A Cold Day in 2010

This walk was taken last Sunday the 3rd of January, along and in the Savage Gulf, which is part of the South

Cumberland State Park, atop Monteagle, Tennessee. We started out of the Collins West Access near a campsite located along the gulf rim about a 1/4 mile in from the parking area. We had visited the Gulf from this point before in much warmer times (See the entry from 07/09 "Collins West"). The 'mysterious one' and I followed the frozen and often slippery, Collins Gulf trail by Suter Falls and on to Horsepound Falls about 2 miles further on.

We had seen Suter Falls during the earlier visit however there was much more water on this most recent trip. Much of it frozen around the edges and making for some precarious stepping in places. The first picture is at Horsepound Falls, our lunch spot and turn around point. A really pretty spot even with temps in the lower 20's.
The other picture shows the trail along some cliffs just before the stream crossing at Suter Falls.
This trip was 5 miles according to the signs posted and the state park service is now posting notices of bear activity in this area of the South Cumberland State Park so bring some rope for hanging your gear if you do an overnight.

South Cumberland State Park, July 3-4

Dudes and Dudettes! What a really cool over-night we did at the Collins West campground on the rim of Savage Gulf! My camera is on the blink so I was not able to record the beauty as I usually would have though I was able to enjoy this area first hand and hope to enjoy it again soon with others. Spending more time there and enjoying further the views, streams, falls, trails and remarkable peacefulness. And with that, Peace.

South Cumberland Recreation/Stone Door

"Meg the mysterious Hiker" and I began this day hike from the Stone Door Ranger station on Saturday the 7th, around 1 pm. Weather conditions were hot, humid, partly cloudy, and little wind in the trees. We descended from the "door" to the Big Creek Gulf and Connector trails intersection, and chose the connector. This trail is 6.7 miles one way and is described as the most physically challenging of the Savage Gulf State Natural Area. I've hiked the majority of the trails in this area and this is correct in the sense of the rocky trails, extended inclines and declines, and little noticeable access to water though there were several spots which appeared to be "wet springs", meaning tey have water after rains and moist times. At this point of 2008, the eastern parts of the state are beginning to show signs of "sub-normal rainfalls" ,(approx. 5 inches below average). We had both worked hard over the last week and decided we would stop at Cator Savage Cabin eat some and decide what to do next. Just before we arrived at the spur to the cabin we heard rumbles of thunder and Meg's earlier observations of dark clouds began to seem more immediate. Just as we were approaching the cabin the rain began. We were protected by the forest canopy for the most part and made it to the covered porch before it busted loose. OH! Damn if you haven't noticed yet I forgot my camera, again. It was a splendid time on the porch of this cabin experiencing the rain, the forest, the peace, the butterflies, and the friendship. After relaxing for a while and the rain letting up we began our return, though we made this decision to return when we got back to the connector trail. Along the path we both experienced some of the changes brought by the new rain. The way the leaves hung from the bushes and trees, the newly opened blooms, the silent trail and of course the lower temperature. Along the walk we enjoyed Flame Azaleas, and some Mountain Laurel, and various small but intricately beautiful blooms. A great walk for folks in fair to good health who are looking for a trail less traveled in a busy area.