Bald River Falls 11.9.19

We found another great place to hike this Saturday. We had nine hikers join to hike the Bald River Trail where it feeds into the Tellico River (at Bald River Falls). The Bald River Falls is about 90 feet in height and was really running well yesterday      (see photos).

After lunching stream side about three miles into our jaunt, we continued hiking upstream ( a gorgeous trail alongside the crystal clear Bald River) to another waterfall at about the 4.5 mile point.

We looked around this area, took a few more snapshots, and began our enjoyable stroll back to the trailhead at Bald River Falls.

If you would like to see some great pictures of this hike, 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 provider.

Fall Getaway 77.5-7.19

2019 Fall Away Hike at Pickett CCC Memorial State Park November 5 thru 7 2019

 Our fall get away hike to Pickett CCC Memorial State Park was a great success. The weather for Tuesday and Wednesday was perfect and even though we had to cancel Thursday's hike due to rain, I think everyone left feeling we were well rewarded. We arrived at the park around noon-e.s.t. and had lunch near the visitor's center under clear but cool conditions. We weren't able to check into our cabins until 4 pm (cabins is a misnomer, it should have been houses) so we departed on our Twin Arches Trail. At this point it was a typical Tuesday hike with everyone immersed in deep discussions as to what we were going to have for dinner. However, when we got to the arches, we returned to hiking mode and were awed by the beauty of the arches. You would definitely have to travel to Utah to find natural arches to rival the arhes we saw in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. The two arches span 135 and 93 feet respectively. We continued the loop trail and were rewarded with a great overlook and several spectacular rock houses. It was an easy to moderate hike with a steep stair climb up and out of the lower portion of the hike. Kudos to Sarah and Phil for making and completing the hike. At the conclusion of the hike, we checked into our cabins and prepared for the event we all planned this trip for – happy hour and dinner! We returned to the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area on Wednesday to hike the Grand Gap Loop trail – a 6.8 mile moderate hike. The weather was even better than what we experienced on Tuesday's hike. This hike was not quite as spectacular as Tuesday's, but just as enjoyable do to the trail conditions and weather. This trail was mainly along the rim of the Big South Fork River Gorge. This trail had minimal elevation changes and was rated moderate mainly because of the distance. There were several excellent overlooks. Again, at the conclusion of this hike, we returned to our cabins for happy hour and dinner. This time, Roy made a great fire in the fire-pit outside in the central parking area where we elevated our blood sugar with toasted marshmallows and other liquid refreshments. We then had dinner, good conversation and then retired for the evening. Our hike for Thursday was canceled due to rain. It's not that we don't hike in the rain, but we felt because we were not as familiar with the trail as we were of our local trails, it would be better to opt for safety over pleasure. So we packed up and departed for home – a bit tired, but happy with our outing. Thanks to Donna for handling the arrangements for our accommodations, and Roy, Marty, and Joan our hike leaders. Sorry Trish was unable to attend, I know she would have much rather been with us than sitting home recovering from her knee surgery.

If you would like to see some pictures taken from the Bluff Trail, click here.  From the Twin Arches Trail, click here.  And a bunch of miscl. pictures, 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.

Piney River 11.2.19

The great adventure of the Piney River hike began in the chilly 34 degree weather but warmed to the 50s. We set out from the Newby Branch trailhead, a washed out, rutted gravel road. The trail entered the forest following the Duskin Creek for about 1/2 the trail, until it flowed into the broad Piney River. The cascades and multiple waterfalls were enhanced by the recent rains. Six bridges spanned the waters. We hiked down the Spider Den Bluff spur to the river’s edge. On the opposite bank the bluff soared to the blue sky. Unknowingly we walked on the Rockhouse spur. When the trail ended creekside, we looked around for the path. After some searching and backtracking, we found blazes where the main trail had turned and we hadn’t. Therefore the 8.5 mile trek was closer to 12 miles, as we finished at the Shut In Gap trailhead.

We hiked 6:42 hours, ascended 968 feet, descended 2021 feet.

If you would like to see some nice 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.  The preferred browser is Google Chrome. 

Cloudland Canyon West Rim 10.29.19

What a beautiful day for a hike.  The day was clear and cool, just the way you wanted it for a nice hike at Cloudland Canyon.  There were 18 of us on this 5.2 mile hike which I would rate as easy/moderate because of the distance.  It took us 3.5 hours to complete the hike.  I think that this was the first time we misplaced some hikers before we even left the parking lot!  After some serious mathematical calculations including several repeated head counts the problem was resolved and we headed off into the unknown.  Actually it wasn't to unknown as several of us had hiked this trail before.  The views were absolutely beautiful with the leaves having turned into all of the fall colors.  After returning to the parking lot we headed off to lunch.  Some of us chose Chinese food and others a sandwich shop, both of which were located in the Walmart parking lot in Tiptonia. 
If you would like to see a bunch of photos of this hike including maps 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. 
This weeks joke...How many of you hikers have telekinetic powers?  Raise my hand!
I was the kid next door's imaginary friend.
When I was ten, my family moved to Chattanooga, TN.  When I was twelve I found them. 
I ran three miles the other day.  Finally I said "Lady keep your purse". 

Hiwassee River 10.26.19

We hiked in a beautiful place today in the Hiwassee River Gorge area that is also a heavily trout stocked stream just above Reliance, Tennessee. I have spent many saturdays in the past wading and fishing in this stream.  John Politte

It was a nice day (cloudy, but no rain) for walking down the stream side of the river from the Appalachia Powerhouse to an area just upstream of the bridge crossing the Hiwassee at Reliance. Members of our 4 person crew estimated the hike as about six miles in length.

We lunched at a nice streamside spot, listening to the sounds of rapids as we talked.

If you would like to see some 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.