Grayson Highlands State Park

Today we had Grayson Highlands State Park on the schedule.  It has been so warm, it seemed only a high elevation hike would be doable in the heat.  So five of us ladies made the long drive there.  It was several degrees cooler there compared to the valley areas, but the skies were clear and the sun was fierce!  But it wasn't too bad on us.

We hiked up to Wilburn Ridge via Rhododendron and Appalachian Trails and eventually came across some ponies.  Several looked ready to have their colts soon.  We returned down the ridge a bit and turned left onto the AT and headed toward a large rock outcropping.  Finally we reached a spur trail that returned us to our vehicles.  We hiked about 4 and a half miles.

It was a gorgeous day for hiking!  Everything was so beautiful!  It is quite a drive, but well worth the time spent.

Ponies on Wilburn Ridge

First glimpse of views

Friendly pony

Phipps Bend Trail

After enduring a couple of rainy, humid months, we got back out on the trail today in Surgoinsville, Tennessee.  We picked a flat, easy trail due to the weather still being warm.  Phipps Bend trail is located at the abandoned Phipps Bend nuclear site.  We had a bit of difficulty finding the trailhead, but finally spotted a bunch of horse trailers, which clued us in that we had the right spot.

This trail is not the typical trail we hike, but offered a variety of plant life we hadn't seen often, or at all before.  This trail went along a strip of land between the Holston River and a wetlands area.  One drawback was the lack of shade, but everyone made the 4.6 mile hike just fine.

Easy Walking

Beautiful view of wetlands area

Friendly rider let the kids pet her horse

Swamp rose

Cumberland Falls State Park- Eagle Falls Trail

I am a bit late posting this hike.  We hiked it on Memorial Day, May 24th.  Several of our regular hikers were unable to go, but we dragged a few family members along and ended up with 13 hikers.  It's a pretty lengthy drive to Cumberland Falls, but it is worth going at least one time.  Cumberland Falls is quite a large falls and is known as the Niagra of the South.  It is also know for its moonbow. 

Our first stop was the visitor center for information, restrooms, and for viewing Cumberland Falls from the established areas.  You can drive right to the parking lot and walk just a short distance for these views.

From the upper viewing area

If you walk down some steps, you can access another viewing platform with a better and closer angle.

from the lower deck

After enjoying the falls from the Visitor Center area, we carpooled over to the Eagle Falls trailhead across the river.  Note:  parking is very limited.  We did an out and back 2 miles total hike to Eagle Falls.  The loop doesn't have much more to offer when the leaves are on, and the humidity was high.  We followed the recommendation of the lady at the visitor center and eliminated the upper, more strenuous part.  Boy were we glad we did as the hike, though straight out and back along the river, was filled with ups and down and steps, steps, and more steps!  But we were rewarded with great views of Cumberland Falls.

Cumberland Falls from Eagle Falls trail

Finally we descended a last set of steel steps and picked our way across some rocks to the base of Eagle Falls.

Eagle Falls

Cross Mountain & Blue Hole

We had 15 hikers today on the trail out toward Shady Valley, TN where the AT crosses TN 91.  We had never been in the area and the road, though paved, was in very poor condition.  Fortunately, little traffic afforded us the ability to stay away from the edge that was eroding on the mountain portion.  But once we arrived, we were at a lovely farming area sitting at 3,500 ft.  The openness allowed for views in all directions.  It was an almost perfect day that was sometimes marred with clouds and light winds.  But shirtsleeves were good for most on this early April day.  We headed out across the farm and took in the views.  We then entered the wooded portion.  Not much to see today; no wildflowers were up yet.  We stopped at an AT camping area and spring for lunch.  Most of the group hiked on to Double Springs shelter and returned, making a 6 mile round trip for them.  The rest of us logged 4.4 miles on the AT today.

As we headed back to Elizabethton, we stopped for a short hike down to the Blue Hole, a neat series of waterfalls to a swimming hole guarded by high cliffs.  Beautiful area it was!  Overall a great day for hiking.

Heading Out

Nice Panoramas

A Well Placed Bench

The Blue Hole

South Holston Dam/Osceola Island

After a rainy winter, the hiking club gathered up for a nice, gentle hike to begin the season.  We headed over to Bristol to South Holston Lake to hike the spillway trail, and also to hike a trail around Osceola Island.

None of us had ever been to the area, and we were all interested in the weir dams below the main dam.  Apparently they were built to provide oxygen to support aquatic life and also to provide better water conditions for recreation. 

After we hiked Osceola Island, which was the location of the weir dams, we went on toward the dam and hiked the 3.5 mile out and back spillway trail, which is actually a TVA access road.

Looking toward the earthen dam from Osceola Island

The Spillway

View of the lake from atop the dam

First Day Hike 2019

This year's First Day Hike was much more pleasant than last.  The weather was a balmy mid fifties this year; last year, we hiked in single digit wind chills.  We also had a record number of hikers, or maybe walkers, but in any case we had several people and nice weather.  Our hike destination was Powell River Trail near Appalachia.  It is a very nice trail with the river roaring all along the way and a few tunnels and bridges to make things more interesting.  There are also benches and bear proof waste containers.  The trailhead also has a nice little parking area.  So the trail is a nice little addition to the area, and there are plans for expansion.  So another first day hike is complete; we haven't missed one yet in our 6 years of doing them.

Grayson Highlands Wilburn Ridge and Twin Pinnacles

The hiking club returned to Grayson Highlands today to do two trails: Wilburn Ridge and Twin Pinnacles.  When I awoke and went outside for the first time as I was loaded up, I felt the humidity had left overnight and the temps were cool.  I was excited because I knew we would have some good views today.  More often than not, when in higher elevations, views are obscured by clouds, haze, fog or drizzle.  Today, though, was spectacular.  The air was perfect, the breeze was cool and the haze was gone.

We arrived at Massie  Gap and hiked up to Wilburn Ridge too see the ponies.  The ponies, though, were hanging around the parking area, bumming for food.  However, we enjoyed blueberries, blackberries and black raspberries that were abundant all along the trail.  There were several outcroppings to climb on for views.

We returned to the parking area and had lunch, though we kept busy shooing off the ponies, one of which was particularly persistent.  Then we headed up to do the Twin Pinnacles.  It was quite a climb up but we managed it.  The views from both the Big and Little Pinnacle were amazing.

Great hike on a great day!