- Category: Hike Reports
- Hits: 66
Eastbound for the first time, 25 TrailBlazers headed for Gatlinburg, TN to hike the Smokies. Housed in Bear Claw Lodge high above the city, we had a resident Momma Bear who was teaching her 3 cubs the fine art of nocturnal dumpster diving. On the plus side, we had great fall color, scenic mountains, lots of waterfalls, and fine weather. On the downside, this is the most visited and congested park, so we spent quality time trying to dodge tourists and traffic by rising early to hit the trails.
After being trapped in a frustrating traffic jam in historic Cades Cove, we hiked to Abrams Falls on the first day, and various groups later hiked to waterfalls such as Spruce Flats, Deep Creek with its 3 falls, Hen Wallow, and Laurel Falls. Yours Truly’s favorite was Big Creek that featured fall color and countless falls leading to Mouse Creek Falls. Many also trekked to Alum Cave, similar to our Big Bluff, and a few continued up to the top of Mt. LeConte where the cabins are only accessible by hikers and llamas. Two groups now have bragging rights to hiking part of the Appalachian Trail from Newfound Gap and trekking (huff, puff, moan, groan) up scenic Clingmans Dome to the observation tower, highest point in the park.
Other highlights were side trips to Vanderbilt Estate, shopping, driving the Tail of the Dragon and Foothills Parkway, a sudden confrontation with a Mad Man inside the lodge (ask us!), TEN bathrooms, guzzling Ed’s world-famous margaritas, bear watching, and great meals. We let our dinner get cold on the last evening when Momma Bear and cubs appeared on the hillside behind the lodge - what a finale - photo frenzy ensued!
Back home, safe and sound, just in time to avoid the storm of the century. Great planning, Becky!
- Category: Hike Reports
- Hits: 79
Tim Babb, Ruth Ann’s grandson, presented a funny and informative program about their week-long post-Christmas camping expedition down and back up the Grand Canyon. Ruth Ann also gave her perspective on the trip. We were pleased to have a good turnout as our crack forecasters had us believe that we would have been better served staying home putting the final touches on our ark!
The team ranged from male and female sixteen-year-olds to our own septuagenarian Ruth Ann who can compete with the best of them. After all she had been carting cannonballs in her backpack for months in preparation for the trip! Tim was under orders to take good care of grandma (and not bring her home on the roof like poor Aunt Edna in National Lampoon’s Family Vacation!). All of the male members of the team except one were Eagle Scouts with considerable hiking, camping, and survival experience. This crew used their wits, food donations, and thrift shops to do their trip for under $150 a head.
Heading down the Hermit’s Trail, the road less traveled, they avoided people on an old track that is not well maintained. Hiking temps between 65-76 degrees were ideal. At the start the trail was slick due to snow melt, but they had learned how to use trekking poles and crampons. They ate well, purified their water with Polar Pure, and even dined on fresh-caught rainbows. At night they hung their food in bear bags that were in more danger from rodents than bears. On the final night they camped at Indian Gardens where they protected their gear from marauding mule deer before hiking out on Bright Angel. Great program about a wonderful trip!
- Category: Hike Reports
- Hits: 76
Nineteen TrailBlazers and one canine under the command of Kaptain Kenya set out on a hot, sunny, sticky, muggy day to check out waterfalls. En route on Highway 21 there were dogwoods galore along the road. Shortly after passing the famous red barn with the white “E”, we found ourselves at the trailhead. This hike is a real treat with all the dogwoods in bloom, some wildflowers, the creek with its cascades and the unique highlights – the creek funneling its waters down a perfect round hole in a boulder to emerge 12 ft. down in the gully below as a waterfall in the form of a sheer curtain. Newcomers always love it and the veterans never get tired of it. Of course, hoofing back up on a hot day left us all feeling pretty hot and sticky. Let’s put it this way; you know it’s really hot when even Billigene agrees that it is! Mike felt the need to cool himself in the creek – check out the photo.
Next we left for the short drive to Magnolia Falls that turned out to be a little longer because we seemed to have suffered a collective senior moment and lost our bearings. Some claim we did this on purpose to enjoy air-conditioning a little longer – not a bad idea! All of a sudden Wilson had a brainstorm and knew that we should turn back, go north on 21 and turn left at the 3 mailboxes. Fortunately not all of us had fried our brains hoofing in the heat!
The trek down to Magnolia Falls is more gradual and we enjoyed our lunch sitting on the top of the falls or down underneath. Next we checked out Woods Boys Falls and much to our surprise, the magnolias were in bud and about to bloom at the end of March! On the way home, hoping that we would not be betrayed by a fickle deodorant, many of us assured the first quarter profits of Clarksville McDonald’s by indulging in some well-earned frozen treats!
