Pickett State Park

Day one: 7.55

Ladder trail 0.95

Lake trail 1.55

Island trail 0.3

Hidden Passage trail 3.75

Double Falls trail 1.0

Day two: 11.3

Double Falls trail 1.0

Hidden Passage trail 1.3

Tunnel trail 1.0

Rock Creek trail oop,s 2.0

Rock Creek trail 1.0

Rock Creek Loop trail 5.0

Day three: 7.25

Rock Creek Loop trail 2.5

Rock Creek trail 1.0

Tunnel trail 1.0

Hidden Passage trail 2.75

Total miles: 26.1

Lora and I headed to Pickett State Park for a three day backpack. We started off with some shorter trails in the park before heading out on the Hidden Passage trail. We parked in the campground and hiked the Ladder loop trail, the Lake trail, and the Island trail. Then we drove over to the Hidden Passage trail and took the backpacks. We hiked to Double Falls campsite for the night. After dinner we crossed the creek to view the falls. Didn't want to have to cross first thing in the morning.

We got up and hiked back up to the top and then took the Tunnel trail back down to the Rock Creek trail. The sign pointed both ways, so thinking we were at the Rock Creek Loop trail we went through the tunnel and crossed the creek four times when we realized we were going the wrong way. Oops! Back the way we came and through the tunnel again. My Bad! We hiked the Rock Creek trail on to the Rock Creek Loop trail. We did it counter clock wise so we would end up with water at camp. On Massy branch we saw our first and only other backpacker. He was through hiking the Sheltowee Trace. We stopped on Rock Creek for our second night. We heard some owls tonight.

We got up and continued on the Loop trail then crossed the creek for the Rock Creek trail. We crossed again to catch the Tunnel trail and then took the Hidden Passage trail by the group camp and on to the car. 

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Father/Son Trip 2021

We headed over on Sunday for the start of our Father Son week. When we got there the Mead's were all ready there. Steve and Kathy arrived shortly afterwards. We had a great visit and celebrated Carol's birthday.

Monday the ladies headed out and we drove to Ace Gap for our hike. We did four miles in and out to enjoy the woods. Colors are not really out yet. We did the ice cream social on the way home. 

Tuesday we headed out and drove the parkway including the new part to Wears Valley, which Steve had not seen yet. We hiked an in and out on the Little Greenbrier trail. Another beautiful day of hiking. 

Wednesday we started projects. This year we had a deck to repaint/repair and a motorhome with a roof leak. The challenge was on and we got started.

Thursday Lynelle came in and we had some rain so slow on the projects but we got to visit some more.

Friday was rebuilding some of the deck parts and Saturday was pure painting. Lots of activities and family bonding time.

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Savage Gulf TTA

Joan and Sara led a great hike to Savage Falls and South Rim Trail in South Cumberland SP today. Weather was fabulous, finally felt like fall. Water was hike due to rain on the mountain the last two days.  Really beautiful. I didn't finish the hike, after a couple of hours I hiked back to the Ranger Station, met about twenty hikers along the way out, about twenty more in the parking lot getting ready to hike in. Saturday in the Park!

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Mushroom Rock to Signal Point TTA

 

Deb led a great hike from Signal Mountain HS area, trail goes to Mushroom Rock. Then followed Cumberland Trail to Signal Point. It was a beautiful hike. Gotta love those rocks in the Tennessee River Gorge section. Great views of the river and surrounding ridges and forest. A quick moving black snake nearly scared the pee out of me. And yes I screamed... Cynthia found some ripe persimmons for us, yummy. There were some mushrooms that looked like brown velvet. Cindy found a lions mane. The wooden steps going up to Signal Point need a little work, some of the steps are missing. 

Fun group of hikers. Thanks to the short hike folks that moved our cars to Signal Point for us. 

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Deep Creek in the Smoky Mountains

Deep Creek Trail: 7 miles

Pole Road Trail: 3.3

Noland Creek Trail: 2

Noland Divide Trail: 7.9

Lora and I headed to the Smoky Mountains for our Anniversary hike. We started at Deep Creek campground which was absolutely packed on this Sunday afternoon. Right off the bat, when dropping our trash into the dumpster I also dropped my map. I asked Lora to hold the heavy lid up so I could retrieve the map with my hiking poles. After dropping it once, I got it up on top of the trash pile when Lora let go of the lid and smashed my head. I did manage to retrieve the map even though I couldn't see anymore and had a bad headache.

For the first backpack of the season it didn't take long to wear ourselves out. The humidity was high so the sweat just poured off me. We hiked to campsite #58. There was a couple at the main site so we camped across the trail at a smaller site. We got set up, washed up, and had time to collect fire wood. We enjoyed the evening by the fire and listened to an owl.

