Future Trails

October 1-2 Long Hunter State Park
October 22-23 Mouse Tail Landing State Park
November 12-13 Big Ridge State Park
December 3-4 Bridgestone/Firestone

(All hikes are subject to change at any time)
Appalachian Trail
Bridgestone/Firestone
Benton MacKaye Trail
Pinhoti Trail
Bartram Trail
Big Ridge State Park

Smoky's Back Country Fee

We need to stop the Smoky's from charging a back country fee. Act Now.

Natchez Trace- Red Leaves Trail

Red Leaves Trail Lower Loop 26.35miles...........Outcast Total:1325.19 Miles

Well we headed out for a four day hike. When we got there, we were informed that the whole North end of the park was being Logged off due to storm damage. The trail was closed. So plan B was to hike what they did have and a long story short it turned out to be an overnight backpack.

Marco, Troy, and I headed out for the last scheduled hike of the season. It was hot and the ticks were out in force. Basically everytime you stopped, you pulled off ticks. We had hiked this trail four years ago and not much had changed. They did mark the trail alot better. It's rolling hills and you get to see three different lakes. They have a campsite on two of the lakes and we stayed on Pin Oak lake.

We got to do some swiming as the lake was warm. We got to see turtles, snakes, and a mess of wild flowers. It is a great park to hike in and we hope they get the North end opened soon.

Pictures:

Falls Creek Falls - Upper Loop Trail

Fall Creek Falls....Trail Rating....Outcasts Total: 1298.84 Miles
Upper Loop Overnight Trail 13.0 Miles.....Easy

Troy and I headed out to test his knee injury. We decided to do an easier trail just to make sure all is well. He is hiking again.

We got our permit and headed to the trailhead. It was a beautiful day for hiking. We were grabbing our gear and Troy reached into the trunk and pulled out two Kroger sacks full of the famous Troy fried chicken. It's going to be a GREAT hike!! (Yes, I did cry, but it was beautiful!)

When we took our first break, Troy pulled a tick off his pant leg. Then he pulled a tick of his pant leg, then........... wow, really? He pulled at least five off while I started the search on myself. Yes, it is tick time in Tennessee! Lora had told me on the way, Don't forget the bug spray.....it's still in the car.

When we got down to the river, we noticed that there was a water line in the trees about thirty feet up from the river level. There was danger tape in the trees. The swinging bridge did not look too good and when we got to the other side we found that the foundation holding the bridge up was pulled out of the ground. It was obvious that they had a MAJOR flood sometime not long ago.

We made it to camp, set up, gathered wood, got water, ate,.........still light. talked, visited, had two day hikers go by, explored,......still light. Finally, it got dark enough to start the fire. We had stars out, cough medicine, all is good. Troy broke out a crunchy candy bar and gave me half. I told him that I forgot to look for the Carmel filled ones that he has brought in the past. They sure are good.

Troy tried the hammock. This was his first attempt and I had forgotten all the things you go through. I have been using the hammock for alot of years. I tried to give all the information that I could think of. Then he was on his own. The battle began. I know that he got in. After that I went to sleep. Well, I guess he battled and battled. He told me that at one point, he was on the ground wrapped in bug netting looking up at his hammock. If he had zipped up his netting, he would have had to call me to get him out. I have done alot of things, but never got in that position.

In the morning he got me crying telling me the adventure. He just naturally assumed that I would have shown up taking pictures. I slept through it all. As I was eating breakfast, Troy pulls out a pound of bacon and said here you go. Well, OK. This was a first. We got a stick out and cooked over the fire. Life is good!

We packed up and headed out. Another good day for hiking. We stopped for our lunch break and Troy pulls out a Carmel filled chocolate bar. Wow, this man is good!

Pictures:

Savage Gulf Natural Area

Savage Day Loop to North Plateau Trail 2.2..Outcast Total Miles: 1285.84
North Plateau to Mountain Oak Trail 1.2
Mountain Oak to North Rim Trail 0.8
North Rim to Hobb's Cabin 3.5
Day One: 7.7 Miles

Connector Trail 6.7
Big Creek Trail 3.1
Day Two: 9.8 Miles

Greeter Falls Trail x 2 2.8
Big Creek Rim Trail 3.2
Big Creek Gulf Trail 0.9
Connector to Saw Mill 3.2
Day Three: 10.1

Connector 0.4
Stagecoach Road Trail 1.6
South Rim Trail 5.8
Day Loop to End 1.5
Day Four: 9.3

Total Miles: 36.9

This hike was to get everyone in the group to finish hiking all the trails in the Savage Gulf. Didn't work out that way, but here we go...

