Smokies Camping trip - Sara

We had 13 campers/hikers in all to attend the Smokies Camping trip May 11-13. We camped at the Cataloochee group campsite. 

Friday afternoon we hiked about 4 miles on the Boogerman Trail and then enjoyed a chili dinner with delicious sides and desserts. 

Saturday we hiked the Rough Fork and Caldwell Forks trails which was a 9 mile loop trail. 

Sunday we hiked the Cataloochee Divide Trail and had lunch on the porch of the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center. 

We had hikers from all areas: Murfreesboro: Sara Pollard, Jennifer Zahn; Nashville: Paolo Smith, Nancy Juodenas, Joni Perrine; Highland Rim: Joan Hartvigsen, Marietta Poteet, Marsha Medford, Jean Goldman, Dick McClure; Soddy Daisy: Jane Ellett and Debbie Kimberlin; and Sherlene Spicer. 

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Smokys Hiking and Camping 2016 - Sara

We had 14 hikers on our annual Smokies hiking and camping trip with the Highland Rim chapter.  Joan Hartvigsen did an excellent job organizing the hikes.  We hiked 3.6 miles Friday to the Sutton Ridge overlook by way of the Lower Mount Cammerer trail and that evening shared a potluck dinner in the group campsite. Saturday we hiked 11.2 to the Mount Cammerer lookout tower where we enjoyed our lunch.Saturday evening we had a delicious meal at the Magnolia Tree Restaurant in Cosby. Sunday we hiked 4.4 miles to Hen Wallow Falls on the Gabes Mountain trail.

Hikers were Sara Pollard, Joan Hartvigsen, Lora McBride, Garnett Rush, Kathy Woods, Gloria Dale Williams, Nancy Juodenas, Jan Safavi, Marsha Medford, Bill Kammerer, Jane Ellett, Marietta Poteet,  Jean Breuer and Betty Magee.

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Smoky's camping trip - Sara

There were ten people who attended the Smokies camping/hiking June 26-28.  It sprinkled rain a little on Fridays hike to Andrew's Bald and our climb to the Clingman's Dome observation tower.  Marsha Medford brought a tarp, so we were able to enjoy our potluck dinner out of the rain.  There was steady rain during the night, but we were able to pack up the next morning for our long hike to Rocky Top.  It rained almost the entire time on our Saturday's hike.  We were almost to the summit of Rocky Top, when Jean Breuer discovered a very large rattler snake curled up on a rock beside the trail.  We had planned to eat lunch on Rocky Top, but the wind and rain was blowing so hard we decided to start our descent.  It was too foggy to see anything from Rocky Top, which was disappointing. It rained hard all the way back, but we were still able to dry off and head to the Mexican restaurant in Townsend for dinner.  Jane Ellett commented she had never been so wet on a hike before.  Sunday was a beautiful day as we made our way to Grotto Falls and the summit of Brushy Mountain to enjoy the gorgeous views.  There were still mountain laurel and rhododendron in bloom.

Some stayed back to enjoy relaxing in our group campsite at Elkmont.  Those attending were Sara Pollard, Joan Hartvigsen, Wayne Yancey, Jean Breuer, Marsha Medford, Bill Kammerer, Dick McClure, Kate Croy, Jane Ellett and her cousin Debbie.

We still had a great time though and everyone enjoyed the trip to the Smokies.

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Smoky Mountain Camp out - Joan

The weekend of June 20-22 the Murfreesboro and Highland Rim Chapters organized a camping and hiking trip to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  We camped Friday and Saturday night at Elkmont Campground. Friday we hiked the Chimney Tops Trail. Saturday we hiked to Charlies Bunion and The Jump Off. Sunday we hiked via the Gregory Ridge Trail to Gregory Bald.  Thirteen adults and four children participated.  Garnett Rush, East Tennessee Chapter; Marietta Poteet, Highland Rim Chapter; Amy Sutton, Nashville Chapter;  Rhonda Doak, Guntersville, AL;  Michael and John Glennon, Highland Rim Chapter,  Maryedith and Larry McFarlin, Murfreesboro Chapter; Joan Hartvigsen, Highland Rim Chapter; Sara Pollard, Murfreesboro Chapter; Gary Kimbrell, Upper Cumberland Chapter; Cindy Watson, Highland Rim Chapter and Cathy Conley and her four grandchildren, Highland Rim Chapter.  Friday night  after the Chimney Tops Hike we shared a feast at the Group Campsite.  After our Charlies Bunion Hike we all enjoyed dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe in Pigeon Forge.  The weather was great and the visibility was outstanding for all three hikes.

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Smoky Mountain Campout - Sara

The camping and hiking trip in the Smokies June 21-23 was a great trip.  This joint activity with the Highland Rim chapter was also led by Joan Hartvigsen.  Hikers were Ann Jacobs, Tony Jones, Sara Pollard, Wayne Yancey from Murfreesboro, Joan and Marietta Poteet from Highland Rim and Michelle from Nashville. 

  

We set up our tents afternoon at the Elkmont campground and then hiked the 7 mile Little River Trail that starts at the campground.  We were up at daybreak to meet Ann and Michelle at the trailhead to start our hike to Mt. LeConte.  They were staying at a motel in Gatlinburg.  We took the Rainbow Falls to Mt. LeConte and sat for a while on the porch at the lodge.  We also made our way to Cliff Tops to enjoy more views.  We returned to the trailhead via Bull Head for a total of 13 miles round-trip.  Stopped in Gatlinburg for dinner at the Smoky Mountain Brewery Restaurant and then straight to bed.  We were sore from the long hike, so some of us didn't make the Porters Creek hike.

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Elkmont Camping Weekend - Sara

We had five participants for the car camping at Elkmont Campground and hiking in the Smoky Mountains and had a great time.   Friday, we set up tents and then hiked the Little River/Cucumber Gap Loop.  The dilapidated houses in the pictures were once vacation homes built in the early 1900's before the park was established. Saturday morning we visited the Sugarlands Visitor Center before our hike on the Ramsey Cascades Trail. This trail was rated moderate, but was more challenging than we expected.  Lots of boulder climbing right before getting to the waterfall.  Afterwards we had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe and strolled the streets of Gatlinburg.  Sunday morning, we packed up our camping gear and finished the weekend hiking to Laurel Falls and continued up to the fire tower at the Cove Mountain summit.   This hike was a pleasant walk in the woods after Saturday's hike and we saw lots of wildflowers and huge trees. Thanks to Joan Hartvigsen of the Highland Rim chapter for organizing the joint outing and hikers were Joan, Tony Jones, Sara Pollard, Lora McBride and Sidney Sexton from Huntsville.

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To see more pictures - go to Sidney Sexton (Huntsville, AL) and Tony Jones on Facebook