15 hikers met at the Collins Gulf Trailhead as a TTA joint hike with Highland Rim led by Marietta, Nashville led by Doug, and Murfreesboro led by Wayne.
We shared the trail today with trail runners there for the
Savage Gulf Marathon. Can’t imagine running on the trails here, rugged and
rocky, it’s tough enough to hike it.
It was a sunny day but a cool 31 degrees to start off. The
M’boro folks along with one from Nashville started first. That was the last we
saw of them. We gave right of way to the marathon runners, between that and
admiring all the wildflowers, it took us a while to get to Horsepound Falls
which was really flowing today. We were able to rock hop the water crossings
and didn’t have to change into our water shoes. Found a pile of critter hair,
that looked bad for whatever critter got in a fight. We saw the Rangers handing
out trail magic to the runners, but since we weren’t running…. we had to climb
out of the gulf and find a warm sunny spot to eat lunch.
The forest along the rim had a mess of storm damage. Can’t
imagine how many Rangers with chain saws it took to clear the trail. The
snickers & twix got us out of the Gulf before dark so the headlamps
didn’t get any use today.
Wildflowers: Sweet Betsy trillium, yellow and long spurred
violets, Bloodroot, Hepatica, Trout lily, Star chickweed, Spring beauties,
Anemone, Toothwort, Dutchman’s britches, and Harbinger of Spring, and Golden
ragwort, thanks to Nancy and Marietta for finding and naming.
Pictures:
Pictures:
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