Soak Creek TTA

Tammy's report:

 Soak Creek trail has a great diversity of sights to see. We started at the Piney River parking lot and climbed over the metal gate at the entrance of a rocky ATV road. No signage, just the gate indicating the start of the trail. We walked along the bluffs towering on one side of the path and the cascading creek on the other side. After walking about 1.5 miles, there was a gap in the bluffs and white blazes directing us to ascend the bluff. And that is the signature of the Soak Creek Trail- going up then down the mountain side countless times. But the wildflowers entertained us along the way. The trail also wandered over flat areas next to the tumbling creek where we saw yellow butterflies flying along up the creek. Seeing the sign for Stinging Fork Falls was indeed a relief. We scampered over the rocks to experience the falls. In awe, we sat in the amphitheater, watched the water crash over the rocky cliff and fall into the creek below to the thunder of its own making. A late lunch, a photo-op and finished the trail by hiking up the wooden steps for one final ascent out of the ravine to the Stinging Fork Falls parking lot. We had the whole trail to ourselves until we got to the top of the ravine, where we met hikers coming from the parking area to see the falls. The parking lot was full. 

7 miles and 1700 ft elevation change. 

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Frozen Head Campout TTA

Lora and I joined the TTA for a campout at Frozen Head SP. Nine of us camped out at the Flat Fork campground. After we set up camp Joe, Lora, and Myself hiked out to the Panther Creek trail and hiked to the Debord and Emory Falls. That evening around four we hiked as a group to the Judge Branch trailhead. We hiked Judge Branch to S. Old Mac to the Interpretive trail. 

Saturday we met with the Scenic City chapter at the Panther Creek trailhead. Seventeen of us hiked Pather Branch to North Old Mac to Lookout Tower trail to the tower. We returned on the S. Old Mac trail and hiked back to the campground. 

Sunday we packed up and drove to the Lily Bluff area of the Obed river and hiked the Lookout trail, the Point trail, and ate lunch at the parking lot. After lunch we hiked the Boulder trail.

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Sitton Gulch TTA

Scenic City hiked at Cloudland Canyon starting at Sitton Gulch. My first time on this trail. Started with 17 hikers. Some were only hiking to the lower waterfall. The rest of us led by Carl climbed to the top of the canyon stopping at all the waterfalls as we climbed up. The falls were beautiful and the views from the top were breathtaking. The Fringe trees were blooming on the ridgetop. We walked out to the overlooks then made our way back to the gulch. There were lots of pretty wildflowers along the way. 

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Frazier Park TN river

Lora and I did our first paddle of the year putting in at Frazier Park. The water was way down so we were limited as to where we could go. We went up to Mud creek and then came back and went around the North end of the lake. 

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Collin's Gulf trail

Lora and I went to the Savage Gulf and hiked the Collin's Gulf trail. It was covered in wildflowers and we enjoyed the water falls too. We hiked past Horsepound falls and down to the creek crossing. We met the TTA Scenic City chapter on the trail.

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Shakerag Hollow TTA

 

Sara led a great hike at Sewanee, Shakerag Hollow, and Piney Point. It was a beautiful day and plenty of wildflowers to enjoy, along with waterfalls and views. Dwarf Larkspur was abundant in the hollow. Southern Red Trillium, and White Trilliums were along many hillsides. Celedine Poppy, Purple Phacelia, Cohosh, Spotted Manderin, Jack in the Pulpit, and the Dutchmans Britches were finishing for the season, some were still pretty. And a box turtle! 

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John Litton Farm Loop BSF

 

Deb led a great hike for Plateau TTA. We started on the road walk to get to the John Litton Farm Loop. It was windy in the parking lot, and was getting warm already. 16 hikers, 3 did the Loop, the rest went on toward the Grand Gap Loop. We truned around when it got too hot to continue. There were a lot of trees across the trail. Got to see a black spotted salamander, and a few wildflowers. The leaves of the Pink Ladyslippers are coming up. Saw Little Brown Jug and Wild Ginger, and Pussytoes. 

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Messiah's Mansion

Lora and I went to visit the Messiah's Mansion exhibit today in Chattanooga. It was really cool and answered alot of questions. You got to lay your eye's on the life sized Mosaic Sanctuary which is really nice to see. 

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Collins Rim Trail

Lora and I did 7.5 miles on the Collins Rim trail. Very windy, but the Boy Scouts were out too. Lots of wildflowers.

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