Nashville Hiking Meetup

We're going back to Big South Fork for Memorial Day Weekend 2019! I've got group camp E-1 reserved so you don't have to book an individual site! Take that Friday off so you can hit the Mennonite stores on the way from Nashville in Muddy Pond near Monterey. General store, crafts, and all things leather. Set up camp and cook your meals in the shared pavilion that includes charcoal grills and a fireplace. Bring your musical instruments for performances (I am NOT kidding). We have confirmed keyboard performer (and ace paddler) Mike Tossing, fresh off his strange, exotic tour from Milan to Minsk. Events include: Saturday 5/25 (all times central) 8:15 a.m. - Pickett paddling http://meetu.ps/e/Gy4mn/zY6Z/f 8:15 a.m. - Pickett paddling (bring your own boat) http://meetu.ps/e/GyXLf/zY6Z/f 10:00 a.m. - Twin Arches Loop Hike with Steve Nunley http://meetu.ps/e/GzRQ0/zY6Z/f 10:30 a.m. - Honey Creek Loop Hike with Art Craven and Sabine http://meetu.ps/e/GzSvp/zY6Z/f 1:15 p.m. - Guided horseback ride http://meetu.ps/e/GyXR9/zY6Z/f 6:00 p.m. - Group dinner in the badass pavilion. Charcoal grills, fireplace, and picnic tables. Bring something to share or cook your own. 7:00 p.m. - The song stylings of Mike Tossing in the pavilion. Please bring firewood 8:00 p.m. - Ghost stories at the campfire circle. Please bring firewood Sunday 5/26 (all times central) 8:30 a.m - Paddle the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River with Leslie Dunn and Mike Tossing http://meetu.ps/e/GB6zH/zY6Z/f 9:30 a.m. - Needle's Eye hike with Mike Hicks http://meetu.ps/e/GzBdB/zY6Z/f 10:00 a.m. - Kelly Stewart leads Pogue Creek moderate hike http://meetu.ps/e/GBpsV/zY6Z/f 6:00 p.m. - Group dinner in the badass pavilion. Charcoal grills, fireplace, and picnic tables. Bring something to share or cook your own. 6:45 p.m. - Moonlight Canoe Float at Pickett State Park http://meetu.ps/e/GDPd7/zY6Z/f 7:00 p.m. - Music in the pavilion. Please bring firewood 8:00 p.m. - Ghost stories at the campfire circle. Please bring firewood Full printable itinerary: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Iv1ac6cixOTmsPheJbZMKdOT1oNiUDBNPokhzCB4UdE/edit?usp=sharing RSVP you and your guests and the campsites will be first come first serve. Flat $25 per person for the entire weekend, Friday through Monday. You may be sharing your campsite with another tent. REPEAT, THIS IS A PER PERSON CHARGE AND NOT PER TENT OR PER SITE. The group camp is so cool. We have our own pavilion for cooking, eating, and fireplace plus our own fire ring and bathhouse! Well behaved dogs are welcomed but you must not leave a dog at camp in a car, kennel, or tent. Yes KIDS! No refunds after May 10, 2019.

5/6/19: No more kayak rentals available for this paddle. - Leslie BRING YOUR OWN BOAT AND GEAR or RENTALS: Up to five kayaks, PFDs, and paddles can all be rented from Leslie for $25 per day. Please go to http://paypal.com and send $25 to [masked] under Friends and Family payments, then post in the comments here on this page that you're renting. These are two trip options that Mike and Leslie have worked up. Depending on water level and conditions that week, they will choose one of the two paddles. +++ Paddle Option 1 - Leatherwood Ford to Station Camp 8 miles Class I-II Starting at a well-developed put-in not far from the Bandy Creek campground, this 8-mile run has some nice scenery, good flow, and some small Class I & II rapids and riffles, particularly in the upper sections, and flattens out in the lower sections where more paddling will be required. This section is used by many of the outfitters for their day trips and boat rentals and can be navigated by beginner to novice paddles in recreational boats and open canoes. There is a mandatory portage at Angel Falls (ClassIV). It's approximately 1/4 mile walk with boats over some uneven, rocky terrain - sturdy footwear is needed (no flip-flops) and some may find this strenuous. Depending on stops and portage time, this trip should take about 4-5 hours on the river, plus shuttle time. Boaters will need to dress appropriately, and pack sufficient water and a shore lunch. A dry bag with a change of clothes is always welcome on a cool day after an unplanned swim. +++ Paddle Option 2 - Blue Heron Mine to Yamacraw Bridge or Alum Ford 4.8 or 12.2 miles Class I-II A little further drive and shuttle - this section is most likely to have water in all conditions. The put-in at Blue Heron is within a former mining camp that is now a mining museum with many educational displays. The group could spend some time visiting before putting on the water. Depending on timing and interest, this could be either a 4.8 or 12.2 mile paddle. It's listed as Class I-II, but in my experience it is mostly flat, especially past the Yamacraw bridge as we get closer to the lake. Appropriate for beginning paddlers and recreational kayaks - no spray skirt required. It is mostly flat with little flow in spots where steady paddling will be required. +++ Have your boats and gear loaded and gather at camp E-1 pavilion for briefing at 8:30 with goal to be rolling out by 9:00. We'll have plenty of daylight so that should work for either option. +++ Pʜᴏᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴜʀᴛᴇsʏ Mɪᴋᴇ Hɪᴄᴋs

This is a strenuous 10-mile hike (lollipop) starting at Leatherwood Ford. We will carpool from Bandy Creek Campground to Leatherwood Ford. The hike will pass several of the most picturesque locations in Big South Fork -- The O&W Bridge, Jake's Falls, Devil's Den, O&W Overlook and finally Needle's Eye. The Needle's Eye (also known as "The hole in the ridge"), is one of the largest caves in BSF. It extends all the way across Hurricane Ridge from one side to the other. It's not shown on any of the park maps and can only be reached by following some badly marked horse trails after passing the O&W Overlook. This hike is considered strenuous due to the length (~10-miles), elevation (~1800-ft), and the use of poorly marked and maintained horse trails (expect mud & bugs). Weather permitting, we will take a break as we return across the O&W Bridge for some fun in the river.

PLEASE NOTE WE MAY MOVE THIS TO AFTERNOON Join your hike leader Kelly Stewart for a trek on the Pogue Creek Canyon trail. This moderate, 4-mile hike will take us to numerous rock formations as well as two beautiful overlook locations. Please wear proper footwear and bring plenty of water and a light snack. Meet for carpool at BSF group camp E-1 pavilion at 10:00 a.m. central. We will then drop off peeps at the Pogue Creek SNA trailhead along Hwy 154 and then stage cars on the Mesa Trail trailhead along Blackhouse Mountain Rd., returning back and start hiking from Pogue Creek trailhead. Trail map: https://tnstateparks.com/assets/pdf/additional-content/Pogue_Creek_Canyon_Trail_Map_2017.pdf