Turtle Town Falls 12.17.19

It was a dark and gloomy night!  Well, I am half right, it was kind of gloomy and a little dark, just not night.  This hike was under overcast skies with a little drizzle and went for 4 miles. If I counted correctly, there were 11 hikers.  As you can see the falls were really flowing.  The group actually found the second falls!  All of the hikers really enjoyed the raging falls as can be seen in the pictures.  If you would like to see some pictures, 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....Did you know that all of Santa's reindeer are female?  Even Rudolf!  Male reindeer shed their antlers in the winter and since all of Santa's reindeer have antlers, they must be female!
What do you call a snowman with a six pack?  A: An abdominal snowman.    What do you call a kid who doesn't believe in Santa?  A:  A rebel without a clause.

Quinn Springs/Oswald Dome 12.14.19

Our hike began at the Quinn Springs Trailhead adjacent to the Hiwassee River.  The weather was cool and overcast (in the mid 40’s for most of the hike).

     In the initial part of the hike we made an ascent of about 2200 feet (in a couple of miles) to reach the bluff overlooking the Tennessee River Valley to our West. 

     We had good open views to the South, the West, and the North for 25 to 40 miles.   Watts Bar Nuclear Plant was easy to spot about 40 miles to the Northwest. 

     After reaching the bluff, we hiked to the South a little over 2 miles until we reached the area containing several tall communication towers located on and near the West bluff line.  At this point we stopped for our lunch  break.  After lunch we headed back toward the bluff and our starting point. 

     Today we hiked about 8.6 miles.  This hike is rated as difficult by All Trails.  I would rate the initial 2 miles as a strenuous portion of the hike.  We had four hikers participate in today’s hike.  

If you would like to see a few pictures taken during this hike, including a map, click here.  If you are trying to view the pictures through the TTA website and having problems, please go directly to the BLOG at www.sdctta.blogspot.com.  Google Chrome is the preferred browser.