Wednesday Winter Hike Starting Times

Based on feedback requested on the blog last week, our regular Wednesday hikers are equally split between 7 and 8 am winter hike car pool departure times. This is in line with what I expected based on conversations with several of you. So I propose we compromise and meet at 6:45 if necessary to get the group home before mid afternoon, say 2 or 3pm. We can meet at 7:45 on hikes that require less time. I am frequently asked to guess at return times and have a fairly objective way of running the numbers. If this doesn't work out, i guess the fall back would be to split the difference and meet at 7:15 for 7:30 departure each week. Let me know if you have a better idea.

Here are Ginger, Bill and Jim's photos from yesterday's Old Stone Fort/Short Springs hikes.

Wednesday's Hike--Old Stone Fort/Short Springs

Wednesday's hikes will be Old Stone Fort and Short Springs near Manchester. Combined hiking distance is about 6 mi in terrain typical of our hikes. I know some of you want to get back to Crossville by 3 or 4 which is doable if we skip the Jiffy Burger stop. So if you want to have lunch at Jiffy Burger email me and we can try to accomodate that preference w/ a Jiffy Burger car. Otherwise, I'll assume we will have lunch on the trail.We'll meet at Tractor Supply at 6:45 and the Browntown/Pleasant hill car can join the caravan at the west end of Pleasant Hill's Main St. Figure $8 for gas. Remember to email me your preference(7 vs8) for the default winter hike departure time. We will meet for this hike at 6:45 because it is such a long day.

Last Wednesday's Fall Creek Falls Hike

Ten of us hiked Fall Creek Falls last Wednesday.Water conditions in the falls were near perfect. Trees that formerly ubstructed the view of Piney Falls have fallen or been removed. Either way it gives the State Park yet another great waterfall view. See Ginger , Karla,and Jim's photos. One of my shots is a ringer taken on another occasion when there was more sun. I included to to make the point that if the sun is out mid day, Cane falls always has a serious rainbow. The best viewing angle is from the overlook near the nature center.

Winter Meeting Times for Wednesday Hikes

Email me your preference for Winter Wednesday hike meeting times. Choices include 6:45 and 7:45. I will try to accomodate the will of the majority or find a compromise that aggrevates everybody equally.

Wednesday's Hike--Fall Creek Falls

Wednesday's hike will be a few of the Fall Creek Falls trails. We'll do about 6 mi in fairly typical terrain with one exception. There is an optional cable assisted climb down to the bottom of Cane Falls. It's a short climb but almost straight down. So if it is not for you, sit it out. There is some hazard and it doesn't take long for the other hikers to finish it. Meet at Tractor Supply at 6:45. Let's call gas $4. There is a chance of rain Wednesday so check this blog for updates.

Saturday's Pickett Palooza Hike Canceled

Tomorrow's Pickett hike is cancelled due to anticipated bad weather.

Wednesday's Coker Creek/Bald River Falls Hikes

A big mystery from Wednesday was did we see
Coker Creek Falls. We saw a number of falls along Coker Creek and I recognized a couple of them as falls labeled Coker Creek on the web. However, some of the web photos are obviously mislabeled. A photo of Bald River Falls is labeled Coker Creek, for example. So I am inclined to declare victory in our quest to see Coker Creek Falls, but I wouldn't stake my life on it. Anyhow we had good hikes and great scenery at Coker Creek and Bald River Falls. See Ginger, Bill and Jim's photos.

Wednesday's Hike--Coker Creek/Bald River Falls

Wednesday's hike will be Coker Creek and Bald River Falls, near Tellico Plains. Both hikes will be pretty short, probably a total of 5-6 mi. The drive to the trailhead will be a couple hours so expect a fairly long day. I'd estimate a Crossville return time of 4pm. Figure 8$ for gas. Meet at American Legion at 6:45.

Today's hike to House Mountain has been canceled due to weather and hazardous conditions. If you know of someone without access to the blog that planned to attend the hike, please pass this along to them. Thanks so much!

Wednesday's Savage Gulf Hike

We hiked from Greeter Falls to Stone Door Thursday. Here's the question...is the cantalevered rock near stone door(see sidebar) leaning more than it has in the past? Perhaps it is but Ginger says she didn't slide more than a few inches toward the edge. See the rest of the photos from Ginger and Jim.

Wednesday's Hike Rescheduled to Thursday

Wednesday looks hopeless so lets push it to Thursday and do Greeter Falls/Stone Door. This is one of our most scenic hikes. It's only 6 mi but at least an hour and a half drive. So we will be home later than normal...I estimate around 3. Figure 7$ for gas. We'll meet at Tractor Supply at 6:45 and the Pleasant Hill/Browntown hikers can join the caravan at the Uplands.If there won't be a full car load at the Uplands, email me and we can save some space in the cars from Tractor Supply. Some weather reports are calling for snow flurries Thursday am. If driving conditions look bad, we'll cancel or change the hike to a more nearby destination. So watch the blog for possible changes.

Wednesday Hike

Weather forecasters are calling for 100% chance of rain tomorrow. So absent a big change, I propose we reschedule for Thursday. We can give the weather forecasters a few more hours to change their minds but I'd like to choose between Wednesday or Thursday later today.

Hike selection is another issue. We had talked about Bridgestone/Firestone but big game hunting is scheduled this week and the area is closed to non hunters. I propose we do Greeter Falls/Stone Door which is a great hike but gets us home later than normal...around 3. Email me if you have any input on these issues.