Saturday – Smokies Mountain National Park- Schoolhouse Gap, White Oak Sinks & Chestnut Top Trails.  Joint hike with Upper Cumberland Chapter

Long Hike:  This is a moderate to strenuous one-way hike arranging shuttles at each trailhead which are 3 miles apart by road.  The hike will begin on Schoolhouse Gap trail.  In about 1 mile the hike will go into White Oak Sinks, a popular area not on the Great Smoky Mt National Park map.  We will be there after the abundant spring flowers are gone, but a few may still around.  We will explore this area on well-worn paths to Rainbow Falls Cave and Blowhole Cave.  If interested we can check out the grave of Abraham Law 1790-1864 before venturing on through and out to the end of Schoolhouse Gap.  After a lunch break the hike will continue till it intersects Chestnut Top Trail which we will hike on to the Townsend Wye.  Chestnut Top Trail is on a ridge with views on both sides of Thunderhead Mountain and the Smokies Crest on the descent to the road.  Hopefully we will hit it right to enjoy Mountain Laurel and some Flame Azaleas in bloom.  The mileage for this hike is 6.5 miles plus wandering in White Oak Sinks with a total estimate of about 8 miles.  The hike starts out at 1543’ elevation and ends at 1060’ elevation but has some gain and loss along the way with around 1000’ descent in the last 2.5 miles.  Short Hike:  4.6 miles in on Schoolhouse Gap to White Oak Sinks and out with a 692’ elevation gain.  Don’t forget tick/bug spray and sunscreen.  Pack water, snacks and lunch.  We’ll stop for dinner on the way home.   Depart from Dorton UMC, 3405 Hwy 70 East, Crossville at 7:30am CDST.  Carpool fee is $10.  For additional information contact the hike coordinator Deb at plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243 or Cheryl Heckler 931-200-7436 who will lead the hike.