Long Hunter IX

Day one: 5.5 miles...........................................Outcasts Total Miles: 1670.68 
Day two: 5.5 miles

The Outcast Hikers have officially started there eighth season. They picked the annual hike of Long Hunter to start with once again. Craig started the season off with an injury and could not make the hike.

Troy, Marco, and Travis got to the trailhead to find that they had changed the beginning of the trail this year.  It is a good change as the old gravel road it used to follow was usually a little overgrown. There was no hikers on the trail today so they had it all to themselves. They saw deer and turkey on the the way to there camp.  This is the first time that they used campsite #2.  At the office they said that someone else was at campsite #1, but they never saw them.

This was a time to try out new gear.  We all have new tarps and new set ups for our hammocks. Troy tried out his new backpack. Everything checked out good. They collected firewood and headed out to the point to see the sunset. Another great night around the fire taking cough medicine and telling lies.

The next morning they got up and enjoyed the morning.  They made it back to the day loop before they saw the first person.  Then they saw lots of people.  One man was walking his Pitbull puppy.  A few minutes later they heard a lot of yelping and barking and the dog come running back with leash in tow.  The leash wrapped around a tree so Travis got to catch the dog for the owner.  He came running back down the trail all out of breath.  They found out that the man had tripped and dropped the leash.  It had a automatic rewind, so it rewinded and hit the dog in the back of the head.  The dog got scared and ran off.  Entertainment for all.

Another great start on another great season!

Pictures:

Hobbs Cabin IV - Savage Gulf

Day One: 8.2                                                                                    Outcast Total:1564.18
North Rim Trail to Hobb's Cabin                      
Day Two: 9.4
North Plateau Trail to Office  
Total Miles: 17.6 

Travis joined us again for another great hike.  This was his first time to Salvage Gulf.  The weather was cool to start with and then got cooler as we went.  Our wildlife viewing started at the beginning of the trail with deer and signs of where the wild turkeys had scratched.  There was plenty of water in the creeks and at Savage Falls.  

When we stopped for our first break and I dug through my pack for a snack, I found another bag of food that I did not pack.  I opened it to find a big bag of Troy's famous fried chicken.  Wow, what a great day it is!  After the appropriate hugs and "I love you's" the boys stepped back as I dug in.  Not a pretty site, but they knew how much I love that fried chicken.  Troy made enough for everyone and included cream corn, biscuits, and potatoes as well.

We had good views at the overlooks and started getting some big flakes of snow as we neared Hobb's cabin.  We passed a hornet nest that was just off the side of the trail.  We knew that good fire wood was hard to find at the cabin.  A very popular spot and unless you have a saw for all the large trees, small wood was gone.  We managed to scrape up a stack to last us through the night.  Travis got the fire going as we set up camp and soon we were sitting around the fire listening to owls as we got our chicken dinner warmed up.

After some lies and cough medicine we headed off to bed one at a time.  There were many owl calls during the night and a pack of coyotes doing some singing.  I woke one time to breaking of wood and Travis was out getting warmed by the fire.  The next time, Troy was packing the wood on.  We had a full moon so the woods was bright as the temps dropped below 15 degrees.  

When the moon finally went down and the sun came up, Marco had the fire going again.  We enjoyed an easy morning and then hit the trail.  On the way out we got to see some more deer.  Great hike as always here at Savage Gulf.


Pictures:

Gobblers Knob

DAY ONE:6.8                                                                   Outcasts Total Miles: 1546.58
Gobbler's Knob Trail 0.8 Miles
Hatfield Ridge Trail 0.9 
Hatfield Ridge Loop 1.0
Twin Arches Loop 3.1
Slave Falls to Charit Creek Trail 1.0

DAY TWO:13.5
Slave Falls to Charit Creek Trail 2.6
Slave Falls Overlook Trail 0.4
Slave Falls Overlook Trail 0.4
Slave Falls Loop Trail 1.1
Middle Creek Nature Loop 1.8
Fork Ridge Road 0.8
Gobbler's Knob Trail 6.4
TOTAL MILES: 20.3

Travis joined us once again.  We headed back to Big South Fork to take in some more wonders of the world.  There is so many things to see in this one park that it is amazing.

