Laurel Falls TTA

 Deb led a great hike to Laurel Falls and Bryan overlook. It had rained some before this hike so there was water in Richland Creek and Laurel Creek. The falls was pretty. a few hikers had never been here before. They really enjoyed the beauty here. The climb to the overlook up thru the rocks was a little challenging. We rock hopped across the creek to reach Bryan Overlook but it was too windy to eat lunch there. A cold wind too. We backtracked to the campsite and ate lunch in the sunshine. Going back down thru the rocks was a little more challenging but we made it safely with scooting and sliding on our butts. 

8 hikers lots of smiling faces.

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Fall Creek Falls

Nick and Amy invited us to camp with them at Fall Creek Falls State Park. We had a great time with them checking out all the waterfalls. They came in late on Friday so while we waited on them to arrive, we went to the Inn to check it out, and then to see the big falls. Driving by the lake we saw an eagle perched in a tree.  Nick and Amy got there after dark, got their camp set up and we visited around the campfire. We visited with a couple of guys tenting next to us that were new to the park. They called themselves picture geeks and were taking pictures of the moon, stars, and our campfire. 

Saturday morning we walked around the campground, down to the George Hole, to the Nature Center and back to camp. After lunch we did the exploring of all the falls. That night we had dinner and sat around the campfire until the rain came in. The temperature plummeted so they stayed the night inside the trailer with us. We played Rook until bedtime.

Sunday Lora and I walked all the campgrounds and Nick explored the gift shops with Amy. After lunch we headed home.

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Walls of Jerico TTA

 

Deb led 9 hikers in and 10 hikers out of the Walls of Jerico on a beautiful November Wednesday. Started at the Alabama trailhead. Hiked down, down, down into the walls. Had lunch on the rocks of the wall. There was only a little water coming out of the side wall that looks like a cave. Lowest I've ever seen there. As we started back out Bill met us after coming in from the Tennessee trailhead. We saw two or three campsites that people had left chairs at, along with a teapot at one of them. Saw some pretty asters and goldenrod blooms. 

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Big Soddy Gulf

Today's hike started at Big Soddy Gulf. We hiked to the Cumberland trail and went south to Deep Creek and then came back. We had lunch at the Big Soddy Creek bridge.

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Red River Gorge

Lora and I headed up to the Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Slade, Kentucky. We stayed in site #31 in the Middle Creek campground. We had been here before, but wanted to see some more of the area. After we set up camp with the camper, we headed out for a hike. We took the Original trail to the Natural Bridge. We went on top and then took the Laurel Ridge trail past the Skylift to lookout point. Then we hiked to Lover's Leap, not to jump, just to look. From there we went down through Needles Eye to Devils Gulch trail and back to the Original trail. We had dinner in the camper due to winds and temp.

Tuesday we took the Original trail to the Rock Garden trail. We hiked down to the Skylift parking area and took the Hood Branch trail, including the Loop trail, back to the Natural Bridge. From there we took the Rock Garden trail back to the Original trail back to the campground. After dinner we had a campfire and looked at the stars.

Wednesday we drove over to the Red River Gorge and drove out the Double Arch road. We hiked to the Double Arch and then took the Auxier Branch trail over to Courthouse Rock. We came back by the Auxier Ridge trail. On the road out we stopped and hiked to Grays Arch. Both beautiful hikes. Back at camp we had another campfire. Dropped below freezing that night.

Thursday we drove over to the Red River Gorge to Koomer Ridge Campground and hiked the Hidden Arch Loop and Silvermine Arch. Then we drove out Chimney Rock road. We hiked to Chimney Rock where we got to watch a helicopter drop a couple of loads of water on a wildfire. Then we hiked to Princess Arch. After that we went into the Clifty Wilderness and hiked the Rock Bridge Loop which was beautiful. Ran out of firewood, so no fire tonight. Dropped below freezing again.

Friday we packed up and headed home.

