TTA PLATEAU CHAPTER

AUGUST SCHEDULED HIKES

Aug 3 - Saturday - Big South Fork, Rugby, TN - Honey Creek Loop.

This is a moderate sometimes strenuous 5.7 mile hike among fabulous rock cliffs, waterfall and a cave. One of the top scenic hikes in BSF. Short hike: 4 mi. Depart from Crossville Outlet Mall West parking lot at 7:30 am due to the 127 yard sale. Carpool cost is $6. Pack water, snacks and lunch. Don’t forget tick/bug spray and sunscreen. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Aug 7 – Wednesday – Bill Harris History Tour, Sparta, TN. We'll eat lunch at a Sparta restaurant. Depart 8 am CT from Tractor Supply on West Ave in Crossville. Carpool cost is $5. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Aug 8, Thurs – Plateau Chapter Meeting. This a working meeting for the Annual Conference. NON HIKING VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP DURING THE CONFERENCE. Bring your ideas for fundraising and sponsors. 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 plateau@tennesseetrails.org for information

Aug 14, Wednesday – Pickett State Park, Jamestown,TN - Ladder, Bluff, Lake and Island Trails.

We'll hike 5 mi on the Ladder, Bluff, Lake and Island trails. Carpool cost is $6. Don’t forget tick/bug spray and sunscreen. Depart 7:30 am CT from Cracker Barrel's rear lot in Crossville. Bring water, snacks and lunch. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Aug 15, Thurs – Plateau Chapter Meeting. This a working meeting for the Annual Conference. Bring your ideas for fundraising. 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 plateau@tennesseetrails.org for information.

Aug 21, Wednesday – Big South Fork, Jamestown, TN - Angel Falls Overlook.

6 Mile hike from Duncan Hollow Rd we’ll start on John Litton Farm Loop 1.7 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. We then return to the junction with Fall Branch where the cars will be. Short Hike: drive all cars 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 and back for 2.6 total mi. 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.

Aug 24 – Saturday - Big South Fork, Rugby, TN - Burnt Mill Bridge. Our hike will be the Burnt Mill Bridge loop near Rugby. It will be about 5 mi with moderate terrain. 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. Contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243 for more info.

Aug 28 – Wedneday – Big South Fork, Stearns, KY - Blue Heron Loop. This is a moderately difficult 6.4 mile hike. Short Hike : 4 mi in/out from Natural Bridge to Devil's Jump Overlook. The loop features two of the best river gorge overlooks in the Big South Fork area. Two other interesting features along the trail are the Devils Jump rapids and Crack-in-the-Rock. The trail passes through the Blue Heron coal mining exhibit that serves as the terminus for the Big South Fork Scenic Railway. Depart from Vanity Fair at 7:30 am CT. Carpool cost is $8. 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.

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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