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NOVEMBER SCHEDULED HIKES - John Martin's Picks

Wed Nov 7 - ****Pickett State Park, Jamestown, TN.

Hidden Passage Loop with Double Falls - This hike incorporates part of a very long trail, the Sheltowee Trace, with a spur to a water feature, double falls, then a return loop that offers some views and a trip over a small arch. Rated difficult due to distance. Distance 9.4 miles including spur to double falls. Depart 8:00 AM from Cracker Barrel HY 127 N at I-40. Carpool cost is $6. Bring water, lunch and snacks. information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Thurs Nov 8 - Chapter Meeting, First Methodist Church Annex, Crossville, TN. Our 6 pm program will be on snakes by Don Hazel. Join us for dinner at 4:30 pm at Casa Grande on Miller Ave. Please let Bruce know if you are joining us for dinner txt 941-716-3620 – plateau@tennesseetrails.org or trailwalker80@gmail.com .

Sat Nov 10 - *Racoon Mountain, Chattanooga, TN.

Grindstone and Small Intestine Trails for 6.8 mi moderate. Depart 8:00 AM CT from Trinity Tabernacle. Carpool cost is $8. Pack water, lunch and snack. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Wed Nov 14 - ***Big South Fork, Jamestown, TN. Slaves Falls/Needle Arch Loop - The hike leaves the Sawmill trailhead and descends to the upper Mill Creek drainage into a forest. It passes above slaves Falls. The hike leaves the loop and follows a spur along a bluff line to see the Slave Falls, then backtracks to reach Needle Arch. Then continues around a bluff line and returns to Slave Falls. The hike finally rejoins the Slave Falls loop, travels through woodlands, to visit the Indian Dome Rock House. Rated moderate. Distance 5.7 miles with 2 spurs. Depart 8:00 AM CT from the Cracker Barrel HY 127 N at I-40 SW corner of back parking lot. 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.

Sat Nov 17 - Racoon Mountain, Chattanooga, TN. We'll hike the Electric Ave 1, East Rim and Live Wire 2 trails for 7.5mi. This will require a short shuttle. Depart 8:00 AM CT from Trinity Tabernacle. Carpool cost is $8. Pack water, lunch and snack. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Wed Nov 21 - **Pre-Thanksgiving Hike - CT Black Mountain Windless Cave, Crossville,TN. We will hike from HY 68 trailhead up to the Windless Cave. The trail was rerouted last year. This is a out and back hike. The trail parallels TN 68 for the first 0.3 miles meandering through rocks and trees. At 0.3 miles the trail turns left away from the highway and starts ascending. Cross a crest on the trail and then descend slightly. At 1.0 miles, the trail start ascending again reaching another crest at 1.2 miles. At 1.4 miles, the trail turns right and starts a short descent. At 1.5 miles you arrive at a signed junction labeled “CAVE”. Take the short 500-foot trail to view the cave. Then return along the trail to the parking area. moderate. Distance 3 miles there and back. Depart 8:00 AM CT from Trinity Tabernacle. Carpool cost is $1. Pack water and snack. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Wed Nov 28 - ***Racoon Mountain, Chattanooga, TN.

We'll hike the Laurel Point, Split Rock and TN Gorge trails for 6mi. Depart 8:00 AM CT from Trinity Tabernacle. Carpool cost is $8. Pack water, lunch and snack. 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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