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Big South Fork TTA

Deb led another great hike at Big South Fork. I met the other hikers in the parking lot at Leatherwood Ford. It was a cool morning, but after hiking for a few minutes we had to strip down a little. The hike along the river is always pretty. Then the climb to Angel Falls Overlook. It was very windy at the overlook. We had lunch here. I lost my apple trying to catch a stray water bottle. We had a great group. Started with 11 then on the way out picked up 2 more that had started at Bandy Creek. 

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Savage Gulf South Rim Trail

Lora and I took advantage of the beautiful day and went to the Savage Gulf and hiked the South Rim trail. The colors are changing and beautiful to look at. We had lunch at one of the overlooks before the campground. On the way out we noticed a family and their children hiking and we were so glad to see them out on the trail. As I talked to the dad I noticed that I knew him. He was one of my firefighters from my volunteer fire department of many years ago. So great to see him. 

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Cotton Patch Loop, Bear Creek Loop, and Lee Hollow Loop

Day one: 7 miles

Day two: 9.25 miles

Day three: 4.2 miles

Day one started at the Steven's Branch trailhead. We hiked the Cotton Patch Loop trail counter clockwise. It was a beautiful day and we had a lot of nice views. They have been working on the horse trails by bulldozering them and putting down large chip rock. This makes it very hard to walk on and I am sure the horses are not very proud of it either. We stopped and made camp at Tappley Creek crossing. We had a nice campfire to listen to the owls and coyotes.

Day two we continued on the Cotton Patch Loop to Bear Creek Loop. We went around the Bear Creek Horse Camp and then took the Lee Hollow Loop counter clockwise. When we got back to the Bear Creek Loop we made camp at the crossing of Bear Creek. Another beautiful night around the campfire listening to the owls and coyotes.

Day three we continued on the Bear Creek Loop and took the Cotton Patch loop on the way out. 

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Big South Fork

Day 1: Lora 2 miles, Craig 6 miles

Day 2: 8 miles

Day 3: 7.3 miles 

After getting chores done, Lora and I headed out for our first backpack of the season. We headed up to Big South Fork for three days. We started at the Middle Creek trailhead and headed towards Charit Lodge. We set up camp just across Fork Ridge Road along side the creek. When we got to unpacking, I noticed the camera case zipper had failed and the camera was gone. So after setting up camp I headed back along the trail and finally found it back near the car. Added four miles onto my hike. It was a pretty night around the campfire.

Tuesday we got up, packed, and headed towards Jakes Place. When we got near the Needle Arch a bear coming up the trail headed quickly off the side and down the hill. We walked around the corner to find a second bear heading our way up the trail. When she finally looked up and saw us, she took off down the hill as well. We took a break at Jake's Place and tried to figure out a plan of where we were going to go. We stopped at Charit Lodge for a break. The lodge cat enjoyed rubbing all over me as we decided to go ahead and have lunch there. We sat at the picnic table where the cat joined us. After lunch we headed down Station Camp Creek trail. They have bulldozed and rocked this trail which made it very hard to walk on. We set up camp along the creek. After everything was ready, we decided to walk on and went as far as the Bleven's cemetery. We passed a thru hiker of the Sheltowee on his twenty forth day. After getting back to camp we rested along the creek bed until dinner time. Another beautiful night around the campfire.

Wednesday we got up and hiked Fork Ridge road taking a lunch break by the Johnson cemetry. We had two deer walk across the road in front of us and a hawk flew by. We found ripe muscidines hanging over the road. Yumm! We returned to the car by the Middle Creek trail.

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Bald River Trail - TTA

 What a beautiful day for a hike! Started out with a sweatshirt on. Met up with our Scenic City hikers at Bald River Falls. Betsy led the hike along Bald River with cascades and boulders and rock walls and outcrops. Carl shared his knowledge of the rock formations as we walked along admiring God's handiwork. We found a beautiful place for lunch right by the river watching the water tumble over the pretty rocks and boulders in the river. 

Hikers were Randy, Carl, Marie, Betsy and me. 

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