Troy, Marco, and I headed out after work. We drove to the Savage Gulf ranger station to start our hike. We were going to hike five days around 50 miles. The weather was looking wet!

We had some misting rain up to sprinkles on the way to Hobbs. We passed two groups of two hikers each that had stayed at Hobbs the night before. Both said that there was fire wood at the cabin.

We got to Hobbs cabin around two o'clock. The bunks were calling our name. I took a nap and then Troy joined in. We got up and collected fire wood for the night. After a lot of thought, we decided to go ahead and stay in the cabin tonight. We sat by the fire out front taking cough medicine and telling lies. We made it a challenge to see who would spot Ranger Lightfoot before he got to camp. The ranger never showed so we were a little let down. We did hear an owl talking.

DAY TWO:

We got up in the morning and headed down the Connector trail. The rocks were wet and slippery. A definate challenge. By the time we got to the swinging bridge, Troy had made up his mind. His knees were hurting and he would call it off. When we got to the Stagecoach Road trail he headed off taking the South Rim trail to the car.

Marco and I headed on. We passed up the trail to Ranger Falls as we had both done that and it was getting late and dark with the heavy fog. It was almost a night hike by the time we got to Alum campsite. The fog was heavy and wet. We set up camp, ate, and called it a night. I got ready to lay down and asked Marco if he was still awake. All I heard was ZZZZZzzzzz.

DAY THREE:

We got up early after an early night and headed off to Greeter Falls. The falls were wonderful with all the rain. We met an older man and his grandson at the falls. The grandson was in school for photography and was taking pictures.

We hiked back to Alum campsite and then took the Big Creek Rim trail to Stone Door. There were a couple of people there. We took some pictures as the fog was actually gone from the gulf. We went down through the Stone Door down to the Connector trail.

While on the connector trail, we met a ranger that was hiking through. We asked him if he heard anything about Troy and he hadn't. We told him about all the trees down on all of the trails. He said that was what he was doing as well. We asked about Ranger Lightfoot (George) and he said that it was unlike him to not stop by camp. He told us that there were some thunderstorms coming in tonight.

We stopped at the Historic Savage Cabin on the way. Then off to Sawmill campsite. We went the 0.3 miles to the Schwoon Spring to get water. We didn't know at the time that we could collect water while sitting by the fire pit in the morning. This spring is actually uphill in a cave. There is no telling how far down the water falls, but you are very cautious while your hanging from the rocks trying to get your water.

We went back to camp and collected fire wood. We sat by a warm fire eating our meals. After we were enjoying our cough medicine, we heard owls and coyotes talking. Then Marco said he saw a light. He though it was Ranger Lightfoot, but it was coming from the wrong direction. We both stared at the light. It looked to move up and down, but really fast and far when it did. After a while we decided that it had to be a tower off in the distance and the cough medicine wasn't helping us. It actually made my tongue go in wrong directions while talking. Marco ask me if I was buzzing? Yep, Marco I was!

DAY FOUR:

Sometime in the night we woke to lighting and thunder. WOW what a show and what a downpour. In the morning, Marco came over and said this pack was soaked under his hammock. A river was running through the camp. He moved under my tarp and we ate breakfast. Water was running everywhere as we hiked out.

We had decided yesterday to hike out today. We had both done the Collins Gulf. On the Historic Stagecoach trail there were two water falls that I had not seen before. They were beautiful. Of course the trail was a creek too! We climbed up and took the South Rim trail. We stopped at on overlook where Marco turned to leave, hitting me with his backpack shoving me toward the edge. He said he was getting me back for Lora. I have done this a couple of times to her. You forget how far you stick out in the back.

Then Marco tried to take me out again at the campground spring. He had taken a picture and wanted to show me. When he step next to me, he stood on a rock and slipped. He hit the ground on his butt while hanging onto me. We both slid towards the creek. Luckily we stopped before splashdown.

We stopped for lunch when we heard the thunder. Oh no, the race was on. The storm was faster. Lighting hitting all around us, no place to take shelter. It poured and thunder crashed. We hiked on. It slowed by the time we got to Savage Falls. We found a backbone from a deer on the trail. We said that the deer probably got in Troy's way on his way out.

