TTA PLATEAU CHAPTER

APRIL 2019 SCHEDULED HIKES

Apr 3, Wednesday – CT New Section of Trail, Hebbettsburg, TN.

Long Hike: This will be an in/out 6-7 miles of newly built trial off Peavine Rd heading North toward Devils Breakfast Table. The trail ends at a water crossing. Short Hike: 3-4+ miles in/out.

Depart 7:30 am CT from Southwest parking lot of the VF outlet mall on Interstate Drive. Gas cost is $3. Those in the Fairfield Glade area may join the caravan at 7:45 am at the 4-way stop at the intersection of Peavine Road and Stonehenge Drive. Carpool cost is $2. Don’t forget tick/bug spray and sunscreen. Pack water, snacks and lunch. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Apr 6, Saturday – Big South Fork, Jamestown, TN- Middle Creek and Slave Falls hike is 7 miles, rated moderate. The hike includes multiple un-named rockhouses, Slave Falls, Indian Rockhouse and Needle Arch. This hike will require a short car shuttle. Bring a sack lunch to eat on the trail. Depart from Cracker Barrel's rear lot at 7:45 a.m. CDT. Gas reimburse is $6.00. Carpool cost is $6. Don’t forget tick/bug spray and sunscreen. Pack water, snacks and lunch. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, at plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Apr 10 – Wednesday – Big South Fork, Jamestown, TN- John Muir Trail to Maude’s Crack.

This will be a moderate 6 mile loop hike along No Business Creek. Bring water shoes to wade through water. https://www.nps.gov/biso/learn/historyculture/nobusiness.htm. This loop that takes us in and out of No Business Gorge and past some of the most interesting natural and historical features found in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, including a 100 feet climb through Maude's Crack. There are relics of an early 20th century settlement along No Business Creek. The hike is rated moderate because of the rugged terrain, a stream crossing, and a 100’ climb or descent through Maude's Crack. Depart 7:30 am CT from Cracker Barrel's rear lot in Crossville. Carpool cost is $6. Don’t forget tick/bug spray and sunscreen. Pack water, snacks and lunch. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, at plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Apr 11, Thurs – Plateau Chapter Meeting. This a working meeting for the Annual Conference. Bring your ideas for fundraising, hike suggestions and speakers. Bring your own dinner. Meet at 5pm CT at First United Methodist Church Annex, 69 Neecham Street, Crossville. Contact Chapter Chair, Bruce Whitehead, 941-716-3620 or email plateau@tennesseetrails.org for information.

Apr 17, Wednesday – CT Black Mountain New Section to Ozone, Crab Orchard, TN -

We will explore hiking total of 6 mi down/up Black Mountain toward Ozone Falls. There is 1.8mi finished trail then a .5 gap, follow flags, to 1.2 mi of another section of finished trail. Short Hike: Turn around at the end of l.8mi section. Depart VF Outlet Mall at 7:30am CT. Carpool cost is $3. Don’t forget tick/bug spray and sunscreen. Pack water, snacks and lunch. Contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243 for more info.

Apr 24 – Wedneday – Private Land Hike near Bon Aire, TN. We will be exploring private property in the old mining community. This will be about a 4 mile hike to a waterfall and coal mine and wildflowers along the way. Depart 7:30 am from Tractor Supply on West Ave. Carpool cost is $4. Don’t forget tick/bug spray and sunscreen. Pack water, snacks. For additional information contact the hike leader Howard Owen, 931-248-3190, owenshb@charter.net.

Apr 27, Saturday – Smokie Mountains National Park - Long Hike: 7 moderate miles making a loop on Little River, Husky Gap and Sugarland MT Trails. Short Hike: In and out 4.8 easy miles on Little River Trail. Depart 7 am CT from Outlet Mall, Interstate Drive, west parking lot. Carpool cost is $10. Don’t forget tick/bug spray and sunscreen. Pack water, snacks and lunch. We will stop to eat dinner on the way home. For additional information contact the hike coordinator Deb Westervelt, via text/call 931-267-2243 or email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org.

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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