We headed out and were on the trail by lunch.  We started at Gobbler's Knob trailhead and did a loop clockwise.  Our first place to see was the Charit Creek Lodge.  A place that you can hike or ride a horse to and stay the night.  It is very pretty and rustic with no electricity.  

We then headed to the Twin Arches which is a very popular site in the park.  The North Arch has a clearance of 51 feet, a span of 93 feet and its deck is 62 feet high.  The South Arch has a clearance of 70 feet, a span of 135 feet and its deck is 103 feet high.  We got to spend some time exploring the area and rock features around these arches as well as take the stairs up to the top of the arches and enjoy the view especially from the top of the North arch.

From here we continued to Jakes place where they keep a cleared field and the rocks from the chimney of the original house which has been moved to the Charit Creek Lodge grounds.  We passed many rock houses and walls.  We then headed toward Slave Falls and camped along the creek for the night.

Travis slung straight into building us a rock fire ring which turned out quite impressive.  He had a fire going by the time Marco and I got our hammocks up.  We had a very nice evening enjoying the stars along with some lies and cough medicine around the fire.  We had a full moon which lit up the woods all through the night.

The next morning we headed up to the 60 foot Slave Falls.  There are two trails each 0.2 miles long from either side of the falls.  In between we got to see Needle Arch, a narrow band of sandstone 10 feet high and 30 feet wide that resembles the eye of a needle. 

We incorporated the Middle Creek nature loop trail into our hike which added a couple of more miles in for our viewing pleasure.

Once again we really enjoy the Big South Fork and all that it has to offer.

Pictures:

Frozen Head State Park

Day One: 7.5 miles                                                           Outcast Total Miles: 1460.18
Visitor / Interpretive 0.5
Old Mac 0.3
Spicewood 2.5
Chimney Top 1.0
Tower 1.0
North Old Mac 1.1
Panther Branch 1.1

Day Two: 11.4 miles
Falls 2.0
Panther Branch 1.1
North Old Mac 1.1
Lookout Tower 4.0
S. Old Mac 2.4
Old Mac 0.3
Visitor / Interpretive 0.5

Total Miles: 18.9

For our second hike of this season, we picked a new park for us.  Frozen Head State Park in Wartburg was our destination.  Travis was brave enough to join us again for this hike.  As usual between getting off of work, travel time, lunch, and getting our permit, we got on the trail around noon.

We started behind the ranger station with the Visitor trail taking it to the Interpretive trail to the Old Mac trail to start on the Spicewood trail.  A ranger came up the Old Mac trail on a bike to ask us if we were the ones that left the gear in the parking lot.  Believe it or not, it was not us!  Someone had about eleven bags of gear that they just left there.  After our visit we passed the only two people for the trip and they were just day hiking.

It was a cool morning, but it got cooler as we climbed.  Where the Spicewood trail meets the Chimney Top trail is the coldest place with a good strong wind blowing.  We stopped at the Tub Springs campsite for a break when Troy realized that he had lost his seat cushion.  So Marco and Travis went up to the lookout tower while Troy and I headed back down the trail to find the cushion.  We found it about a quarter mile past the Spicewood / Chimney Top intersection.

We all met up at the North Old Mac trailhead, swapped stories and then headed down the trail to Panther Branch trail.  We stayed the night at the Panther Branch campsite.  It was getting dark fast so it was a race to collect firewood and set up camp.  There is a large tree down at the campsite, which is the only downed tree we saw in the whole park.  The trails are very clean and in great condition.  They will also get you in great condition as you are either climbing or descending the entire time. The average elevation gain and loss per trail is 1142.5 feet.

