TTA PLATEAU CHAPTER: September 2020

SEPTEMBER 2020 HIKES

Wednesday September 2 - Big South Fork, Jamestown, TN - Sheltowee/John Muir Trail.

From the end of Duncan Hollow Rd we will follow the trail along the BSF Cumberland River. Short Hike: 4 mi in/out. Long Hike: 8 mi in/out. Depart 7:30 am CDST from Cracker Barrel's rear lot in 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.

Wednesday September 9 - Cumberland Mountain State Park, Crossville, TN.

We will hike the designated "County Marathon" trail plus hikers choice. Pack water and snacks. We'll eat lunch at the park restaurant. Don’t forget tick/bug spray and sunscreen. Depart 7:30 am CDST 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.

Saturday September 12 - Black Mountain Trail Maintenance and Picnic -- Hy 68 up to the campsite.

We need a lot of people with swing blades. Calling all Members to come out and help clip, lop, saw, and ESPECIALLY weed-whack (swing blade or grass whip) from 8-11am then meet up at the campground for a picnic. If you can't work you can volunteer to carry and set up the picnic. Gas cost is $2. Bring water and a snack. Don’t forget tick/bug spray and sunscreen. Depart 7:30 am CDST Trinity Tabernacle parking lot off HY 127S, one mile South of downtown Crossville. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Wednesday September 16 - Big South Fork - Leatherwood Loop, Sunset Overlook Trail, East Rim Overlook, Jamestown, TN . Long Hike:

This will be a 7 mile moderate hike. Short Hike: 3 mile moderate loop. Depart Cracker Barrel at 7:30 am CT. Carpool cost is $6. 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.

Saturday September 19 - Cumberland Trail North Chickamauga Section, Soddy Daisy, TN.

LONG HIKE: Starting from the Barker Camp Rd trailhead we'll hike 8.3 miles along and across Cooper Creek, bring water shoes. There is a nice overlook near Panther Branch. After descending several switchbacks we will cross Cooper Creek to Stephen's Campground then past old mines to Montlake Rd Trailhead. SHORT HIKE: After dropping off the long hikers drivers will travel to the Montlake Rd Trailhead hiking in to meet the long hikers. Depart from Trinity Tabernacle Church at 7:30 am CDST. 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, via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.

Wednesday September 23 - Martha's Pretty Point, Yellow Bluff and Welch's, Clifty Community, TN.

We will hike 4.5 moderate mile loop to Martha's Pretty Point then 2 short hikes out to the other overlooks. Depart 7:30 am CT from Tractor Supply on West Ave. Carpool cost is $3. Pack water, snacks and lunch. Don’t forget tick/bug spray and sunscreen. For additional information contact the hike leader, Howard Owen text/call 931-248-3190.

Wednesday September 30 - Rugby State Natural Area - Rugby, TN - White Oak, Kellogg, Colditz Cove. Short hike: We will hike the easy 3.1 mi White Oak and Kellogg loops then eat lunch at the RM Brooks General Store. Long hike : After lunch we'll do the 2 mi moderate Colditz Cove on the way home. Depart 7:30 am CT from Cracker Barrel's rear lot in Crossville. Carpool cost is $5. Don’t forget tick/bug spray and sunscreen. Pack water, snacks. For additional information contact hike leader, Howard Owen text/call 931-248-3190.

Looking ahead - January 9, 2021 joint hike with Soddy Daisy Chapter. Flats Mountain Trail in Cherokee National Forest.

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

September 2020

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