On Saturday, February 27th, seven hikers. led by Nancy Juodenas, met at Natchez Trace State Park for an 8 mile hike around Cub Lake and through forested hardwoods.  Natchez Trace SP is a huge park jointly managed by the state forest service and the state parks. It is also a popular park for trail riding, and there is a 14 mile overnight backpacking trail.

We began our hike at the park headquarters, thinking it would be open and we could use the restrooms.  Too bad!  Park Headquarters are not open on the weekends!!!!  Okay then...onward to the trail head and the 1930's style recreation lodge which was also closed.  As we began our hike around lovely Cub Lake we saw evidence of hardworking beavers and hardworking loggers.  The terrain was gentle and rolling, with quite a few swampy areas that were thankfully bridged.  After rounding the lake about halfway we came to an area that the beavers had dammed up which made it difficult to follow the trail.  But we found a good crossing and later discovered that the park is rerouting the trail to allow for the beavers.  

About that time we ran into Dick McKeen from the Jackson chapter, who was building new trail with his dog McTavish.  Toward end of the hike we crossed the lake on a charming bridge and ended up back at the recreation lodge.  It was a beautiful day to be outdoors and of course we had to stop for sustenance at the Log Cabin Restaurant at the Hurricane Mills exit.

 Cypress Knees

 Dead Snake

 Erin and Jay

 Lakeview

 Lakeview #2

 Spillway

The Group

Saturday, February 13, 2016.  Eight hikers from the Nashville and Highland Rim Chapters hiked Virgin Falls State Natural Area.  The day was cold and clear.  Cold enough, in fact, to keep a lot of people at home.  The parking lot at the tralhead was not very full.  Everyone had a good hike.  Dinner at El Tapatio in Cookeville afterwards.

 Big Branch Falls

 Big Laurel Falls

 Rest break at Big Laurel Falls

Virgin Falls

Saturday, January 30, 2016
The Nashville Chapter coordinated with the Highland Rim Chapter to organize a hike in the Bridgestone Firestone Centennial Wilderness in Scotts Gulf.  We covered at least 9 miles connecting the Chestnut Mountain Ranch Trail, the Caney Fork River Trail, and the Polly Branch Falls trail into a big loop.  We had a total of eleven hikers.  The first trail was relatively flat along the rim of the gulf, but the Caney Fork Trail was much more difficult, the several sections blocked by downed trees, a steep section with essentially no actual trail, and a stream crossing with a large volume of cold and rapidly flowing water. There were excellent and closeup views of a full Caney Fork River, though. The final section was the climb back up to the rim, with at least three waterfalls on or not too far off the trail.  Most of us headed to El Tapatio in Cookeville for our post hike repast.  Thanks to Michael Glennon, Highland Rim Chapter, for all the photos!

Saturday, December 5, 2015
On a beautiful winter day, of clear blue skies and mild temperatures, four Nashville area hikers drove to Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park near Camden, TN for a 10 mile loop hike.  This park is an overlooked treasure just west of the Tennessee River.  There is an interesting Folklife Center/Museum which is positioned on the highest point in West Tennessee, Pilot Knob  The hiking trails consist of 4 interconnecting loops. The hiker can choose to do 3, 5, 10 or 20 miles of loops.  Our hike was a combination of moss covered ridges overlooking the river and hardwood bottomland,   Many little clear water creeks meandered through the forest, and there was one backcountry shelter that provided a nice resting spot.  Towards the end of the hike there was an historic log cabin with rocking chairs and a view that we enjoyed with a hot "cuppa" before the last mile back to our starting point, the Folklife Center.  Tired and happy, we found a great buffet restaurant in nearby Camden that restored our calories for the drive back to Nashville.

"I dream of blue skies, a crisp, clear day, baby deer ambling nearby welcoming me to the park, and a beach leading to brilliant blue water in the lake." This hiking group's dream came true on October 10, 2015 while traversing the Bryant Grove Trail at Lone Hunter State Park. What a glorious day it was, spent with joyous hikers and perfect weather!