Wednesday, Oct 3 -- CT Laurel Falls - Buzzards Point - Snow Falls Trail, Dayton, TN.
We will hike the trail to beautiful Laurel Falls (past an old coal mine and over some small streams on bridges) to several options of your choice: 2.1 miles one-way on CT to 150-foot bridge; Laurel Falls spur 2.4 miles one-way; Bryan overlook is 3.3 miles one-way; Snow Falls spur 4.9 miles one-way passing side trails to Dunn Overlook and Buzzard Point on the way to Snow Falls (9.6 mi total) There are some short strenuous portions uphill. Depart from Trinity Tabernacle Church at 7:30 am CT. Carpool cost $6. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, text/call 931-267-2243 or email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org.
Sat-Sun, Oct 6-7 Backpack Trip -- Smokies - Mt Cammerer Chestnut Branch Trail-AT-Low Gap Trail-Big Creek Trail, Big Creek, TN.
Saturday is 6 strenuous miles of climbing 3300' to the AT and on to a spectacular view at Mount Cammerer lookout tower. Then 4.6 mi to campsite #37. Sunday we hike 5.1 miles down Big Creek trail. Depart at 7:00am CT from the parking far West corner of the Crossville Outlet Center (use the 3rd parking lot entrance), Interstate Drive just off I-40 Genesis Exit 320. Carpool cost $10. Pack for overnight camping, water and water filter, food, flashlight, rain gear, etc. You must sign up for this trip. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, text/call 931-267-2243 or email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org.
Wednesday Oct 10 -- Black Mountain
Wednesday Oct 17 -- CT Rock Creek Loop, Sale Creek, TN The CT Rock
Creek Loop Trail is a moderate 5 mile scenic
loop with a spur trail leading to Leggett Point
Overlook. We have an option to continue on the Rock Creek Gorge trail to
add more mileage if the group wants. An 8 mi option is to start at the Retro-Hughes Traihead and thru hike to the Rock Creek (Lower Leggett Rd Trailhead) . Afterwards, we will visit Wooden
Apple House where you can buy apples and the best apple dumplings around. We
will depart Trinity Tabernacle Church on South Main Street at 7:30 am
CT. Bring water, snacks, and lunch. For additional information contact the hike coordinator,
Deb Westervelt, text/call 931-267-2243 or email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org.
Saturday
Oct 20 – CT Signal Mountain Trail to Mushroom Rock, Signal Mountain, TN
We will do a moderate 5 mile hike from the parking lot at the top of Black Mountain down to Windless Cave and on to Highway 68. Car shuttle is required. Depart from Trinity Tabernacle Church at 7:30 am CT, or meet at the Highway 68 shuttle parking area or at the Black Mountain parking area. Carpool cost $3. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, text/call 931-267-2243 or email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org
Thursday Oct 11 – Plateau
Chapter Meeting 6pm CT at First
United Methodist Church Annex, 69 Neecham Street, Crossville. Program will be on hiking in Scotland by John and Deb Martin. Join us for dinner
beforehand at 4:30 pm CT at Rio’s Country Kitchen, 224 Peavine Rd (across from
Cancun). Contact Chapter Chair, Bruce
Whitehead, 941-716-3620 or email plateau@tennesseetrails.org
if you intend to join us for dinner.
Wednesday Oct 17 -- CT Rock Creek Loop, Sale Creek, TN The CT Rock
Creek Loop Trail is a moderate 5 mile scenic
loop with a spur trail leading to Leggett Point
Overlook. We have an option to continue on the Rock Creek Gorge trail to
add more mileage if the group wants. An 8 mi option is to start at the Retro-Hughes Traihead and thru hike to the Rock Creek (Lower Leggett Rd Trailhead) . Afterwards, we will visit Wooden
Apple House where you can buy apples and the best apple dumplings around. We
will depart Trinity Tabernacle Church on South Main Street at 7:30 am
CT. Bring water, snacks, and lunch. For additional information contact the hike coordinator,
Deb Westervelt, text/call 931-267-2243 or email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org.
