Greeter Falls 6.22.19

 Again, thanks to weather apps on our phones, we were able to get a great hike in even after watching the weather forecasts the day before. The forecasts predicted the weather most likely would not be conducive for a hike.  So four local hikers headed for South Cumberland State Park and the Greeter Falls trail head.  We were to meet up with two hikers from outside our club, but because I failed to take into consideration the time-change, we arrived an hour before our scheduled meet.  Because the weather was still iffy, I opted to head out when we arrived, rather than wait.  I tried to phone the hikers we were to meet up with, but was unsuccessful. We departed on the Greeter Falls portion of the hike around 9:45 local time under cloudy skies but pleasant temperatures.  About 1/8th mile into the hike, I slipped and fell on a slippery wet root while descending to Greeter Falls.  I hyper-extended my knee (which just happened to be the knee I try so hard to baby on a hike).  The fall was very painful, but thanks to Tammy's supply of ibuprofen and my determination to continue, I was able to finish the hike. We continued down to Greeter Falls and Boardtree Falls.  The falls were running quite nicely do to recent rains.  On the ascent out of the falls area, I walked past a copperhead on the trail.  Tammy who was behind me spotted it, and John flicked him off the trail with his pole.  John later wondered that by tossing him off the trail and down the embankment, if he might be tossing the critter down on other hikers who were hiking below at the falls.  They would have thought it was raining snakes.  Shortly thereafter, it began to rain.  It rained lightly for a mile or two but with no downpour or thunder and lightening.
  Approximately 1.7 miles in, we arrived at the Alum Gap Campsite and the Stone Door Loop trail.  We went along the BCR side of the trail heading for Stone Door.  We heard rumbling from a storm system north of us, but it stayed north of us.  We visited about four decent overlooks on the way to Stone Door. The hike was great because the overlooks provided a great view of the valley we were above.  The temperature remained pleasant but humid.  The rim side of the loop allowed for occasional breezes to cool us down.  Shortly before 2pm we arrived at Stone Door, the halfway point on the loop.  The views from the overlook were spectacular.  Tammy, Betsy and John went down through the Stone Door.  I opted out in order to prevent aggravating my sore knee. We continued on to the Ranger Station and  Laurel Falls.  From Stone Door and for the remainder of the hike, it was a bit more arduous because of the rising temperature and humidity.  We lost the breezes the rim trail provided.  We continued to the Greeter Falls trail head parking lot.  On our ascent to the parking lot, that is where we encountered our second copperhead.  He darted in front of me as we went up the stairs to the lot.  It was about 5:30 when we exited the trail.
  So, all in all, it was and excellent 10.7 mile hike – 3 wonderful running water falls, a half dozen spectacular overlooks and 2 copperheads (and a partridge in a pear tree).  The Greeter Falls section was moderate, and the Stone Door Loop was easy.  As a side note – my knee recovered from the fall with no apparent damage.
If you would like to see a bunch of really nice photos, click here.  If you are trying to view the photos through the TTA website and having trouble, please go directly to the blog at www.sdctta.blogspot.com.  Google Chrome is the preferred browser. 

Collegedale 6.18.19

There were 10 people that were willing to take on the weather no matter what it was going to do  Well we were really lucky and never got wet.  I didn't take the route that I planned because they had closed it off because they are making a gravity bike trail up there.  So we started up from the main Trailhead.  We went up big Red to get a little exercise going up hill.  We went  up to the top of White Oak Mountain.  Half way down we took a short cut down on an unmarked trail.  It was steep but pretty easy.  actually, I was kid of lost because I wasn't on the trail I wanted to be on.  When we finally got down to where I wanted to be, they had all but one trail open so we went that way.  Then we came to an intersection where we had choices of going a little further or taking the shortest.  It did start to rain, although we were under a good canopy from the trees.  It was very light rain and we didn't get wet, but we only walked about 3 1/2 miles. Easy walk.  Of course it was followed by a good lunch at City Cafe. 
If you would like to see a few pictures of this hike, 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.  Google Chrome is the preferred browser. 

Collegedale 6.18.19

There were 10 people that were willing to take on the weather no matter what it was going to do.  Well we were really lucky and never got wet. I didn’t take the route that I planned because they had closed it off because they are making a gravity bike trail up there. So we started up from the main Trailhead We went up big Red to get a little exercise going up hill -went up to the top of White Oak Mountain. Half way down we took a short cut down on an unmarked trail. It was steep but pretty easy. Actually I was kind of lost because I wasn’t on the trail I wanted to be on. When we finally got down to where I wanted to be, they had all but one trail open so we went that way. Then we came to an intersection where we had choices of going a little further or taking the shortest trail. It did start to rain, although we were under a good canopy from the trees. It was very light rain and we didn’t get wet, but we only walked about 3 1/2 miles. Easy walk.  Of course it was followed by a good lunch at City Cafe
If you would like to see a few pictures of this hike, 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.  Google Chrome is the preferred browser.

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".