Bear Creek Loop 9.21.19

This saturday six of us participated in the Bear Creek Backcountry hike at Cloudland Canyon Park. The hike was about 8 miles and involved a crossing of Bear Creek twice - one time to get into Bear Creek backcountry-  and another time to get out of Bear Creek backcountry. 

Each creek crossing included about a 400 foot descent to the creek and a similar 400 foot ascent on the other side of the creek. This was the first time for most of us on this trail. I'd rate the hike as moderately strenuous.

Overlooks on the bluff weren't plentiful, but we did manage to find a nice spot for lunch for the six of us. This spot provided a good view of the deep chasm and the forests and overlooks on the other side. (One member of our group also spotted the waning moon about to set in the west). 

 After a pleasant lunch and a bit of conversation, we headed back to the Bear Creek descent and the subsequent climb out.

If you would like to see some really nice pictures taken during this hike, 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.  Google Chrome is the preferred browser.

Cloudland Canyon 9.17.19

There were 14 people willing to go out on a record hot day to be on the trails.  It was an easy trail and it was in the shade of the trees the whole time.  We had three new people with us.  If you would like to see a few nice pictures taken during this hike, click here.  If you are trying to view the pictures through the TTA website and having trouble, please go directly to the BLOG at www.sdctta.blogspot.com.
This weeks joke...Today I left three notes scattered around the house for my girlfriend.  They say "Will", "You", "Me".  That will keep her busy while I watch football on TV.

Prentice Cooper 9.14.19

Today we had five hikers join in for a fairly strenuous hiking adventure at Prentice Cooper.  We hiked the Mullens Cove Loop (a 9.8 mile hike).

We began our hike at the same location as last saturday's hike ( the Cumberland Trail Trailhead), and began our travel from the Tower Drive parking lot in the westerly direction around the loop.

On our hike we passed the Hemlock Branch Campsite; the Snoopers Rock Tennessee River Gorge overlook (which yielded panoramic views of the Tennessee River Gorge), and the rock structure called the Indian Rockhouse.  

The hike took about 5 and a half hours of hiking time plus a lunch on a ledge on an overlook at Mullens Cove (great views). Temperatures were moderate.

If you would like to see some pictures taken on this hike, click here.  If you are trying to view the pictures through the TTA website and having trouble, please go directly to the BLOG at www.sdctta.blogspot.com.  Google Chrome is the preferred browser.  

Mushroom Rock 9.10.19

Ho Humm, another hike to Mushroom Rock.  Been there done that, right?  Well, today, even though I had been there numerous times, the hike was great.  We got there before it got too hot and it was a beautiful clear day up on the mountain.  I would rate this 4.5 mile hike as easy even though there is a climb back to the parking lot.  The hike took 2 hrs and 40 minutes with a moving average of 2.2 mph.  The group of 13 hikers went down to the "Rock" and then along the Cumberland trail until we reached  another big rock.  At this point we decided it was beginning to get warm, so we turned around and retreated back the way we came.  Following the hike a small group of us went to McAllister"s for lunch.  All in all a very satisfying hike.  One more thing, we did see Mr. Turtle as you can see from the picture.  He gave us a very good example of how an Eastern Box Turtle can close up his shell just like a box.  If you would like to see some pictures from the hike, maps and an altitude graph, click here.  If you are viewing the pictures from the TTA website, and having trouble, please go directly to the Blog at www.sdctta.blogspot.com.  Google Chrome is the preferred browser. 

Prentice Cooper 9.7.19

Four hikers met at the Cumberland trailhead in Prentice Cooper State Forest to walk 6.5 miles to Lawson’s Rock lookout via the Indian Rockhouse. We gradually descended 0.7 miles to reach the stone door rock staircase opening up into the Indian Rockhouse. The path led us along the edge of the rock bluff then dipped down on the side of the ridge with rock formations rising on our left. We crossed Sulphur Branch creek on a wooden bridge though the creek was nearly dry. Ascending again to the edge of the rocky ridge and after climbing over a blowdown, we reached Lawson’s Rock. There was a spectacular view of Suck Creek gorge with the Tennessee River in the distance. After a trail lunch on the Rock, we retraced our path back to the Trailhead on Tower Road.
If you would like to see some nice pictures taken during this hike, click here.  If you are trying to view 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.