The water level in the park is very low at this time.  We still had running water at the campsite, but not a rushing creek.  We had a good cool night in the 30's and were being sung to by the owls all night long.  Not only a lot of owls, but a good variety as well.  We sat around the fire telling lies and drinking cough medicine.

The next morning we got up and ate breakfast.  Travis and I headed out to see the falls.  We knew there wasn't much water, but both of them were flowing.  We got some pictures and then joined back up with Troy and Marco at the camp.  We headed back up to top backtracking the way we came down last night.  
We ate lunch at the Tub Springs campsite.  They wanted a picture by the Tub Springs so we went there next.  From there we were going to take the Fire Tower trail back down to the campgrounds.  We were talking and Travis asked if this was the trail and I said yes, because the Fire Tower trail is a roadbed hike.  It wasn't too long and we came to a switch back in the road which went either way.  I did not remember any such thing on this trail, but after investigating we pick a road and stuck with it.  Before long we saw a paved road.  This was not good as there is no paved roads in the park.  Pretty soon we walked down to it.  Time to check the old map out.  Yes, I had taught the men how to pay attention to where you are going as I had planned.  We were on the wrong side of the mountain.  Their punishment was to hike the two miles, 1180 feet in elevation, back up to the top of the mountain for the second time today.

It was getting late and we needed to be out of the park so we took the South Old Mac trail down the other side of the mountain.  We stopped at the park sign for our final picture on the way out and since there was no Waffle House anywhere close we stopped at Hardee's for our off the trail celebration before heading home.

Frozen Head is a great park for hiking.  It is a very clean and well kept park.  Most of the campsites do have a table.  There are some sites without water so make sure you check out which one you will be staying at.  

Pictures:

Signal Mountain - Cumberland Trail

                                                                                        Outcast Total Miles: 1417.38
Cumberland Trail Signal Mountain to North Suck Creek Campsite 6.94
Campsite to Pretice Cooper Main trailhead parking 6.32
Total Miles: 13.26

We hiked the beginning section of the Cumberland trail on Signal Mountain, the River Gorge Segment.  Marco, Travis, and I headed out after working our shift.  We dropped a car off at Prentice Cooper WMA at the Main trailhead and then headed to Signal Mountain.  The streets on Signal Mountain were a little confusing, but we finally agreed where we needed to be.

There is a parking area and a big paved overlook area with views of the river valley at the trailhead and plaques describing the history behind this place.

After we got on the trail, the first overlook was the cove of the 95' Julia falls.  It is a pretty falls that is a long way away when you look across at it.  Then about a mile down the trail you come to the side trail that leads to the bottom of the 40' Rainbow falls.  This trail is really steep and there is a rope tied to hang on to as you descend to the bottom.  There is a beautiful pool at the bottom of the falls.  As we were exploring I hear a loud noise over the sound of the falls.  I look over and Travis is laying on his back on a large boulder.  He decided that the rock may have been a little slippery.  I told him to hold still while I took his picture but he got up anyways.  Marco had volunteered to stay up top to "watch the packs".

After a vigorous hike back up to the trail, we headed off with Marco in lead.  Soon the trail turned into a creek bed and we were climbing over downed trees.  I look down and see a trail runner go by.  I pointed this out to Marco who said he was on the trail.  I mentioned the fact that the trail runner was probably on the trail as he was making some good time.  So we descended down to the trail and continued on.

Soon we got to the first campsite on Middle Creek.  After you cross the bridge you start back on the other side of the gorge.  There is a trail on the other side of the creek that leads to Rainbow lake, but I never found a distance for this trial.

Halfway up the gorge you hike next to Lochart Arch and then you cross over the creek leading to Julia falls.  After that you come to Edwards Point overlook which again gives you a scenic overlook of the river valley.  The trail follows the gorge the rest of the way back to the rock formation known as Mushroom Rock.  You cross many creeks along the way.  Mushroom rock is an amazing formation that has been standing up to the test of time.  Unfortunately, some people cannot keep themselves from marking on natural land forms.  From there you drop down to North Suck creek where our campground was.