Day Two:

We got up and had a good breakfast. Started off refreshed which turned into sweat quite quickly. We hiked up to the Pole Road Creek Trail where we found a couple of sleeping bags leaning up against the sign. We crossed Deep Creek and headed up the trail which was a little overgrown. We had plenty of water crossings, but the water felt good. We saw another sleeping bag along side the trail which was a little wore out by critters. We stopped before the trail connection for lunch enjoying the views from up high with some color showing. 

We stopped at the Noland Divide Trail for a break. A trail runner came along and visited with us a couple of minutes and then took off the wrong way. Lora stopped her and asked her which way she was suppose to go. She showed her the right trail which made me very proud of her. 

We did the steep downhill to campsite #61 along Bald Creek. They still had the signs up where the campsite  had been closed for bear. We set up, washed up, and collected firewood. Lora let out one of her famous screams and then I heard other voices. She had her mind on those bears when our new neighbors showed up. 

We had time to sit by the creek where I spotted a Hellbender Salamander. It was really cool and Lora got to see it too. Second one we have seen ever. Later we got more neighbors. We visited with Quincy and Kendall by the fire. They had seen a Timber Rattler coming out of it's skin a few hundred yards before getting to camp. He was a horse Jockey and she worked with the race horses as well. 

Day three:

We got up and headed out. We visited with the other two ladies that camped with us before we left camp. On the way back up to Noland Divide we saw the snake skin on the trail. I have never seen the amount of bear scat on the trail as we did on this one. They were huge piles too. Right about snack time Quincy and Kendall passed us by on the trail. Later they would pass us again as they had stopped at the Lone Pine overlook. 

Over all it was a good hike. We were tired but enjoyed the beauty and peace of being out on the trail again.

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Ohio trip

 Last minute trip to Ohio to see Valerie. We left on Saturday and camped just North of Cincinnati at Olive Branch Campground in Oregonia. Really nice park with cute decorations.

Sunday we headed up to Punderson State Park which is East of Cleveland in Newbury. Another nice park. As soon as we set up, we headed to Cleveland to see Valerie. We did dinner and explored Forest Hill Park where we got to see Hawks, geese, and a very large buck. 

Monday we picked up Valerie and headed to Edgewater Park where we spent the day. It was so great to be able to spend time with her! That night we got back in time to walk the park and see everything.

Tuesday we headed North and drove the coast of Lake Erie. We stopped at Lake Erie Bluffs to walk the beach. Lora actually got in the water. Heading into Pennsylvania, we had lunch at Presque Isle SP and then headed South through Pennsylvania. We ended up staying at Oil Creek campground which is another really nice campground and located right next to Oil Creek State Park which we explored. We hiked to Pioneer Falls, Egbert Farm, Benninghoff Farm, and then walked the campground when we got back. They even had a maze in the campground. Deer everywhere.

Wednesday we went back to the park, hiked Miller Falls, Plum Dungeon Falls, and Miller Farm. We picked apples from their trees. We went back to get camper and then headed South. We stayed at Mirror Lake Campground in New Florence. Nice clean park. They had a camper decorated for Holloween which had some huge figures out front. We had some serious storm clouds come in as we walked around the lake.

Thursday we drove to Buttermilk Falls Natural Area to see the falls. Then we headed to the Flight 93 National Memorial which was way cool! Amazing how quite the visitor center was with all the people....just taking it all in again. What a feeling. It really hit hard! 

On the way back to the camper we stopped at the Glessner Covered Bridge and ate lunch. We picked up our camper and headed South to Blackwater Falls SP. in Davis, West Virginia. We hiked to the falls and then enjoyed a campfire. We saw groundhogs, herons, and had deer in camp.

Friday we got up and hiked Balsam Fir, Pendleton Trace trails to the Pendleton overlook. Saw lots of deer. We hiked Spudder Track and back to campground. Saw ravens. Then we headed South. We ate lunch at Elkins City Park. We camped at Watoga State Park in Marlington. We decide to hike the one mile trail to the Ann Bailey Lookout Tower before dinner. It was straight up all the way......both ways I think??!! Late dinner and then we went to the Ranger presentation which they made rootbeer cake in a dutch oven. It was actually good. 

Saturday we walked the campground before we headed out. We stayed at the Ridge Runner Campground in St. Paul Virginia. They had a lower campground that was right on the road. We couldn't get power so they told us to go to the upper campground which is much prettier. Steep gravel road to get up there. We had a walk then enjoyed a campfire with lots of stars.

Sunday we hiked at the Clinch River State Park. We had to get home so we drove on back with a quick stop to get hugs from grandbabies and Melissa in Knoxville.

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School House Gap

Took Dad out for a hike in the Smokey Mountains.

