Sewanee, 10.8.2024

 15 hikers ventured out on a crisp autumn morning for a hike through the woods in the always-beautiful Sewanee area. We started at the Memorial Cross & made our way out to Bridal Veil Falls, and we had perfect weather for it. In fact, the chill of fall was in the air with a starting temperature just around 50-degrees. But, it didn’t take long for us to warm up on the trail & quickly start shedding our jackets. Before we reached Bridal Veil

Falls, we experienced another small but beautiful unnamed waterfall. When we reached the main attraction of the hike, we found Bridal Veil Falls a little light on water flow but still so pretty with water dripping down a top cascade into a pit below creating a second cascade. After taking time to eat a snack & talk a bit, we made our way back to the Perimeter Trail from the falls. That’s easier said than done! When you’re walking to the falls, you aren’t paying attention to the fact that most of the spur trail is downhill. But, oh boy, do you notice it on the way out! There are several long uphill stretches to tackle. Some hikers decided to call it a day here & headed back on the Perimeter Trail to the Memorial Cross & their cars. For them, the hike was 4.6 miles with 672 ft. of elevation gain.

Six hikers decided to push on & add another loop to the hike… this time making their way out to the picturesque Lake Cheston. The trail to & from the lake is rated easy and makes for a great walk through the woods. The lake is so pretty & peaceful. After taking a lap around the lake, we made our way back to the Perimeter Trail & back to the Memorial Cross & our cars. The hikers who chose the longer route completed 7.3 miles with 1,000 ft. of elevation gain.

After the hike, several of us went to the Mountain Goat Market for a tasty meal. That place is always busy & for a reason… the food never disappoints!

Hikers included: Jennifer Davis (hike leader), Sandra Wenden, Gerry Honeck, Marti Owensby, Roy Owensby, Tammy Hendrick, Ginny Kidd, Lucy Cahill, Bonnie Norton, Dorothy Hill, Tom McNally, Earl Helmer, Linda Keown, Tom McElhone, & Walter Harrison. 

If you would like to see some photos taken during this hike, click here or on the group picture above.

Cloudland Canyon 10.1.2024

 Ten hikers enjoyed an absolutely beautiful day on the trails in Cloudland Canyon State Park.  When we started the hike, skies were cloudy and conditions were cool..only 65-degrees!  As we hiked the West Rim Loop Trail, the clouds dissipated and glorious sunshine moved in.  This was the first sunshine we’d seen in about a week due to Hurricane Helene.  The loop trail is beautiful with incredible views into the park’s rugged canyons.  In Fact, Backpacker Magazine previously rated this trail as one of the top 10 hikes in the entire country!!  The 4.7 mile lollipop-style trail is moderately challenging with 744 feet of elevation gain and offers a mix of woodland wonder and outstanding overlooks!  Some of the group decided to venture down to Cherokee and Hemlock falls.  The falls were freely flowing due to all the recent rain.  It was a rare treat to see so much water flowing from these falls during this typically dry part of the year.  While it’s relatively easy to make your way down to the falls, making your way back up out of the canyon is a whole different experience.  In less than a mile, the trail ascends almost 500 feet, and in all, we hiked approximately 600stairs!  Thankfully, the falls were so beautiful that it made up for that lung and leg-burning metal staircase!!

Hikers included: Jennifer Davis (hike leader), Tammy Hendrick, Betsy Darken, Tim Booth, Batty Bradley, Sandra Wenden, Gerry Honeck, Bob Anderson, Linda Keown, and Tom McElhone.

After the hike, several of us tried out a new restaurant just up the road from Cloudland Canyon State Park.  Thatcher’s BBQ on the square in Trenton, GA was a great pick.  The food was incredible, the service was great, and the portions were HUGE!

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

I didn't mean to push all of your buttons.  I was just trying to hit MUTE!

Rocky Face Ridge Park 9.28.2024

 I don't have a description for this hike, but it looks overcast and comfortable for those who attended.  

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

That awkward moment when a zombie looking for brains walks right past you.  

