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.  

Daddy's Creek

Saturday George and I decided to take an impromptu hike on the Daddy's Creek portion of the Crab Orchard Section of the Cumberland Trail.  We met at 8am at the Soddy Daisy parking lot and headed north to the trailhead.  It took us approximately and hour and a half to get there.  The weather was pleasant, and we departed on the trail at 9:30.  The trail to the campsite is listed at 2.7 miles.  We went a short distance on the yellow trail and then onto the main CT trail.  The trail was wet but not muddy.  The trail was well blazed.  It had been raining off and on the previous few days.  We made it to the overlook and began our descent to the creek.  We followed the creek for about a mile to what we thought was the campsite but later discovered the listed site was actually approximately ¼ mile further on the trail.  The first site we thought was the campsite appeared to have been used more than the listed site.  The listed site was unfinished and unused.  We returned to the lst site and had our snack and began our ascent and return.  I would agree with the on-line hike description, that of a moderate hike.  The hike from the creek up to the lookout was difficult in the rising heat of the day, but I've been on worse ascents.  We did see two box turtles on the trail and that was it for any wildlife on this trip, except for an owl we heard in the distance.  If you would like to see some pictures of this hike, click here.

Retro Hughes Rd. 6.26.18

What a hike!  The only two things that saved me were George and the weather.  This was only a 5.1 mile hike, but the return was a killer.  Lucky the weather was overcast and cool for this time of year.  It had been raining the previous week so the trail was wet and very slippery at times.  Going down to the Rock Creek Bridge was not too bad.  You did notice that I said "down" as the return was a steady slog back up the mountain.  We got a little disoriented once, but thanks to the GPS, we were able to get back onto the trail.  There were 10 of us on this hike and a few smart ones turned back at about the halfway mark.  We did see a beautiful copper head right next to the trail.  Since I was very slow, this hike took me almost 4.5 hours!  At one point the ladder had broken so we had to bushwack our way over some rocks.  Following the hike several of us had lunch at the Blue Ribbon.  If you would like to see some pictures and maps, click here. 

Black Mountain 6.19.18

It was a rather long ride to black mountain for a what turned out to be a relatively short hike.  The ride turned out to be really nice with lots of good conversation along the way.  Boodie, the hike leader grew up in the area and was able to inform his passengers about all the local lore.  It was good that we left early, because by the time the group of eight, arrived it was starting to get hot and humid.  The drive up the mountain was interesting as it was a one-way road with two-way traffic!  Once we arrived at the parking lot everything went smoothly.  We had decided on the shorter loop around the top of the mountain.  A three mile branch hike was voted down.  At one time in the 20's, there was a Methodist camp on the mountain.  Hence the spring building and chimney.  I would rate this one hour and 45 minute hike as an easy 2.3 miles.  We dipped down into a field of towering boulders and walked out onto view points that offered a staggering view of the valley below.  Following the narrow ride back down, most of the group of  the group had a catfish dinner at a local restaurant.  If you would like to see some pictures, click here.

Glenn Falls 6.16.18

Seven hardy hikers showed up for the Saturday hike to Glen Falls on Lookout Mountain.  What fools these mortals be.  They entrusted their safety and well being in me leading them on my first time as hike leader.  At the conclusion of the hike I thanked them for not getting injured or lost because I didn't want to have to submit any additional paperwork.  The hike got underway about 8:30.  The temperature was in the 70's and heading higher.  The humidity seemed bearable.  The first and most difficult part of the hike was the hike up to an unmarked road which we easily crossed.  The ascent was a cardio workout.  We continued to the most dangerous part of our journey, crossing OCHS Hwy at approximately .5 miles from the falls.  The trail then led to the falls and pool under the falls.  Though the falls was still flowing, it was at a reduced rate.  We had lunch and returned to the parking lot at Ruby Falls. Exiting at a little past noon.  The trail though not blazed, was used enough so getting lost was not a concern.  The hottest part of the hike was the walk back from the trailhead (near the incline RR) to the parking lot.  We were out from under the trail canopy at that point.  Everyone said it was a good hike. If you would like to see some pictures, click here.