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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Stone Door - TTA

Chapter member Wayne Yancey led 7 hikers starting at the Stone Door Ranger Station. We hiked the Big Creek Rim trail to Alum Gap campsite for a break. Then continued on the Big Creek Gulf trail and took a side trip to Ranger Falls. The creeks were bare but there was a nice water flow at Ranger Falls. Saw some late summer wildflowers and lots of interesting mushrooms. 

Total hike was about 10 miles. Hikers were Jay Brain, Joe Campbell, Chris Manzione, Lora McBride, Sara Pollard, Jan Safavi, Cindy Watson and Wayne Yancey.

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Ark Encounter

Time to take the camper out. Headed North into Kentucky to visit the Ark Encounter. We stayed at Kincaid Lake SP. On the way up we stopped at the Army Corps Waitsboro Campground for lunch. From there we headed on to Kincaid Lake. There was nobody working at the campground when we got there. We just found our site and set up. There was nobody in our whole section of campsites. Hiking around the campground there were only about four campers in the other section. We decided on a quick canoe trip for the evening. We put in at the marina and paddled around til dusk. Lot's of stars tonight and then every night that we were out. Saw 2 shooting stars!

Tuesday we took the canoe back out and launched from the marina. We paddled the whole lake and down the river. Beautiful day out on the water. Still nobody working at the campground.

Wednesday we went to the Ark Encounter. It was very interesting and answered a lot of questions that I hadn't even asked about the Ark. This was during the forty days of gospel music so we had music during lunch and then a concert that evening. We stopped and ate dinner in Falmouth, KY at the Howard's Place Resturant. Very good food. Still no workers at the campground.

Thursday we headed to explore the historic town of Augusta, KY. We parked on Main street and walked to the historic jail. It had a phone number to call and we did. The very nice lady from the visitor center gave us a tour of the jail and then gave us a tour of the whole town on her golfcart. It was great! After that we ate our lunch on the bank of the Ohio river and then walked around town looking at all the historic buildings. This is also the town that George Clooney is from. Later we put the canoe in the Ohio river and paddled up Bracken Creek,  passed the two donkeys and then turned around. Nobody working the campground. 

Friday we packed up and headed out. We drove to London, KY and stopped at the Levi Jackson Mill to have our lunch. After eating we walked around the mill and then decided to stay. We camped at the Levi Jackson Campground. We walked their little trail and then went to the pool for a swim. After dinner we hiked around the park. 

Saturday we decided that we really did need to go home so we did. 

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Soddy Lake

Today was a quick trip to the lake. Trying to beat the storms we did a loop from the park to the bridge. We got to see a huge beaver which was exciting to see. We also saw fish, turtles, and all sorts of birds. Yes, we got caught in a storm and had to pull over and get our of our metal canue till it passed.

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Carters lake

We arrived at our campsite after lunch. After walking to the boat ramp and swimming beach, we changed into our swimsuits and went back to the beach where we spent the afternoon. We went back to the camper for dinner and walked the whole campground afterwards. There was a Casita in one of the loops.

Sunday we drove over to the Ridgeway Day Use Area and hiked the Tumbling Waters Nature Trail. Short hike to a pretty cascade.  From there we drove to the Visitor Center with overlooks of Carters lake. Then we drove to the South Reregulation Day Use Area and hiked the Hidden Pond Songbird Trail. We also walked the dam. We headed back to the camper for lunch and then canoed the West side of the park. Afterwards back to the beach. We got in another campground hike in.

Monday we hiked the Oak Ridge Nature Trail and explored the day use area. Took a trip to Ellijay. Took a canoe trip in the rain around the East side of the park. The rain stopped and we did a little swimming. Later on after dinner we took another canoe trip past the Island and a little farther East.

Tuesday we hiked the Amadahy Trail. After that it was back to swimming. Later that night we did a canoe trip West to the Boat In Campsites. Our second beautiful sunset.

Wednesday we did the campground hike and then canoe trip ending in the loading of the canoe. We did some swimming before lunch and then broke down camp and headed home.

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Wash Morgan Hollow TTA

 Deb led another great outing. She plus 7 of us hiked up Wash Morgan Hollow SNA to the end of the Hollow to the waterfall. There is no trail here, you just hike up the creek. Up the creek we found wildflowers on the banks, fossils, and several cool rocks. Visited the Cookeville City Lake Natural Area. Then to the Boils WMA for lunch and a swim. Bill seemed to have had the most fun, trying out the swinging rope. The water was nice and cool! Then to Cummins Falls SP to see Cummins Falls and the old homestead.

I started home from there, the others visited Bee Rock on their way home.

Copied pics from Deb's post on TTA

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Lost Cove TTA

 

Scenic City Chapter led by Betsy explored Lost Cove in Sewannee. Via Point Disappointment (the view was disappointing with all the leaves on the trees blocking the view) and Potter Ridge Trail. It's a relatively new trail with cliffs and rock formations. Lost Creek was dry so it must be lost too.  Hiked out and back so climbing out it was hot! We added a loop on the Caldwell Rim Trail. Picked some blackberries and huckleberries. Yummy! 

When we got back to the parking area, opened the car doors to a blast of hot air. Stopped at a market to get something cold to drink. Then on to the Natural Bridge. 

It was nice to see some friends and make some new ones. 

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Dog Cove Historic Area

Kat Champlin, certified Tennessee Naturalist, and Conservationist led 15 hikers from Plateau/Upper Cumberland on the Hardy Trail in Dog Cove. It was recently completed, and they will put gravels in the parking area maybe next week.  It's a pretty trail with a waterfall that didn't have much water today, and an overlook that with all the leaves on the trees, you couldn't see Dog Cove. There are rock walls, streams, and wildflowers, and huckleberries! 

Next stop was the Historic Rock House, a toll house and stage stop on the early stagecoach road that ran from Knoxville to Nashville. Famous patrons were Andrew Jackson, James Polk, and Sam Houston. The DAR are custodians, the historian Rick had so many stories to share. Every artifact in there has a story, if the walls could talk I'm sure the historian would be able to share those stories too. 

Next was the Calfkiller River Trail in Sparta, then on to Happy Trails Brewery to sample the brews and wait for our reservation at Marioochi's Pizza which was great food. 

Great day with great people.  Thanks Deb and Kat!

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Collins/Barren Fork Rivers TTA

 

We put in at the boat ramp in Pepper Branch Park in McMinville and took out at the old VFW boat ramp on 70. It was a great overcast day for being on the rivers and we had good current. It was about six river miles total. Wayne was our leader and did a good job, even showing us where not to go through the rapids. Jim did a wonderful job of providing entertainment by going under a bush. It was a great time with good folks.

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