TTA PLATEAU CHAPTER: NOVEMBER 2020

Wednesday November 4 - Virgin

Falls Natural Area, Sparta, TN.

There is a possibility the water

at the stream crossing may be

a little high so bring water shoes.

SHORT HIKE: 5 mi in/out with a

stream crossing to Big Laurel Falls

(30-foot waterfall). LONG HIKE:

This is a 9-mile strenuous hike to

the 110 foot tall Virgin Falls. Along

the way, we will pass Big Branch

Falls, Big Laurel Falls and Sheep

Cave Falls. There is a stream crossing

and some difficult footing on this hike

with much up and down hiking. There

is a possibility the water at the stream

crossing may be a little high so bring

water shoes. Depart 8 am CT from

Tractor Supply on West Ave. Carpool

cost is $4. 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.

Wednesday November 11 -

Big South Fork, Jamestown, TN-

Middle Creek and Slave Falls.

This hike will require a short car

shuttle. SHORT HIKE: 4 miles,

rated moderate. Long Hike:

7 moderate miles with a short

strenuous climb up from Slave

Falls. The hike includes multiple

rockhouses, Slave Falls, Indian

Rockhouse and Needle Arch.

Bring a sack lunch to eat on the

trail. Depart from Cracker Barrel's

rear lot at 8 a.m. CT. Gas reimburse

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.

November 13-15 Fall Backpacking

Trip - CT Nemo Bridge to Peavine

Rd, Crossville, TN. 2 night 24 mile

strenuous backpack trip on the CT

from Nemo Bridge to Peavine Rd.

Sign-up is required. For additional

information, contact the hike

coordinator, Deb Westervelt, text/call

931-267-2243 or email

plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org.

Wednesday November 18 - Polly

Branch to Yellow Bluff, Sparta, TN.

Short Hike: 4-5 mile moderate in/out

hike. Long Hike: This is a moderate

7.75 mile hike. The main features of

the hike are the Upper and Lower Polly

Branch Falls, the Yellow Bluff overlook

of the Caney Fork Gulf. The falls are in

the 15-30 foot class, but are very

photogenic. Depart 8 am CT from

Tractor Supply on West Ave. Carpool

cost is $4. Pack water, snacks and

lunch. Don’t forget tick/bug spray

and sunscreen. For additional

information, contact the hike

coordinator, Deb Westervelt,

text/call 931-267-2243 or email

plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org.

Wednesday November 25 - Cumberland

Mountain State Park, Overnight Trail,

Crossville, TN.

Short Hike: 4 mi in/out easy.

Long Hike: 8 mi moderate hike.

Depart 8am CT from Trinity

Tabernacle parking lot off HY

127S, one mile South of

downtown Crossville. Gas

cost $1. For additional

information contact the hike

coordinator, Deb Westervelt,

text/call 931-267-2243 or email

plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org

Wednesday November 28 - Savage

Gulf - Greeter Falls, Ranger Falls,

Stone Door, Beersheba Springs, TN.

A shuttle will be required.

Short Hike: 1.1mi Greeter Fall loop

easy. Drive cars to the Stone Door

Trailhead. Hike the .3 mi to Laurel

Falls and .9 mi in/out thru the Stone

Door. Long Hike: This is a 8 mile

moderate sometimes strenuous

thru hike. The hike will start at

Greeter Falls Trailhead and then

continue along the Big Creek Rim.

We will end at the Stone Door

Trailhead Ranger Station. Depart

8am CT from Tractor Supply, West

Ave, Crossville. Bring lunch, water and snack.

Don’t forget tick/bug spray

and sunscreen. Gas cost is

$6. 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.

TTA PLATEAU CHAPTER

NOVEMBER 2020

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