TTA PLATEAU CHAPTER

JUNE SCHEDULED HIKES - MARCY'S PICKS

Jun 2-3 – Savage Gulf Backpack Trip To Hobbs Cabin, Beersheba Springs, TN

Day hikers will hike in 3-4 miles and return while our overnight backpackers will continue on to Hobbs Cabin for 8 miles on Sat and 9 miles on Sun. We have reserved Hobbs Cabin which sleeps 6. Depart 7:30 am CDST Trinity Tabernacle Church on HY 127 South. Backpackers must contact Deb in order to reserve enough campsites. Carpool cost is $7. Pack water, snacks and lunch. For additional information and/or sign up for the backpacking trip contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, text/call 931-267-2243 or email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org.

Jun 6 – Pickett State Park, Pogue Creek, Jamestown, TN. This will be a 6.6 mile moderate hike in Pogue Creek Gorge to the Pickett SP picnic area which will require a car shuttle. Features include rock houses, rock bluffs and an overlook. Depart 8am from Cracker Barrel. Carpool cost is $6. For additional information, contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Jun 13 – best Oct-Apr Savage Gulf – Collins West, Gruetli-Laager, TN .

This is a strenuous 7 mile hike with spectacular scenery such as waterfalls, bluff overlooks, and rock formations. OR Short Hike of 4 miles to Horsepound Falls and back. There should also be diverse and abundant wild flowers. Depart Trinity Tabernacle Church at 7:30 am CDST. Carpool cost $7. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Jun 16 – Great Smokey National Park - Andrews Bald/Clingmans Dome.

We’ll hike from the Clingmans Dome Parking Area down Forney Ridge Trail 1.5 mi to Andrews Bald for the views and azaleas in bloom. Retrace our steps to the Clingmans Dome Bypass Trail which will lead us to the AT and over to Clingmans Dome Observation Tower for a total of 4.5 strenuous miles with an elevation change of 2400’. Depart 7:30 am CDST from the Crossville Outlet Mall west parking lot. Pack water, snacks and lunch. Carpool cost is $10. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Jun 20 - Fall Creek Falls- Prater Place Trail and Wheeler Farm Loop, Spencer, TN. Prater Place trail is 6 moderatemiles, total in and out, to Hemlock Falls. The farm loop is only 1.5 moderate miles with 400 ft elevation loss/gain to Medley Arch, a unique 90' high arch/natural bridge, 120 foot tiered Wheeler Falls, and the remains of a bottomland farm. Depart 7:30 AM CT Trinity Tabernacle Church on Hwy 127 South. Carpool cost is $6. Pack water, snacks and lunch. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Jun 27 – Frozen Head State Park – Bird Mountain, Wartburg, TN. We’ll hike 7.6 moderate sometimes strenuous miles with 1000’ elevation change making a loop on Lookout Tower West, North Bird Mountain and Bird Mountain Trails. https://tnstateparks.com/assets/pdf/additional-content/park-maps/09-frozen-head.jpg Depart 7:30 am CDST from the Crossville Outlet Mall west parking lot. Carpool cost is $6. Pack water, snacks and lunch. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, text/call 931-267-2243 or email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org.

Jun 30 – Great Smokey National Park – Ramsey Cascades Cosby, TN. We’ll hike the Ramsey Cascades Trail for 4 moderate to strenuous miles along Middle Prong creek to the 90’ cascades and back for 8 miles total and a 2300’ elevation change. Look for painted trillium, bee balm, rhododendron, mountain laurel, salamanders and tadpoles. Depart 7:30 am CDST from the Crossville Outlet Mall west parking lot. Carpool cost is $10. Pack water, snacks and lunch. For additional information 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.

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