Summit Knob Equestrian Trail

Eight hikers bundled up for a 4.5 mile hike at Summit Knobs Equestrian Trail.  No Horses were on the trail today, but definitely had left evidence.  A stag briefly appeared and quickly darted away.  3-4 does flagged their white tails in the distance.  The trail was easy, packed dirt and only a few muddy places, no rocks!  Rolling hills gave us a  cardio workout.  We hiked to Harrison creek branch, turned around and walked back.  Good conversation and happy hikers made the time pass quickly.  Our hike was completed before noon.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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

Moccasin Bend 12.7.2021

 This was another very interesting tour by Jim Ogden, head historian at the Chickamauga Battlefield.  I had always wondered what was in this area of Moccasin Bend, but I had no idea that it held so much history.  Our group had a little difficulty getting into the parking area as the gate was locked and the key that Jim had did not work.  Someone did not follow key etiquette among the many agencies that have access to this area.  Jim therefore had to improvise and order a universal key (bolt cutters).  After this brief snafu, all nineteen of us managed to get parked and set off on a cold morning in the low 30's.  We did manage to hike all of 2.7 miles around Moccasin Bend.  Unfortunately there is not much to show in the way of pictures as it is all about the history of the area.  You can see a map of the area and an unusual view of Lookout Mountain.  This area is the oldest continuously settled spot in the U.S.  It has history going back 12,000 years and perhaps more.  Unfortunately highway construction in the 50's, which involved dredging away some of the site, and grave robbers have lost us of much of the detailed history of this area.  You can still see evidence of the grave robbing that went on. After the history lesson some of the hikers went to one of the members condo by the pool and had lunch.  

If you would like to see some pictures taken during this history lesson including maps of just where we were, click here.  

Rugby, TN 12.2.2021

 This was a very different hike!  We did a lot of walking, but not on a trail but around the town of Rugby, TN.  This is a Victorian town established in Appalachia.  The idea originally was to support those unemployed aristocrats and ordinary citizens in England.  To find out more about this unusual settlement from the 1880's you are just going to have to do some research as it is very interesting.  Our group of 17 loaded up for the 2.5 hr. drive to Rugby.  This was one of our longest excursions and we truly did intend to hike.  It just didn't quite work out.  Almost but not quite.  After arriving in Rugby we met our tour guide and began a very interesting tour of the town.  I guess you might say that Rugby was a case of too many chief and not enough Indians.  The idea was basically sound, but the makeup of the people was not.  Anyway, we enjoyed a video which clearly explained what was behind the founding of Rugby and the people involved.  Following the video we toured the historic building of Rugby.  By the time we were finished the the tour, it was past time to eat.  If there is one thing this chapter is good at it it eating.  There was not much to choose from in Rugby.  In fact, there is only one place, the R.M Brooks Gen. Mdse. store.  Inside, you could spend hours looking at original artifacts that have been collected over the years.  But the best part is that our waitress also ran the store and did the cooking of deserts.  We had a wonderful lunch and then it came time for the aformentioned deserts.  She had just finished making fried apple pies and coconut pie.  We made our decisions and received our deserts then she mentions she had some other deserts that the had recently made.  This simple act created a great deal of turmoil among us.  Reorder and adjustment were rapidly made. Then she reappeared an mentioned yet some additional items she had.  The crowd went crazy! We just couldn't decided!  Finally things calmed down and order was restored and we enjoyed hearing her stories and recipes.  Of course, by now it was too late to go on the planed hike so we made a short detour to the local historic cemetery for a short visit before heading back on the road home.  Many thanks to Trish and Jane for organizing this outing.  I had a great time. 

If you would like to see some pictures taken during this outing, please click here.     

Roaring Creek 11.27.2021

The mystery of Roaring Creek, who killed Foxy Lady 

Saturday, Nov. 27, seven forensic hikers, layered with clothing to brave the cold morning, set out on Graysville Mountain RMA, to investigate the Roaring Creek murder.  Hiking along Roaring Creek was easy business, but knowing what was to come, was daunting.  The frenetic seven scaled the mountain ascending rock steps back and forth to the top of the bluff.  Roaring Creek overlook revealed a beautiful view of graysville and the mountains beyond, but no evidence of a crime commited.  The hikers moved on, silently through the pine forest.  And there it was, the crime scene, the body!  Rigor had not set in yet, no decay - a recent homicide.  Looked to be a dead grey gray fox, the hikers concluded, with no external trauma.  Who killed the foxy Lady?  The faithful hikers continued their journey, stopping at the overlook of Cranmore Cove and then pressing on through the hardwood forest.  The  brown oak leaves rustled.  Finally the bridge over Gillbreath Creek was reached at 5 miles.  Lunch and rest re-energized the famished hikers.  Two locals were loitering in the area, Brown Dog who suspiciously kept her distance and Black Lab, friendly but noncommunicative.  She obviously knew the area well as she joined the return hike, even leading the way for a short time.  Retracing the steps, co clues were found.  Who killed Foxy Lady?  The fatigued hikers passed the crime scene once more.  Buzzards were gathering.  The mystery remains a cold case.  

If you would like to see some really nice pictures taken during this hike, click here.  

TN Wall Trail 11.23.2021

 This was a new trail for me.  The trail head was somewhat hard to find unless you had been there before.  This trail was rated as moderate.  After the first 300' I was gasping for air.  I would rate it as moderate ++ for our group even though we only went 2.5 miles.  It was a steady up hill for the eight of us to the trail split at the base of the wall.  There we took a break and had a drink.  From this point we enjoyed the view as first we went West on a pretty rocky trail untill the trail began to disappear.  At this point we then turned around and went back to the split and ventured East on the trail.  Along this trail we found lots of rock climbers as you can see from the pictures.  We watched them dangle above our heads and then decided it was time to head back.  Going back was MUCH easier and I couldn't believe how quickly we reach our vehicles.  The total time of the hike was 3hrs and 14 minutes.  This was because we spent so much time watching the climbers.  We then went to River Drifters Cafe and celebrated our first lunch of the year.  We had a very enjoyable lunch.  

If you would like to see a bunch of pictures taken during this hike, click here.