Oregon 2019

We got another opportunity to be spoiled by our grand babies. We headed out to Oregon to spend time with my daughter and her family. My sister and her family joined us too.

We got there Wednesday night and my sister joined us that night. The next morning we headed to Black Butte Ranch where we spent the next three days. After lunch we headed to Hoodoo Ski resort to do some skiing. It was an entertaining time as I had not skied in 35 years and Lora never.

The next day, after our morning hiking adventure, we went back to Hoodoo and did the Autobahn tubing. We had the whole park to ourselves for quite a while. That night we got out the cards and threw down.

The next day after we had gotten six inches of new snow, we headed to the sledding hill and had a great time. Heading back to Salem and had dinner with Jagons family.

Another great time with loving family!

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Joyce Kilmer - Slickrock Creek Backpack

42 Slickrock 0.6
45 Ike Branch 1.5
56 N. Hangover Lead 2.4
56 S. Hangover Lead 3.0
46 Deep Creek 4.0
53 Haoe Lead 5.1
42 Slickrock 5.3
44 Nichols Cove 1.6
49 Yellow Hammer 1.7
45 Ike Branch 1.5
42 Slickrock 0.6

Total Miles 27.3

Knowing that this area is known for it's hard trails, we left Thursday night to get an early start. On the way over while driving the Dragon we saw an owl, a woodpecker, and a hog. We parked just across the river by the trailhead. We hiked in and camped just before the Ike Branch trailhead off the Slickrock trail next to the river. We set up camp right at dark. A car came into the campsite across the river from us and stayed the night. We sat around the fire and enjoyed the stars.

Day Two
We got up, ate breakfast and broke down camp. The climb started at Ike Branch and what was left of the snow. North Hangover Lead is where it really began. The sign didn't lie. The trail was straight up.

It doesn't look like there is even a trail there, but there is! Straight up the side of the mountain. 1720 feet in a two mile segment with some just straight up.

We took our lunch break at Big Fat Gap where the North and South part of Hangover lead come together. From there it is only 2000 more feet up. Lora made her graceful fall on this part and bruised her shin. The highlight of this section as the snow got deeper and deeper, was the rock overlook where you could see forever in all directions.

When we got to the top, the snow was around five inches deep. We decided not to go to the hangover which we had both been to before. We continued to Deep Creek which turned out to be quite the challenge. Not only locating the trail, but all the downed branches and trees. Once we got down out of the snow you could see the trail better. We camped along side the trail where there was a campsite. We even had our own waterfall. The wood was damp so it was difficult to keep the fire going and we were tired from the long day of climbing and bushwhacking.

Day Three
At least we started the day downhill. We even found the bridge over Deep Creek which from our trail description said was no longer safe. It had obviously been replace since the book was written. When the uphill section started the windfall started too and we worked our way to the Haoe Lead trailhead.

There has been beautiful views all along these trails and now we were looking over Lake Santeetlah. The cool thing to see on the Haoe Lead was the rocks that shot up along the ridge. They reminded us of the Devils Racetrack. We stopped among these and ate lunch. As we got higher we got back into the deep snow and harder steep climbing. People had been out going from Naked Ground to the Hangover so we had slush to hike through instead of snow. Messy, messy, messy.

When we got to the Naked Ground we had to spend some time looking for the Slickrock trail. The sign was there, but with the snow no trail to be seen. We referred to the topo map and then did some hunting. Finally we bagged what we were hunting for. A slight indent of a trail followed by some saw marks on logs.

The first section of the Slickrock trail is a winding switchback through the rhododendron. Basically following a tunnel with lots of downfalls along the way. Every now and then you got a view. Finally we broke through to a clear area out of the snow and campsite so we camped for the night there.

Day Four
We woke up and got breakfast started. It tried sprinkling on us a couple of times and then when we got on the trail it started to rain. We were back in the rhododendron tunnel again and it rained for some time before we finally got to walk along the creek. Then it cleared up for the day. We enjoyed the trail down to the junction.

At the Nicholas Cove trail junction, there was no snow, but there was windfall everywhere. We searched and searched and finally found the trail which started with....you guessed it! A very steep climb. 400 feet in 0.4 miles. This turns into a beautiful trail along with the Yellow Hammer. Lot's of ups and downs. We got to see the grave site at the trail junction of these two trails.

By the time we got back to the car, we were ready to be done. It was a beautiful hike. Just hard and hard on us.

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Flipper Bend TTA

Soddy Daisy TTA chapter hike for this beautiful chilly Saturday was at Flipper Bend, high above the North Chickamauga Creek. 8 miles of trail with white blazes on the trees with trails and roads going in all directions, and no signs. John did a great job leading, but we still had to backtrack a couple of times after not seeing a double blaze for a turn. We had a creek crossing early in the hike should have been a rock hop. A couple of hikers got wet feet so Louise found a better place to cross so another lady and I followed her with just a little balancing act on a log. But no wet feet. It was plenty muddy on the road beds with water running down them. Everyone liked the view from the bluff by the power lines, we could hear the waterfall but couldn't see it. We could see pretty far today, the air was crisp so the mountains in the distance were visible.

Met some nice people today, and it was great to hike with Louise again.

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Hell's Kitchen

So we got a new trail that the Southeaster Climbers Coalition built running off the Cumberland trail on the Roaring Creek segment. It is called Hell's Kitchen and it climbs up to the top of the gorge to a collection of boulders which are like mazes to walk through and around. It backs up to the subdivision on the dead end of Rigsby road. This trail is about 3 miles one way.