We collected fire wood and then did some cleaning up in the creek.  Life was good!  Then the trail runners came through, one single and one couple.  The campsite is not as far from civilization as we had hoped.

Travis got the fire going and before long we were eating dinner fire side.  The owl started early and was loud enough to hear over the creek running.  The clouds cleared out that night as the stars came out and we told lies and took cough medicine around the fire.  Everyone left their tarps off so we could see the stars through the night.

The next morning we got up and headed out.  The trail crosses Suck creed road which is a well traveled road and then you climb the stairs into the Prentice Cooper WMA.  The trial then follows the gorge up to Popular Springs campsite and Lawson's Rock overlook.  As we turned to walk out to the overlook there was a flat spot on the trail where Travis decides to twist his ankle and hit the ground.  I quickly pointed out to him that it was better to do it there instead of at the overlook.  So, while he rested at the overlook, I went looking for the campsite.  I crossed a dirt road and walked about fifty yards into the woods where there was a dry creek bed.  Then I came back an consulted the map.  The campsite is a ways off the trail anyway.

From the overlook we continued along the gorge with many many different rock formations.  There is numerous chimney rocks which are really cool to see.  Many more creek crossings and one flat area that Travis fell for the third time.

We ate lunch a creek crossing which was just before we got to the Indian rock house which is a half mile from the parking area.  Another great hike on the Cumberland trail.

Pictures:

Prentice Cooper WMA II

Day One:                                                      Outcast Total Miles: 1404.12
Main trailhead parking to McNabb Gulf Campsite 8.7 Miles
West side heading South
Day Two:
McNabb Gulf Campsite to Main trailhead Parking 11.42 Miles
East side heading North
Total Miles:  20.13 Miles

Well Troy, Marco, Travis, and I headed out to Prentice Cooper WMA.  Marco and I had hiked it back in  2009, so this was a make up hike for Troy.

We hiked the outside loop and we did it counterclockwise.  It is a good trail with lots of ups and downs.  There are a lot of overlooks, wet weather water falls, rock formations, along with a Natural Bridge and a Rock House.

When we headed out they were calling for rain that night and scattered showers the next day.  We got a later start on the trail around 10:00am our time.  We were just short of the first overlook when we stopped for lunch.  The last time we hiked it, we had rain in the morning so we didn't get any overlooks.  This time they were beautiful.  Ransom Hollow Overlook is off a short side trail and well worth the stroll!  Just before we crossed Tower Drive, a group of about ten trail runners passed us heading the other way.  After we made sure that they were not being chased by anything bad, we continued our hike.  These were the only people we saw in two days.

We made it to camp by 5pm and Travis had a fire going in no time.  We set up our camp and got dinner going.  No stars tonight, but we got to listen to an owl.  The smoke kept us walking in circles as we took cough medicine and told lies.  This was Travis's first time to camp in a hammock.  Just as I crawled under my tarp, the rain began.  It didn't stop until daylight.  

We were woke up by the owl as now it was really close to camp.  Marco got up and got the fire going.  Travis not only survived the hammock, he liked it.  We took our time and got on the trail around 9am.

It actually got cooler as the day went on and the first half of it we were wearing our poncho's as the mist was keeping us wet.  Raccoon Mountain Overlook is over grown and the valley was clouded in.  When we got to the Natural Bridge we got to take off the poncho's and we did some climbing around.  The clouds had cleared out pretty good by the time we got to Snooper's Rock Overlook and we got some good pictures from there.  We got some pictures of the Indian Rock House and the Stone Door before we headed back up to the cars.  Another great hike.  We would rate these trails at moderate to difficult.

After we hiked we headed into Powell's Crossroads and ate dinner at the "Open Door" Restaurant.  They have really good meat and two dishes.  Good Food and Great service.    

