Name: Dogwood White Oak & Valley Trail & Tropical cuisine & Little Debbies
Start: 2025-11-23T11:30:00-05:00
End: 2025-11-23T16:00:00-05:00
Location: Bauxite Ridge Trailhead

**This is a reschedule of the event. I was helped and I appreciate it. The Restaurant I wanted to go to is closed on Saturday (Seventh Day Adventist), but open on Sunday. I REALLY want to try the restaurant. They have empanadas. I moved this to a Sunday I may play hooky from church on Sunday. I may go and come flying in on two wheels. The rest of you can get out of bed hit the early service and get your tail to the trail.**

So I have a lot going on with this day. I will actually be brief so you read it. Would it be Christmas without Little Debbie Christmas tree cakes?

Of course not.

I actually created the picture of the Christmas tree cake hiking in the mountains with the aid of my phone. I worked hard for your amusement.

This is a multistage day, but everything is close together and close to my Noodlewah and Cleveland friends for once. Yes I know how to spell Ooltewah, but was told it was pronounced like Noodle, thought is was funny so Noodlewah it is.

This is a new one, never been to this college. I did graduate from one believe it or not. Not sure I would have been Church college material.

**First stop** meet at the Dogwood, White Oak and Valley Trail. Its on the Southern Adventist College campus. 4.4 miles, 600' elevation gain, pretty easy. You know what to bring and do. If you don't probably need to walk the mall instead.

Details here
[All Trails-Dogwood, White Oak and Valley Trail Info](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/dogwood-white-oak-and-valley-trail)

**Next Stop** the Goliath Climbing wall. We're not rock climbing. I just want to see it. It looks cool. Somebody is invariably going to ask "Are we rock climbing?" No we are not rock climbing.
[Goliath Wall Info](https://www.southern.edu/academics/pehw/outdoor-programming/facilities/goliath-wall.html)

**Third stop** the Adventure turns to the Caribbean. Favorite Pirate Phrase? Surrender the Booty! Probably not a big phrase at a place owned by the religious college, Bring your own eyepatch. This place looks so cool and different. It is Tropical food at
[Tropical Cuisine Restaurant-Website](https://tropicalcuisinerestaurant.com)

The reviews are insanely good for this place. The menu sound delicious

They have Empanadas. It is a fun to say word and a delicious treat.

**Fourth Stop** If we have time. We will be cutting it close, but because it is Christmas and we all need the Little Debbie Christmas tree Cakes it is a stop at their Company Store.

They have shopping carts. Because who doesn't need a shopping cart full of little Debbies?

[Little Debbie Company Store](https://www.mckeefoods.com/our-bakery-stores)

They also have T-shirts. For those of you who know me well I am proud to say I visited here and did not buy a t-shirt. I am a recovering t-shirt addict. if you go help me stay strong!

A possible side trip if time allows for Photo ops with Ginormous Snack cake sculptures is to the
[Little Debbie Park](https://www.visitchattanooga.com/blog/post/little-debbie-park-a-sweet-adventure/)

Now the Extraneous brain droppings.

Fun fact! I once hiked with this obnoxious dude. Very condescending. He was talking about nutrition and how healthy he ate. Hikers he said needed to eat some overnight rolled oats and berries concoction soaked in milk from virgin woodland nymphs or some esoteric nonsense.

Anything I said was ridiculed with this dude. This went on for a long time until I realized I could do interesting things with his name. He was not a fan, but I had so much fun.

Anyways...

I told him I had section hiked a bunch of the Appalachian trail up to and through most of the Smokies. Most of the through hikers were Snickers addicts, Not rolled oats soaked in virgin woodland nymph milk and my go to was the Little Debbie Peanut butter Cream pies.

He laughed at me and said I was an idiot. That was mean.

Told the story to a through hiker while section hiking one time on the Appalachian trail later and we both laughed at the dude. Next thing out of the hikers mouth "you got any of those Peanut Butter Cream pies?"

I did and they were the big size. I was legend with everyone in the shelter that night.

Do Virgin Woodland Nymphs even lactate? I mean his logic had some holes in it. Maybe it was Soy, Oat, or Cashew milk. I can't remember. He was all into that stuff so maybe no on being the Virgin Woodland Nymphs. Whatever. Pretty sure none of those lactate, but I am no expert.

Little Debbie will hook you up on the trail and Snickers are like gold. Stock up and hike close to me if you have any of the Peanut Butter Cream Pies.

I am a bit of a health nut... not really.

Little Debbie Peanut Butter Cream pies > Rolled oats, Berrys and Virgin Woodland Nymph milk. Or any lactating Cashews.

Michael Giese

Chattanooga Outdoor Adventures

Travel & Outdoor

Social

Outdoors

Adventure

Hiking

Kayaking

Backpacking

Paddling

Festivals

Eating & Drinking

Dining Out

Outdoor Adventures

Fun Times

New In Town

Make New Friends

Singles

Dogwood White Oak & Valley Trail & Tropical cuisine & Little Debbies

Exploring New Restaurants

Bauxite Ridge Trailhead

Share

Dogwood White Oak & Valley Trail & Tropical cuisine & Little Debbies

Chattanooga Outdoor Adventures

Details

Members are also interested in