The Perfect Snow Jacket

Yes, that's nine inches of snow in Georgia. Photographed here on the way to Springer Mountain from the Len Foote Hike Inn. 

I couldn't resist stopping at the North Georgia Premium Outlets in Dawsonville, Georgia while on a recent drive through the north Georgia mountains to celebrate Valentine's with the Big Guy. The North Face outlet store was calling my name. The women's rocket red Thermoball Snow Jacket caught my eye as I perused the beautiful merchandise.  I just had to try it on, and it was love at first sight. Not only was it a perfect fit with a cinched waist, it was discounted from the already reduced outlet price. What a steal....that's how I justified my purchase.  

Here are some of the features advertised by North Face:   

- Outstanding warmth without weight

- Flattering cinched waist 

- Features The North Face's PrimaLoft ThermoBall insulation

- DWR (durable water repellent) finish which sheds light moisture 

- Zip hand pockets

- Internal elasticated cuff 

- Water resistant, breathable 

Click here for more information on The North Face Women's ThermoBall snow jacket. 

As luck would have it, I got an opportunity to wear my new snow jacket the next week during the Siberian Express which blanketed the eastern United States in late February 2015. On a Chattanooga Hiking Club trip to the Len Foote Hike Inn, we received almost 10 inches of snow the first night. What a magical sight in Georgia for late February. Click here for more information on the Hike Inn. 

Thanks to an Appalachian Trail thru hiker from Michigan, who was also staying at the inn, for breaking trail before we departed on our hike.  

My first experience hiking in this much snow.  (Photograph courtesy of Reggie Jay)

The plaque at the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mountain, Georgia. 

I love my new snow jacket. All of the features touted by The North Face are true, and I highly recommend it if you're in the market for such a jacket. Soon, I had to remove one of my two base layers after working up a sweat trekking through nine inches of snow. Thanks to my new snow jacket, I was warm and dry the remainder of the day with only one layer.

While the snow quickly melted in Georgia, this particular hike to Springer Mountain will remain in my memory long after the jacket has been discarded for newer, more advanced outdoor gear.  I hope you will "Keep On Hiking."

2014 Highlights

A hiking friend recently encouraged me to share some thoughts on hiking 923 miles in 2014.  Most of these miles were day hikes. I hope in some small way my 2014 adventures will inspire and motivate other women to get outdoors and become physically fit through hiking.  

Instead of establishing a mileage goal for 2014, my goal was to concentrate on quality rather than quantity hiking. It's amazing what can be achieved when you focus on the journey rather than the destination. Most of my hikes were in the states of Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, and Georgia, but I was fortunate enough to hike in Utah and Wyoming, too. 

A couple of thoughts before sharing photographs:

1.  Never hike alone. 
2.  Keep track of your mileage.  Compose a spreadsheet including the date, trail, etc., or handwritten notes in a notebook or pad will work. 
3. If you suffer an injury like I did (sprained ankle June 19, 2014), listen to your body and give yourself ample time to heal. Don't rush things.
4. Learn to backpack--one of my greatest achievements in 2014.  
5. Surround yourself with others who enjoy hiking. It also helps to hike with others who have more experience and knowledge than you. 
6. Invest in quality gear: boots, clothes that wick, trekking poles, etc. 
7. Hiking is my passion; it makes me happy, helps me stay physically fit, and is the best hobby I've ever discovered. 
8. It helps to have a supportive spouse and family. 
9. Network and connect with other hikers since this provides more hiking opportunities.
10. Lastly, enjoy every second on the trail. You never know when an injury or illness will change your life forever. 

January 25, 2014 snow in the Smokies on the Miegs Mountain trail.  

February 27, 2014 at the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, Springer Mountain, Georgia. 

March 19, 2014  crossing Rock Creek in bare feet, Cherokee National Forest, near Ocoee, Tennessee.  

April 30, 2014 on the Appalachian Trail at Grayson Highlands State Park near Damascus, Virginia. 

May 21, 2014 Rocky Top, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

May 29, 2014  Sundance Resort near Provo, Utah with Mount Timpanogos in the background. 

June 16, 2014 at Carver's Gap in the Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. 

July 16, 2014  at Chickamauga Battlefield near Chattanooga, Tennessee. 

August 16, 2014  at Newfound Gap in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park prior to a Charlie's Bunion and Jumpoff hike. 

September 11, 2014 on the way to Hidden Falls in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. 

September 24, 2014  Clifftops at Mount LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with the Chattanooga Hiking Club.  

October 4, 2014 on a backpack in Shining Rock Wilderness near Waynesville, North Carolina. 

November 5, 2014  Cumberland Island National Recreation Area near St. Mary's, Georgia. 

December 6, 2014 Pine Mountain Trail near Callaway Gardens, Georgia. 

Here's to a great 2015 

January 1, 2015 backpacking along the Foothills Trail near Whitewater Falls, North Carolina.  

"KEEP ON HIKING"

Virgin Falls

One of my 2014 goals was to hike to Virgin Falls near Sparta, Tennessee. In case you missed this blog post from January 2014, here it is again.

While I didn't accomplish this goal in 2014, I did make it in January 2015 and share below a few glimpses of Virgin Falls as well as other beautiful sites along the trail.  

Virgin Falls is formed by an underground stream that emerges from a cave and then drops over a 110-foot high cliff. 

