Creek trailhead on Retro Hughes over to the intersection of the Shortcut trail and the main trail which is about .1 mile shy of the upper trailhead on Leggett Road.  That would make our total distance for the day’s hike around 10.6 miles and should definitely be rated as “Strenuous” based not just on the mileage alone but the time and the temp that we did it in.  Our Hike leader today due to George’s absence was John Politte, who has many talents other than hiking – one being he takes great shots of the distant planets and planetary nebulae.  Oh well I digress, John took off on a pace that I can only describe as “Fast”, with the heat and humidity I was soaked by the time we climbed to our half-way point near Leggett Road.  There was four of us at the trailhead starting out but by less than a half mile in we could not hear any voices coming from our other two companions.  We stopped for a quick lunch at the Rock Creek Bridge where we caught up with the other two hikers that due to time constraints had originally turned around at the Rock Creek Overlook instead of going the same distance that we had travelled.  They took off to the parking lot while we ate lunch but we caught up with them about a mile from our finishing point.  I was really happy with the speed we maintained where we completed the entire hike in just under 4 hours after you take away our down time for 2 water breaks and lunch.  Thanks John, you did a great job of keeping up the pace for our hike!  Next time we need a few more water breaks, those leg cramps later that day were killers!  Happy Hiking! J

Larry H.