The Chattanooga Hiking Club, in keeping with its stated purpose, provides outings every weekend for persons of different skill levels. Hikes scheduled in the current month and the upcoming month are described in detail. Tentative hikes are simply listed in the Outings Schedule and are still in the planning stages. All of our hikes are lead by club members volunteering their time to the cause.
In addition to the weekend formal schedule, there are more spontaneous dayhikes during the week usually (though not always) on Wednesdays and usually (though not always) closer to Chattanooga so that less driving is involved.
The information below is provided as a guide only. Each hiker assumes the risks associated with hiking in the great outdoors, including the responsibility for paying any bills associated with rescue efforts or medical care. The wise hiker always carries drinking water, food, and first aid items.
Easy(E): 6 miles or less; mostly level ground or only slight incline.
Moderate(M): Distance of 7 - 10 miles with an elevation gain that will generally not exceed 350 feet per mile, with a total elevation gain of no more than 1000 ft
Moderately Strenuous(MS): This hike could be 7 - 10 miles in length, but include rocky trail conditions, tricky stream crossings or elevation gain of more than 1000 ft. but less than 2000 ft.
Strenuous(S): Any hike that is a distance of 10 to 14 miles or with more than 2000 ft. total elevation gain, but no more than 3000 ft.
Extremely Strenuous(S+): Usually involves distances of more than 14 miles or more than 3000 ft. in elevation gain. There might be very steep/rugged climbs, deep stream crossings, or unmaintained trails.
Pace: : Standard pace (SP) is 2 miles per hour; less on steep or rugged terrain. Fast pace (FP) is 2.5 to 3 miles per hour or more and may not vary much regardless of terrain.
Participants on Chattanooga Hiking Club hikes rated as Extremely Strenuous(S+) must have hiked with us on a Strenuous(S) hike within the past 6 months. Participants on Chattanooga Hiking Club backpacking trips must have either hiked with the club previously on a dayhike, or backpacked previously with a club member.
When calling or emailing to go on an outing, please specify exact number of people who will be attending. Do NOT just show up with a friend or family member unannounced! This puts your hike leader in an awkward position as most hikes involve some planning regarding transportation. Also we frequently hike in Wilderness areas and other places where the number of hikers in a group is limited. If that is the case, and the hike is already full, you may be turned away!
DON'T MISS OUT, CALL EARLY Often there is a limit on the number of participants for our outings. The limits may be required or they may be established by the hike leader. You should always call by Wednesday evening prior to hike.
Hike Cancellations: Hike leaders are entirely at their own discretion regarding the weather. It is possible that a leader may decide that, due to weather conditions, they do not feel safe hiking on that day. Lightning kills many people every year and can strike hikers on a trail. Also many of the areas where we hike are prone to flash floods that can kill or injure. The leader will call if deciding to cancel before the day of the hike, but in the event that the decision to cancel is made on the day of the hike, he/she will give you the courtesy of showing up at the desiginated meeting place to announce that the hike is canceled.
Chattanooga Hiking Club Dog Policy - CHC has long had an unwritten policy that dogs are not allowed on CHC hikes unless the hike is advertised as a "dog hike" or "dogs allowed". This does NOT mean that we are "anti-dog"; many of us are dog-lovers with long histories of involvement with dogs; breeding, training, showing and/or rescuing abandoned dogs. However others of us are either allergic to dogs or fearful of dogs. For the latter, they need to be assured that they know in advance whether a dog or dogs may be present on a hike, so that they may opt out before showing up at the meeting place to discover that there are dogs along on the hike.
Like most other things about a hike such as the time and place to meet or whether to cancel a particular hike because of weather, the decision to allow dogs or not is up to the individual hike leader. The hike leader must take many things onto account before deciding to allow dogs on a specific hike. First is whether the location of the hike is a trail where dogs are allowed. Even though individual hikers have taken their dogs with them while through-hiking the AT, they are doing so illegally in the Smokies. As a club we must obey the stated pet policy of the public lands where we are hiking. Second the hike leader must decide if they are equipped to deal with the problems that could potentially arise with a dog or dogs along on a hike. Most public land managers such as the Forest Service require pets to be on leash at all times. This can present a tripping/falling hazard to the owner or the other hikers. Then there is the possibility that if multiple dogs show up or other dogs are encountered on the trail, they may not necessarily all like each other. Refereeing a dogfight is dangerous and not a lot of fun.