Here is more information on the Virgin Falls State Natural Area along with directions to the trailhead.  This area is part of Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau. 

The area is noted for its unique geological features and several other waterfalls. 

Big Branch Falls

The hike into Virgin Falls totals around 9 miles (in and out) and is considered a strenuous hike.  The trail descends around 900 feet in elevation and has many rocky areas with uneven footing. 

There is a cable to provide assistance at the only difficult stream crossing. 

Big Laurel Falls 

Top of Virgin Falls 

Side view of Virgin Falls. 

Winter or early Spring is the ideal time for a hike to Virgin Falls.  Be sure to allow plenty of time to see all of the fascinating geological formations along the way as well as explore the trail to the top of the Falls. 

Hope you enjoyed my hike to Virgin Falls and you have plans in 2015 to "Keep on Hiking."

Beautiful Cumberland Island

In November of 2014, I was fortunate enough to join five members of the Chattanooga Hiking Club for an amazing three days of camping and exploring on Georgia's Cumberland Island.  Below are a few glimpses of an unforgettable trip as well as scenes of beautiful Cumberland Island.

The group of six.  Wait, where's the Professor and Mary Ann?  Believe me, this was no Gilligan's Island.   

Cumberland Island is Georgia’s largest, southernmost barrier island at 17.5 miles long and 3 miles wide.  It constitutes the westernmost point of shoreline on the Atlantic Ocean in the United States and is reported to be the largest “wilderness island in America.” 

The Cumberland Island National Seashore was created by Congress in 1972 with 36,000 acres sheltered by the national park and over 9,800 acres of wilderness protected by Congress under the 1964 Wilderness Act. 

A  foot-passenger ferry took us to Cumberland Island.  It departs from the St. Mary's Visitor Center on a daily basis.  The ferry does not run on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during December through February.  

The ferry carries no cars, bicycles, kayaks, or pets.  It leaves the mainland at 9 and 11:45 a.m., and the island at 10:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m.  Ferry reservations can be made up to six months ahead by calling toll free 1.877.860.6787.  Fees are charged for ferry service, entrance to Cumberland Island, and camping.  

Don't worry, the ferry will allow you to carry whatever supplies you need to be comfortable while staying on Cumberland Island. 

The island has three docking stations.  We departed at the second stop, Sea Camp Ranger Station. 

Sea Camp Campground offers restrooms, cold showers, and drinking water.  A camping permit and reservation are both required. One cold shower in November was enough for me! 

After camper orientation at the ranger station, we hauled our luggage and supplies down this sandy lane to our assigned campsite.

A few wagons, found at the ranger station,  were essential in hauling our luggage and gear to the campsite. 

Our campsite easily accommodated three tents with "Godzilla" becoming talk of the campground. Each campsite has a fire ring and picnic table.  I was lucky enough to camp in "Godzilla" with two other ladies.  At 5'11",  I could easily stand inside without my head hitting the top of the tent. 

Food storage bins are provided at each campsite to prevent raccoon and opossum from your food supply. Some varmint actually gnawed its way into a bag of our Tostitos. 

No more details, let's go exploring. 

Beautiful Spanish moss in the sprawling live oak branches. 

Dungeness Ruins, on the southern end of the island, is easy to access from the first ferry docking site (Ice House Museum.) Revolutionary war hero General Nathanael Greene was granted land on Cumberland Island in 1783. His widow built a four-story tabby home and named it Dungeness.  

Today, this is all that remains of Dungeness even though in 1884 Thomas Carnegie and his wife Lucy began building on its foundation.  

There are acres and acres of marshes at Cumberland Island. Marshes are Earth's most productive lands with their nutrients feeding large populations of fish, shellfish, plants, and birdlife. 

The marsh buffers the island's landward side from twice-daily influxes of tidal flow, and they also absorb some storm impacts. 

Horseshoe Crab along the beach. 

Not sure how the armadillo arrived on Cumberland Island. (Photograph courtesy of Patricia Smith.) 

Is that a dorsal fin? (Photograph courtesy of Patricia Smith.) 

There are many feral horses on the island. Safety regulations are explicit:  "Don't approach feral horses, they are dangerous and kick and bite.  Feeding any wildlife is both prohibited and dangerous. 

Walking along the beach is a delight for shell collectors. 

Cumberland Island winters are short and mild.  Summer temperatures range from the 80's to low 90's.  According to park rangers, November and December are the best months for camping on the island. 

From time to time, there are managed hunts on the island.  (Photograph courtesy of Patricia Smith.)

Sunrise

Sunset (Photograph courtesy of Patricia Smith.) 

 I think that I shall never see......A poem  lovely as a tree--from Trees by Joyce Kilmer. (Photograph courtesy of Patricia Smith.) 

A concessioner on the island rents bicycles --a great way to explore the island. (Photograph courtesy of Patricia Smith.) 

After three full days of hiking, exploring, food, fun, and fellowship, it was time to leave the island.  Departing was bittersweet as Cumberland Island is such a magical place.  Everyone in our group looked forward to a warm shower and clean feet.   (Photograph courtesy of Patricia Smith.) 


Whether you like to travel, hike, or just love the outdoors, there is something for everyone on Cumberland Island.  Go ahead and plan that trip to Cumberland Island... you won't be disappointed.  I hope you will "Keep On Hiking"

Special thanks to Patricia Smith for planning and organizing such a wonderful trip.