Little Stony National Recreational Trail

Six of us headed to Jefferson National Forest near Coeburn, Virginia to hike the Little Stony National Recreational Trail.  We attempted this trail a couple of years ago, but turned back due to an overgrown rocky section as we couldn't see where we were stepping.  The trail was actually closed at that time but the forest service said it could be hiked.  We decided fall would be best for our next attempt.  The rocky section is still part of the trail, but it was clear of any undergrowth, so we just had to knock off the leaves to make sure we didn't slip.  This trail tends to be very damp as you are basically in the gorge of the stream the entire way.  In the spring an algae covers the rocks and it was as slippery as ice when we visited here last.  But extremely dry conditions have prevailed this fall, and the rocks were negotiated with no worries of slipping.  The hike is quite beautiful, featuring two nice falls and a couple smaller ones.  The hike is streamside the entire time and it is boulder strewn, so there is a series of choked pools, a cascade, and bridged stream crossings that make for a very scenic hike.  The trail is well marked, the bridges are in great condition, but the trail had several blow downs that had to be negotiated.  The footing is tricky in a few spots, rocky and rooty in most spots.  There are few sections that were easy walking, but we enjoyed another gorgeous fall day.  It was a bit chilly in the morning, but the sun came out and warmed us nicely and we began shedding layers.  The stream had some nice trout we were able to spot.  We tossed in some bread and a few more made an appearance.  It was a very pleasant day with no wind.  In fact, the leaves had fallen and created a carpet that looked completely undisturbed.  We have hiked three consecutive weekends, enjoying great weather each time.  We are off next weekend, and looking forward to an AT hike in two weeks.

Large cliffs on the trail

Little Stony Falls

Cascades on a bed of rock

Beech tree leaves seemed to be hanging on

Another falls, quite large, but difficult to tell from the picture.

Hensley Settlement to Thomas Walker Civic Park

A couple of our hiking club members have hiked all the trails in Cumberland Gap National Park except for one section of Ridge trail between Hensley Settlement and Ewing Trail.  The section is too lengthy to do an out and back as we are day hikers.  So we scheduled a Hensley Settlement tour and took the shuttle up as a beginning point.  We had counted on no more than about 8 miles, but the mileages listed on signs and maps are notoriously inaccurate, and we ended up hiking 9.1 miles.  We began our hike at the western end of the settlement.  We then took Ridge trail for supposedly 3.2 miles but it was more like 3.8.  And finally we went down Ewing Trail.  We encountered several hikers and horseback riders on the trail.  It was a gorgeous day.  It has been very dry and the trail was dusty and full of loose dirt and rocks.  We were on the trail almost 6 hours, and we were tired, but it was a good tired.  Congrats to Bob and Mary for completing all the trails in Cumberland Gap National Park.

It is exactly one mile from one end to other of Hensley Settlement.  As you can see, it was beautiful.

 
The western end of the settlement at the beginning of Ridge Trail.

One of many views off the ridge.  Weather was great and color is hanging on.

Dennis Cove to Laurel Falls

We had a group of five today for the hike to Laurel Falls from Dennis Cove.  This hike is entirely on the Appalachian Trail.  It is only 1.3 miles to the falls so it is the most popular starting point for this hike; however you must negotiate 310 stone steps when hiking from the Dennis Cove end.  The hike today was quite chilly with the temps in the forties and low fifties with a steady breeze.  The hike began on a wide, leaf strewn path and crossed a couple small footbridges.  It progressed into the gorge with sheer rock walls in several places.  The trail was the former site of a standard gauge railway which was built in 1911 and operated for 14 years, hauling timber out of the mountain.  We crossed Koonford bridge, which was the site of a rail trestle, at 0.8 mark.  From there, it was mostly downhill.  Lots of steps, 310 to be exact, to descend.  They were dry though, so we just took our time down, down, down to the base of the falls.  The falls are one of the biggest in our area.  Quite amazing, but hard to capture in a photo as usual.  The trip back up the staircase, though dreaded, was easier than going down.  The sun made an attempt to peek through on our way back out, which made the fall color more brilliant.  We got back to the parking area before noon.  Nice hike.

