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.
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