Annual Picnic 8.8.19

Trish arranged another great day for us.  I wish I knew her secret for always having a great day in store for everyone when she makes the arrangements.  As you can see from the pictures, we had a great turnout and everyone enjoyed seeing each other at a venue other than on a hike.  Trish has the perfect location at her home for this type of gathering and all of us surely do thank her.  Of course we can't forget Gloria and her husband for the great BBQ.  Each year they provide us with a scrumptious dinner.  If you would like to see just a couple of pictures, click here.  If you are trying to view the pictures on the TTA website and having trouble, please go directly to the BLOG at www.sdctta.blogspot.com.  Google Chrome is the preferred browser.

Little Cedar Mtn. 8.6.19

Ho Hum, just another perfect day for hiking.  On this hike we went to Little Cedar Mountain.  There were 16 of us on this hike of just over four miles.  The hike took us just over three hours.  Although we had been there recently, this hike is always enjoyable and has always been one of my favorites.  Once you get away from the highway traffic, and into the deep forest it is very serene.  The rocks and vegetation are incredible.  On this hike we all went about halfway and then split up into two groups.  Some went the slightly longer route around the mountain and the others took a twisty trail down the side of the mountain.  If you look at the trail maps I have included, you can see that one of the trail maps, that kind of looks like a figure eight, contains a larger circle around the mountain.  This is the track that some took.  The other trail map shows only the slightly shorter version of the hike.  Thanks to one of the hikers, I have included a picture of John Beck's Leafcup.  This flower is quite rare and if you are a flower aficionado you would appreciate seeing it.  Following the hike a group went to the Cracker Barrel and had a very nice lunch.  If you would like to see some pictures of the hike, including trail maps and altitude graph, click here.    If you are trying to view the pictures using the TTA website and having trouble, please go directly to the BLOG at www.sdctta.blogspot.com.  The preferred browser is google chrome.
Joke of the week (not hiking related)... You know what the ladies like on a date?  Courtesy.  Once I got into a world of trouble on a date when I didn't open the car door for her.  Instead I just swam for the surface. 

Savage Falls 8.3.19

 This hike, like the previous hikes on the previous Saturdays of this summer, was a very enjoyable hike.  Two of us hikers, who were willing to risk showing up for it, despite the threat of high temps and humidity, got to enjoy this hike.  When we departed the trailhead around 9:15, the temperature was in the low 70's and the humidity was quite bearable.  There was no threat of rain and because of the early hour, the sun didn't seem to raise the temperature beyond the upper 70's during the hike.  It was a short easy hike of 3 miles.  The trail was well maintained and blazed. Because of the recent rains, the Falls were running quite nicely – they didn't live up to their namesake of Savage, but they were at least temperamental.  We completed the hike and were off the trail by 11:45. 
If you would like to see some really nice pictures including a trail map, click here.  If you are viewing the pictures through the TTA website and having trouble, please go directly to the BLOG at www.sdctta.blogspot.com.