Deb led 13 hikers from TTA chapters: Plateau, Murfreesboro, Scenic City, and Chattanooga Hiking Club on a challenging hike from Savage Gulf SP South also know as West Collins trailhead from days gone by. It had rained thru the night so the trail was a little wet and muddy. Then we found the ice. The cable to hold onto ended as you turn to start into the Suter Falls area. One hiker slid on the ice and thankfully two hikers grabbed him as he struggled to get his footing on the ice to pull him back and get him back on his feet, PHEW. The first to make it across the ice helped the others get across safely thankfully. The next obstacle was the ice on the hillside leading down to the bridge, and icicles hanging overhead that were dripping in the warmer temps. We found an alternate way around the ice to cross the bridge. After we all got across and started up the hill, icicles made a thundering crash down on the area we had just traveresed....phew. The rest of the hike was good with a few slips on wet roots and rocks, me included. Horsepound Falls was gorgeous, and our lunch spot. After lunch, 5 of us decided to hike a little further to see the sinks. Randy let the rest of the hikers back to the trailhead. After the sinks Joe decided to hike on for more milage and the rest of us started back. We retraced our steps. More icicles had fallen at Suter Falls but we made it out to the first place we found ice to find a Ranger there to help us across. He made sure we were the last ones, and planned to bring an ice pick to break up the ice. Evidently a rescue was made in here a couple days ago.
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