Mowbray Pike to Sluder Lane 6.15.19

Well, I guess nobody likes to hike when I am the hike leader!  Well that's just too bad as you missed a really nice hike.  There were only 4 hikers on this really nice 5 mile hike on the Cumberland Trail. It started off a little overcast in the low 70's but ended in the sun with the temperatures in the high 70's.  Since were were always in the forest, the temperature didn't really matter.  We went through a great stone door and saw a couple if Indian rock houses before finding a great overlook.  While at the overlook we found ripe blackberries which were delicious.  We then proceeded along the rest of a beautiful hike through the woods and over some streams.  In a unique course of events, we didn't get lost even once.  Once we reached Sluder Lane we used a staged car to return to Mowbray Pike.  We then went to Rico's for lunch.  This hike lasted 2 hrs and 21 minutes and I would rate it as easy with a couple of rocky patches and a slight climb at the end.  If you would like to see some pictures, map, and altitude graph, click here.  If you are viewing the pictures through the TTA website and having trouble, please go directly to the Blog at www.sdctta.blogspot.com.  The preferred browser is Google Chrome. 

Fall Creek Falls 6.11.19

And I quote, "This hike is mostly flat.".  Boy did our illustrious hike leader con us on this one!  Just look at the altitude graph I have included with the pictures.  Maybe it was just a ploy to get more members to come?  Anyway, it was another perfect day for a short 3.2 mile hike.  Personally I would say that this hike was a little more on the moderate side than on the easy side.  There are many trails in and around Fall Creek Falls.  The trail chosen led the 16 of us down to the waterfalls (lots of steps) and out to some beautiful overlooks.  Unfortunately, there was not a lot of water going over the falls, but it was beautiful anyway.  It was a good thing that we started relatively early as by the time we were finishing there were lots of people showing up at the park.  Following the 2.5 hr hike everyone was starving.  The entire group went to the Dalton Restaurant and had a very nice lunch and good conversation.  If you would like to see a bunch of pictures including maps and altitude graphs, click here.   If you are trying to view the pictures through the TTA website and having trouble, pleas go directly to the Blog at www.sdctta.blogspot.com.  Google Chrome is the prefered browser. 

This weeks joke....  A pastor is hiking the AT when he comes across a huge black bear, he drops to his knees and prays "Oh Lord protect me."  He looks over and the bear is on his knees also! The Pastor says " Oh thank god it's a Christian bear.  Then he hears the bear pray "Oh Lord thank you for the gifts we are about to receive". 

Reflections Riding 6.4.19

Since we have an agreement with Reflections Riding Nature Centure that if we occasionally do some volunteer work and make a donation, the club can hike for free, we like to take advantage of the lovely surroundings and hike there occasionally.  Fourteen hikers showed up for this easy 4 mile hike.  The initial start is a little steep, but from there on it is very gentle.  Unfortunately, a newby hiker with the club took a rather nasty fall right at the end of the steep part.  She suffered a rather nasty skin rash at her elbow, but this was quickly taken care of by the multiple nurses we have in the club.  I hope she isn't to discouraged and continues to come and hike with us.  The weather was overcast with a comfortable temperature.  Surprisingly,  we saw several very beautiful flowering plants and had delightful conversations along the way.  The hike lasted 2 hrs and 45 minutes with a max. hiking speed of 3.3 mph, a moving average of 2.2 mph and an overall average of 1.4 mph.  Following this delightful hike we had lunch at the Parkway Pourhouse.  The food was excellent if a little pricey.  If you would like to see some photographs taken along the way, including maps and altitude graph, click here.  If you are having trouble viewing the photos and are try to view them through the TTA website, please go directly to the BLOG at www.sdctta.blogspot.com. 
This weeks joke...A hiker comes to the river crossing up north and wants to get to to get agross, sees another hiker on the other side and yells over...HOW DO I GET TO THE OTHER SIDE... The other hiker looks up the river, then down the river and yells; YOU ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE!

Little Cedar Mountain 6.1.19

The weather on this day was perfect.  Clear blue skies with warm but comfortable temperatures.  There were seven of us on this easy to moderate 3.5 mile hike.  Little Cedar Mountain has always been one of my favorites.  The trail is very lush and diversified.  We kept up a pretty good pace but everyone still enjoyed the scenery.  This hike lasted lest than 2.5 hours and we had a good maximum speed of 3.5 mph.  Our moving average was 2.1 mph with an overall average of 1.4 mph.  If you would like to see a few pictures of this hike, including maps and an altitude graph, click here.  If you are viewing the pictures through the TTA website and having problems, please go directly to the Blog at www.sdctta.blogspot.com.  The preferred browser is Google Chrome.   

Lula Lake 5.28.19

This was another nice visit to Lula Lake.  It was a beautiful clear day and since we were up in the mountains, not too hot!  Even though we had not had much rain lately, the Lula Falls were flowing nicely and everyone had a nice view.  We then hiked up along the Bluff Trail so that we could see the view out over Chattanooga Valley.  You could see several mountain ranges off  to the East.  We sat under some trees for a few minutes and had lunch before proceeding along the trail and then down.  There were 17 hikers on this 3.5 mile hike which took us 2 hrs and 50 minutes.  I would rate this hike as easy and our max hiking speed was 3.4mph, with a moving average of 1.8 mph and an overall average of 1.2mph.  Following the hike my group decided to have lunch at the Restaurant on the Corner on top of Lookout Mountain.  Or review was good food, but a little expensive.  This was a Great Day for the BEST TTA chapter!  If you would like to see some pictures including maps and altitude chart, click here.  If you are trying to view the pictures through the TTA website, and having problems, please go directly to the Blog at www.sdctta.blogspot.com. 

This weeks joke...There were these two guys out hiking when they came upon an old abandoned mine shaft.  Curious about its depth they threw in a pebble and waited for the sound of it striking the bottom, but they heard nothing.  They went and got a bigger rock, threw it in a waited.  Still nothing.  They searched the area for something larger and came upon a railroad tie.  With great difficulty,  the two men carried it to the opening and threw it in.  While waiting for it to hit bottom, a goat suddenly darted between them and leapt into the hole!  The guys were still standing there with astonished looks upon their faces from the actions of the goat when a man walked up to them.  H asked them if they had seen a goat anywhere in the area and they said that one had just jumped into the mine shaft in front of them!  The man replied, "Oh no.  That couldn't be my goat, mine was tied to a railroad tie."