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MLK Smoky Mountain Weekend 2019

Time for another gathering in the beautiful cabin in Pigeon Forge. Garnett  secured our home for the weekend of food, hiking, food, games, food, hiking, and more food. 12 ladies: Amy,  Betty, Cathy, Dianna, Garnett, Gloria Dale, Kathy, Linda, Lora, Marietta, Nancy, Sue.

Nancy scheduled some great hikes. I didn't make the one on Thursday at Little Briar Gap, but the one on Friday made up for it. Rainbow Fall/Bullhead Loop. We got into snow and ice in the higher elevations. It was slippery and treacherous in places, making it difficult to stay upright. It was beautiful though, with the frozen timber and snow on the branches. Eerie in the fog especially the burned area from the 2016 fires. I leaned up against a rock that looked clean, and the black streaks on my pack and pants told a different story. There's ash/soot on everything, thought the rainy season we've had would wash it all away. There's growth sprouting from the burned rhododendron and mountain laurel, and little pines popping up all over. Beauty from the ashes. The icy conditions had us coming out after dark so a few of us got out a little earlier and got dinner started. I waited for the others to cross the log bridge at the end of the trail to make sure everyone had a light. They all did because they are always prepared (good hiker rules.) It sure was good to get to the cabin and find food! And a hot tub (Linda)!

Saturday morning we went back to Cherokee Orchard Road to hike Baskins Creek since the planned hike (Trillium Gap) was a little too long after yesterday, and rain was scheduled to come soon. At the trailhead the wind was howling and the area had been burned so the trees swaying made us change our minds and get down in elevation for a hike along the Gatlinburg Trail. Then coffee and hot chocolate at Ober Gatlinburg and a little shopping, back to the cabin for a relaxing afternoon. Cathy blessed us with music and singing, with Betty's sweet soprano accompanying. I took a drive on Walden Creek Road. There's a pretty horse farm, Walden Creek Stables, and some interesting buildings and barns. Laurel Grove School and Church. When I got back the ladies had planned a surprise for Betty. We toasted her engagement with some champagne and joy.

Sunday we returned to Cherokee Orchard Road for Trillium Gap. We used the spur on the Motor Nature Trail Road to make the hike a little shorter. I was determined to get past Grotto Falls this time. At the Falls, it was icy and I thought we were going to have to abandon it again. Nancy said "if you can get across and get past those icy rocks on the other side I will follow you." I attacked the ice with my hiking pole and busted it loose from enough places to step and stayed low just in case, and I made it! and Nancy, Dianna and Garnett followed! Everyone else waved bye and went back down the trail. No one had been on this side of the falls, walking in the pristine snow untouched except for critter prints was breathtaking. Creek crossings made ice stick to our boots and pant legs, everyone was bundled up climbing higher and higher. My camera was too cold for the battery to work, so I got my phone out to take pictures at the junction with Brushy Mountain. Nancy had a thermos of hot Emergency C and toasted the completion of getting this segment done! Now we just had to get back down before we froze. Same creek crossings added to the ice on Diana and Garnett's gaiter strings and boot laces, cute little pom poms. Our poles tips were frozen. My nose was frozen until the sun broke thru. Glorious sunshine, and sunshine songs from Nancy! Sparkly diamond crusted trees. Happy Hikers! Back to the cabin for snacks, then Amy and I cooked tacos for dinner with margaritas and Jose. Ole'. Watching football made for a rowdy bunch with a little cough medicine and gambling.
Me and Dianna and Betty took a brisk evening walk, waiting for the moon to show up. It did, but I didn't stay up to watch the Blood Moon eclipse. The plans for Monday was supposed to be, pack up close the cabin, Cades Cove, Wet Bottoms Trail, 1 mile, or two out and back. Everyone decided to go home instead. I got up early and had to thaw out my car doors to get them open. It was 14 degrees.

Beautiful weekend, great friends, food and conversation.

Pictures:

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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Collins West TTA

9 hikers at the trailhead, another came in later with her two 4-legged friends. Rain was in the forecast but it wasn't raining! This trail into the gulf is beautiful but really rocky. There was ice on the rocks at Suter Falls leading down to the bridge. Two of us slipped on the ice, one being me and I have the bruise to prove it. OUCH. Lunch was at Horsepound Falls. That's where Cynthia showed up with her furry friends. The area all around the falls had been flooded earlier in the week, but the water had receded. Did a little exploring around the creek then hiked back to the trailhead. No accidents coming out of Suter Falls area (at least for me). Rain held off until we got out. It was a beautiful hike.
It started sprinkling after I started down the road.

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Bear Waller Gap

Drove to Carthage, met up with Nancy, Kristina, Gloria Dale and Dee then followed them to Defeated Creek on Cordell Hull Lake, Bear Holler Gap Trail. We took a shuttle car to the other end of the trail. It was a foggy start, the sun trying to shine thru made a pretty reflection in the water. Some of the trail was muddy and slick, the mud had rehydrated from the downpour Friday.

There is a nice campsite about halfway in with a shelter, flat spots for tents, trees for hanging hammocks and a spring.
We found a pretty lunch spot on the rocky overlook of the lake and soaked up the sunshine. Just before the end of the trail there are big rocks to explore, with a small arch/window in one. Such a pretty trail to explore. Nice farms along the border of the park

Hiked 6.2 miles.

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Rock Island State Park

Checking out Rock Island State Park on New Years Day!

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Burgess Falls

Lora and I thought that this would be a great waterfall day. We headed to Burgess Falls to see how the water level was. We were not let down!

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