TTA PLATEAU CHAPTER

DECEMBER 2017 PLANNED HIKES

Dec 2, 2017 – CT North Chickamauga. We’ll hike the North end of the North Chickamauga trail off Barker Camp Rd 4.5 miles to the Stevenson campsite and back for a total of 9 miles. There is a strenuous 500 ft elevation change .8 mi down to Cooper Creek. At 4.2 miles is Cooper Creek to ford that we may decide not to cross. http://www.cumberlandtrail.org/maps-and-guides/trail-segments/north-chickamauga/ Carpool cost is $5. Bring water, lunch and snacks. Depart 8 am Trinity Tabernacle Church on HY 127 South. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Dec 6, 2017 – BSF Oscar Blevins Farm. 7.4 mi moderate. We begin via the West Entrance trailhead and Collier Ridge Bike Loop to join the 3.6 mile Oscar Blevins loop that features the old log cabin where Oscar was born in 1915. Other features along the trail include Muleshoe Rock Shelter, bluffs, old fields and a wet-weather waterfall. Carpool cost is $6. Bring water, lunch and snacks. Depart 8 am from Cracker Barrel HY 127 North at I-40. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Dec 9, 2017 – Plateau Chapter Christmas Party. Come and enjoy the fun and food at our Plateau Chapter Christmas Party from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Fairfield Glade Community Library (formerly known as the Multi-Purpose Building) 453 Lakeview Drive, Crossville. Bring a dish to share. We will have an optional $15 maximum gift exchange. If you want to participate in the gift exchange, bring a wrapped gift. There will also be a 50/50 drawing. For more information contact Carol Q at 931-484-4230 or email quattrociocchi@frontiernet.net.

Dec, 2017 13 – SCSP Fiery Gizzard Reroute. The hike is 11.75 miles long and rated difficult due to the length and some strenuous climbs however there several options to do shorter hikes like the 2 mi Grundy Day Loop or the 5.9 mi in and out Dog Hole Trail to Ravens Point . The hikes feature numerous waterfalls and scenic overlooks above deep gorges. We begin at the Fiery Gizzard parking lot and take a rugged climb, for the first 5 miles, to ascend to Raven Point, a spectacular overlook. The next segment is a fairly flat hike along the top of the Cumberland Plateau, and then a steep descent into a 200 foot deep Gorge on the rerouted portion past upper and lower Anderson Falls. After that, we make a steep ascent out of the gorge, followed by a 2.5 mile easy hike to Foster Falls. The hike requires a shuttle. Gas reimbursement is $8. Bring water, lunch and snacks. Depart 8 am Trinity Tabernacle Church on HY 127 South.

For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Dec 20, 2017 – Burnt Mill Bridge. Our hike will be the Burnt Mill Bridge loop near Rugby. It will be about 5 mi with moderate terrain. Depart from Cracker Barrel 127 North at I-40 rear parking lot at 8:00 am CT. Gas cost $5. We will stop for lunch at R.M. Brooks General Store in Rugby (if they are open). For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Dec 27, 2017 – Cumberland Cove. We will hike various trails from Eagle Flight Park to 3 caves and The Sinks for approximately 4 moderate miles of which .52 mi is difficult. Depart 8 am CT from Tractor Supply HY 70 West. Carpool cost is $3. Bring water and snacks.

Dec 30, 2017 – CT Black Mountain. This will be an easy 2 mile loop below the boulders from the Spring House. We will also explore the new section of trail being built toward Ozone Falls and back, distance unknown. Carpool cost is $2. Bring water and snacks. Depart 8 am CT from the McDonalds at Peavine Rd & I-40 (exit 322). For more info, contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, 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 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.

TTA PLATEAU CHAPTER

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