Third is the possibility of encounters with wild game animals such as bear or boar and (in season) packs of hunting dogs running loose. Any of these may attack and kill a pet dog especially if the pet dog is not on leash and charges the animal or pack. Your past president has had the experience of seeing screaming dog owners running through the woods after an unleashed dog chasing after the scent of wild boar on a remote part of the Benton MacKaye trail in Georgia.
For those people who still like to hike with their dogs, they should call well in advance of the hike and ask if they can bring the dog along so that if the hike leader decides to allow this, others who call can be informed that a dog will be along. Their dog should be well mannered, not aggressive toward people or other dogs, able to walk on leash properly and the owner should be equipped to clean up after the dog if necessary. Better still is for some of these people to volunteer to lead "dog hikes". Any member wishing to lead dog friendly hikes need only contact our outings chair and those will be put on the schedule for the upcoming half of the year.
1. To make sure everyone is doing well and feeling good. If anyone is having a problem, we may need several people to help. This might include discussing who has a vehicle, radios, cell phones, flashlights, etc. Someone would be chosen to lead most of the group out, so everyone is not delayed, put at risk of hiking in the dark, etc. Several experienced hikers would remain to assist the person having difficulty.
2. To make sure that no one gets lost. This happens much more easily than most people think. How many people carry a map and compass, and know how to use them? How many people carry a trail description? - - Your leader has a responsibility for your safety. We recognize everyone is an adult, but you may be hiking in an unfamiliar area. The leader should know the hike and keep you on the proper trail. Often there are trails where the blazes or treadway are faint. (In wilderness areas, there are seldom any blazes.) Not re-grouping and waiting for your leader at all intersections, could result in a serious situation, with someone missing. In addition to club members worried and trying to find the missing person(s), emergency search & rescue crews may have to be called out. - - No one should ever hike ahead, without the hike leader's approval and knowing the front group has an experienced hiker leading the way. No one should ever take a side trail without the leader's knowledge.
3. We are often hiking in the mountains or areas where we expect and hope to be safe. However, accidents, wildlife, weather, etc. can cause problems. We need to look out for each other.
4. Our outings are club (group) events. Consequently there is a lot of social camaraderie. Although we are a hiking club first, people return to hike with us because they do not wish to hike by themselves. The socialization that goes on is one of the benefits enjoyed by the group. Our outings can also be great learning experiences due to information passed on from those that are more experienced in various aspects of the outdoors.
5. Often the hike leader (or any member) might like to change his pace for a while during the hike. Additionally the leader might need to change his hiking position during a hike. Re-grouping allows people to vary their pace throughout the day.
6. Re-grouping allows new members to get to know more people and to feel they are really part of the group. Sometimes they may find themselves hiking by themselves - not really with any part of the group.This obviously can be an uncomfortable feeling for them, and sometimes downright frightening. Even if they are not afraid to be alone on the trail, they certainly will not feel welcome. Compiled jointly by the CHC advisory committee.
During a recent Forest Service (FS) wildlife survey, one of a FS crew was injured while attempting to cross over a log in the woods. This was not on a trail and the crew was "bushwhacking" steeply uphill, when the crew member stepped on top of a log which dislodged and rolled downhill trapping his foot and lower leg underneath. He was wearing a low top "trail running" type of hiking shoe similar to a toughened up tennis shoe. These types of shoes may be fine for excursions on established and maintained trails, but for doing any kind of off-trail walking or "bushwhacking" or for doing trail maintenance, one should always wear a high-topped very supportive work/hiking shoe with a good Vibram sole. Additionally, situation awareness is important; watch for hazards such as logs or rocks that may dislodge with a minimal amount of force and entrap your feet.
Whenever you go on a hike with the Chattanooga Hiking Club, please bring WATER with you. Hiking can deplete you of this vital liquid, and at best, dehydration can make your hike a miserable experience, at worst, it could be dangerous to your health if you become too dehydrated.
On most of our hikes, limits on group size are up to the discretion of the hike leader. However, due to regulations governing wilderness areas, we are limited to a group size of 12 on hikes in wilderness areas within the Cherokee National Forest. This applies to Big Frog, Little Frog, Citico, Gee Creek, Bald River and any other areas designated wilderness where we lead hikes.
Carcamping makes camping a lot easier than backpacking. First of all, you drive your car right up to the campsite, which means you can take everything including the kitchen sink, as the saying goes. Each camp site usually includes a level place to pitch your tent, a picnic table with benches and a fire ring. Most camp grounds have toilet facilities and running water. Some campgrounds have electricity available, others do not. Following are some hints to ensure a successful carcamping experience.