Big South Fork - Ron

Hike Report Saturday October 13 Big South Fork

Faith Bennett, Eric Luncford, Kim Williams and I joined nine members from the Upper Cumberland chapter to hike what has become an annual tradition for us – Twin Arches to Middle Creek in Big South Fork. Meeting the Upper Cumberland group in Cookeville at 7:30, we prepared to head out for the additional 90-minute drive to Twin Arches. Before we left however, we got a visit in the parking lot from Upper Cumberland’s own, the pride of Sparta, Pete Broehl, who was on his way to continue section hiking the AT. Although I was disappointed that I wouldn’t get to hike with Pete this day, I was glad he was getting some more time on the AT which he dearly loves.

This hike is a little unique in that we run the shuttle AFTER the hike, leaving a car as we pass Middle Creek trailhead on the way to Twin Arches. It’s also what I refer to as a “best-of” several loop hikes in the park.

It was a beautiful morning to walk and we took a little time for photo ops at the Twin Arches as well as a climb above, which offered a beautiful vista of the park. Then it was back onto the trail. Along the way we passed such landmarks as Jake’s Place and Slave Falls (which was Slave trickle that day) in addition to several spectacular rock houses.

In keeping with tradition we enjoyed lunch at Needle Arch before resuming the hike on to Middle Creek. The trees were just starting to show some color and the temps were just right for an autumn hike.  At the last junction, a few of the group opted to take the shorter side of the Middle Creek loop back, fetched the vehicles from Twin Arches, and had them waiting for us as we came out to the trailhead.

We put a bow on the day with our traditional post-hike dinner at El Tapatio in Cookeville, said our goodbyes and  hit the road again for the drive back to Murfreesboro. It was a long day, but a wonderful hike with great people.