McGill Falls

We had a warm Christmas and since our family gatherings were on Christmas Eve, we hiked Christmas day. By the time we got to the falls we were hot and sweaty. I jumped in to cool off and it was cold water, but it really felt good. It was a good hike and we only saw one other couple.

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McGill Creek on the Cumberland Trail

We took advantage of the weather and hiked in August in the high 60's to McGill Falls on the Cumberland Trail. It was still hot due to humidity so we took a swim at the falls to cool down.

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New Years Day Hike

Starting the New Year out right.

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McGill Creek

On the way to Walmart we decided to go ahead and hike McGill Creek to the falls and back. Another beautiful day and we got to meet Dana a friend of our blog on the trail. Pretty cool!

 

McGill Creek Segment

 

Did a little trail maintenance on the McGill Creek Segment today. We hiked in from Downey View Road and went down near the bridge. We were very happy to see the work that they have done from McGill Creek Falls to the bridge. Beautiful section of trail.

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CT - McGill Creek

Lora and I went to check out the new bridge that the Cumberland Trail put up. Looking good! Now just need some trail on the other side.
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Graysville Mt. TTA

Crystal and I met the Upper Cumberland TTA hikers at Roaring Creek/McGill Creek Trailhead in Graysville. The sunshine must have followed them from Cookville. Lillian, Janet and Dr. Womac got there and so did the CT Volunteers; Don and Carol, TC and Judy and two furry friends, Bob, Mark and Teresa, and Jan and her friend, and two furry friends. They got started ahead of us. We stopped at what looks like a mine opening covered with icicles. Then uphill and across the road, to McGill Creek. We caught up with the other hikers and chatted with them, checking out all the new bridge parts waiting to be put together, cables strung across the creek, waiting on the workers to show up. Not sure what the schedule is to put the bridge together but it will be neat for this segment to be completed. As we were going back along the creek we saw bluebirds and some yellow ones too but not sure what they were. Maybe goldfinches.

We hiked back to the parking lot and then hiked up the roadbed to Polecat Falls. There was a lot of ice in the creeks, and on the walls and you could see where the other streams come just by all the ice on the hill sides. The rock overhang at Polecat Falls was covered with icicles and it was a cool view looking out from under at the falls.

Back to the parking lot and everyone headed home. It was a beautiful day with good friends.
Hiked about 7.5 miles.



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McGill Creek

Lora and I hiked the McGill Creek segment of the Cumberland Trail from Downy View Road to McGill Creek. This segment is under construction. We parked by the fence and followed the flagging. There are two sections on the way to the creek that are built trail. You walk through the woods then follow a small stream down into the McGill Creek gorge. There is a waterfall just before you get to the creek. Beautiful area.

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McGill Creek

Don Deakins led a hike on the newly build McGill Creek segment of the CT. We met at the Roaring Creek trailhead and loaded into Don’s truck to ride to the Brayton Mt road crossing to start our hike. 7 hikers. And one skunk that crossed our trail just as we were starting. We hiked to McGill Creek where the bridge will eventually be built. The Southern Trail Crew is now building trail from the Downey View Trailhead (off Leggett Rd) toward the creek. After a break at the creek, we hiked back, crossed Brayton Mt road and hiked the section back to Roaring Creek. Excellent trail building on this new segment! This is a beautiful hike.

Note from some of the hikers: Chiggers were collected on this hike.

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