Koonford Bridge

Admiring the falls

Big falls, but not nearly the volume as our last visit.

Rock Creek Falls

Headed out today for Rock Creek Falls located at Rock Creek Recreation Area near Erwin, Tennessee.  This was a 4.5 mile hike with a pretty decent climb and 4 creek crossings.  So we knew we had been on a hike. LOL!  We had not hiked for a couple of months due the the unusually oppressive heat and humidity.  We selected this hike due to it being shaded and more easily tolerated in the heat.  We met at our usual time and place.  Dot at 8:00 and were on the trail by 9:40.  The first half mile was an easy gravel path.  We then approached a nice, new bridge, which we all thought we needed to cross.  Fortunately I remembered something about not crossing that new bridge and bearing right, which we did, and then saw the poorly placed sign for Rock Creek Trail.  The trail then narrowed and became more rocky.  We basically followed and crossed the creek up the gorge which was filled with masses of rhododendron.  We wondered how amazing this hike would be when they were blooming.  The trail got a little steeper and we finally reached the huge rock cliff that is the setting for Rock Creek Falls, which is a 60 ft., two tiered fall.  It was very pretty with the sun glistening at the top.  We sat down on rocks or logs and had lunch just below the pool of the falls.  We talked to several other folks that had hiked up and exchanged trail and hike info.  We headed back out after some photo taking and were back to the parking area in early afternoon.

Rock Creek Falls

First Creek Crossing

Pinnacle Area Natural Preserve

It's been a long, hot summer and it still isn't over.  We haven't hiked since May due to a hike cancellation and then the extreme heat and humidity.  We scheduled this hike today, hoping it might have cooled off a bit, but we ended up having near record heat today.  However, the hike was one of the easier ones we have done and not too lengthy, so all is well.  We were off the trail by noon.  This hike is near Lebanon, Virginia and is a very beautiful streamside walk along Big Cedar Creek to a waterfall called the Big Falls.  There is parking at the trailhead where you immediately cross a swinging bridge to begin the hike.  There were definitely mixed feelings about walking across that bridge, but we all crossed just fine.  This trail had a picnic area with pit toilets about a mile into the hike, which we took advantage of on the return from the Falls area.  It isn't often we have such luxuries on the trail.  We were missing a few regulars today, but had three new hikers.  Another one is in the books and we are looking forward to more hiking, and nicer hiking weather, this fall.

Scenic creekside walk

Swinging bridge at the trailhead

Big Falls-not that impressive in height, but beautiful cascades along a wide section of creek

Laurel Falls

We did a hike today that I had wanted to do a long time.  Laurel Falls near Hampton, Tennessee is a well known waterfall that is one of the most spectacular in the area.  Seven of us hiked in today from the Hampton trailhead.  It was a good trail, but had a rock ledge that had to be negotiated about 2 tenths of a mile from the falls.  There were lots of sights and sounds along the trail which meandered beside Laurel Fork, a stream that gushed out of the gorge, bordered at times by huge rock walls.  There was lots of lush foliage too, mountain laurel, Watauga rhododendron, which was beautiful, and honeysuckle and wild roses that smelled divine.  We enjoyed the hike and want to return.

Difficult to capture the size of the falls.

Beautiful hike along Laurel Fork

Watauga Rhododendron

Buffalo Mountain Park

Only four of us headed to Buffalo Mountain Park in Johnson City, Tennessee.  The park is nearly in the city itself which seemed odd.  When we arrived, it was 55 and windy outside.  We had expected a bit nicer of a day, but except for a few very windy spots, it was good hiking weather.  The trail was a 4.5 mile loop around the mountain, which afforded us various views and a variety of habitats.  We experienced rocky, sandy areas, and mossy, wet areas.  I was pleasantly surprised at the variety of wildflowers we saw.  Locust, azalea, mountain laurel, wild geranium, ladyslippers, to name a few.  It was a nice hike with a bit of everything!

