I don't have a write-up from this hike, but by looking at the photos, the weather was just about perfect and the wildflowers were out in force.
If you would like to see a bunch of beautiful photos taken during this hike, click here or on the photo to the right.
My great great grand father got his tongue shot off in the war. He never talked about it though.
This was quite a hike. There were 25 hikers from four TTA Chapters. The trails were great, the weather was great and the waterfalls along the Duck and Little Duck Rivers were awesome.
If you would like to see a couple more photos taken during this hike, click here.
Today, 25 hikers enjoyed an absolutely wonderful day at Lula Lake Land Trust. Our journey began with a short presentation from Daniel Roberts, a Community Engagement Coordinator for the trust. Daniel explained the various properties owned by the trust and unique topics of interest for each. He also reviewed how the trust maintains the properties and the plight of the Hemlock trees. Currently, a beetle has been introduced to the Hemlocks that devours the invasive insect that is killing the trees. After our presentation, we divided into two groups for the beautiful four mile hike. When we reached the waterfall, it was ROARING from all the recent rain. At the bottom of the waterfall we enjoyed a small rainbow through all the mist. Many hikers chose to return to the top of the falls via the steep path of steps, a great cardio workout. We then started our climb on Bluff Trail to a breathtaking overlook for snack time. Both hiking groups mingled until we started our descent on Middle Trail to the parking area. Thank you Betsy for coordinating this fantastic day.
If you would like to see some very nice pictures taken during this hike, click here or on the picture to the right.
You are not stuck in traffic, you are traffic!
I do not have a write up for this hike, but the weather was perfect and as you can see from the pictures, lots of wildflowers.
If you would like to see a bunch of great pictures, click here or on the photo to the right.
The hardest thing about learning to ride a horse is the ground.
Shakerag Hollow on Monteagle Mountain in Sewanee was the destination for Spring wild flower enthusiasts on Tuesday, March 25th. We had a large group of nineteen souls out for a “perfect” weather day to take a stroll in the woods. While the Spring blooms were Juuuuuussssssst beginning to emerge, it was an otherwise enjoyable occasion. It was an in and out trail – mostly descending “in” and ascending (back) “out”. It was an approximately 6 mile round trip. Because of the large turnout, we split into two groups for the occasion. The faster group who reached the end, actually caught up with the second group on the strenuous return back to the trailhead, so all finished up about the same time. We followed up the hike with fifteen hungry and thirsty hikers at Papa Ron’s Italian restaurant in nearby Monteagle for an EXCELLENT lunch? A day well spent!
If you would like to see some pictures taken during this hike, click here or on the picture to the right.
Horses are one of the fastest animals ever! Based on a Gallup Pole.
I don't know how Ginny did it, but she picked the absolute perfect day for visiting Gibbs Gardens. It was nice and warm without being too hot and no wind so picture taking was easy. There were 14 of us at who made the journey down from Chattanooga to the Gardens. It was impossible to get a group picture since we never seemed to be in one place to organize a picture. The daffodils were absolutely beautiful along with tulips just starting to bloom. My favorite was the evergreen forest. I have never seen so many different varieties in one place.
If you would like to see some pictures, click here or on the photo to the right.
No one warns you how often you will whisper "righty tighty lefty loosey" as an adult.
On Saturday, we had a wonderful hike with temps in the 50s and 60s. as we started the hike at Barker Camp Road trail head of the North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Park. Sunny with ten eager hikers, we walked the 1.3 mile connector trail to the CT and turned east to head toward our destination at Stevenson’s camp and waterfall. We stopped at Panther branch overlook and admired the view of the gorge with the North Chick creek tumbling hundreds of feet below Shortly after, a new bridge over Panther branch made the water crossing easy. Prior to descending into the gorge, we stopped to read a new park sign about the trail-dangerous and rugged. A Challenge – let’s go! Down, down we trod on the side of the bluff on switchbacks, until we reached the rocky banks of the Cooper creek. The first spring Hepatica flowers greeted us. A new bridge over the creek assured us of dry boots. Stevenson’s camp and waterfall were just around the corner. Time for lunch, rest and trepidation about hiking back up the bluff. Three hikers chose to do a thru hike and continued to the main trailhead at Montlake road. The rest of us returned as we had come, logging 8.5 miles with an elevation gairn of 1381 feet.
If you would like to see some great pictures taken during this hike, click here or on the picture to the right.
Why did the ghost go into the bar? For the BOOS!
