We are the greatest chapter of the TTA. No doubt about it. We had twenty people for this wonderful hike at Savage Gulf. The distance was about 4.7 miles and for the most part I would rate it as easy. The hike lasted about 3.5 hours. The weather fully cooperated for a very nice day. We moseyed along the trail only stopping briefly for a look or two at the map and for the occasional drink. Most of the overlooks were pretty well obscured by trees, but you could still get a good idea of the beauty of this area. We did see a copperhead and it is quite possible some of the hikers stepped right over it without seeing the snake! Very good camouflage. We were quite tired by the end of the hike as we did not stop for a snack break although I spotted a couple hikers munching along the way. Now comes the difficult part for me. We stopped after the hike at, lets see now, it was either Dalton, Dayton or Dunlap. I'm going for Dunlap at the Dunlap Restaurant. I seem to regularly get this wrong. We've eaten there before and everyone was always satisfied. If you would like to see some pictures, maps, and altitude graph, click here. If you are trying to view the pictures through the TTA website and having trouble, please go directly to the Blog at www.sdctta.blogspot.com. Google Chrome is the preferred browser.
This weeks joke....
How do you tell the difference between a black bear and a grizzly bear?
When you see the bear, climb a tree. If it climbs up the tree and kills you it is a black bear. If it knocks the tree down and kills you its a grizzly bear.
Weekly Trials and Tribulations of the Scenic City Chapter of the TTA
Weekly Trials. Tribulations and Photos experienced while hiking
Greeter Falls 6.22.19
Again, thanks to weather apps on our phones, we were able to get a great hike in even after watching the weather forecasts the day before. The forecasts predicted the weather most likely would not be conducive for a hike. So four local hikers headed for South Cumberland State Park and the Greeter Falls trail head. We were to meet up with two hikers from outside our club, but because I failed to take into consideration the time-change, we arrived an hour before our scheduled meet. Because the weather was still iffy, I opted to head out when we arrived, rather than wait. I tried to phone the hikers we were to meet up with, but was unsuccessful. We departed on the Greeter Falls portion of the hike around 9:45 local time under cloudy skies but pleasant temperatures. About 1/8th mile into the hike, I slipped and fell on a slippery wet root while descending to Greeter Falls. I hyper-extended my knee (which just happened to be the knee I try so hard to baby on a hike). The fall was very painful, but thanks to Tammy's supply of ibuprofen and my determination to continue, I was able to finish the hike. We continued down to Greeter Falls and Boardtree Falls. The falls were running quite nicely do to recent rains. On the ascent out of the falls area, I walked past a copperhead on the trail. Tammy who was behind me spotted it, and John flicked him off the trail with his pole. John later wondered that by tossing him off the trail and down the embankment, if he might be tossing the critter down on other hikers who were hiking below at the falls. They would have thought it was raining snakes. Shortly thereafter, it began to rain. It rained lightly for a mile or two but with no downpour or thunder and lightening.
Approximately 1.7 miles in, we arrived at the Alum Gap Campsite and the Stone Door Loop trail. We went along the BCR side of the trail heading for Stone Door. We heard rumbling from a storm system north of us, but it stayed north of us. We visited about four decent overlooks on the way to Stone Door. The hike was great because the overlooks provided a great view of the valley we were above. The temperature remained pleasant but humid. The rim side of the loop allowed for occasional breezes to cool us down. Shortly before 2pm we arrived at Stone Door, the halfway point on the loop. The views from the overlook were spectacular. Tammy, Betsy and John went down through the Stone Door. I opted out in order to prevent aggravating my sore knee. We continued on to the Ranger Station and Laurel Falls. From Stone Door and for the remainder of the hike, it was a bit more arduous because of the rising temperature and humidity. We lost the breezes the rim trail provided. We continued to the Greeter Falls trail head parking lot. On our ascent to the parking lot, that is where we encountered our second copperhead. He darted in front of me as we went up the stairs to the lot. It was about 5:30 when we exited the trail.
So, all in all, it was and excellent 10.7 mile hike – 3 wonderful running water falls, a half dozen spectacular overlooks and 2 copperheads (and a partridge in a pear tree). The Greeter Falls section was moderate, and the Stone Door Loop was easy. As a side note – my knee recovered from the fall with no apparent damage.
If you would like to see a bunch of really nice photos, click here. If you are trying to view the photos through the TTA website and having trouble, please go directly to the blog at www.sdctta.blogspot.com. Google Chrome is the preferred browser.
Approximately 1.7 miles in, we arrived at the Alum Gap Campsite and the Stone Door Loop trail. We went along the BCR side of the trail heading for Stone Door. We heard rumbling from a storm system north of us, but it stayed north of us. We visited about four decent overlooks on the way to Stone Door. The hike was great because the overlooks provided a great view of the valley we were above. The temperature remained pleasant but humid. The rim side of the loop allowed for occasional breezes to cool us down. Shortly before 2pm we arrived at Stone Door, the halfway point on the loop. The views from the overlook were spectacular. Tammy, Betsy and John went down through the Stone Door. I opted out in order to prevent aggravating my sore knee. We continued on to the Ranger Station and Laurel Falls. From Stone Door and for the remainder of the hike, it was a bit more arduous because of the rising temperature and humidity. We lost the breezes the rim trail provided. We continued to the Greeter Falls trail head parking lot. On our ascent to the parking lot, that is where we encountered our second copperhead. He darted in front of me as we went up the stairs to the lot. It was about 5:30 when we exited the trail.
So, all in all, it was and excellent 10.7 mile hike – 3 wonderful running water falls, a half dozen spectacular overlooks and 2 copperheads (and a partridge in a pear tree). The Greeter Falls section was moderate, and the Stone Door Loop was easy. As a side note – my knee recovered from the fall with no apparent damage.
If you would like to see a bunch of really nice photos, click here. If you are trying to view the photos through the TTA website and having trouble, please go directly to the blog at www.sdctta.blogspot.com. Google Chrome is the preferred browser.
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