TTA PLATEAU CHAPTER

November 2019 Plateau Chapter Hikes

Nov 6, Wednesday – Window Cliffs State Natural Area, Baxter, TN.

Window Cliffs is a TN Natural Area located near Burgess Falls. The trail is in-and-out for a total of 5.4 strenuous miles. The trail features 9 stream crossings each way, a few small cascades, a couple of steep slopes and a 20-ft waterfall along Cane Creek. Water shoes are highly recommended. Pack water, snacks and lunch. Don’t forget tick/bug spray and sunscreen. Depart from Tractor Supply at 8 am CT. Carpool cost $7. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, at plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Nov 7, Thurs – Plateau Chapter Meeting. The meeting is held the First United Methodist Church . We will start by meeting at Lacoste restaurant at 4:45. The meeting will start at 6:00 pm. We will have to meet in a different room due to a conflict because we’re meeting a week earlier than usual. We will meet In room 210 in the building adjacent to the Annex. at 6pm. Chapter Chair, Bruce Whitehead, 941-716-3620 or email plateau@tennesseetrails.org

Nov 9 – Saturday –Great Smoky Mountains, Lead Cove, Bote Mt, Finley Cane Trails, Townsend, TN. This will be a 7.1 mile moderate to strenuous loop hike. Look for salamanders at Sugar Cove Creek, walk thru a rhododendron tunnel, over 2,000 varieties of mushrooms exist on Finley Cane trail. Don’t forget tick/bug spray and sunscreen. Depart 8am CT from Crossville Outlet Mall. Carpool cost is $10. For additional information, contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Nov 13 – Wednesday – Daniel Boone National Forest, KY- Split Bow Arch, Bear Creek Ovelook, Big Shoals.

This will be a moderate 7 miles in/out. After seeing the arch and overlook we’ll hike along the Kentucky Wild River to Big Shoals and return. Depart 8am from Crossville Cracker Barrel back parking lot. Carpool cost is $9. Don’t forget tick/bug spray and sunscreen. Pack water, snacks and lunch. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Nov 23 – Saturday – Pickett State Park, Jamestown, TN - Pogue Creek, Jamestown, TN. This will be a 6.6 mile moderate hike in Pogue Creek Gorge to the Pickett SP picnic area which will require a car shuttle. Features include rock houses, rock bluffs and an overlook. Depart 8am from Crossville Cracker Barrel back parking lot. Don’t forget tick/bug spray and sunscreen. Pack water, snacks and lunch. Carpool cost is $5. For additional information, contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Nov 27, Wednesday – Scott Gulf, Poly Branch Trail, near Sparta, TN. This is a 6 mile moderate hike featuring a walk through the woods with waterfalls, coal mines, and cascades with a moderately difficult climb out. Don’t forget tick/bug spray and sunscreen. Pack water, snacks and lunch. Depart Tractor Supply at 8:00am CT. Gas cost is $4.00.. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, 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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