Rock Creek 6.8.2024

 

This Saturday morning, 12 hikers met at this trail in Sale Creek, TN.  It was an awesome morning for hiking.   The temperature upon arrival was a cool 64 degrees, with low humidity and lots of sunshine.  This hike included a little bit of everything – lots of ups and downs, some rocky terrain, the views and sounds of flowing water in rock creek, leisure walking along the plateau with natures cushion (pine needles lining the trail), a few switchbacks and even a little mud.  This is one of my favorite trails as it challenges you a bit but not too much.    A break & snack was enjoyed at the Leggett Point Overlook. Total hike was over 6 miles (AllTrails says 5.5 but the consensus among the hikers tracking their mileage, it is more like 6 to 6 ½ miles) with elevation of more than 1100’.  Hikers included TTA Scenic City members: Tim Booth (hike leader), Mike and Lori Schiro, Dave Graham, Randy Medley, Tom McNally, Tammy Hendrick, Suzanne Thigpen, Mike Wolford, Tom McElhone, Betsy Darken, and TTA Plateau member: Mary Carlisle. 

If you would like to see some photos taken during this hike, click here

Talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.

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Benton MacKaye Trail 6.4.2024

 The weather forecast for this hike was iffy at best. Scattered rain and thunderstorms were predicted for the area. However, just prior to cancelling the hike, the weather forecast changed to indicate the foul weather wouldn't take place until noon at the earliest. I calculated that we could finish the 4+ mile hike just short of noon, barring any unforeseen mishaps. As we left Food City in Ooltewah, the clouds were just forming over Chattanooga. We raced over to Reliance TN and staged our vehicles at Reliance and headed for the Lost Creek Campground. The trail distance was listed at 4.1 miles.

However the road from the Reliance campground to the Lost Creek camp ground was listed as 25 to 30 minutes over a gravel road. We made it to the trailhead and departed on the hike somewhere between 9:30 and 9:45. The sun was shining, the temperature was probably in the 70's, the humidity was bearable, and a slight breeze was blowing – perfect hiking weather for the 1^st part of June. We followed the creek for about 3 miles, then proceeded inland and up a steep incline and the rapid descent to almost a tenth of a mile to the end of the trail. As we made our final creek crossing, the rain shower began. Not particularly heavy but enough to dampen our clothes. Part of our group waited about an hour at the local camp ground store, while the rest made the one hour round-trip to get the staged vehicles at the Lost Creek Campground. All in all it was a great hike to welcome in the summer hiking season.

If you would like to see some excellent photos taken during this hike, click here click here.  

A minute varies depending on which side of the bathroom door you are on.  

Denny Cove 5.28.2024

 What a beautiful day for a hike.   It was a very clear day with a slight breeze blowing.  There were twelve of us on this hike which was just under 5 miles.  After carefully traversing many boulders, we arrived at the falls.  The falls were running just right and it was so beautiful.  Some of the hikers thought it was the best falls they had seen in Tennessee.  We began our trek back and reached a point where it was possible to to take a spur trail up to where the rock climbers liked to do their thing.  Some of the hikers decided to remain on the current trail and seven hikers decided to take the Buffet Trail back.  This was probably a mistake as we lost the trail a couple of times and and had to do some bushwacking.  When we were on the trail it was great.  Off the trail not so much.  We finally joined the rest of the group and hiked to a lookout point.  Turned out to be a great hike except yours truly took a spill and split open the bridge of his nose.  Not so bad though. This hike took about 3.5 hours. Following the hike we went to Lookout Winery and had some very good pizza.   

If you would like to see some pictures taken during this hike, including maps and altitude graph, click here click here.   

To some, marriage is a word.  To others it is a sentence.  

Fort Mountain S.P. 5.21.2024

A spectacular sojourn in N. GA at Fort Mtn State Park.  13 brave souls trekked about 6 miles around Fort Mtn enjoying the serenity that abounds.  AllTrails kept us on the straight and narrow as this hike even confused the Ranger staff attg the park.  Nevertheless, it was an incredible hike of maybe a bit beyond typical Tuesday hikes.  but no looking back.  This ought to be a regular at least once a year.  Got off track for a bit, one slip and slide with no injury and incredible views of the N. GA. Mountains.  Even got to navigate around a baby rattlesnake who did not seem to disturbed by our NOISY  invasion into his home.  

If you would like to see a few nice photos from this hike, click here click here.  

Never trust a train, they have loco motives.  

Collegedale, Red Ball Trail, 5.14.2024

 We started out on this hike under threatening skies.  The forecast was 50% chance of  rain.  We made the entire hike without so much as a single drop.  This 4 mile hike lasted 2 hrs and 37 minutes under very cloudy and humid skies.  There were 19 of us on this trip with two new, to our club, hikers dropping out about 1/2 way.  The woods were lush and beautiful.  As you can see by the altitude graph, we had a good workout on this hike.  Following this hike 11 of us flooded a little panini restaurant next to Tractor supply.  All in all a very good hike.    

If you would like to see a few pictures taken during this hike, including map and altitude graphs, click here. 

My dog can find anything, He's a Labragoogle!