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January 21, 2007
Five Reasons to Join a Hiking Club
Our group starting up the Chunky Gal Trail
Across America, there are hundreds of hiking clubs that lead outings every week. Hundreds of thousands of Americans belong to these groups - and for good reason. Yesterday, I led a 9-mile hike for the Chattanooga Hiking Club along the Chunky Gal Trail in Western North Carolina. Here's an overview of that trip, along with five reasons why you should consider joining a hiking club and actively participate in the club's activities. To find a hiking club near you, please visit the American Hiking Society Alliance of Hiking Clubs database.
#1. Meet new people
The day started at 7:45 AM when I met Sharon, Tim, and Hoss in Ooltewah, Tennessee. After our introductions, we parked the cars in a safe place, and everyone piled into my Jeep for the 2-hour ride to the trailhead. Although the price of gas was as low as I've seen it in over a year ($1.88.9), our ride share allowed us to save money and resources, and get to know one another.
Our route to the trailhead took us through the Ocoee River Gorge and past the Ocoee Whitewater Center - where the kayaking events for the '96 Olympics were held. We also crossed over the Benton MacKaye Trail, and this sparked conversations about getting together to hike a stretch of that trail at a later date.
We made a quick pit stop in Ducktown, Tennessee where we used the facilities, filled our coffee cups, and met Randy who followed us to the trailhead in his own vehicle.
At 10 AM we met my hike co-leader, John Ray. John left his car along HWY 64 and rode with Randy to the trailhead.
#2. Hiking is a healthy activity
We finally arrived....
at the trailhead and prepared for our hike. For about 5 minutes, folks changed clothes, made sure they had their water and lunches, adjusted their trekking poles, and generally prepared for a 7-hour day hike in the backcountry.
Our destination for the day is Tusquittee Bald, which at 5240' in elevation, required us to traverse some steep terrain, and gain over 2000' of elevation in about 3.5 miles. If you are new to hiking, you would probably want to start out with an easier hike, and work your way up to more strenuous hikes.
It wasn't long before our hearts were pumping, the sweat was flowing, and we were climbing through a beautiful forest. We crossed a small stream 5 or 6 times, and since the logs and rocks were slippery with moss and ice, it required teamwork, great care, as well as agility to cross without falling into the creek. This kind of activity is great for building confidence. It's also great fun, and transports me back to my childhood days.
Crossing a stream along the Chunky Gal Trail.
#3. Learn about nature
Along the trail, we quickly noticed that most of the Hemlock trees along the trail were either dead or dying. The Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, a tiny insect, is killing these majestic trees. While that was somewhat disheartening, we also saw a HUGE Buckeye Tree just off the trail. Higher up on the trail, we saw evidence of American Chestnut Trees. We found several burs, or nut cases that had fallen along the edge of the trail. While the Eastern Chestnut was once one of the commonest trees found in this forest, they have been virtually wiped out by a blight back in the 1930s. Finding a tree that is bearing fruit is quite rare!
On almost all hikes, there is someone who is knowledgeable about trees, or birds, or wildflowers, or perhaps some other aspect of the ecology of the place you're hiking in. When you learn about what it is that you're seeing, it makes hiking all the more interesting.
Our Group gathers around the base of a giant Buckeye Tree
#4. Set Goals and Accomplish Them
Our goal for the day was to reach the summit of Tusquittee Bald, eat our lunches, and then walk over to Potrock Bald and take in the views there. It took us about 2.5 hours to reach the summit of Tuquittee Bald. The trail was covered with ice in places, and the occasional downed tree slowed our pace. Once on top, we took in the incredible view, and then sat down on the grassy summit, ate our lunches and chatted.
Our group enjoying lunch on top of Tusquittee Bald
We then assembled for the obligatory group shot that required me to use the timer setting on my camera. That function is always good for a few laughs, as the process of setting up the camera, taking the photo, and running to get into the image before the photo is taken, is always a humorous endeavor.
John, Hoss, Jeffrey, Randy, Sharon and Tim atop Tusquittee Bald
#5. Discover New Places
As we reached Potrock Bald and marveled at the views before us, several individuals expressed how beautiful the area was. Other than John Ray and me, the other four participants had never visited this area. They were thrilled with the natural beauty and the solitude that the Chunky Gal Trail and Fires Creek Rim Trail offered up. It's always nice to have a reward that is commensurate with the effort expended to reach your destination. In the case of the Chunky Gal Trail, the views definitely made the climb worth our while.
After spending some time atop Potrock Bald, we turned around and headed back to the trailhead. We arrived at our vehicles at around 5 PM, and soon we were headed back to Chattanooga. It was a great day on the trail!
On the way home, we passed some signage along HWY 64 protesting the proposed Interstate Highway 3. I-3 would connect Savannah, Georgia to Knoxville, Tennessee, and cut through the heart of the Southern Appalachians. This project has spawned a huge backlash, and the formation of the Stop I-3 Coalition. American Hiking Society is a member of the Stop I-3 Coalition, because of the impact that an interstate highway would have on the natural areas and trails of the beautiful Southern Appalachians.
I hope you'll consider joining American Hiking Society and your local hiking club, and get outside for a hike soon!
Happy Trails!
Great Places to Hike | By Jeffrey Hunter | 09:55 AM
