Todays hike was to the Falling Water Falls overlook. There were 6 hikers and the hike was led by George Bonneau. The weather was very pleasant ( for July) with temperatures being in the 70's. The hike distance was about 5 miles and we completed the hike by about noon. I would rate the hike as moderately strenuous. Since we have been having rain recently, the waterfalls were running. In the photos, you can see a portion of the Canyons subdivision.
Weekly Trials and Tribulations of the Scenic City Chapter of the TTA
Weekly Trials. Tribulations and Photos experienced while hiking
Craven's House 7.3.18
This was a great hike! Thank you hike leader Trish. There were eleven of us on the 3.1 mile hike around Lookout Mtn. I would rate this hike as easy except for the first 1/4 mile which was uphill and moderate. It had been raining on Lookout Mtn. so everything was very lush and beautiful. The trail was wet, but not soggy. Wildlife included two turtles and one lonely grasshopper. I believe that everyone had a very nice time. Because everyone took their time, this hike lasted about three hours. Following the hike, we decided to have lunch at B's, but they were closed so we went to Firehouse Subs and guess what, they were closed also. Then we went to Mojo Burrito and had a so so lunch. If you would like to see some pictures, click here.
Roaring Forks 6.30.18
I hiked with the Soddy Daisy Hiking Club on their Saturday hike at the Graysville Mountain RMA Section and when completed this section will link the Rock Creek Section to the southwest with the Laurel-Snow Section to the northeast. I really enjoyed having John Politte as our hike leader too since it had been a couple of years since we last hiked together due to the nerve issues in my heels. Our destination was leaving from the Roaring Creek trailhead located on Brayton Mtn Road for an in and out to Gilbreath Creek which was listed on the CTC site as 4.9 miles each way but based on the overlook visits and the poor trail conditions leading down to Gilbreath Creek I would say this turned into a solid 10 mile strenuous hike overall.
There was only five of us that showed up and those were John, Boodie, George, Carolyn and myself and of course the temp was in the mid-seventies and muggy when we began but luckily with the tree cover we didn't have to hike all day in the sunlight so it was bearable by the time it hit in the low 90's. I will say that George Bonneau is a real trooper to be out with his club on most Tuesday and Saturday hikes with his current health problems and all that know George please say a prayer for him that he gets positive news soon from his recent MRI. Both he and Boodie have had a great influence on my obsession with hiking since I retired.
I can't say enough about the lack of general maintenance on the different segments of the Cumberland Trail. I was fortunate enough to backpack the New River Segment (45 miles from trailhead to trailhead) back in February, 2014 and it was previously completed in 2012 by the CTC General Manager, Tony Hook along with tons of volunteers but there were more trees than I could count blocking the trails, bridges washed away and not replaced, undergrowth covering the trail in some areas and portions of the trail had been washed away due to previous strip mining in the area. The State loves to tout how eventually when completed it will be a 300+ mile linear park for thru hiking but since it's obvious that the CT State Park Manager (B. Fulcher) or TDEC (Asst. Commissioner Brock Hill) has no intentions of maintaining this trail with State Resources I don't see this as ever being a permanent path to hike for future generations unless there is a mindset change within the State but for now we can enjoy the segments that are available until Nature reclaims these trails.
As you can see by the pics you will have a hard time hiking through or around the large number of blow-downs leading down to and across Gilbreath Creek.
During the hike we only suffered one injury and that was with Boodie where he slipped off a loose rock along the trail which resulted in losing some skin on his left forearm. He was able to stop the bleeding by wrapping his bandana around the wound and his wife is a retired RN so I'm sure he was well cared for after I dropped him off at his home.
Even with all of the trail conditions as they were it was still a great day to be on the trail with friends and I hope you enjoy some of the pics I've added and to all of my hiking friends,
Happy Hiking! If you would like to see some really great pictures taken along this trail, click here.
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