camping

Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Cades Cove Biking, Camping and Hiking Event. Joint activity with the Highland Rim chapter. We have reserved a gorgeous group campsite in the Cades Cove Campground Monday through Thursday. Monday we will hike out and back on the Anthony Creek Trail. Tuesday’s hike is to Gregory Bald. Wednesday we will ride bikes in Cades Cove and hike to Abrams Falls. Rental bikes are available at the campground store. Thursday on our way home we will hike the West Prong Trail in Tremont. Azaleas and spring wildflowers will be blooming. To reserve a spot in the group campsite, contact Joan Hartvigsen at jhartvigs@comcast.net or 931-962-0811. For more information or to sign up, contact Sara Pollard at 615-714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com.

Mammoth Cave National Park Expedition in Kentucky – joint event with the Highland Rim and Nashville chapters. This will include planned activities Thursday afternoon through mid-day on Sunday. We will meet Thursday afternoon Sept 30 at 3:00 pm by the Visitor Center for an easy 2-mile hike around the historic area with views of the Green River and River Styx spring. On Friday we will take the ranger-guided Grand Avenue cave tour. This is a 4-hour/4-mile hike that is rated as strenuous for length and stairs. There are 2 restroom stops; only water is allowed in the cave unless you have a medical issue that requires a snack. You will have free time in the afternoon to do your own exploring. Cost for the cave tour is $35, or $17.50 with a National Park Senior/Access Pass Holder. There is a limit on the number of tour participants; Patty Deen will reserve spots in advance. On Saturday we will hike the 10.2 mile back-country Sal Hollow-Buffalo Creek loop trail. The single-track path winds through beautiful forest with massive oaks, beech and cedar, past bluff springs, sinkholes and old homesites. The trail is rated moderate to difficult, however given the relatively dry conditions this time of year it should be on the moderate side. Much of the path is actually easy. On Sunday morning we will kayak the Green River. A local operator will provide kayaks and shuttle us to the put-in at Dennison Ferry for a 3 to 4-hour trip to Green River Ferry. The trip passes through the gorge with wooded hills, limestone bluffs with small caves and sandy beaches. There will be opportunities to enjoy the park’s bike trails both on Friday afternoon and Sunday afternoon. A site in the Maple Springs Group Campground has been reserved for 4 nights, Thursday through Sunday evening for those who wish to extend their stay past Sunday’s activities.
There is a maximum of 16 participants for this event. Due to parking & logistical restrictions participants with an RV will need to make their own reservations in the nearby Mammoth Cave Campground. Please contact Patty Deen pdeen@palomar.edu or text to 760-703-8115 to indicate your interest in this trip and for more information. Deadline to sign up is Friday September 24.