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Damascus

Lora and I headed to Damascus Virginia to celebrate her birthday. We camped at the Hipcamp Bear Claw Holler. The owners were wonderful and spoiled us. There was a hammock and seats down by the creek that we got to try out. We had us a campfire night one appreciating the cooler weather.

The next morning we headed to Damascus and did a little hiking waiting for our 10:30 start on the Virginia Creeper trail. They hauled us up the  mountain and we rode bikes 17 miles back to town. It is a beautiful bike ride and we really enjoyed it. Afterwards we did some more exploring before heading back to the camper. Got in another campfire.

Wednesday morning we got up and headed to the Grayson Highland State Park. We hiked four different trails, visited with a few folks, and saw the ponies. Another beautiful day. When we got back to the camper, it was raining. Got some reading done.

Thursday we headed home with a quick visit to historic Bristol TN.

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Willow Grove Campground

 We headed to Willow Grove Campground on Dale Hollow Lake for a few days to hike, swim and canoe. Arrived there Wednesday evening, set up camp and put the canoe in the water. Made a quick trip to the marina to get bread and ice because Somebody forgot the bread and cooler. Beautiful sunset, lots of stars. Saw one shooting star.

Thursday we hiked the Accordian Bluff Trail to the Bluff.  We got tired of the spiderwebs and heat, then went canoeing. When we flipped the canoe over we found a frog had taken up residence. Craig chased him from one end to the other, jumping in and out until he finally stayed out. Got lots of reading time in, and a couple walks around the campground. When the sun set we did a little night fishing. And Craig caught two. Lora got lots of casting in. 

Friday we hiked on the lakeshore to Accordian Bluff. The lake level was way down which made it easy to go around the inlets. Saw and eagle, a hawk, herons and an osprey. Lora found a nice fishing lure on the rocks at the point. On a walk around the campground and boat dock Lora found a nice fishing lure.  Did some more night fishing and Lora fished with her newly found lure and caught a really nice tree limb.... Saw a shooting star and enjoyed the peaceful night.

Saturday we walked to the marina and admired all the boats, houseboats and cars that carried all the people to get on those boats and houseboats. More reading, and swimming. Then an afternoon thunderstorm brought on a nice nap. Temperature cooled and we got another hike in on the Bluff trail. More night fishing and another beautiful sunset. 

Sunday we walked the campground, loaded up the canoe, went swimming one more time, packed up and headed home. Got there in time to have dinner with Nicholas and Amy, Mitsi and Paul, and Mom, who fixed dinner with banana pudding for dessert.  

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Frozen Head TTA

Joan planned a camping trip at Frozen Head camping at Flat Fork Campground. She had some issues come up and missed this trip. The rest of us carried on. I got there and set up my hammock between #6 and #7 campsites. Joe got there, then Sara, the Patty and Chuck. We got our hiking gear and headed to the trailhead to hike the Judge Branch Loop. Just a little way up the trail it started thundering and the sky turned black. I remembered I hadn't set up my tarp over my hammock, so I skedaddled back to the car and campsite to take care of that. We planned for me to come back, hike the opposite way they were going, to meet up with them. I did that but never met up, they hiked the same direction I did. They beat me back to the parking lot...

Nice campfire, didn't wake up to see the meteor shower.

Thursday we hiked from our campsites to the trailhead at the end of the road. It's not too far to the waterfalls which didn't have very much water, but were scenic anyway. Out and back was about three miles. Then we met up with Mark and Bill to hike the Rocky Fork/CT/Chimney Rocks/English Mt trail. Bill had to turn back after we got a little ways up the first climb, so Mark led the rest of the hike. It was hot and humid but we sweated it out anyway. We came up on some trail workers, swinging blades to cut the overgrowth on the trails. We made sure they knew how much we appreciated their hard work. They were excited to see hikers using the trail! The volunteers said they didn't think anybody ever hiked the trail with all the overgrowth along the trail. We let them know it was hiked a lot more in colder temps. When we finished the trail, we drove to Lancing to a really cool brewery out in the country,  Lily Pad Hopyard Brewery   They have a great menu and it's a great atmosphere. I had a 3 cheese Puffin with grapes, others tried the pork tacos. Back at camp, campfire, then me Sara and Joe drove to the Rocky Fork field to watch the meteor shower. We had warm pavement to lay on to see the awesome show in the sky! 

Friday me and Joe went hiking while the Deens went to the Brushy Mountain Prison and Sara headed home. We hiked the North Old Mac trail to Panther Gap, saw the Rockhouse, then to the Lookout Tower, and down Chimney Top to Spicewood Branch Trail where we had a lot of slick rocks and a little trail dancing. Good day of sweating out toxins and swatting gnats. Back at camp everyone was gone, Joe was spending another night, I had lunch then headed home.

Thanks to Joan for a great trip at Frozen Head State Park!

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