Saturday
Oct 20 – CT Signal Mountain Trail to Mushroom Rock, Signal Mountain, TN
Signal Mountain
is one of the southern sections of the Cumberland Trail with features including
Julia Falls, various rock formations and overlooks, including Edwards Point
with its spectacular view of the "Grand Canyon of the
Tennessee." The hikers will lunch at one of the overlooks. The
trail follows bluff tops and ridges 1,800 and 2,000 ft. above sea level, drops
into ravines lush with hemlocks towering over tangled growths of laurel and rhododendron
before meeting the short trail hikers at Mushroom rock and continuing down the
gorge, crossing Suck Creek over a swinging bridge, and continuing out of the
gorge to Hwy 27. Our hike begins at Signal Point after our car shuttle
drops us off. It is an 8.4 mile hike rated strenuous due to length,
elevation up and down, rocky terrain and requires good hiking boots. The shorter option 2 mile hike will be from
Hwy 27 on a gradual rocky up and then descending 400' along switchbacks into
the gorge, crossing Suck Creek over a swinging bridge and gradually ascending
300' to Mushroom Rock, a 20-foot-high sandstone pedestal rock of the
Sewanee conglomerate. The short trail hikers will find a lunch spot and relax
at Mushroom Rock till the Signal Mountain hikers arrive and the entire group
continue back down to Hwy 27. The shorter hike is 6 miles rated
strenuous due to elevation change. Bring
plenty of water, snack and lunch. Meet at Trinity Tabernacle
Church on Hwy 127 South in Crossville at 7:30 am CT. Gas
cost $8.
Option 1.This is a 5.5 mile moderate in/out hike with elevation gain of 1125 ft. Option 2. Continue steeply up the trail to Gracie’s Pulpit for another 1/3 mi. Hikers will follow Alum Cave Creek for the first mile. At just over 1.3 mi we will reach Arch Rock. The trail actually goes under the arch and requires a climb of several steps etched into the stone before exiting at the top. At roughly two miles we reach Inspiration Point, a heath bald that offers commanding views. At 2.2 mi we will reach Alum Cave, which really isn't a cave, but a concaved bluff, about 80 feet in height, and roughly 500 feet in length. The Cave was mined for Epsom salt and saltpeter. Depart VF Outlet Mall at 7:30 am CT. Carpool cost is $10. Pack water, snacks and lunch. For more info contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.
Wednesday Oct 31 – Big South Fork
Angel Falls Overlook. This is an 11 mi hike. From
Duncan Hollow Rd we’ll start on the Sheltowee Trace (John Litton Farm Loop) 2.6
mi to Fall Branch Trail for 1.8 mi then turn right on the John Muir/Sheltowee
Trace 1.3 mi to Angel Falls Overlook, which is a massive rock
outcropping several hundred feet above the Big South Fork of the Cumberland
River. Shorter Option is to drive further up Duncan Hollow Rd to a right
turn on Alfred Smith Rd till it ends at the John Muir/Sheltowee Trace and an
easy 1.3 mi to the Overlook. Depart Cracker Barrel I-40 and HY 127 at 7:30am
CT. Carpool cost is $6. Pack water, snacks and
lunch. For more info contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, via
email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.
Wednesday Oct 24 – Alum Cave to Mount LeConte elevation 6593 ft.
Option 1.This is a 5.5 mile moderate in/out hike with elevation gain of 1125 ft. Option 2. Continue steeply up the trail to Gracie’s Pulpit for another 1/3 mi. Hikers will follow Alum Cave Creek for the first mile. At just over 1.3 mi we will reach Arch Rock. The trail actually goes under the arch and requires a climb of several steps etched into the stone before exiting at the top. At roughly two miles we reach Inspiration Point, a heath bald that offers commanding views. At 2.2 mi we will reach Alum Cave, which really isn't a cave, but a concaved bluff, about 80 feet in height, and roughly 500 feet in length. The Cave was mined for Epsom salt and saltpeter. Depart VF Outlet Mall at 7:30 am CT. Carpool cost is $10. Pack water, snacks and lunch. For more info contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.
Wednesday Oct 31 – Big South Fork
Angel Falls Overlook. This is an 11 mi hike. From
Duncan Hollow Rd we’ll start on the Sheltowee Trace (John Litton Farm Loop) 2.6
mi to Fall Branch Trail for 1.8 mi then turn right on the John Muir/Sheltowee
Trace 1.3 mi to Angel Falls Overlook, which is a massive rock
outcropping several hundred feet above the Big South Fork of the Cumberland
River. Shorter Option is to drive further up Duncan Hollow Rd to a right
turn on Alfred Smith Rd till it ends at the John Muir/Sheltowee Trace and an
easy 1.3 mi to the Overlook. Depart Cracker Barrel I-40 and HY 127 at 7:30am
CT. Carpool cost is $6. Pack water, snacks and
lunch. For more info contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, via
email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.