Durham Street Mines 6.13.2023

 Great day for a an easy hike.  Mostly clear skies with temperatures in the 70's and low humidity.  Our hike leader meandered us around the many trails in this area until most of us were completely lost.  If you decide to hike here, a map is REQUIRED or you may never come out!  There are many many intersecting trails and loops.  This area was once used for coal mining.  There mounds of slag everywhere creating there own hills and valleys.  Thank to the Lula Lake Preserve this area is now protected for the hikers and bikers.  Our hike went for 5.2 miles  and lasted for 3.5 hours for the 12 hikers.  Following the hike most of us went to the Purple Daisy and had a very nice lunch.  

If you would like to see a few pictures including maps and altitude graph, click here.  

Remember, if you get locked out, talk to your lock, communication is the key!

Stringer's Ridge 6.6.2023

 This was the first hike since we have changed our meetup time to 7:30A.  We were a little groggy but for the most part ready to go.  The hike leader got all 14 of us organized and we set off for this 4.2 mile hike.  We wandered around and around and up and down on this easy/moderate hike.  Most of us were seriously lost.  It was a very nice day for a hike with everything very nice and green.  Our only downer was that we had to pass by a beautiful fox that was dieing.  Very sad and everyone was rather somber.  Eventually we came out of our depression and the chatter resummed for the balance of this 2 hr and 44 minute hike.  

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

A minute varies depending on which side of the bathroom door you're on.  

Reflection Riding Cleanup 6.3.2023

 This time is a little different.  Since we often hike through Reflection Riding, it was time for payment.  A group of us met at one of the lesser used trailheads at Reflection Riding at 9:00A to start the clean.  We used mostly rakes an loppers.  We moved steadily along the completely covered trail and made really good progress. The work consisted mostly of raking and clearing the path.  We worked until about 12:30 when we reached a park road which was our finishing point.  We cleared about a mile of trail and afterward it looked really good. Job well done and a special thanks to Randy for organizing it.   

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

Pogue Creek Overlook

  Memorial Day weekend and our Pogue Creek Overlook and Upper Canyon trail made for a memorable hike.  The weather was perfect – started out in the mid 60's and ended in the low 70's.  We had mostly clear skies and gentle breezes on the trail.  This trail is well maintained and the scenery along the trail made for a  remarkably beautiful landscape.  Fantastic views from the overlooks, interesting rocky bluffs that nature, over the eons, had sculpted using its powers of erosion, and plenty of blossoming flora offered good photo ops.     Two hikers left Soddy Daisy at 8:30 on our 2 hour and 15 minute drive.  We met up with a fellow hiker from our Eastern Tennessee Chapter.  Interesting note – when we arrived at the trailhead, there was a new addition to the trailhead – a two station solar powered electric vehicle charging station has been installed.  I'm not sure if it is active yet, but it appears the park system is planning to be ready to provide service for our EV hikers. \     We departed on the trail at 11:00 am and proceeded to Mesa Top Overlook 3 miles into the hike.  Along the way we traveled on the western side of the Loop Trail and did the eastern side on the return.  We passed through several rock houses and Killdeer Arch.  We had snacks on the overlook – I must say the view of the valley below was spectacular.  The mountain laurel and magnolia trees were in bloom.  We came across a few blueberry bushes that yielded a few berries.     We finished the hike around 5pm.  It was a 6+ mile hike with a 1400' elevation gain.  It is rated as moderate to strenuous.   I think this rating is fair because of the elevation gain and distance.  However, because the trail is very well maintained I might drop the strenuous rating and just rate it moderate.

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

Hunt Cemetery Loop 5.30.2023

Eleven Scenic City hikers made it out to the Chickamauga Battlefield on a clear brisk morning.  We hiked the less traveled southern section of the park to Hunt Cemetery.  The family were occupants of the land well before the Civil War, and the establishment of the National Park in the 1890s.  It was a sobering occasion on this Memorial Day weekend to reflect on the past and celebrate our freedom to walk upon such hallowed ground.  The total mileage covered was about four miles and took about 2 hrs and 15 minutes.  The hike was originally scheduled for 3 miles, but upon finishing the 3 miles we decided to add an additional 1 mile by taking a nearby short out and back trail.  Following the hike some of the hikers had lunch at the Park Place Restaurant in Ft. Oglethorpe.  

If you would like to see a few pictures and a couple of maps of this hike, click here.  

My biggest fear about becoming a Zombie is all the walking!

I thought growing old would take longer!