Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Southern Adventist University's biology trails
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This morning's 5 mile hike with approx. 1000 ft elevation gain was on the Southern Adventist University's biology trails. Sky was overcast and temps in the 70's with high humidity but no rain! Nine club members with Bill Needham leading hiked up to White Oak Ridge. These are great in-town hiking trails spanning 25 miles from the lowest part of the valley to the top of the Ridge. ​

Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Black Mountain Section of the Cumberland Trail
 8.2 miles with an elevation gain of 1620 ft.
What a beautiful day to hike Black Mountain! Twelve hikers enjoyed the walk with in the woods and the wild flowers.  We saw an abundance of Yellow Trillium, Wake robin, May Apples, Solomon’s Seal, Jack in the Pulpit, Showy Orchis, Larkspur, Mountain Laurel, Pink Lady Slippers as well as the less common Yellow Lady Slippers (which we missed on the way up but luckily spotted on the return).  We weren’t going home until we found them!!  The climb to the top was steady but with lots of pretty distractions and the footing was relatively easy.  Once at the top we were greeted by stunning giant rocks and spectacular views!
It was a perfect day! Hike Leader - Debbie Lambert
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Saturday, Apr 27th
North Chickamauga Gorge Trail
This morning,  April 27th, 17  intrepid hikers took on a 7 mile out and back hike in the North Chickamauga Creek Gorge, near Soddy-Daisy.  The weather was near perfect, with a high overcast sky and temps in the low 70s. We were not the only ones who had the idea to hike this gorge, as the parking lot was jammed upon our return!  Participants included club members Sarah Schlegel, Dan Garner (leader) Kristine Gum, Joyce Campbell,  Bill Ragsdale, Mark and Ethan Rice, Bob Wood, Helen Layne, Debbie Lambert, William Daley, Susan Faidley, Rita Pendergast  and we had four guests.  The water flows in the gorge were down so the normally tricky creek crossings were not a problem, but there was only a small amount of water flowing through the waterfall, which normally is even prettier.  Vegetation overgrowth was just starting to crowd a few trail segments, so hiking this trail in Mid-may to late summertime may be an issue.  Foliage blocked many gorge views, but we were treated to delightful outcroppings of the "Pinxter Bloom"  wild azaleas. 
This was an "out-and-back" hike, The full 12 mile hike of the full gorge trail from Barkers Camp Road (involving a shuttle) will be planned for late fall. ​
Saturday, April 6 
Collins Gulf / Stone Door
We were so fortunate to have a beautiful day for this wonderful springtime hike. The wildflowers surpassed our expectations with hillsides full of purple phacelia and white trillium. There were also quite a few of the very beautiful larkspur with a few celandine poppies and bluebells. We counted 30 species of wildflowers. We were able to enjoy waterfalls, but luckily, we didn’t have so much water that we had to take off boots for two unbridged crossings. Three suspension bridges, 1600 feet of climbing, walking through the Great Stone Door, views from the bluff, and a great group of hikers made for a wonderful 10 mile hike!

Hikers included: Jenny Hopkins, Rita Pendergast, Steve Barnes, Helen Layne, Debbie Lambert, Trish Franklin, Joyce Campbell, Deb Young, Mark Rice, and hike leader, Susan Faidley