Dog Cove Historic Area

We headed up to Sparta to hike the Dog Cove Historic Area. We hiked the 2.25 Homestead trail first passing by the three different Homesteads. Saw deer while going through. The water was down so the creeks were dry. At the end of the trail, if you continue about fifty yards you will find a good water source on Little Lost Creek before it goes underground. We did the loop around the Billy Sapp Homestead field where we got to see some wild hogs. There were four that went across the trail in front of us and then a brown one with little ones saw us and squeeled as she turned around and ran. She came back and looked again, squeeled and then all of the hogs ran back into the woods. From there we took the 2 mile Low Gap trail which is pretty much straight up to Low Gap. We stopped to see the Low Gap Arch and Hunter's Pass. At Hunter's Pass we saw another deer. We hiked down to the Highwater trail and hiked the 0.45 miles back to the car. 

After we got back to the car we decided to hike 1.25 miles up to Meditation Rock on the Dry Creek Falls trail. Then it was time to head home. The trails here might be a little slick in the wet weather.

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New Years Day Hike

Starting the New Year out right.

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Dollywood

We were invited to spend a few days with our cousins at Dollywood. We sure had a great time with them. Got to see every show in Dollywood plus the Lumberjack show.

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Christmas 2023

We went over and picked up Dad and Mom. We enjoyed a few days with them. We Celebrated dinner with Lora's Mom, the Smith Family, and then cousins. Christmas day we celebrated with Uncle Leroy's family. The day after we celebrated with my Aunts and Cousins in Pigon Forge. The next week we celebrated in Atlanta with our Nephew and Niece. 

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TTA Backpack at Hobbs Cabin

 

We had 8 campers for the backpacking trip to the Hobbs Cabin campsites. Campsites #6 and #7 were reserved. We started out at 9:00 am CT on a chilly Saturday morning from the Savage Gulf Ranger Station. It warmed up pretty quickly though for the 5.9-mile hike on the North Rim Trail starting from the Savage Gulf Day Loop. We set up camp and filtered water from the spring behind the cabin. Unfortunately, there was a campsite fire ban due to the drought. We ate an early dinner and sat around Bryan's camping candle. It was a clear night though and the stars were beautiful. 

The next morning, we were up at daylight and left camp around 7:30 am CT for the longer hike back on the North Plateau Trail. Backpackers were Jean Breuer, Craig McBride, Lora McBride, Andy Meeks, Sara Pollard, Bryan Tauchen, and Carl Westman. 

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TTA Red River Gorge

We joined the TTA for a trip up to the Red River Gorge in Kentucky for a few days. We camped in the Middle Prong Campsite. On day one we hiked to the Natural Bridge and looped around and down Devil's Gulch.

Day two we hiked the Double Arch trail and Auxier Ridge trail loop. Afterwards we had a campfire in the campground. 

Day three we hiked the Pinch-Em Tight trail to Hanson's Point and back. Afterwards we hiked to Gray's Arch and back. Dinner at the Mexican resturant.

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Cumberland Gap TTA

We went to explore the Cumberland Gap and hike with the Plateau Chapter of TTA. We left a day before them. We stopped in Clinton TN for lunch on the way up and then camped at Wilderness Road campground. After we set up we hiked the Lewis Hollow trail up the side of the mountain from the campground. We checked out Skylight cave and continued to the top and intersection of Ridge trail.

Friday we went to Wilderness Road SP just down the road. They were having a reinactment day at the Martin's Station where we got to talk to one guy that was in on the original building of the station at the park. He told us that while they were building, the park hired indians to attack them while they worked. It was a really interesting park to explore.

After the SP we went into Cumberland Gap. We got a tour of the historic church there and then hiked up the mountain to the Furnace, Gap Cave, Cumberland Gap, Ft. Foote, Tri-State Peak, and Ft. Farragot. We met some of the TTA hikers on the trail. After that we went back to Cumberland Gap and walked around town and hiked the trails to rails trail to the old train tunnel and back. That night we met the TTA at Nineteen19 Bar and Grill for dinner. Really good food!

Saturday we met with the TTA and hiked the Cumberland Trail from Eagle Bluff to Tank Springs. It was a good hike with friends. After we collected our cars from the shuttle we met them at the Sundquist WMA at the Hatfield Knob Elk viewing tower. THEY said follow the GPS. So we along with a lot of road buggies traveled some horrendous four wheel drive roads up to the tower. Afterwards of course we found a good road to drive back on.

Sunday we headed home stopping in Spring City for lunch at the park.

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TTA annual meeting at Natchez Trace State Park

We camped at Cub Lake for the meeting. The hikes and meeting place was the Pin Oak lodge. By the time we got our camper set up and got to the trailhead, we were a half hour late. We hiked the Northern loop of the Red Leaves trail from Pecan Road. The trail for us started at the site of the 3rd largest pecan tree in the world, which is no longer with us. We hiked to Maple Creek Lake and then looped back to the Pecan Tree. We caught up to our group just before finishing. After dinner at the camper, we went back to the Lodge for visiting followed by an after party at Libby and Nancy's cabin.

Saturday we got up and joined the group for a hike on the Southern part of the Red Leaves trail going to Browns Creek Lake and Pin Oak Lake. Nice views and got to see a snake as well. Group pictures. After dinner at the camper, we headed over for the annual meeting and auction. Afterwards back to the after party.

Sunday we got up and hiked around Cub Lake before heading home. Great weekend with great people.

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Gilbert Gaul Trail TTA

 

We had 11 hikers to hike the Gilbret Gaul Lake Trail at Fall Creek Falls State Park. The fall leaves were beautiful around the lake, and it was a cool morning to start our hike. We hiked the loop trail counterclockwise, so we had views of the lake almost the entire time. 

After the hike we met in the new lodge restaurant for a planning meeting and tour of the facility. The Highland Rim and Murfreesboro chapters are hosting the 2024 Annual Meeting there October 25-27. 

The hikers were Jay Brain, Jean Breuer, Anna Lina Buckley, Joe Campbell, Joan Hartvigsen, Craig McBride, Lora McBride, Sara Pollard, Georganne Ross, J. C. Saunders, and Cindy Watson. Meeting us in the restaurant for lunch and attending the meeting coordinated by Patty Deen were Eleanor Gilchrist, Susan Gonzalez, and Clare Zisk.

After the hike, Lora and I hiked around the falls.

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Virgin Falls Anniversary Hike

Our anniversary hike today was Virgin Falls which we have not hiked in a few years. It's was also the longest hike that we have hiked most of the summer. It was beautiful even though the water level was down. It was the first time that I have ever seen the Caney Fork River low enough to ford.

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