Greeter Falls 2.1.2022

 This was a close call for me.  Each week I put a copy of the current months hikes next to my computer.  This time I inadvertently put March's hike schedule up.  Therefore, when I looked at the schedule I was slightly off.  It wasn't until the Sunday night before the hike that I realized I was leading the next hike.  "Panic".  I quickly had to figure out how to get to the hike sight but also just where the trail went.  Therefore I wasn't exactly prepared for this hike, but somehow I managed to bluff my way through.  

The day was absolutely beautiful, cool and with a perfect blue sky.  The trail was easy to follow and we proceeded to the Greeter homesite and then onward to the upper and lower falls overlooks.  The falls were flowing nicely and the views were excellent.  At this point the trail did get a little rougher with patches of rocks and roots.  Therefore, I would rate this hike as moderate.  Everyone made it through these unscathed.  This trail included all kinds of different terrain which made for an interesting hike.  When we reached Board Camp Falls sat about two miles we had to decide whether to continue the loop we were on or do an out and back towards Alum gap.  We elected to add a couple miles to this the hike resulting in a 4.2 mile hike that lasted just over 4 hours.  The addition was worth it as the bluff showed us a beautiful view of Savage Gulch. We then turned around and began the hike back to the parking lot.  There was lots of conversation during the hike so I am pretty sure that my bluff was working.  

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

Hunt's Cemetery, Chick Battlefield

 Wow, what a turnout!  We had 21 hikers on the trail.  Personally, I think it had something to do with the words "easy" and "flat".  We initially met at two locations and then caravanned to the parking lot in the Chickamauga Battlefield.  It was much warmer than it had been the previous few days which made the hike much more enjoyable.  It started out a bit overcast and then became beautifully sunny.  I really  think that this hike of 4.3 miles and lasted 2hrs and 23 minutes was enjoyed by all.  There sure was a lot of conversation and laughter.  We got a little strung out a couple of times but a short stop got everybody back together.  If you would like to see some nice pictures taken during this hike as well as a map, click here.  

Mullins Cove 1.8.2022

 On Tuesday nine hikers including Delores, Ginny, Dorothy, Jane, Will, Tom, Jane K, Renee and hike leader Betsy, all revved up to go hiking on Raccoon Mountain a couple of days after it had snowed in the higher elevations. (On that day we valley dwellers had to put up with temperatures in the mid-thirties and steady rain all day. Yuck.) Perhaps we would see a winter wonderland on Raccoon! Alas, TVA had other plans. When we reached the road to the very top of the mountain, we found the gate closed. Presumably, the authorities feared for our safety in wintry conditions. (Snow is a four-letter word in this part of the country.) After some consideration of similar hikes in the area, the hike leader rounded up the troops and we headed toward Sunset Rock and the Bluff Trail on Lookout Mountain. Fortunately, the leader’s brain turned on before we had even gotten off Raccoon Mountain: “Wouldn’t the NPS be on the same wavelength as TVA?” Sure enough, it was. A phone call confirmed that all the trailheads on the top of Lookout were closed. The group huddled for a while in a parking lot, tossing around some possible alternatives. (The trip leader ignored suggestions about going off for a beer.) We settled on Guild Trail, with its trailhead off Ochs near the bottom of Lookout. This trail follows part of the route of the old Broad Gauge Railroad line, which was built in the late 1880’s to take passengers from downtown Chattanooga to the top of Lookout Mountain. The line ended at the Lookout Inn, a majestic four-story hotel opened in 1890. Unfortunately, both the railroad line and the hotel ran into grave financial difficulties. The line stopped service in the early 1900’s; the hotel burnt down in a spectacular fire on November 17, 1908.

We ourselves had no difficulty hiking up the peaceful and gently rising Guild trail, from which we also checked out a relatively new side trail to a series of domesticated climbing boulders. The trail builders had spiffed up each of the latter with names and nicely tiled patios, so that boulderers (yes, this is a word) would have flat areas for their crash pads. It being a Tuesday, we did see any boulderers in action. (These spider-people do the most amazing things, including crawling on the undersides of overhangs by gripping the tiniest convexities and concavities with their super-strong fingers.)

Feeling feisty after our boulder tour, we chugged up Guild Trail across two railroad trestles, through the Ruby Falls parking lot, and into the woods. At the old railroad switchback toward Cravens House, we saw CCC Camp Demaray, with a clear winter view of the remnants of some of its buildings. This camp was one of about 2600 camps established by the federal government, eventually employing half a million young men during the Great Depression. They received food, shelter, clothing, and a small salary for their work on conservation and development projects. The workers at Camp Demaray built many of the Lookout Mountain trails that are such a blessing to us, along with attractive rock walls and stone stairs.

We continued beyond the switchback, spotting tidbits of snow (!!) lurking in the woods before we turned around at the Rifle Pits Trail. We made amazing time going down, down, down to our cars at the Guild Trail parking lot on Ochs Highway. A fine time was had by all

Gilbert Gaul Trail 1.4.2022

 For being the first hike of 2022, this hike, hopefully, will be our club's trailblazer hike of 2022. I had some apprehension leading up to the hike. Fall Creek Falls Park is on the Tennessee plateau,

where the day before, it had experienced a rather strong weather event. The temperature was in the 20's as I tried to contact the park to see how much snow accumulation they had. I was unable to make that contact. So I decided to take a chance and take the group up to the park where we would be able to make the hike. As we proceded up route 111, the skies were overcast and the higher we went, the more snow appeared on the terrain. When we got to the top of the Sequatchie rise, the skies cleared and the view was one of a landscape that appeared as if someone had used a Christmas Tree flocking machine and sprayed the entire area. It was spectacular. Even if we weren't able to make the hike due to conditions at the park, the drive up to the park would be worth the trip. As it turned out, the park and trail were covered with a heavy blanket of snow, but only approximately 2 inches thick.

 At approximately 10 am est, we entered a winter wonderland. Everything was covered with a heavy blanket of snow. Some of the trees along the trail were bent under the load of the snow. Though it was in the 20's, it didn't seem that cold. The sporatic breeze high in the trees, would shake the snow off the tree tops and make it seem like we were in a snow globe that had just been shook. We made our way along the trail for approximately a mile and arrived at the lake. The trail along the lake provided us with a beautiful waterside panorama filled with the sun's 'yakamoz'. Thank you Richard for introducing me to the beautifully enlightening word for the day. Halfway through the loop, we stopped at a leanto and had our snacks. After our snacks, we continued for about another mile where we left the lake and the trail began a short moderate ascent. We continued our exit and along the way, the sun's warmth began to melt the snow on the trees. This presented us with the sensation of being rained on and at the same time being pelted with snowballs from above.

 The trail, though not blazed, was easy to follow despite the snow. There were several spots where we had to rock hop across a small stream but we did so without anyone getting wet. We exited the trail around 1:30 pm. Our winter wonderland was pretty much in retreat by then. This 4.3 mile hike I would rate as easy, even in snow. Loved this hike and felt it was so fortunate to be able to catch it at this moment of wintertime wonder.

If you would like to see some pictures and a map of this hike, click here.  

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.