We start with a 4 mile car shuttle to hike the Schoolhouse Gap trail, an easy 1.9 miles hike with a 512 ft elevation gain. Followed by a hike on the Chestnut Top trail, a moderate 4.3 mile hike with some up and down in the 1st third part of the trail and then descending for the rest of the trail with an elevation loss of 1486 ft. Together the hikes total 6.2 miles and are both excellent trails for spring wildflowers. If the weather is clear and the foliage is not fully out on the Chestnut Top trail, we’ll find a small spot that will afford some decent views of Townsend on your left and later on the trail we will catch sporadic glimpses of Tuckaleechee Cove on your right and the Smoky Mountains to your left. Next we hike 2.8 miles round trip to see the White Oak Sinks area (Blog picture). This is an unmarked trail, a but well worn manway to a small sunken valley where as many as 10 people once lived. Now it is home to a beautiful meadow that can showcase many different wild flowers and, further along, a towering cliff with a cave, known as Blowhole Cave, which emits a constant flow of icy, refreshing air, several rare plants, a small waterfall that disappears into Rainbow Cave, and a single grave on the hillside. On the way back to Crossville we will stop at Aubrey's Restaurant in either Maryville or Lenoir City. They are both right on the way. Meet at the Vanity Fair west parking lot for a 6:45am departure. Gas cost is $10. We should be back between 4:00 and 5:00pm. Notify Cheryl Heckler (931-456-6437) if you have to cancel or if you haven't already signed up. Bill E's and Karla's pictures.
Wednesday 4/28/2010 –- Schoolhouse Gap/Chestnut Top and Oak Sinks Smoky Mtn Wildflower Hikes
We start with a 4 mile car shuttle to hike the Schoolhouse Gap trail, an easy 1.9 miles hike with a 512 ft elevation gain. Followed by a hike on the Chestnut Top trail, a moderate 4.3 mile hike with some up and down in the 1st third part of the trail and then descending for the rest of the trail with an elevation loss of 1486 ft. Together the hikes total 6.2 miles and are both excellent trails for spring wildflowers. If the weather is clear and the foliage is not fully out on the Chestnut Top trail, we’ll find a small spot that will afford some decent views of Townsend on your left and later on the trail we will catch sporadic glimpses of Tuckaleechee Cove on your right and the Smoky Mountains to your left. Next we hike 2.8 miles round trip to see the White Oak Sinks area (Blog picture). This is an unmarked trail, a but well worn manway to a small sunken valley where as many as 10 people once lived. Now it is home to a beautiful meadow that can showcase many different wild flowers and, further along, a towering cliff with a cave, known as Blowhole Cave, which emits a constant flow of icy, refreshing air, several rare plants, a small waterfall that disappears into Rainbow Cave, and a single grave on the hillside. On the way back to Crossville we will stop at Aubrey's Restaurant in either Maryville or Lenoir City. They are both right on the way. Meet at the Vanity Fair west parking lot for a 6:45am departure. Gas cost is $10. We should be back between 4:00 and 5:00pm. Notify Cheryl Heckler (931-456-6437) if you have to cancel or if you haven't already signed up. Bill E's and Karla's pictures.