Benton Falls & Slick Rock 9.24.2024

 This Tuesday morning, 14 hikers met on Chilhowee Mountain in the Cherokee National Forest in Benton, TN.  It was a good morning for a hike with mostly overcast skies, keeping the temperature around 70 degrees and the enjoyment of occasional breezes, especially as we started the hike.  The group started with a 1.5 mile trek down to the falls.  While the falls were nice to see, the water flow was scarce (see picture).  Making our way back to the main trail, we continued hiking parts of the Clemmer & Laurel Loop Trail, which was mostly easy to moderate.  We then veered off, proceeded further west, on the northern part of the Slick Rock Loop trail. Here we got the cardio going & enjoyed some elevation gains.  The westward end of this trail is more like a logging road that intersects with Oswald Road, which is the main road up to the Chilhowee Rec Area.  We walked along the road to the Gazebo Overlook, enjoying a break and snack, while taking in the awesome views.  The final journey was a .7-mile hike on the Gazebo trail, which took us around the campground, McCamy Lake & back to the parking lot/trailhead. Total hike was about 6.1 miles with 550’ elevation gain. Hikers included TTA Scenic City members: Tim Booth (hike leader), Lee Prichard, Tom McNally, Earl Helmer, Walter Harrison, Dave Graham, Lucy Cahill, Bonnie Norton, Ginny Kidd, Bob Anderson, Tom McElhone, Betsy Darken and Sue Christensen.  One visitor – Lynn Clark (Lee Prichard’s mother).  Afterwards, many on the hike enjoyed a late lunch at either El Maguey or Thai Chili Asian in Ooltewah, TN.

The total distance for this hike was 6.1 miles with a time of 3:38 minutes.  If you would like to see some photos taken during this hike click here.  

 Don't burn bridges, just loosen the bolts a little every day.

 

Frozen State Park 9.21.2024

 Three hikers enjoyed a warm but beautiful Saturday on the trails in Frozen Head State Park. We tackled a tough hike by taking it nice & slow with plenty of breaks. The trek is a 9-mile out-and-back hike with approximately 2,000 feet of elevation gain & rated moderate in difficulty. Sometimes, you wonder who rates these trails?! This one sure feels difficult at times as you climb the mountain!

Our path began at the Panther Branch Trailhead. From there, we made our way to Debord & Emory Gap Falls. With the lack of recent rain, both waterfalls were dry. We will need to repeat this hike again in the winter or early spring when these waterfalls are flowing beautifully. After exploring the falls, we made our way up Panther Branch Trail until it intersected with the North Old Mac Trail. We took that to the W. Lookout Tower Trail. We stopped for lunch at the Tub Springs Campsite.

At lunch, we discussed some history about our hike site… how a notorious prisoner & jail break inspired an ultramarathon in the mountains of Frozen Head State Park. James Earl Ray, the man convicted of killing Civil Rights Activist Martin Luther King, Jr. was imprisoned at Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary located at the foot of the mountains inside Frozen Head State Park. In 1985, he & a few other prisoners managed a very daring escape. However, authorities found Ray in the Frozen Head mountains. He had managed to only get 8 miles away in almost 60 hours of escape. This inspired a very eccentric man to start an ultramarathon in the mountains of Frozen Head. Elite runners from all over the world compete each spring to try to complete 5 grueling loops of 20+ miles each… 100 miles total in under 60 hours. They aren’t running on real trails either. They must make their way through brush & overgrowth & are often bruised & bloodied by the time they finish. If you would like to know more about this grueling race, be sure to watch the documentary The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young.

Finally, we made our way up the final steep section to reach the Lookout Tower. There, we were met with gorgeous sweeping views of the valley below. We could also see the huge wind turbines located on Buffalo Mountain in Anderson County at Wind Rock Park. 18 turbines there produce enough power for approximately 3,800 homes in the area. Some of these turbines stand 260 ft. tall with blades that span a whopping 135 ft!

We made our way back down the mountain & had a lovely dinner at a good Italian restaurant in downtown Wartburg. It was a beautiful day for a great hike, great conversation, & a good meal with hiking friends!

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

Never trust a train.  They have Loco Motives.