Richie Hollow 6.28.2022

 What a beautiful day for a rugged hike.  In the sun, the temperature was about 83F but in the forest, the temperature was only in the mid to high 70 's for this 12 person hike.    The humidity was very high however and everyone was a bid on the damp side.  This moderate hike was an out and back hike up a mountain to the Blowing Wind Falls.  Unfortunately, due to the dry spell we have been having, there was only a trickle of water flowing in the falls.  At this point we had gone 1.75 miles, which was my initial destination, and since it was an uphill hike thus far, we decided to start our much easier return.  This time of year the forest is very green and lush and I think everyone enjoyed the beauty.  Following the 3.5 hour hike, 9 of us decided to stop at the River Drifters café for lunch and chatting.  The lunch was very good!

If you would like to see some pictures including map and altitude graph, click here.

 Saturday found our small group of hikers traversing from Little Soddy creek trailhead on Hotwater road to Big Soddy creek on Back valley road.  The walk was 8 miles with an elevation gain of 1076 feet.  We took turns slipping on the wet rocks from an overnight rain.  It was really humid!  An overgrown section of the trail challenged our trail finding – we “imagined” our way through the wet weeds.  Deep creek and Big Soddy creek held little water.  We crossed over BSC on dry rocks. 

If you would like to see some beautiful pictures taken during this hike, click here.  

Sherwood Forest, 6.21.2022

 There were only 9 of us on this beautiful hike.  We easily found our way to Sherwood Forest, looking all the way for Friar Tuck, but alas, no friar.   All of us enjoyed this loop hike around and through the forest.  It was really a nice day for this hike.  We had feared that it might be too hot, but it was only 76 when we started the hike and it warmed up to 83 during the hike.  Of course we were in the shade the whole time and up in the mountains.  I think everyone enjoyed the Crow Creek Arch which you can see in the pictures.  Note that we later went to another arch, Sewanee Natural Bridge, near Sewanee, TN.  There you can see pictures of us from above the bridge and again with everyone standing on the bridge from a distance. The distance of the hike was three miles and it took us just about two hours.  After the hike we all tried to go to the Mountain Goat Café, but it was closed so we went to Papa Ron's and had a very nice lunch.   

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

South Cumberland State Park 6.11.2022

 Six hikers enjoyed nice weather with comfortable temperatures and a good hike at South Cumberland State Park.  After the group assembled at the Stone Door Ranger Station, we started with the Laurel Falls Trail, a short loop of less than a half mile with a beautiful waterfall.  We then hiked the Laurel Trail, a mostly flat trail which winds through the woods.  There were some flame azaleas still in bloom to add some color to the scenery. 

At the end of the Laurel Trail we took the Greeter Trail out a short distance to Alum Gap Overlook where we took a short break and enjoyed the view.  Many buzzards were riding the air currents here and at the other overlooks we visited. Back up the Greeter Trail, we reached the next leg of our hike – Big Creek Rim Trail.

The Rim Trail has several great overlooks, and we had a nice long lunch at the first one.  This trail is also relatively flat, and the hikers did not seem to get too worn out.  Arriving at the Stone Door Trail, we explored the nice vistas there and peered down the Stone Door, deciding to save going down for another trip.  A short mile from there back to the trailhead and parking area and the five hour hike came to an end.  Folks seemed to have enjoyed the hike and had good conversation as well.

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

Laurel Falls Loop 6.11.2022

Six hikers enjoyed nice weather with comfortable temperatures and a good hike at South Cumberland State Park.  After the group assembled at the Stone Door Ranger Station, we started with the Laurel Falls Trail, a short loop of less than a half mile with a beautiful waterfall.  We then hiked the Laurel Trail, a mostly flat trail which winds through the woods.  There were some flame azaleas still in bloom to add some color to the scenery. 

At the end of the Laurel Trail we took the Greeter Trail out a short distance to Alum Gap Overlook where we took a short break and enjoyed the view.  Many buzzards were riding the air currents here and at the other overlooks we visited. Back up the Greeter Trail, we reached the next leg of our hike – Big Creek Rim Trail.

The Rim Trail has several great overlooks, and we had a nice long lunch at the first one.  This trail is also relatively flat, and the hikers did not seem to get too worn out.  Arriving at the Stone Door Trail, we explored the nice vistas there and peered down the Stone Door, deciding to save going down for another trip.  A short mile from there back to the trailhead and parking area and the five hour hike came to an end.  Folks seemed to have enjoyed the hike and had good conversation as well.

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