Lookout Mountain Hike

In an effort to rid myself of the extra cookies from the holiday I went with several friends on a "city" hike up Lookout Mountain. This walk is moderate and originated from the Cravens House. The trail head is easy to find, just above the house, and the Cravens House entrance is well noted just above Ruby Falls in Chattanooga.

There are several well maintained trails under park service authority on the side of Lookout Mountain, part of the Chickamauga Battlefield preservation. This walk is three miles in length (round trip) and offers several grand views of the Chattanooga Valley. Although uphill the whole length, it is not a steep trail with the exception of a few metal stairs at the very end. Point Park, our destination does have an entrance fee although we cut our walk just short of the Park to avoid entering the fee area. Chattanooga offers many opportunities for day hikes, many within the city limits and should be searched out by tourists and residents alike.

More Random Walks In The Smokies

It's winter in Tennessee....which means cool temps (40's-30's at night for now) for most of east TN and rain often though it was spitting snow up in the Townsend area yesterday. Today as I sit in downtown Chattanooga with coffee watching it rain outside on the cold street I'm saying to myself, "I've hiked in much worse conditions yet those hikes on dry days in the 60's are much more seductive". So I think I'll hike on Signal Mtn. another day.
Now random hikes.
"The Mysterious One" and I had a wonderful hike a few weeks ago starting at Meigs Creek Trailhead from the sinks up to Lumber Ridge and out at Tremont. We met some cool folks out of Knoxville (Phd Candidates) at the intersection and we all rested, shared some about jobs, educations, trails, and our mutual love for the wild life before continuing along our daily paths.
I've made several more trips up to Laurel Falls myself and watched the bear families reduce their time out as the daylight grows less and the temps drop. Since my last "random walks" entry I've hiked the Whiteoak Sinks and West Prong trail.
The park continues to absorb lots of traffic in the form of auto-tourism and as my internship w/ the GSMNP ended, seeing this, one of many threats to our wild life, I am further motivated to take action towards preserving what we haven't sold yet. And I'm talking about lands around the state and region where unchecked development continues to pollute our waters w/ silt from erosion and other pollutants, mountains are being destroyed for a limited energy source, coal; the dirtiest form of producing energy, and the apathy demonstrated by so many folks who "just love this park" as they throw a plastic bottle out the window of their car.
Personal responsibility for my well being and that of the wild world which remains, translates into action on my part. Not just complaining to the "next guy". Action for me involves writing short fact based letters to the editor, calling the elected people on the local, state, and federal levels, Often (The numbers are available on this page). These folks work for us. When I hear folks bitch about some new law or tax I'll often ask them did they voice their opposition via letters or phone calls and almost always I hear them say "well no, it doesn't matter". That's just what the career politicians want us to believe. Nothing changes if nothing changes. Peace.

Bear Cub can't get no sleep

This cub was resting above a busy trail last week and was finally tired of all the attention. Here it's coming down the tree after rousing from it's slumber along a large branch above the folks gathered to look at it. The mother and a sibling had left the tree sometime earlier and were likely close by. These pictures were taken by noted wildlife photographer M. Harter, who happened to be in the area. Thanks to him for his contribution.

Hazel Creek

Sandwiched between two beautiful weekends we were able so schedule a trip to Hazel Creek on the North Carolina side of the Smokies. Our weekend was anything but dry with rain both nights, fortunately after tent ready.

Access to Hazel Creek is via shuttle boat from Fontana Marina, a ten mile hike from the Road to Nowhere, or paddle by canoe/kayak from the Cable Creek put-in.

We chose shuttle from the marina and enjoyed a beautiful although chilly ride down Fontana Lake to our destination. Hazel Creek is the location of a large mining and logging operation prior to the park designation and several ruins scattered through the forest make for interesting side trips off the trail. Despite the remote location we were joined on Saturday night by as many as 30 other backpackers who arrived by several means of transportation and with varying degrees of preparedness, ranging from garden carts slugging enough gear to outfit a small army, to minimalists who carried their weekend supply in day packs.

Although the fishing was not very productive on this trip, Hazel Creek is one of the crown jewels of Smokey Mountain trout fishing as well as having a population of smallmouth in the lower reaches.

The first camp site is only .5 miles from the boat put in and is by reservation only. Often booked months in advance. However there are plenty of sites at 1 mile, 3 miles, 5 miles and none miles on up the trail as well as having access to the lake trail which can drop you of into the Eagle Creek drainage.

The trail itself for the first several miles follows the bed of a logging era train route and is wide as well as almost level with a low grade for 5 miles. We saw plenty of game; turkey, deer, hawk, all within the strolling distance of camp. Bear cables are prevalent and make the food storage easy.

Boulder rolling into KY home only gets $10,000 fine

Boulder rolling into KY home only gets $10,000 fine

Random Walks

Well the weather is great this year I think. Cooler than average w/ plenty of moisture so water has not been a problem. I've been hiking regularly from School House Gap, both directions, West Prong where there has been regular sign of bear activity, Middle Prong, and OTG in several locations. I began an internship w/ the GSMNP and my location will allow more frequent hiking at the eastern end of the park which I look forward to! Any suggestions?

Bushwacking!

Today I took a semi-educated guess and went completely off the grid for about a mile into White Oak Sink. Heck, it was pretty likely that I was going to end up either in the sink or crossing the road to Cades Cove.
After coming upon the trail, almost exactly where I was expecting/hoping, I continued to the sink where at one point I noticed a bear quickly moving with little noise up a ridge in front of me. Just before you get the the rocky cliff on your left near the bottom. I've seen several bears as I've walked this route.