Soddy Daisy Cumberland trail - Sara

We had 8 hikers on our joint hike with the Plateau chapter Saturday, May 16 on a section of the Cumberland Trail. Because of TTA asking us not to set up shuttle hikes, our plan to hike the Soddy Gorge section changed. 

We met TTA members in Soddy Daisy's public park on Back Valley Road right off of Highway 111. The hike started out on a 2 mile gravel access trail to meet the Cumberland Trail. We turned left on the Cumberland Trail and went to the Big Soddy Creek bridge and then had lunch at the smaller bridge further down. We turned around and were going to the Board Creek campsite, but it was hot and humid and hikers were ready to get off the trail. The exact mileage is uncertain but it was around 7.5 miles total. We saw lots of wildflowers and beautiful mountain laurel. Hikers from Murfreesboro were Sara Pollard, Jay Brain, Jan Safavi. Deb Westervelt of the Plateau Chapter led the hike and others were Rhonda, George, Norm and a gentleman who's name I don't remember. 

Pictures:

Cumberland Trail – Soddy Section-Jim

Cumberland Trail – Soddy Section

A special welcome to Diana and Mike Ketchen as they participated in their inaugural TTA hike as members of the Murfreesboro Chapter. In the company of Jim Schroeder and Martin McCullough the trek was made to Soddy Daisy to engage in a shuttle hike on the Cumberland Trail between the Mowbray Road Trailhead and the Hotwater Road Trailhead. Beginning the hike at the Mowbray Road site and barely finding room to park in the overcrowded parking area, the foursome met up with Soddy area hikers, Don Deakens and Bob DeHart. After a round of picture taking, the sextet moved northward along the Cumberland Trail, stopping at various locations to absorb the local history, including the Indian rock house, the mining ridge walk, and the Little Soddy mining site. A light trail lunch was enjoyed about midpoint on the hike before descending into the Little Soddy Stream Valley, and crossing 3 bridge structures along the way before reaching the end trailhead. Traversing the new section of the Little Soddy day loop, the sites of the old mule barn and the mule tender, Mr. Jeffrey’s, homestead site were noted, and then a rock hop across Little Soddy creek was made without mishap. All enjoyed the 5 mile hike on the warm Saturday under overcast skies, and now Diana and Mike are officially CT hikers.

For other hike pictures refer to http://ctvols.blogspot.com/ and under the Soddy Gorge section, click on “slide show of Don’ photos” and “slide show of Bob’s photos.”