The hike on the Bay Point Loop Trail at Harrison Bay State Park was a delightful walk through the park. The weather was pleasant and the trail was in good condition. Aside from a few stumbles on the numerous roots on the trail, we suffered no injuries and everyone was accounted for at the end of the hike. We were able to enjoy the views provided by Lake Chickamauga and the wooded section of the park. We were also able to enjoy witnessing the turf-battle between a bald eagle and a seagull – it was of course won by the eagle that easily drove the seagull from the disputed territory. We also were able to have a new hike leader in training lead the hike for her first outing. Susan did such a good job, that I’m sure Will is crating up a cat to presented to her for a job well done. This was an easy 4.3 mile hike.
If you would like to see some nice pictures taken during this hike click here or on the picture to the right.
Beer cures what ales you.
National Weed Wrangler Day March 1, 2025
17 folks showed up to support
clearing invasive privet and honeysuckle along the trail.
90% of a relationship is deciding where to eat.
This Tuesday morning, 23 hikers (a record-breaking attendance for me!) met at this trail in Apison, TN. It was a great morning for a hike! As we arrived, the temperature was in the low 30’s but quickly jumped into the 50’s by the time we finished. After hiking in about 1.5 miles, it was decided we would break into two groups (racers – faster hikers & pacers – slower hikers). Both groups trekked about 2.6 miles to the top of the bluff and enjoyed a short break before returning along Rolling Ridge Trail and back to the Murky Marsh Trail to begin our decent to the main trailhead. All in all, everyone seemed to enjoy getting out on this very pleasant morning and exploring this newer trail. The total hike was about 4.5 miles with 300+’ elevation gain.
The site was a large mining
operation back in the 1930’s and 1940’s.
Bauxite was discovered back as early as 1906. Bauxite is a sedimentary rock with relatively
high aluminum content and is the main source for aluminum. It appears the land was later gifted to Southern
Adventist University around 2015 and they created about 12 miles for
hiking/biking and also now maintain these trails.
If you would like to see some very nice pictures click here or on the picture to the right.
Don't die a virgin. Terrorists are up there waiting for you!
I don't have a hike report from this hike, but if I get one, I will add it to the post.
If you would like to see some pictures taken during this hike, click here or on the picture to the right.
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!
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!
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!
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!
The first five days after the weekend are the hardest.
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.
Hike leader Betsy and Tammy, Tom, and Tim (the three T’s) ventured out to Savage Gulf State Park after a week of snow, then ice, then more ice, having determined that the roads on the plateau had more or less recovered from the wintry weather. The weather was good, somewhat on the cold side but manageable. What was not manageable, however, was the trail to Collins Gulf once it became steep. Ice was plentiful and slick! This was at least partly due to hikers who had gone down the trail earlier in the week and turned the snow into ice. Fortunately Tammy was familiar with the relatively flat Savage loop Trail at the nearby east entrance to the park, so we headed there and had a fine time! We even checked out Savage Falls without much trouble. We racked up 5 to 6 miles and felt virtuous. Another glorious day in the great outdoors!
We started our hike by staging a car on Hot Water Road and proceeded to Mobray Pike Trailhead. We started our hike with the temperature in the upper 20's and with semi-clear skies. Perfect weather to keep hikers moving at a brisk pace in order to stay warm. We made our way on the trail which runs just below the Cumberland plateau. The skies cleared and the breeze that was blowing as we started the hike, went away. We arrived at our first view point where we could see the twin towers at Sequoyah Power Station. We continued on the trail enroute to Posey Point. Along the way we were presented with great views of rocky bluffs, deep creek gorges and water falls. The creek and falls had a good amount of water flowing in then. We crossed Hot Water Road and continued climbing up to Posey Point. We then back-tracked on the trail to Hot Water Road where 3 weary hikers ended the hike. It was a moderately strenuous 8 mile hike with between 800' and 1000' elevation gain.
If you would like to see some photos taken during this hike, click here or on the picture above.
Sometimes I want to drop my kids off in 1985 just to see how long they would make it.
This Tuesday morning, 9 hikers met at the Summit Knobs Equestrian Trail in Chattanooga. It was a great morning for a hike! As we arrived, the temperature was almost 60 with mostly sunny skies, and light variable winds. The winds did pick up during the last half of the hike to around 20 to 30 mph as the forecast predicted, but the breeze felt great to most. The group trekked about 2.5 miles to Harrison Brank creek without incident and then enjoyed a short break before returning to the main trailhead. Of course, the trail was muddy in spots and other areas to avoid (on typical equestrian trails). There was also one downed tree that had to be maneuvered around (see linked photos). All in all, everyone seemed to enjoy getting out on this very pleasant morning and exploring this trail. It was nice getting a jump on our New Year’s resolution to do more hiking in 2025!!!
If you would like to see a few pictures taken during this hike, click here or on the picture above.
Unless you sell Thin Mints, "NO SOLICITING"