TTA PLATEAU CHAPTER

DECEMBER SCHEDULED HIKES -

Saturday Dec 1 - ****SCSP Denny Cove/Foster Falls, Tracy City, TN.

Denny Cove is a 3 mile strenuous hike due to rock scrambling to a fabulous waterfall and rock climber cliffs. Foster Falls loop is a 5 mile moderate hike. First we will hike down to view Foster Falls (if there is any water), then on along the bottom of the cliff (used for climbing or rappelling). Depart 8 am CT Trinity Tabernacle Church on HY 127 South. 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 Dec 5 - *****SCSP Fiery Gizzard, Tracy City, TN.

We will do an in/out 7-8 miles to Yellow Pines Falls on the Dog Hole Trail passing 3 other falls along the way. We begin at the Fiery Gizzard parking lot and take a rugged climb, for the first couple miles. Gas reimbursement is $9. Bring water, lunch and snacks. Depart 8 am CT 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.

Friday Dec 7 - Plateau Chapter Christmas Party. Come and enjoy the fun and food at our Plateau Chapter Christmas Party from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Fairfield Glade Community Library 453 Lakeview Drive, Crossville. Bring a dish to share and a beverage. We will have an optional $15 maximum gift exchange. If you want to participate in the gift exchange, bring a “nice usable” 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.

Wed Dec 12 - ****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 Dec 15 - *****Lost Cove to Virgin Falls.

We'll take the new trail which is 4.5 mi North to the falls. I'll assume it is moderate to strenuous for the 9 mi round trip. Depart 8:00 AM CT from Tractor Supply. 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.

Wed Dec 19 - ****CT Possum Creek Gorge Section, Heiss Mountain, Graysville, TN.

This scenic 8.8 mile hike from the Retro Hughes Trailhead going South on the Cumberland Trail to Imodium Falls, and back. We'll follow Coalbank Branch to waterfalls, overlooks, an abandoned coal mine, bluff lines, and steam crossings. Rated strenuous due to length and elevation changes. Shorter hike option: 6 mile in/out to the junction of Coalbank Branch and Hughes Branch. Wear boots, bring lunch, water and snacks. Depart from Trinity Tabernacle Church, Rt 127 South, in Crossville at 8:00am CT. Carpool cost is $6. Pack water 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.

TTA PLATEAU CHAPTER

Hiking Links

Blog Archive