Laurel Snow TTA

12 Hikers from Upper Cumberland, M'Boro, Nashville (and me) met at Laurel Snow to see some waterfalls. We talked to the gate keeper, Mr Gothard wearing his official CT shirt. He was there to clean up a tree that had fallen in the parking area. Warned us of cougars/panthers in the area, along with what time the gate would be locked. With that in mind we got moving up the trail. Cool shiny new bridge across Laurel Creek. Then a left turn to go see Snow Falls. It's been a while since I've been on this section of trail. The campsite is huge, big enough for lots of tents and hammocks. Near the top of the ridge there's a big boulder with an opening that looks like a good home for a kitty, or a bear. When we go to Morgan Creek it was running fast, not sure of how deep, Gary tested the crossing for us. He had plastic booties up to his knees, and as long as he took crossing, helped a little with the numbness. He said it was slick, and where the fast current was, it was too deep, so he detoured a bit up the creek and made it to the other side. I was thinking if I had to be in the water that long to cross, I would be crying, and then having to come back across later....just wasn't worth it. Nor to anyone else. So Gary returned and we didn't see Snow Falls. We headed to Buzzard Point for lunch, and a few of us of us climbed down and up to the end of the boulders. Great views from here. The bridge spanning the crevice between the boulders makes me wonder how they got the bridge built. There are anchors in the rocks on both sides of the rock walls, evidence of the rock climbers/rapellers. I would like to watch them climb here.

Headed back down to the junction and then up the trail to Laurel Falls. Lots of water flowing today. Beautiful waterfall. There were kayakers on the creek too. Some of our crew got to see them navigating the creek. There were lots of folks on the Laurel Falls Segment and on the way out we saw lots more folks. The parking lot was full and overflowing.

Eight of us went to dinner at Monkey Town Brewing Company. Good food, slow service.

Great company on the trails. Gary, Cindy, Pete, Janet, Judy, Richard, Wayne, Sara, Jan, Randy, and Mark.

Pictures:

Big South Fork TTA

Michael Glennon planned a backpack in the Big South Fork. It was a rainy Saturday and the forecast was for below freezing temps for Sunday/Monday. My plan was to exit on Sunday afternoon at the West Entrance where I left my car. We started at Sawmill Trailhead on the Divide Road. Michael, Tom, John, Cynthia and Annie her 4 legged hiking dog, and me. It was raining until we reached camp, so we skipped Slave Falls and the Twin arches, ate our lunch under a pretty rock overhang. Campsite was just before Charit Creek Lodge on an island. Tents were set up on the island and hammocks on the mainland. John had a new hammock set up to test with a strap system I hadn't seen before. "Trial by fire" he called this backpack.
Boy Scout Leaders were able to get a good fire going and we set about drying stuff out.

 John's "trial by fire" hammock system dropped him on the ground during the night. Issue with carabiner latch. Happy Birthday! That will be his story to tell.

Sunday morning daybreak, we get up to 30 degrees and a cool breeze by the water. Didn't take long to get too cold trying to pack up. I tried to get the food bag down and got my rope string hung in the tree limb.  I abandoned that and packing and walked to the Lodge to beg for mercy by the fire. The Lodge keeper was very nice and didn't charge me for unthawing my fingers and toes. Back at camp I managed to yank my rope string hard enough to get it out of the tree. Finished up, and we set out joyfully soaking up the sunshine on the hill side. We discussed info on how to keep gear dry, how to keep feet warm in your sleeping bags, how to hang hammocks, packing, how arches are formed.

Everyone decided to hike out and not stay another night with temps forecast at 12 degrees. So plan B, we went by the Twin Arches, always a treat to see and back to Sawmill Trailhead. At the parking lot we got some snowflakes and a five degree drop in the temperature.

Total of 12.3 miles

Pictures:

North Chickamauga

Lora and I had some time Sunday after church so we did the North Chick trail to the wooden stairway and back. We got to visit with a few people and got to see two Bald Eagles.  It was a great hike.

Pictures:

Paw Paw Trail

After church Lora and I headed to Fall Creek Falls and hiked the Paw paw trail. It was a beautiful day for hiking along the gorge.

Pictures:

Possum Creek TTA

John led 4 Soddy Daisy TTA hikers on the Possum Creek segment of the CT. We thought we were going to Retro Hughes to start but John thought it might be too soggy on that end so we started at Heiss Mountain Road. There had been a lot of rain the past few days so the water levels in the creeks were high, making the waterfalls beautiful. The first one was just a little ways from the trailhead. Most of the bluff walls had waterfalls too. Big Possum Creek and Little Possum Creek were flowing fast and furious. Imodium Falls had more water than I've ever seen flowing. Surprised the kayakers were not on the creek today. Two of our hikers had not been on this segment of the trail and they both thought it was great, tough but great. We started out with beautiful blue skies and sunshine, ended with snow and ice pellets. Tammy wanted a pic of the snow falling and got so excited that she threw her poles down. Of course one pole slid right down the bank, she had to retrieve and got an extra climb uphill just in case all the other climbs weren't enough. Extra credit!


Out and back from Heiss Mt Rd to Imodium was 10.2 miles.

Pictures:

New Year's Hike and Potluck Feast 2020

Edgar Evins State Park

We had over 70 hikers at the New Year’s Day and Potluck Feast at Edgar Evins State Park. This was a multi chapter hike and we had members from Columbia, Highland Rim, Soddy Daisy and Upper Cumberland. The Edgar Evins park staff did an awesome job setting everything up and the Friends of Edgar Evins State Park provided paper items, utensils and hot beverages. The temperature started out a little cold but by lunch it was pleasant and the sun was shining. Someone had a roaring fire in the fireplace to warm my cold fingers. 

We hiked the 2.5 Millennium Trail.