TTA-Carter Mountain Hike-South of Winchester, TN

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2024 TTA Annual Meeting - Fall Creek Falls

The Highland Rim and Murfreesboro chapters hosted the TTA Annual Meeting at Fall Creek Falls State Park. We had 171 registered and all chapters were represented. Friday evening Ranger Stuart Carroll gave a presentation on the newly designated "Scott's Gulf Wilderness State Park". Saturday evening Kris Light of Oak Ridge shared her program on "The Magnificent Migration of the Monarch Butterflies to Mexico!". 

Besides the many hikes scheduled - pontoon boat rides and a trip to Cumberland Caverns were offered. There was also a Happy Hour at the lakeside fire ring, and everyone got the chance to mingle and meet other chapter members. Representing the Murfreesboro chapter were Jay Brain, Anna Lina Buckley and her dad Blair Buckley, Joe Campbell, Rene Jacobs, Craig McBride, Lora McBride, Sara Pollard, Jane Reyling, Georganne Ross (registered, but unable to attend), Lynn Rosser, J.C. Saunders and Martina Terrazas.

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Bridal Veil Falls Hike

We had 6 hikers to hike the Sewanee Perimeter Trail starting from the Memorial Cross. We didn't hike down to Bridal Veil Falls because it hasn't rained in over a week and we knew there would be no water. Instead, we continued on the Perimeter Trail and took the Parallel Trail to make a loop back to the Memorial Cross. We hiked past Otey View and Clara's Point. Because of a communication error J.C. Joined us on the last part of the hike.  Hikers were Peggy Harris, Judy Pannick, Sara Pollard, Marietta Poteet, J.C. Saunders and Vicki Wendt. 

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Tims Ford State Park Camping and kayaking

 

Little Island Camping, Hiking & Kayaking

This was a joint event with the Highland Rim chapter. Friday evening we set up camp and then kayaked around Big Island and watched the sun set over the lake. Saturday we kayaked to the Ray Branch Peninsula and hiked the Evans Loop Trail and part of the Ray Branch Shoreline Trail. It was windy and the water was choppy, but we finally got to the peninsula. We enjoyed our lunch before heading back to our campsite. Saturday evening, we secured our kayaks and drove to the Twin Creeks Marina for dinner.  Campers were Jim Barritt, Jean Breuer, Cathy Conley, Joan Hartvigsen, Joni Perrine, Sara Pollard, Georganne Ross, and Lynn Rosser.

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Buggytop -Sara

We had 11 hikers to hike the Buggytop trail off of Highway 56 in Sewanee. There's new signage at the trailhead so no one missed the parking lot this time. It was a cool morning to start the hike first to the large cave opening and then we stopped off at Peter's Cave on our way out. Some of us stopped by the Natural Bridge arch on our way to enjoy lunch at Shenanigan's Restaurant. Hikers were Jim Barritt, Jay Brain, Joe Campbell, Patty Deen, Wayne Drown, Peggy Harris, Robin King, Sara Pollard, Zoe Ramsay, Carl Westman, and Wayne Yancey.

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Window Cliffs State Natural Area

We had 6 hikers on the 6.0-mile hike at the Window Cliffs State Natural Area near Cookeville.  It's an out and back to the "windows" with 9 creeks to cross so 18 altogether. Two of the creeks were dry but on a hot day it felt good to wade through the water. After the last crossing we turned left and hiked down parallel of the creek to get a better and closer view of the falls. Then we continued on to the end and enjoyed a break and our lunch. On the way back we encountered a small rattlesnake and a black snake in the water at one of the creek crossings. It was humid but still are great day for a hike. Hikers were Jim Barritt, Chris Hoffman,  Lora McBride, Sara Pollard, Marietta Poteet and Georganne Ross.

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Normandy Lake Paddle

We had 4 kayakers on the Normandy Lake paddle on a Sunday morning. We put in at Ward's Chapel and kayaked to Bobo Creek. Here we got out and hiked to Machine Falls. Then we paddled to see Ovoca Falls but the water was shallow to the falls, and no one wanted to get out to walk to the base of the falls. There weren't many boats on the lake, and it was a nice day to paddle. Kayakers were Wendy Fish, Joan Hartvigsen, Tom Hartvigsen and Sara Pollard.

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