Overall it was a great hike. We even saw a toad, a lizard, and a horse hair worm. That is January hiking! Marco did get all his trails in.

Pictures:

Grassy Cove Segment- Cumberland Trail

Day One: 6.7 Miles..............Outcast Total: 1248.94
Day Two: 5.6
Total: 12.3

Marco, Dad, and I made this hike. We met at the top of Black Mountain and Dropped our cars. Then we loaded up the van and headed to Jewett Road to start the hike.

You can see maps at the Cumberland trail website.

From the Jewett road trailhead, its a pretty good climb to the top of Brady Mountain. The first overlook, Donnelly Overlook, is off to the right at the first split after the top. It has a slight uphill climb to it. Not marked well!

Lost Overlook is right off the right side of the trail.

The airplane crash site is even harder to find. When you go by some major big rocks on your right, there is a four wheeler path off to the left of the trail that looks like it goes over the edge. You will not see the crash site unless you go to the end and look over the edge. It is a steep slope that the wreckage is on. This is not marked on the trail. After you pass the large rocks if you look back to your left the four wheeler trail comes back up here.

Brady Bluff Overlook is the hot spot. The trail runs to the right. You can see to the Smoky Mountains. Grassy Cove is below you and you see all the farms. Beautiful spot. This is where we found our first people. A family of four.

We camped on the way down Brady Mountain on low gap. We saw the only other couple where we made camp. We made camp and told lies around the campfire. It was a beautiful starry night.

The next morning we hiked down to Hwy 68. Dad showed us how to slide down the trail. Experience I tell you!

We did a road walk to the Cox Valley Road trailhead. The creek was flowing so we filtered our water. Then we walked the creek, or I mean trail up to Windless Cave.

There are a couple of turns you need to know. First you get to a five way split. Turn right. There is a sign, but it is misleading. When you get to the bottom and cross the creek, turn right on the service road. No sign there. Just past this point you come to Windless Cave. They have the cave closed now for white nose syndrome. See picture as Marco didn't believe.

From here you go up to the top of Black Mountain. Look for the trail off to the left. It's a good climb to the top.

We ate lunch at the campsite on Black Mountain. Then we went through the big rocks and up the stairs which are similar to the "Stone Door", but narrower.

At the top there is a loop trail. The Cumberland trail goes to the right. The Southern Overlook is great! You can see all the way to the Smokey's here too. We continued on to the parking lot. Just before you get to the parking lot there are a couple of chimney's and a spring house from day's gone by.

Pictures:

Hobb's Cabin- TTA Hike

North Rim Trail to Hobb's Cabin...8.2 Miles...Easy..Outcast Total:1236.64
North Plateau Trail to Office.....9.4 Miles....Easy
Total: 17.6 Miles

The Outcasts hiked with the Tennessee Trail Association to Hobb's Cabin at the Savage Gulf.

Craig, Paula, and Marco are members of the Murfreesboro TTA, Lora is with the Soddy Daisy chapter. Dad also joined us as well as Pam. This was Pams first backpack.

We got on the trail around 9:30. We took the day loop trail to see the Savage Falls and then head down the Rim trail to Hobb's Cabin. It was a beautiful day and we got some great views in. We met up with the Upper Cumberland Chapter lead by Margaret that were doing a day hike in the area.

After we got to Hobb's Cabin, George joined us for the night. He had hiked in the Connector trail.

The first real entertainment was setting up Pam's tent. Of course this was the first time she set it up. We got some laughs as the four of us tried to figure it out.

We were then entertained by Pam as she carefully picked out a rock, wrapped it up in tin foil and then placed it over the fire. We were all thinking that there are other lightweight meals with more flavor. She was thinking that she was going to warm up her sleeping bag with this. We explained the melting of fabric and she changed her mind. She made a good comeback with making smores for everyone.

There were stories told from pies to chickens and some cough medicine taken. Ranger light foot stopped by to visit as well. Lot's of laughs all night. We apologized to other campers in the morning for our wild behavior.

The next morning we hiked out on the Plateau trail. We took a good rest break at lunch and Paula waited until the last bit of the trail before she showed Pam the correct procedure to use while falling with a backpack on. Always the teacher.

Pictures:

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