TTA PLATEAU CHAPTER: October 2017 Hikes

Wednesday, October 4 – BSF Honey Creek Loop. This is a moderate sometimes strenuous 5.7 mile hike among fabulous rock cliffs, waterfall and a cave. One of the top scenic hikes in BSF. Depart from Cracker Barrel back parking lot at 8 am. Carpool cost is $7. Pack water, snacks and lunch. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Saturday, October 7 – Hit the Trails Festival. Festival is the conclusion of the September month long Cumberland County hiking marathon. Over Thirty information booths will be setup from various outdoor activity organizations and vendors. There will be music and food. The Festival runs from 10am – 3pm at the corner of Stonehenge Drive and Peavine Road in Fairfield Glade.

Wednesday, October 11 – Haw Ridge Park in Oak Ridge. This will be approximately an 8 mile moderate lakeside hike. Depart VF Outlet Mall at 8am CT. Carpool cost is $7. Pack water, snacks and lunch. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Thursday, October 12 - Chapter Meeting. 6pm CT at First United Methodist Church Annex, 69 Neecham Street, Crossville. Dinner at Casa Grande Restaurant on Miller Ave, Crossville at 5 pm CT. Program: Tree Identification by Don Hazel. Contact Chapter Chair, Bruce Whitehead, 941-716-3620, email plateau@tennesseetrails.org if you intend to join us for dinner.

Friday-Sunday, Oct 13-15 – TTA Annual Meeting.

Wednesday, October 18 – Norris Dam State Park. Rock Creek, Sinkhole and Andrews Ridge trails. This will be a 6-7 mile moderate (strenuous at times) hike. Depart VF Outlet Mall at 8am CT. Carpool cost is $8. Pack water, snacks and lunch. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Saturday, Oct 21 – Sunday, Oct 22 Backpack trip on Cumberland Trail Norma Road to Bruce Gap Overnight, Caryville, TN. This 17 mile hike is strenuous for distance and ascent/descent rates with an elevation change of 2020'. Hike will require a car shuttle from Norma Road to Bruce Gap trailheads. We will hike 7.5 miles before camping at Montgomery Fork Campground, then out 9.5 miles the next day. Features are a beautiful forest with large hardwoods, Anderson Mountain, Cross Mountain, Royal Blue Unit of the North Cumberland Wildlife Management, seasonal views of the valleys and more distant mountaintops, and possibly see elk and other wildlife. Despite the difficulty, it is a very beautiful and interesting trail. Bring backpacking gear, water, and food for a 2-day, 1-night trip. Depart at 7:30 am CT from Cracker Barrel, Highway 127, just south of I-40 exit 317. Carpool cost $9. For more information and to register contact Curt Thomas atcurtethomas@frontiernet.net or (931) 260-2140 or Cheryl Heckler atthehecklers@charter.net or (931) 200-7436.

Wednesday, October 25 - CT Snow Falls/Buzzard Point. From the Laurel/Snow Falls parking lot, we will hike miles up the creek and then off the mountain to Snow Falls. Bring water shoes to cross a creek. The hike is about 8 moderate sometimes strenuous miles. Pack water, snacks and lunch. We depart from Trinity Tabernacle Church at 8am CT. Carpool cost is $7. For more information or to sign up contact Deb Westervelt txt/call 931-267-2243 or via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org.

Saturday, October 28 – Glendale Branch and Coytee Loop Trails. This is a 6 mile easy to moderate hike along the East lakeshore of Tellico Lake. Pack water, snacks and lunch. Depart VF Outlet Mall at 8am CT. Carpool cost is $7. For more information contact, via text or call, Deb Westervelt via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or txt/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 plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org

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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October 2017 Hikes

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