Saturday – CT Black Mt to Ozone Falls, Crab Orchard, TN.

Short Hike: 5 mi or less in/out to the old logging road and back. Long Hike: 6.7 mi thru hike to Ozone. Even though the hiker is making an overall descent of 1,323 ft from Black Mountain to Ozone Falls, this is a strenuous hike of 6.7 miles and the hike south bound is even more strenuous. The diff iculties are the steep descents and climbs over short distances, principally the ones into and out of The Basin, Long Branch and Falls Creek gorges. Even so, the section is rewarding with a presentation of beautiful rock bluff s, deciduous forest and clear streams. In places the trail tread is directly over sandstone cap rock pushed up by continental drift roughly 300 million years ago. The trail winds, dips and rises through lovely deciduous forest. In Winter one can see the terrain plainly through the trees and into the distance. In spring time from mid April to mid May wildflowers bloom in abundance. During the last week of April until mid May look for pink moccasin flower blooming in profusion on Black Mountain and huge gardens of cinnamon and glade ferns beside the trail coming off Black Mountain. Bring water, lunch and a snack. Don’t forget tick/bug spray and sunscreen. Depart at 7:30am CDST from Dorton United Methodist Church 1 mi East of Peavine Rd on HY 70E. Gas cost $4. For info text/call Deb 931-267-2243 or email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org.