On Friday, May 11, 2012: Nine people left Nashville and Maryville for Frozen Head State Park.  It was to be a fabulous car camping weekend.  Campers included were: Garnett Rush, Nancy Juodenas, Jerry Hendrixson, Libby Francis, Betty Magee and her son Chris, Larry Marchese and his wife Erica and daughter Anna.  Friday was spent setting up camp and then a short warm-up hike on the Judge Branch Trail.  Saturday we were met at the trailhead by Bill Taber from Nashville.  We hiked up the lovely Panther Branch Trail, walking along a creek bed, passing a waterfall, spotting a few late spring wildflowers, and some interesting rock formations. After about 2.5 miles we merged with the North Old Mac Trail which continued up the mountain.   Upon reaching Panther Gap and the junction with the jeep road we took a spur trail to see Panther Cave, where there is a back country campsite.  After eating lunch at the Tub Springs campsite, we climbed the road to the old fire tower and were rewarded with the skies clearing for some beautiful panoramic views of the valley ridges and mountains to the east, and south.  For the return trip we took the shorter South Old Mac Trail.  Sunday we had plans to hike a section of the Cumberland Trail, but woke up to rain. So, after some breakfast and socializing we packed up and said our goodbyes. Frozen Head State Park is a sweet pocket of mountains and forest near tiny Wartburg TN.  It was well worth the 2-3 hour trip for a fine weekend of hiking and camping.