Monday, January 15, 2018

MLK 2018



Garnett scheduled another great long weekend at Roscoe's Retreat. 12 hiking ladies: Nora, Marietta, Cathy, Dianna, Nancy, Gloria Dale, Sue, Kathy, Linda, Betty, Carol, and me. Garnett's recent knee surgery kept her from being there and we missed her so much. We Face timed with her to keep her updated on activities. Nancy did a super job scheduling hikes but Mother Nature decided to throw a few snow showers and a little rain in the mix and the Park decided to close some roads. Thursday's hike was part of Old Sugarlands Trail. I didn't get there early enough for that one. I did get there in time for supper.

Friday we hiked Twin Creeks, and then the Gatlinburg Trail which somehow led to a rustic restaurant for some hot coffee and hot chocolate and the BIGGEST cinnamon roll I have ever seen. Almost like trail magic.

Saturday Plan B due to road closures, was Cove Mountain, passing pretty Cataract Falls, seeing views of Mount LeConte  and following the boundary of the Park. Not sure how far we hiked in, and then back out. The snacks were ready for us when we returned to the cabin and a few ladies got a little hot tub soak in with the refreshing 18 degree air out on the deck.

Sunday we drove to Tremont Institute to leave cars for a shuttle. There was a lot of snow on the road driving in, but the closed gate kept us from getting to the Middle Creek Trailhead. Plan B, no shuttle required. Lumber Ridge trail out and back. This is really pretty winter time trail, with the views into the Middle Prong of the Little River Valley, and Walker Valley. Not too far from the saddle of the ridge, I spotted 3 wild hogs, big and solid black. Marietta and Betty were with me, ahead of the others, so we were the only ones to see them. We turned around at Buckhorn Gap at the junction of Meigs Mountain, and Meigs Creek Trails. It was a quick lunch stop, as was all the other lunch stops, too cold to sit for long. Back at the Institute, 3 of us wanted some more hike time, so Marietta, Nancy and I hiked to Spruce Flat Falls. The Falls was just beautiful with all the ice. But the views along the ridge line were worth the climb up. All the timber in the upper elevations was frozen and snow covered and the sun was making it sparkle. Breathtaking! We had to stop and soak up this scenery.
Back at the cabin, more snacks awaited the hungry hikers. A little football watching and some Mexican Train domino action made a great evening. And a little Victoria on Masterpiece.

Monday's forecast was more snow coming to Nashville, so we packed up, cleaned out the leftovers for breakfast, some of our ladies headed for home. The rest of us headed to Trillium Gap Trail. Gloria Dale and I both need this one for map marking, to the junction with Brushy Mountain. It was another cold start but the sun was shining. We saw a large buck, 6 point I think, and a few does. After climbing for a while, 3 of our ladies said goodbye and turned back, and 4 of us kept trekking along. We got to Grotto Falls, which was absolutely gorgeous, and ice covered behind the falls, and  ice and snow covered part of the rocks intended for rock hopping across the creek, and 4 wise ladies decided it wasn't a good day for crossing the creek. We turned around with lips pooched out, disappointed at not being able to finish this trail. The pouting didn't last long, it was too beautiful of a day to pout. We started back carefully crossing the smaller creek only to see Marietta jump in the creek to save her hiking pole. Tough ladies, my hiking friends are. We met a lot of people hiking up while we hiked down. Saw the deer again at the bottom. We said our last goodbyes at the parking lot.

Another great weekend filled with good friends, good food, and fun times.
And I got two more trails marked off my map!

Pictures:

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