Bird Mtn. Trail at Frozen Head 2.22.2020

Our hike this saturday was an 8 mile loop with about a 2000 foot elevation gain. I would rate this hike as strenuous. We could tell that our legs got a pretty good workout
This was one of the hikes on Bird Mountain at Frozen Head State Park, probably the prettiest park in this part of Tennessee.  We had six hikers (five from around the Chattanooga area and one from the Knoxville area) who gathered at the trailhead.  We luckily gained a little extra hiking distance as the parking lot for the trailhead was filled by the time we arrived. 

We had beautiful weather for the hike – a bright sunny day with temperatures reaching 50 degrees by hikes end.  After lunching about half-way through the hike, we continued our traverse across the hilltop before beginning our descent and return to the trailhead.  It was a very good hike with a nice group of hikers.  

I you would like to see some pictures including a trail map, 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.

Enterprise South 2.18.2020

It was a dark and rainy day!  When I first arrived at the Enterprise South parking lot there was no one there!  Not a single car.  I figured that I must have gone to the wrong location, but while I was conjuring up and excuse for going to the wrong location, the hike leader pulled up.  I was saved the embarrassment.   Now we both wondered if anyone else would come, but shortly a few others arrived for a total of eight hikers.  This hike lasted 2.5 hours and covered 5.9 relatively easy miles.  By the time we started the hike the rain had stopped and didn't restart until we had finished the hike!  We hiked mostly on the Hawk's Ridge Trail.  Our max. hiking speed was 4.3mph, which is really high for us, with a moving average of 2.6mph which is again fast for us.  I think this is indicative of a flat trail.  I think everyone enjoyed the hike and the hike leader never once got lost.  After the hike, some of us went to the City Cafe for lunch where we met some other of the not so adventurous club members.  If you would like to see a few pictures of this hike, including trail maps, 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 provider. 
Jokes...
Why can't you hear a pterodactyl go to the bathroom? 
Because the "P" is silent.
What did the buffalo say when his son left for college?  "Bison"

Savage Gulf, Big Creek, 2.15.2020

This hike was at Savage Gulf on a very beautiful saturday.  We did a loop hike of 10.7 miles down into the Collins River Gorge and back out.  The elevation change for this hike was a rugged 1900 feet (especially rugged was the going down part).  I would rate this hike as strenuous (see attached graph provided by Tammy).
The weather was great, the river was a deep green, full of boulders, and was flowing very well.  We had six hikers today.  We lunched on the banks of the Collins River, took a few photos, and began our uphill stroll back to our starting point (the Stone Door Ranger Station).  It was a very nice hike with a good group of hikers. 
If you would like to see some great pictures including a map and altitude graph, click here.  If you are trying to view the pictures on the TTA website and having trouble, please go directly to the BLOG at www.sdctta.blogspot.com.  Google Chrome is the preferred browser.
Just a quick note since we have been having so much rain lately....If you might need an ark.  I Noah a guy!

Collegedale 2.8.2020

What a beautiful day to venture into the wilds of Fenton Forest on the Bauxite Ridge, which is the eastern edge of Southern Adventist University in Collegedale.  As the day started at 32 degrees with snow flurries and 2-3 inches of accumulation, the Subaru Crosstrek faithfully trudged op the hill to the trailhead.  Four hikers disembarked from the car, bundled up and hiked and slid down Lookout Hill trail.  The path was easy with a very few rocks or roots, with some up and down.  Signs at the trail intersections guided us and we only lost the trail once from a downed tree.  We stopped for a snack and couldn’t resist building a snowman.  On our return, we hiked bike trails, Rolling Ridge and Oak Hole Lane.  Didn’t encounter any bikers but did meet a hiker with his dog and a trail runner.  By the end of the hike the snow stopped and was melting off the trees at a balmy 35 degrees.  We hiked six miles, total elevation of nearly 700 feet.  The winter hike near Chattanooga was thoroughly enjoyed. 

If you would like to see some snowy pictures of 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.

Roaring Creek 2.1.2020

This hike was a pretty good hike considering the weather – overcast, rainy, and cool at the beginning, and ending partially cloudy with sporadic sprinkles but still nice and cool.  Seven hardy hikers, one of which was visiting from Scotland, departed the trailhead at around 9:30 am to begin our ascent to Cranmore Cove Overlook.  On our way, we hiked along Roaring Creek, which was roaring after the recent rains.  About a half a mile in we began the climb to Hells Kitchen turnoff and continued up reaching the pine forest area along the bluff.  We crossed the top of Wild Cat Hollow Falls at mile 2 and continued along the bluff to Cranmore Cove Overlook at approximately 3 miles.  Not much to see there because of the overcast – we were above the cloud cover.  We continued on to Gilbreath Creek at 4.9 miles.  2 hikers, because of previous commitments, departed the group at 4 miles and returned to the trailhead.  The rest of us continued to the creek and arrived at around 12:30 pm.  We had our snacks and enjoyed the falls and new bridge that spanned the creek.  We began our return around 12:50 pm.  We took a 10 minute break at the overlook on the way back and were rewarded with a clear view of the valley below which we were denied on the ascent.  We arrived back at the trailhead around 3:30 refreshed and ready to do it again – not.  It was a 9.8 mile moderate in and out hike with around 1040 ft altitude gain.

If you would like to see some photos taken during this hike, including a trail map, click here.  If your 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.  

      If anyone is interested in taking a hiking tour in Scotland, contact Trish.  The visiting hiker with us was a hiking tour agent for Scotland and I believe Trish has her contact information.