Franklin State Forest 12.16.2023

 

 The South Rim Loop Trail at Franklin State Forest Park is made up of sections of at least 4 trails, Outer Rim, Eastern Rim, Western Rim and South Rim.  If you pull up each individual trail map, you will find that upon scrutiny, they don't exactly align.  Hiking in this park and the trails listed, probably shouldn't be attempted without downloading the trail maps using AllTrails or using a GPS system.  The first part of our hike on the western south-bound side of the trail was arduous at best.  The trail was rough and poorly marked.  If you were to travel on this trail and it had rained within the past 24 hours, I think you would be in for a very muddy and harder than usual trip.  This part of our trip was poorly blazed and easy to stray off trail on.  The other side of the loop was much better hiking.  The trail was better blazed and was in much nicer condition.  We made our way to East Rim Overlook and on the way stopped and had our snacks on a Mother Nature provided seat – a long tree trunk that appeared to be made for such an occasion.  We left the overlook and headed westward back to the parking area and I suspect South Rim Trailhead – though it was never listed anywhere as such.  For future reference, this parking area has an abandoned fire tower located adjacent to it. 

  It was a pleasant moderate fall hike with cool hiking temperatures.  Everyone seemed to have enjoyed the hike

If you would like to see a few pictures taken during this hike, click here.

Sherwood Forest Trail 11.12.2023

 What a great day for a nice walk in the woods.  Our hike leader did a great job of keeping all 17 of us together and stopping occasionally to strip off clothing or to get a drink.  We planned for a quite cold hike, but the weather really cooperated and the temperature was in the low 40's with plenty of sun.  This 2.9 mile hike was quite enjoyable and we were able to see quite some distance as you can see in the pictures.  The only incident was wen one of the hikers, who shall remain nameless, (her name began with a B and who else could it be) got stuck in the Eye of the Needle.  This was narrow cave cut through the rocks.  Happily she was freed and and caught up with the rest of the group.  After the hike we visited The Assembly in Monteagle.  This retreat is very interesting and if you wish to know more you can easily look it up on the Internet.  This easily added a mile to our hike.  Following the The Assembly, we had a very good lunch across the street at the Mountain Goat Cafe.  

If you would like to see a bunch of pictures taken during this hike including trail maps and altitude graph, click here.  

Interesting fact, most archeologists are women?  The reason is that women are much better than men at digging up the past.  

Gilber Gaul 11.9.2023

 I really wanted to go on this hike, but since the forecast was for rain I declined to take the longish drive.  I guess I should have gone.  Here is the report.  

Four hikers enjoyed a hike on the Gilbert Gaul Loop Trail in Fall Creek Falls State Park Saturday, December 9.   The hikers are Cheryl Heckler, Antonella Rivalta, Kathy Stutts and Joan Hartvigsen.  The hikers are members of the Scenic City, Plateau and Highland Rim Chapters.  We hiked along Fall Creek Lake and saw the Lodge from across the lake.The trail then took us through the woods.  After the hike we visited Fall Creek Falls Overlook then ate lunch at a nearby picnic table.

If you would like to see a couple more pictures taken during this hike, click here or on the picture above.  

Signal Mountain, Hardy Trail 12.5.2023

 Nice December day for a hike.  Eleven of us met at the Craven's House for the start of this hike.  If you look at the Altitude Graph (see pictures) you will see that the beginning of the hike is a 20% grade for about one mile.  This nearly broke me but once at the tope of this first portion of the hike, the hike was relatively easy.  It was morning and cloudy, but the sun was trying to break through.  The temperature was in the low forties with a cold breeze blowing at us once we got on the West side.  The view from Sunset Rock was incredible as always.  The distance of this hike was 4.3 miles.  

If you would like to see some pictures taken during this hike, including maps and altitude graphs, click here.  

Brady Mountain Overlook 11.28.2023

Brady Mountain Overlook, November 28,2023. Betsy Darken led a jovial group of 12 hikers to the top of Brady Mountain and a beautiful view of Grassy Cove, which is completely surrounded by a ring of mountains. Betsy made sure everyone was suitably dressed for our first wintry day, then told the group that, since she was the hike leader, “Everyone has to do what I say.” Everyone laughed and Lucy made the perfect comeback, “but not as you do!” The trail tried to scare us off at the beginning with a steep rise up an old road full of rocks, but we not only persevered but charged ahead, up and up and up, with a short down somewhere in the middle. Perhaps inspiration came from the brisk weather, which was in the mid-thirties. The wind felt bad only in the parking lot. Near the top we scrambled steeply up past two sets of boulders and arrived at the flat top—a nice change of pace. Shortly we took a spur trail to a perfect overlook. We basked in the sun in the sheltered leeward spot, having fun spotting the steam rising from Watts Bar nuclear plant toward the southeast, the super-tall chimney of the coal plant to the northeast, and the tiny cows in the Grassy Cove fields well below us. Lora informed us that Grassy Cove is the largest sinkhole in the state, with whatever water accumulating in it sinking underground and eventually resurfacing at the head of the Sequatchie River. After eating our snacks/lunch we shot back down the mountain, this time inspired by a northerly wind that was picking up speed. A fine time was had by all!

Sorry, no pictures taken during this hike.