Sat. 7-31-04: Drive approx. 10 hours to "Desoto State Park", on Lookout Mountain, near Fort Payne, Alabama. Camp for the night in the developed area of the park with bathrooms and showers. Breakfast at home before leaving, brown bag from home for lunch on the road, and fast food for supper after setting up camp. Do the near-by scenic drive and overlooks of "Little River Canyon Nat'l Preserve" after supper.
Sun. 8-01-04: Breakfast in camp, then break camp and drive approx. 2 hours to the "Stone Door Ranger Station" at the "Savage Gulf Natural Area", near Beersheba Springs, Tennessee. Begin the overnight backpacking hike on the easy-to-moderate, 3.2-mile, "Big Creek Rim Trail" to the "Alum Gap" backcountry campsite. This trail follows the rim of the gorge with great views, and the campsite itself is on a high ridge. Make camp and hike to the near-by "Greeter Falls" for swimming and exploring. Trail lunch and trail supper are personal, backpacking meals.
Mon. 8-02-04: Trail breakfast and trail lunch are personal, backpacking meals. The morning will be swimming and exploring. After lunch, hike out on the easy, 2.9-mile "Laurel Trail" back to the ranger station. Then drive approx. 1 hour to "Fall Creek Falls State Park", near Pikeville, Tennessee. Camp for the night in the developed area of the park with bathrooms and showers. Set up camp and do the scenic drive and overlooks before supper. Supper will be a one-pot, group meal in camp.
Tue. 8-03-04: Breakfast in camp. Day hikes to "Fall Creek Falls" and on the "Cable Trail". Swim in the "Cascades". Picnic lunch in camp between adventures. Break camp late afternoon and drive approx. 1 ½ hours to "Foster Falls TVA Campground", near Monteagle, Tennessee. Camp for the night in the developed area of the campground with bathrooms and showers. Supper will be fast food.
Wed. 8-04-04: Breakfast in camp. Day hikes to explore "Bridal Veil Falls", "Sewanee Natural Bridge", and the "Buggytop Trail" to the "Lost Cove Cave". Explore this unguided, wild, dry cave which has an 80' mouth carved out of a 150' sandstone cliff. Picnic lunch between adventures. Spend second night at "Foster Falls TVA Campground". Supper will be a one-pot, group meal in camp.
Thu. 8-05-04: Breakfast in camp. Break camp and drive approx. ½ hour to "Fiery Gizzard Trail". Day hike this trail past "Chimney Rock" to swim at "Sycamore Falls". Trail lunch will be personal, backpack type meal. After swimming, hike out and drive approx. 2 hours to Corp of Engineers Campground near Ocoee, Tennessee. Camp for the night in the developed area of the campground with bathrooms and showers. Supper will be fast food.
Fri. 8-06-04: Breakfast in camp. Break camp and drive to the near-by "Nantahala Outdoor Center" for the 11:00 am session of white water rafting on the Ocoee River. Lunch will be personal, snack type meal, before the rafting trip.. After rafting, clean up and change at the outfitters and visit their gift shop. Then drive approx. 2 hours to "Desoto State Park" in Alabama. Set up camp in the developed area of the park with bathrooms and showers. Supper will be fast food.
Sat. 8-07-04: Breakfast in camp. Spend the day exploring and day-hiking in the park and the near-by "Little River Canyon Nat'l Preserve". Picnic lunch between adventures. Supper will be a one-pot meal in camp. Spend second night at "Desoto State Park". Supper will be a one-pot, group meal.
Sun. 8-08-04: Breakfast in camp. Break camp and drive approx. 10 hour to home. Lunch will be fast food; supper will be at home. Expected to arrive home approx. 5:00 PM. |