Pictures:

Big Ridge State Park

DAY ONE: 5.8                                                                 Outcast Total Miles: 1367.49
Lake Trail 1.5
Ghost House Loop 1.2
Road Walk 0.5
Big Valley Trail 1.3
East Dark Hollow Trail 1.3

DAY TWO: 8.8
East Dark Hollow Trail 1.3
Big Valley 0.4
Indian Rock Loop 2.6
Sharp's Station 0.4
Big Valley 0.4
West Dark Hollow Trail 2.7
Loyston Overlook 0.5
Lake Trail 0.5

Total Miles: 14.6

Well we finally made it to Big Ridge State Park on Norris Lake.  Troy had to cancel for family reasons, but we had Travis join us.  This was his first backpacking trip.  So my Dad, Marco, Travis, and I made it to the park by 12:30.  We got our permit and then hit the trail.  The park ranger was extremely friendly and helpful.  The park only has around 16 miles of trail so we did some figuring to get as many in as we could.

We started out on the Lake Trail just North of the park office.  The first big thing you come to is the park dam which holds the lake up for the park.  The rest of Norris Lake was about 35 feet down from normal.  We continued on the Lake Trail and stopped to look at the Snodderly Cemetery.  From there we took the Ghost House Loop counterclockwise and then road walked past the old Grist Mill to the Big Valley trail.  We took the Big Valley trail to the East Dark Hollow trail to Norris Lake where we camped for the night.  With the water down on the lake, Travis and I hiked another quarter mile down to actually see the lake.

There is a spring next to the campsite so that is where we collected our water.  After being told that he was in charge of the fire, Travis had flames before we got our hammocks set up.  We visited and then ate just before dark.  Afterwards we told lies and took our cough medicine.

The next morning we hiked back up East Dark Hollow and took the Big Valley trail up to the Indian Rock Loop trail.  We hiked it counter clock wise.  When we got to the site of Peter Graves attack by Indians, I heard a big "Thump" where my Dad tripped over a root and hit head first on the biggest bolder he could find.  He is always looking for attention and I think he was teaching Travis why you never backpack alone.  He busted his forehead and nose open so we got to do a little of that first responder thing.  Luckily he does have a hard head so after getting some of his sense back, he hiked on like a true hero would.

When you drop off the side of Big Ridge, the trail goes straight down the side very steeply.  I wouldn't want to try it when it was wet!  The campsite on the Indian Rock Loop is only about a twenty foot circle.  There is another campsite on the Sharp's Station trail which also has a fire pit.  There is another plaque out at the lake's edge for Sharp's Station.

As the trail follows the edge of the lake it is covered with Raspberry thorns.  At the right time of year, you could eat your way along this trail.  After we climbed back up Big Ridge we took a break and saw two Bald Eagles fly by.  We ate some lunch here and then hiked back to Dark Hollow.

We took the West Dark Hollow trail back to the Dam.  We got to see a doe on this section and heard some more up higher on the ridge.  The campsite on this trail is bigger and there is a good water source there too.  After we crossed the Dam we climbed to the Loyston Overlook.  This trail is really not worth the climb as you really don't get any good views and probably none when there are leaves on the trees.

We got back to the car by one and the Ranger wanted to know what happened to dear old Dad.  We had to tell the story. 

We had a great hike.  The trails are in really good shape.  There are some hills that need some switch backs, but it will give you a good work out.  As for Travis, this is what he had to say for his first ever backpack:

"This being my first hike I was amazed to the tranquillity that can come over one. The hike was more than just a walk in the woods, when was the last time you were able the hear peace and quite, I mean real quite. The night came upon us with a whisper, the stars look so close you hit one with a stone and a good arm. I do not believe I have ever seen so many in the night sky. Under stand that I had to pay a price for the trip in the way of sore muscles, but I would gladly pay it again."

Pictures: