TTA PLATEAU CHAPTER

March 2019 SCHEDULED HIKES

Mar 2 – Stinging Fork State Natural Areas and Soak Creek, Spring City, TN. These two hikes are being combined to give a total hiking distance of about 7 miles or less. Stinging Fork State Natural Area features a 35-foot waterfall and cascade at the end of the 1 ½ mile trail. Due to some elevation gain and possibly slick rocks, the hike is rated moderate to difficult. Wear boots, bring lunch, water and snacks. Depart from Trinity Tabernacle Church, Rt 127 South, in Crossville at 8:00am CT. Carpool cost is $4. Pack water and snack. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Mar 6 – Savage Gulf, Gruetli-Laager, TN – Collins Rim Trail. Long Hike: This is a moderate 8 mile in/out hike with spectacular bluff overlooks and rock formations. Those wanting a strenuous hike can split off on the Collins West Trail down into the gorge to Horsepound Falls and back for 7 in/out miles. Short Hike: Hikers will turn around at the 2.5 mi mark. Depart Trinity Tabernacle Church at 7:30 am CT. Carpool cost $7. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Mar 13 – Beckwith’s Point Trail, Piney Point, Shakerag Trail, Bridal Veil Falls, Sewanee, TN These hikes are 6 miles total. Rated moderately difficult due to a steep ascent up a cliff to Green’s View and areas of rocky footing. The hikes feature spectacular wildflowers, limestone bluffs, a great overlook at Piney Point, and a beautiful waterfall. Depart 7:30 am CT from Trinity Tabernacle Church on HY 127 South. Carpool cost is $10. Pack water, snacks and lunch. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, text/call 931-267-2243 or plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org.

Mar 14 – Plateau Chapter Meeting. This is a working meeting for the Annual Conference. All committees will report on status. Bring your ideas for fundraising and speakers. Potluck dinner, please bring a dish to share along with your drink. Meet at 5pm CT at First United Methodist Church Annex, 69 Neecham Street,Crossville. Contact Bruce Whitehead, 941-716-3620 or email plateau@tennesseetrails.org for information.

Mar 16 – Short Springs Natural Area (NA), Tullahoma, TN. We will wind our way around the Short Springs NA to Busby Falls and Machine Falls on a multitude of trails one of which is the Wildflower Loop. This is a 6 mi moderate hike that include creeks, waterfalls and beautiful views. We can add another nearby hike if we choose. Depart 7:30 am CT from Tractor Supply West Ave and Emerson in Crossville. Carpool cost is $6. Pack water, snacks and lunch. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, at plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Mar 20 – Norris City Watershed Park. Long Hike: This is 8 easy miles combining several trails. Short Hike: Hikers will turnaround at the 2.5 mi mark. We will start at the Lenoir Museum on the Clear Creek Trail and follow it past an old weir and stream gauging station, the "kissing tree", G. Taylor Mill site, an old millrace, some stream crossings (may need water shoes), a large spring inside a fenced concrete structure, and other weir stations. Watch for wild flowers along the way. A wildlife watering hole and CCC foundations are also there. Bring water, lunch and snacks. Depart from the Crossville Outlet Center at 7:30am CT. Carpool fee is $7.00 For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Mar 23 – Smoky Mountains National Park, Cosby, TN - Porter's Creek Trail. This is a moderate 8.5 mile hike with a 1500' climb over 3.5 miles to a campsite and then return the same way back. This is a great spring wildflower hike with 60' Fern Branch Falls in the Greenbrier section of the Smokies. The forest floor can literally be carpeted with bloodroot, hepaticas, white fringed phacelia, violets, white trilliums and many other varieties. There are several old stone walls that are remnants from the Elbert Cantrell farmstead, who settled in the Porters Creek community in the early 1900s. We will also visit Ownby Cemetery, which also dates back to the early part of the 20th century. A short spur trail takes you to John Messer farm site, which includes a cantilevered barn that was built by John Whaley around 1875 and a cabin that was built by the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club in the mid-1930s. Depart 7 am CT from Outlet Mall, Interstate Drive, Southwest parking lot. Carpool cost is $10. Pack water, snacks and lunch. We’ll stop for dinner on the way home. To sign up contact the hike coordinator Deb Westervelt, via text/call 931-267-2243 or email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org.

