Saturdays hike in Prentice Cooper State Forest (Poplar Springs section of the Cumberland Trail) was a chilly one. The temperature at the trailhead was was a chilly 26 degrees and when we returned , it had climbed to a balmy 34 degrees. We hiked briskly from the main trailhead in Prentice Cooper to Indian Rockhouse, squeezing through the stairway between house-sized rock, then followed the well worn trail below the bluff. As we walked , the bright sun warmed us until the trail turned to the other side of the mountain then the bitter wind assaulted us, and such was the rest of the hike, alternating from chilly to warm, putting on gloves, hats and zipping up coats to unzipping.
A lot of rocks, a lot of small ups and downs, 14 wet-weather, rock-hopping water crossings-1 way. So 28 crossings, most easy, a few challenging, no icy rocks, and the bridge at Sulphur Branch missing a few floor boards,. We bushwacked around the Branch, which revealed multiple waterfalls cascading down the mountain.
We finally reached the top of the bluff to Lawson's Rock, overlooking the Tennessee River gorge and had lunch. Hiking back the way we had come in the morning was filled by afternoon hikers. It is great that folks are enjoying our beautiful trails.
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