Soddy Gorge North 2.2.2025

 Saturday was forecasted with a low possibility of rain. You know how it is – if 1 hiker says let’s go, the others fall in line and like 3 little ducklings, we did. We waddled our way up the north Soddy gorge trail and turned right at the big rock that is covered abundantly in purple phacelia in the spring. (There is also a sign for those who think 1 rock looks like another.) About 2 miles in, we flew over some big boulders as water crashed down the bluff. Unfortunately these ducks landed in an angry briar patch off the trail. With fierce determination and bushwhacking, we regained our trail.

Next on the path was a magnificent rock house. We stopped to access our briar patch wounds; a few ruffled feathers amongst the blood. Continuing on, the bluff sprinkled water on us – what duck doesn’t love the water! Up and up we trod until there was no more trail. Where did it go? About 20 feet below us, we could see the path. Well, ducks certainly don’t like to backtrack, so of course, we slid down the side of the bluff using our orange webbed feet as rudders and brakes.

Our next adventure was a waterfall bursting from the top of the bluff directly on the trail. We could walk behind the falls or through it. Well, 1 duckling said let’s go through and as you know, ducklings line up and follow the lead duck. We went through, quacking, water rolling off our backs, then ascended the rickety wooden stairs on the other side.

The rest of the hike was a nice waddle through the pine forest, a few streams to fly over, and enjoying the cascading Board Camp creek. And it never rained.

We put in 8 miles with an elevation gain of 1148 webbed feet.

If you would like to see some really nice pictures taken during this hike, click here or on the picture to the right.  

Nihilism, there's nothing like it!

Chickamauga Battlefield 2.4.2025

 Twenty one hikers gathered at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitors Center in Georgia to tackle the East Loop Bramble Trail.  We started out on a cloudy unseasonably warm morning to follow a relatively flat winding figure eight trail covering 4.8 miles.  We passed many monuments honoring the 34,000 casualties of Union and Confederate forces that occurred over the two and a half day Civil War battle in September 1863.  The trail was somewhat muddy in spots, but otherwise and enjoyable occasion on these solemn grounds,   Afterwards, eight of us enjoyed fellowship and dining for lunch at the popular Park Place restaurant in Ft. Oglethorpe.  Dave Graham, Hike leader. 

If you would like to see some very good photos taken during this hike, click here or the photo to the right.  

My neighbors listen to awesome music, whether or not they like it! 

Prentice Cooper 2.1.2025

 I don't have a write-up for this hike, but if you would like to see some pictures taken during this hike, click here or on the picture to the right.  

If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you!

Big Red Loop Trail, White Oak Mtn. 1.28.2025

Today, 21 hikers enjoyed a beautiful morning of hiking the Big Red Loop Trail on White Oak Mountain. We huffed and puffed uphill for the first mile or so and then began to smell the sweet aromas emanating from the Little Debbie factory. Along the way, we also encountered pretty Beech trees and frozen fungi. The trail gave us a good work out, with approximately 5 miles of switchbacks and ups and downs. The morning was sunny and the company was good. We even got to taste homemade toffee offered by a fellow hiker at the end of our hike. It was delicious! 

 If you would like to see some really nice pictures taken during this hike click here or on the picture above.

The first five days after the weekend are the hardest.  

Jacks River Falls 1.18.2025

 

Despite the possibility of rain on a day with temperatures in the low 40’s, Tom, Cynthia, and hike leader Betsy made our way down Beech Bottom Creek Trail to the Jacks River and then along the river to the spectacular Jacks River Falls. The first trail descends gradually down and around several ridges, so it wasn’t bad going up on the return trip. Although there were indeed a fair number of downed trees, as reported in AllTrails, all except two were easy to step over or under or around. The one big exception was a douzy! A big tree had fallen across a whitewater creek at exactly the spot where there had been stepping stones. Further upstream, all three of us were able to prance across rocks to the other side, but unfortunately the latter was a steep wooded hillside with a steeper rockface along the side of the creek. Since it seemed probable that anyone taking the latter route would slip into the creek on this cold day, we all tried to detour by going uphill. After several aborted attempts up slick slopes and/or through gobs of thorny greenbrier, we finally made it over to the continuation of the trail. There we discovered that the creek just below the downed tree could probably be crossed with only one wet step. This proved to be the case on our way back, thank goodness. All agreed that the multilayered falls was well worth the 9.1-mile round trip hike, even with the bushwhacking detour (which we were glad we did not have to do twice). Our drive into and out of the Cohutta Wilderness for this hike was not bad at all, especially since the highest dirt road had just been graded.