Mar 27 – Standing Stone State Forest, Hilham, TN. - Join us on a 5 mile wildflower hike around the Lake. Option: We can add one of the other short trails in the park. The park takes its name from a 12 foot tall rock standing upright on a sandstone ledge, which was supposedly used as a boundary line between two Indian nations. When the rock fell, the Indians placed a portion of it upon an improvised monument to preserve it. The stone is still preserved in Monterey. Depart 7:30 am CT from Cracker Barrel. Pack water, snacks and lunch (option: eat late lunch in Cookeville). Carpool cost is $6. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

WELCOMES ALL HIKERS

NOTE 1: Check Blog the Evening Before hikes and/or Early Morning on hike day; It May Be Necessary To Change/Cancel some hikes.

NOTE 2: Hike Information - contact Deb Westervelt at plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or 931-267- 2243.

Hiking Rules & Information

Leadership—Wednesday hikes are leaderless. Unless otherwise announced there are usually hikers familiar with each hike, so we rarely get lost. But each hiker is responsible for his own safety, maintaining contact with the rest of the group, etc.

Hike Difficulty—Hikes typically range from 5-10 miles. There is usually a lot of elevation change and rugged terrain. Neighborhood walkers and inexperienced hikers will find nearly all our hikes difficult. More experienced hikers accustomed to climbs of thousands of feet in the Smoky’s would place most of our hikes in the moderate to difficult class.

Hazard—Hiking is not “a walk in the park”. Hazards exist on all our hikes. They range from high cliffs, steep rock scrambles, falling icicles, stream crossings, just to name a few. These hazards are so commonplace they are rarely mentioned in the trail descriptions.

Supplies and Equipment---Hiking boots are recommended for all our hikes. Several of our hikers wear snake proof gaiters. We have lunch on the trail. Drinking water is mandatory to prevent dehydration, leg cramps and other complications. Failure to bring adequate food and water is a hazard and an imposition on other hikers. Other discretionary items include compass, pocket knife, first aid supplies, etc.

Gasoline reimbursement---We car pool to trailheads typically a half hour to 2 1/2 hours from Crossville. Riders are expected to pay for the gasoline. Drivers incur wear and tear on the vehicle and risk that it may be damaged. Since the riders’ contribution varies with mileage and gas price, cost is decided before each hike, and indicated on the Blog. (Typical gas costs vary from $2 to $12 per person depending on driving distance.) Please bring extra shoes to avoid tracking mud into vehicles.

Trail etiquette---Experience has taught us that bad things happen when individuals separate from the group. Time and energy is expended looking for separated hikers even if it turns out they have not missed a turn. Therefore, each hiker should maintain eye contact with at least one other hiker. Small goups should maintain eye contact with the rest of the group. At least one hiker from the main group needs to be informed of bathroom breaks and other delays so that individuals don’t get separated. The group doesn’t split up unless there are extraordinary circumstances (eg, worn out hikers take a short cut). Under those circumstances there must be at least two hikers in each group and a clear understanding of the obligations of each group for driving arrangements or waiting at the trailhead.

Hike Pace---We normally hike around 2.5 mph depending on terrain. Practical experience indicates that this pace keeps us together pretty well. However, individual preferences vary with respect to desired time spent at a waterfall or other scenic highlight. There is no silver bullet for resolving these differences other than courtesy. Photographers and others who want to take a closer look need to be sensitive to the will of the majority as do the get-down-to business hikers. Since we spend a lot of energy and time to see sights that can not be seen from a car, ties should be broken in favor of the sightseers.

Liability---Bad things can happen on hike: auto accidents,injury,equipment damage or failure, etc. Our group does not assume any collective or individual liability for any such mishaps. Each hiker is individually responsible for his own safety.

Punctuality---Zero tolerance. We leave the car pool location promptly at the time announced on the Blog.

Hunting season---Hike plans are formulated to avoid the worst of the hunting hazards but, we cannot avoid all exposure to hunters. Therefore it is each hikers responsibility to dress in blaze orange or other bright,visible clothing during hunting season.

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