Reflection Riding 2.28.2020

This was a really great hike.  I have to admonish the hike leader as she described the hike as 4.5 miles but it turned out to be 6.5 miles.  It was really not her fault and she did a great job of keeping this group of 20.5 hikers together.  The 0.5 hiker was a child that required carrying and I don't know how dad did it?  It was a perfect day for a hike with clear blue skies and no wind.  We stopped at Skyuka Springs for a brief snack and then completed this 3hr 36 minute hike.  Our moving average was 2.4 mph which is a little higher than average.  The initial climb of this hike was 0.7 miles and it was a steady uphill walk.  This pretty much tired everyone, but the balance of this hike was easy.  If you would like to see some pictures taken during this hike,, including maps and altitude graph, 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....You know what 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. 

Benton Falls 1.25.20

Four hikers traveled to Cherokee NF to hike the Clemmer trail from Rt 30 to Benton Falls and back. The temperature was in the low 40s but going uphill gradually for 2+ miles kept us warm.  The trail is mostly packed dirt, well worn and easy to follow as it is a popular bike path.  We rock hopped about 5 small streams.  Arriving at the junction of the Benton Falls trail, we descended the rock steps to the falls.  In spite of the cool day, there were quite a few people enjoying the falls, even a few dogs and a bear..a dog named Bear.  After lunch we returned on the Clemmer trail, taking a 0.3mile detour on the Rim Rock Spur loop.  The hike was 9.7 mile trek with an elevation of 1352 feet and walking time of 4 1/2 hours.  
If you would like to see some really nice photos taken during this hike, click here.  If you are trying to view the photos through the TTA website and having trouble, please go directly to the BLOG at www.sdctta.blogspot.com.  Google Chrome is the preferred browser.
Tip for new hikers.  If you are hiking and get lost, it is alway good to know which way is North.  I have found that the easiest way to find North is.......Face South and then turn around!

Lookout Mtn. Bluff Trail 1.21.20

Let's see, where should I start?  Well, it was COLD!!  Maybe the coldest hike the club has been on.  There were only seven of us on this hike and I am kind of surprised that even that many showed up.  The hike was 4.9 miles and except for the temperature it would be rated as easy.  The hike lasted 3hrs and 17min with a moving average of 2.1mph.  The starting temperature was in the low 20s and when we finished, I would guess it was just about freezing.  Luckily, the wind that was blowing was coming from the other side of the mountain and we were shadowed or we would have had a really tough time.  If you look at the pictures, you will see that the ice formations were beautiful.  We did notice that the camel back water system was subject to freezing which we had definitely not seen before.  When frozen, you can't get a drink from the tube.   We did have some problems, however.  Seems that a Prius is not designed for seven passengers.  Who would have thunk.  As you can see from the pictures, it was a tight squeeze, but we all made it.  Following the hike, we had a delightful, if expensive, meal at the Cafe on the Corner restaurant on Lookout Mtn.  If you would like to see some really nice pictures provided by Betsy, including maps and altitude graph, 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. 

Enterprise Sout 1.7.20

"FLASH"  THIS IS A SPECIAL REPORT DIRECT FROM THE CHATTANOOGA TIMES FREE PRESS, BACKWOODS EDITION!!  The Soddy Daisy Chapter of the TTA was asked by park rangers to leave the trail and follow Poe Road back to the parking lot.  At first it was suspected that a clandestine photo session had taken place at the Boulder Field.  Thankfully that suspicion was in error and the suspected perp was cleared of any wrongdoing.  It turned out that there was a report of someone on one of the trails carrying a gun.  Of course the 10 hikers present eagerly offered to hunt down and capture the evil doer, but this offer was politely turned down by the rangers.  Therefore we decided, with a little urging from the ranger, to return to the parking lot via the paved road.
We had 13 hikers on the 4.2 mile hike on a cool but beautiful day.  Enterprise South always offers easy hiking.  After this adventurous hike a few of the hikers had lunch at the City Café.  If you would like to see a few pictures of the hike, including an altitude graph and map, click here.  If you are trying to view the pictures from the TTA website and having trouble, please go directly to the BLOG at www.sdctta.blogspot.com.  Google Chrome is the preferred browser.

New Years ….
God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway.
The good fortune to run into the ones that I do,
And the eyesight to tell the difference.
Happy Gnu Year!

Heiss Mountain 1.4.20

This Saturday we were able to do our hike in between a couple of rainy days and just as a cold front arrived in our area. Five hikers participated in this strenuous hike. By the end of our 10.4 mile in-and-out hike on the Cumberland Trail from the Heiss Mountain Trailhead to Immodium Falls we had made 4 ascensions totaling a little over 2600 feet. As we finished our hike it was spitting sleet.

The trail we hiked is in a beautiful place. The hike gradually descends from the Heiss Mountain trailhead into the Possum Creek Gorge. A nice bridge is in place to cross the creek. From the bridge the trail climbs to the top of Hughes Ridge which overlooks the Little Possum Creek Gorge ( and also views of the Tennessee River to the east). The descent into the creek gorge is pretty steep and leads you to another nice bridge ( which our club helped to build about 10 years ago).

After a brief stop we made another ascension (and descent) to arrive at Imodium Falls ( a kayaker nickname for the Little Possum Creek falls). As you can see from some of our photos the creeks and waterfalls were really rolling due to all the rain from the previous couple of days. We lunched at the falls area and after looking around the area, we began our hike back to the trailhead.

If you would like to see a few pictures taken during this hike, including a map, please 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.