Hiking - Sat, Mar 25 2006

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Hiking

The Basics:

Event Type:

Hike

Event Location:

Laurel-Snow Pocket Wilderness

Date(s) & Time:

Sat, Mar 25 2006 9:00 am >> N/A

Registration Opens:

Mon, Jan 1 2007 12:00 am

Registration Cut Off:

Wed, Mar 22 2006 11:59 pm

Event Duration:

per itinerary

Difficulty Rating:

D5: Difficult

Trip Leader(s):

Bruce

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You must be logged in to get the Trip Leader contact information.

Member Cost:

None

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 21 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

13 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

Moderate to Strenuous 10 mile hike

Join me for this adventure in this ‘pocket wilderness’ set aside in Tennessee by the Bowater lumber company-a conservation minded company that saved several scenic areas in Tennessee for future enjoyment by the public. The Laurel-Snow pocket wilderness was the first one set aside in Tennessee and features old ‘coke ovens’ from when this was a coal mining area, remnants-piers of several original railroad bridges which now hold up footbridges leading us to the wilderness areas around the Richland Creek watershed. We will walk first up the crude, narrow path through a small boulder cave, then switchbacks up the hill to Laurel Falls. After stopping to admire Laurel Falls, which falls through the sandstone top of the plateau to the valley below, we will make our way to the top of the plateau through a winding small path which goes through a small seam in the rocks to the top of plateau. We will make our way a short distance to an overlook, and enjoy the views from there. Then we will return the way we came to the bottom of the valley and the the path split to another overlook trail which crosses triple steel bridges over old railroad bridge piers above Richland Creek. This goes up a steep switch-backed slope, past a small heart shape cave, to a wonderful overlook from the top of the plateau that looks out over the Tennesee River Valley watershed and ‘Gulf’- Tennessee’s’ name for the large depressions in plateaus caused by creek and river drainage’s. From this last overlook, we will walk back down the long slope to our cars, and for those that wish, a well earned dinner in Dayton, TN before returning to the big city.

NOTE: Bonus points for anyone driving that has an SUV or high clearance vehicle for the rough road-one mile in to Laurel-Snow wilderness. The roads are all paved except for this last mile. I have made it slowly and carefully in a car, but cars are not optimal; and low slung ones not suggested whatsoever.

Also, I expect anyone going on a 10 mile hike to be in decent shape to come along. We will not speed or rush, but it will be important to keep a steady pace, and not slow the group, as time is of the essence, in the short daylight season.

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
Bring supportive shoes and two liters-quarts of water and trail snacks and/or lunch.
When friends Steven and Angela helped me check this hike out last fall, poison ivy was abundant on the narrower sections leading to Laurel Falls, which shouldn’t be as bad in early spring; but bring long pants and pre-treatment cream in case you are susceptible.

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

Near Dayton, Tennessee Park N Ride only, please From Chastain Road we travel up I-75 north some 90 miles to Chattanooga where we will bear left on highway I-24 west to exit 178 to highway 27 north, which goes past downtown Chattanooga and the aquarium, over the Tennessee River and north to Dayton. Just outside the northern part of bustling metropolis of Dayton, TN, we turn left onto the road that will take us a few miles to the short, but very rough, rutted, 1 mile dirt road that leads us to the trailhead for the Laurel-Snow ‘pocket wilderness’.

Notes:

Are Dogs Permitted? No.

Will This Event Occur Rain or Shine? No. Not in terribly inclement weather such as thunderstorms.

NOTE: Please be considerate of others. If you sign-up and cannot attend, please e-mail the event leader, so others that may be on a waiting list may attend. E-mail the leader to be put on a waiting list if the event is at the max number of attendees.

* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:

Shared costs for gas for your carpool drivers (its about 135 miles
Cost for dinner, $15 or less, depending on where we eat.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance: Please review the AOC cancellation policy.