Pink Ladyslipper

The Great Channels of Virginia

Headed up 81 this AM to a beautiful farming area north of Abingdon to visit the Great Channels of Virginia.  We had a bit of a drive but we were rewarded with a fantastic day for a hike.  It was perfect!  The trail was one of the better ones we have hiked.  It began as a gravel road and gradually narrowed as we climbed 1200 feet during the 3 mile trek to the Channels.  The still naked trees afforded us views along the way, and the vistas from the top were magnificent.  We could see for miles.  When we reached the top, we had lots to explore.  There was the old firetower and shack, views from a couple of outcroppings, and of course the Channels themselves.  We decided to have lunch in the sun on some huge rocks at the site of the firetower before entering the Channels.  There were several hikers there as well.  We became acquainted with a pair of couples from Wise County, a former UPS delivery man, and several others.  It seemed to be a popular hike today.  After our lunch we headed down into the Channels, which were refreshingly cool with shafts of light entering the maze as if we were in a slot canyon.  There was lots of exploring to do.  Room after room of unusual weathering patterns, variations of colors, etc..  It was pretty large maze and we were advised to mark arrows in the dirt with our hiking sticks to help navigate out.  This hike was quite was quite unique and anyone who gets a chance should go.

View from one of the outcroppings at 4,200 ft.

Abandoned Firetower and Shack Built 1939

The Channels

Tri-State Peak/Cumberland Trail

We hiked almost 5 miles today in Cumberland Gap.  The redbuds were in full bloom and dogwoods were just beginning to open.  The day was nice enough temperature wise, but the wind was fierce!  And I do mean fierce.  It felt like the temperature dropped 10 degrees when we crossed over the ridge on the Northwest (Kentucky) side.  At other times, it felt very nice.  The hike was pretty uneventful.  There were nice views on both sides of the ridge from Cumberland Trail.  Views that won't be nearly so open in just a couple more weeks when the trees leaf out fully.  We also spotted a grouse and a couple of dear on the trail.  Another in the books for the club.

Blanton Forest Loops

Since we had all been to Knobby Rock, we had the bright idea today that we would do the additional loop to the maze and rock shelter.  After all, it was only 1.3 miles additional mileage.  How hard could it be?  Hard!  One of the most difficult hikes we have done.  We had to traverse through the maze which was like navigating a boulder field.  In addition, there were countless ups and downs that required some very calculated stepping, helping hands and sometimes even butt scooting!  Yes, yes, yes, it was quite an adventure.  However, these old goats all made it and we were proud we did.  We just decided that one visit was definitely enough.  The weather was absolutely great, particularly for March, and we have another hike in the books!

Knobby Rock is big!

The maze

Yep, a ladder.

Hole in the Wall- First Day Hike 2016

We did our 3rd consecutive First Day hike.  The weather was a bit chilly comparative to the last few weeks of record setting warmth, however, it was good hiking weather.  Our destination was the Hole in the Wall, near Hubbard Springs.  Now most of us had heard of this place, but none of us knew exactly how to get to it, nor did we know the history behind it.  It turns out that Hubbard Springs was quite the happening place about a century ago.  It had a hotel, train depot, and General store.  The springs were thought to have medicinal properties, which brought guests to the hotel.  The hole in the rock was drilled and blasted to create a wagon road from Cranks, KY to the railway at Hubbard Springs.  Cranks Creek Lake is visible from the tunnel, at least it is when the leaves are off.  The hike is 4 miles round trip on the old wagon road.  There's an elevation gain of a bit over 1, 000 ft.  Permission from the property owner is required to access the trailhead.  It made for an excellent First Day hike to kick off 2016!

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