- Category: Hike Reports
- Hits: 128
Twenty-six TrailBlazers led by Captain Kenya headed up Highway 21 on a brisk and breezy day in search of waterfalls. Unlike last week’s tropical temps, this week’s weather was quite chilly at the Glory Hole Trailhead. The sight of large puddles on the trail from recent heavy rains suggested great falls. Along the trail we saw lots of dogwood and some wildflowers, but not the same profusion of them as last week. Newcomers were treated to the impressive sight of the creek funneling itself into a round hole etched in the rocks by tons of water flowing downhill for centuries.
As we continued trekking downhill, we had to watch our footing as we descended into the canyon below where great sheets of water create a gorgeous waterfall shooting down through the Glory Hole. There were several other waterfalls on the hillsides. Of course, we spent quality time scrambling over rocks and boulders to view and photograph the falls from every angle. On the uphill return some of us hiked part of the way back along the creek trail so we could view several falls and cascades in the water-laden creek.
Next we drove to the Magnolia Falls Trailhead and started down the trail, an obstacle course in places due to ice damage. When we reached the creek we saw lots of mini falls all over the place and finally arrived at the falls where we ate lunch – some at creek side and others sitting high above the falls. The light was not at its best for our pictures, but we never let something like that stop us! Again we explored and did battle with some vicious greenbrier as we followed the creek to see Woods Boys Falls where there was an enormous umbrella magnolia getting ready to bloom. On the way back Alexis grabbed the lead and gave us commentary on trail conditions and points of interest. Beautiful day for hiking and lots of water!
- Category: Hike Reports
- Hits: 99
After a 5-year hiatus, 30 TrailBlazers returned to Glacier with our base camp at Alpine House and Mountain Timbers Cabin in Columbia Falls. The good news was the scenic hikes, great photo ops, fun company, and pretty good weather. The bad news was that the gorgeous center of the park was still inaccessible due to snow and road damage, only allowing about 15-mile access on either side of the park, and it was a bumper crop year for mosquitoes!
Sun. we walked the Trail of the Cedars spotting a bear, trekked up to Avalanche Lake for a soggy lunch, and explored the McDonald Lake Lodge area. Mon. at Two Medicine we hoofed to Aster Falls and on up to the Overlook in the heat, trekked up to Apostoki Falls with its ice plug, and hiked over to Running Eagle Falls. Tues. at Many Glacier we climbed up to Ptarmigan Falls through a few snow fields while spotting deer and a moose. There were also trips to the St. Mary Entrance to see the eastern part of Going to the Sun Road, and hikes on the west side on Johns Lake Trail as well as trekking on the park road, only open to hikers, beyond Avalanche Lake parking lot.
Several people drove up to Waterton Lakes, the Canadian section of Glacier, to hike Red Rocks Canyon and Blackiston Falls trails, visit Cameron Lake, sight bears as well as dine at the historic Prince of Wales Hotel. Ask John about his high point (a low in US/Canadian relations) with Cruella DeVil, our Canadian crossing guard, who denied him his inalienable human right to defend himself from man-eating skeeters during her interrogation, probably because she thought Billigene was Ma Barker with her gang – a great story that will age like fine wine!
Thank you to Becky for all her advance work, our regrets for her early return home, and condolences for the loss of George.
- Category: Hike Reports
- Hits: 81
Seventeen TrailBlazers met at the school house near the Nature Center in Fort Smith for a Full Moon Hike under cloudy skies with moderate temps. Alas, the Old Man in the Moon was a contrary no-show! On the plus side we did have a pretty sunset, surprising because Old Sol didn’t even bother to get out of bed today, but he still felt the need to retire anyway just to spite the Man in the Moon.
With Bob R as our leader we crossed the road and trekked various trails through the woods, all the time craning our necks for a glimpse of the moon. In places the ground was marshy and muddy so Yours Truly was glad she wore her clod-hopping boots. After a while we reached the amphitheater where we could see the city lights against the western sky. Resuming the hike, we trekked back down toward Wells Lake where the lights of the Visitors Center were beautifully reflected in Wells Lake. After we hiked along the lake back toward the center, the clouds started to clear. Suddenly a hint of light became visible in the inky skies and the moon gradually peeked through the clouds much to our delight.
Of course, as we headed home the moon finally decided to emerge in all his glory!
- Category: Hike Reports
- Hits: 69
Fifteen TrailBlazers went to The Nature Center at sunset to hike in the light of the full moon. The day was cloudy, and we did not have the cold temps that usually make for clear skies and a really bright moon. Nevertheless, the moon could be seen and it was a good evening for walking in the woods since the temps were not bone-chilling!