Day Three Blog: Final Day Of Cliffs & Waterfall Hiking

The final day would be part driving and part hiking. First I helped cook breakfast after we were done eating, I had told Steve that I wasn't sure if I would do the first six miles of the day and just the back half, from Little Stoney Falls to Hanging Rock. Steve then asked if I would shuttle, which turned out to be a win-win. I got to rest my knee and we went to Bear Rock.

While a short hike (about quarter-mile out) it is a lot of bang for the buck. However, since the last time I was there, back in September of 2015, it had considerable fire damage from the autumn blazes. Even with some damage it still has a nice vista.

After enjoying the view here we headed down to Little Stoney Falls. Steve told me about a hike up to a rock cliff, just off the trail, when we are at Bear Rock.  It was a steep climb up, but a great view. Then there was an added bonus of plenty of Mountain Laurel. I then headed back to the first of the main Little Stony Falls.

Once the rest of the group arrived we headed out. While the group missed the second falls...I didn't. At the third, we stopped for a number of our party to take a dip (I had already put my feet in at the first falls). After an extended break we headed on down the trail.

I didn't see Johnny Molloy describe in his book, Five Star Trail Tri-Cities of Tennessee & Virginia, but there were three more nice waterfalls on down the trail. Near the end of the hike, we passed the namesake for Hanging Rock.

After getting back to Bark Camp Lake I dropped off some of our group and said my goodbyes. Before leaving I took a short trip down to the lake. Overall, while I didn't get that many miles in...around three (and 10 for the weekend) it was a great day and a great end to the three days of hiking and camping.

Day Two Blog: From High Knob On Chief Bengie Trail...

On Saturday morning I got up for the 11-mile half of the Clinch Coalition Hike hike on the Chief Bengie Trail. This hike was part of National Trail Day. So, after a decent night sleep, I got up ready to go. I was one of the shuttle cars and we met at the High Knob Tower. We all went up, but I joined the hike at the High Knob Lake Recreation Area.

The reason, I had lost my old phone, which I eventually found in the car wedged in the seat. We first looked for salamanders in High Knob Lake and headed out on the Chief Bengie Trail. It was a good hike on this yellow blazed trail as we climbed up a Big Rock at Mountain Fork and then past what might be a grave.

Then about three or four miles in I did a rock hop of Bark Camp Branch and tweaked my knee. About this time the trail got really rocky which didn't help. Because it was bothering me I had to tap out! I stayed with Steve while we supplied the hikers. We then headed back to Bart Camp Lake to wait for the other hikers to finish, before heading back to High Knob for the cars.

When we got back we had a great dinner and some presentations, including one about Chief Bengie. Then we watched some Caveman TV, which I always love to do!

Day One Blog: Evening Before The Hike

On Friday, I headed to Virginia for the annual National Trail Days Overnight Hike with the Clinch Coalition on Saturday. I headed over the night before to avoid having such a long drive and early start on Saturday. However, what I thought was an easy trip over was anything but...First, my main camera broke, then signals got crossed and I went to High Knob Lake Recreation Area instead of Bark Camp Lake (about 8 miles away from an half-hour). Somewhere along the way, I lost my old phone and the GPS took me the wrong way. But I finally got to Bark Camp Lake around dusk. Right, when I was going to sleep at 11 pm a family came into one of the adjacent campsites. Let say they didn't observe quite hours! It was after midnight before I feel asleep. 

But I did eat at the Wood Booger Grill, which was really cool...for a Wood Booger! Well, that was day one here is hoping day two goes smoother.

Day Blog: Black Snake Moan

Where I live, here in St. Clair, we have always had Black Snakes. But when the old garage was torn down to make way for a new one our resident Black Snake needed to find a new home, but we hadn't seen him or any snakes in some time.
Well, that changed in the last few days. While mowing on Tuesday I saw not one but two Black Snakes. Then on Wednesday Dad spotted one trying to get under the house and it must have been successful because he saw one come out from beneath there today. Well, I carried it off because it was trying to climb a tree and was driving some birds crazy.

Then late this afternoon my Dad came over while I was enjoying the fire pit and said you need to see this. Turns out that the two Black Snakes I had seen were male and female and (in the words of Bill Clinton) were having "relations" in our yard. I had only seen this on TV so, it was a first. However, even though I didn't want to break up the part I once again needed to move them. Oh yes...I let them do their business before I hauled them off to the woods. A man has got to be respectable!