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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Adam's Wedding

We headed to Michigan for Adam's wedding. We picked up the folks and headed north with the trailer. We camped at Lake Loramie SP in Ohio on the way. Wednesday we arrived at Steve and Kathy's where we dropped the trailer and stayed the night. Thursday we headed North to Manistee and checked in at our B&B. The rest of the family arrived and the visiting began. The wedding was on Saturday so there was a lot of beach time, fishing, talking, and walking. We headed home on Monday staying at East Fork SP near Cincinnati. 

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Honey Creek Plateau TTA

 Deb led 13 hikers on the Honey Creek Loop.  Two went out at the overlook, the rest of us enjoyed the whole loop. One hiker showed us how to tuck and roll, hopefully no lasting injuries. We climbed up rocks, down rocks, thru rocks, crawled, used ropes to go down two different rocks. No water at the waterfalls today and the creek was low. No water shoes required. What a beautiful hike this is. 

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TTA Savage Gulf Day Loop Trail- Will

What a great day for a hike! We gathered at Savage Gulf for a wonderful stroll through the woods. Not much water in the falls, but some great views of the gulch. The weather was beautiful and cool. The lazy designated hike leader coerced several of the hikers to lead portions of the hike and they did a fantastic job. There were ten hikers today which is just about the correct amount. The duration of this hike was two hours and twenty minutes with a distance of 4.3 miles.

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Lora's 60th Birthday Trip

For Lora's birthday she wanted to go to Fort Payne's Boom Days. We had camped in Mentone before at Tranquility Campground so we got reservations there. We headed out Friday for a couple of nights. After we got set up at the campground we hiked around their pond and then over to DeSoto Falls. After dinner we headed over to Ft. Payne and listened to "Chasing Payne" and "Night Moves" doing a tribute to Bob Seger.

Saturday we headed out in a light rain to the Little River Canyon. We hiked to Little River Falls and then took the Little Falls trail down to the river. The water was low so you could walk across the river on the rocks. We went to the Little River Canyon Rim Parkway and had lunch. Afterwards we drove the parkway checking out the overlooks and hiking Beaver Pond. Then we headed back to Fort Payne to see "Boys in the Band" do a tribute to Alabama and then Sammy Kershaw, Aaron Tippin, and Collen Raye.

Sunday we got up and went to DeSoto State Park and hiked to four different dry waterfalls. Lack of rain is a problem.

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Twin Rocks, Piney Falls SNA TTA

 Deb led a great adventure hike on a hot August morning. We had to climb thru and over trees as we hiked toward the Twin Rocks. I managed to gouge a hole in my leg from a stick as I was manuvering thru the limbs. We made it up the steps at the Rocks but the view is not as good in the summer with all the leaves on the trees blocking. We took the other part of the loop down, hoping to avoid downed trees. It was better. 

Then on to Piney Falls. When we reached the lower falls we walked in the creek to reach the upper falls, then swam in the pool at the base of the waterfall. Cold clear water and fish were swimming with us. Lunch and then the climb, cable assisted up the bluff wall. 

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Window Cliffs SNA

Sara Pollard led 8 hikers on the 5 mile round trip to Window Cliffs. It was hot, but the cool stream crossings felt good. Everyone made the 18 crossings without falling in! We met several other hikers on the trail and one hardy trail runner. The abundance of wildflowers were beautiful. There's even an electric charging station in the trailhead parking lot now. Hikers were Jim Barritt, Jay Brain, Joan Hartvigsen, Cheryl Heckler, Lora McBride, Sara Pollard, Marietta Poteet, and J. C. Saunders. 

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