Meeting times

MONTHLY MEETINGS: (Except January) Meet 2nd Tuesday at 7:00 pm CT. Barfield Crescent Park's Wilderness Station, 401 Volunteer Road, Murfreesboro


Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Passport Stamp Book

Chapter members Rene and Pete Jacobs have officially visited all 57 Tennessee State Parks and have the certificate! Rene said they were inspired by the passport stamp book they received at our chapter meeting from State Naturalist Randy Hedgepath. Next on their list to visit are the four future Tennessee State Parks: Middle Fork Bottoms State Park, North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Park, Scott’s Gulf Wilderness State Park and Devil’s Backbone State Park. More information at https://tnstateparks.com/about/future-state-parks.


Saturday, March 2, 2024

Black Mountain - Sara



We had 9 hikers to hike the Black Mountain section of the Cumberland Trail. We met at 8:30 am CT at the Black/Brady Mountain trailhead on Highway 68. We explored Windlass Cave and then a back country campsite with what would have been a nice view, but it was too foggy to see into Grassy Cove. It stayed cloudy all day and we weren't able to see much from the overlooks. We enjoyed an early lunch at the South Overlook.  We explored old homesteads and a spring house. After hiking the short loop at the top of Black Mountain we made our way back down to the trailhead on Highway 68. 


The hike distance totaled almost 9 miles and we finished in 5 hours. Hikers were: Jim Barritt, Jay Brain, Jean Breuer, Craig McBride, Lora McBride, Sheila Miller, Thai Alan Ng, Sara Pollard and Jane Reyling. 

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Henry Horton State Park - Sara


This was supposed to have been our annual John Ruth's breakfast and hike, but John had to bow out because of family illness. We met at 10:00 am at the camp store to begin our hike . Noel Pasco of the Columbia chapter isn't in the first group photo because he was running late but was able to catch up with us on the trail. We got on the trail in the tent campground and turned left on the Adeline Wilhoite trail and hiked all the way to the end. We then hiked the Wilhoite loop trail and continued on the Wilhoite trail past where we began. We hiked to the Wetlands overlook and had lunch in the pavilion. The frogs were singing their hearts out and were pretty loud. It was a bit chilly, but the sun would pop out occasionally. Hikers were Jay Brain, Joe Campbell, Amanda Carkhuff, Noel Pasco, Sara Pollard, Lynn Rosser and Al Suppinger.

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Virgin Falls SNA


Doug Burroughs and Sara Pollard led 9 hikers on the multi chapter (Highland Rim, Murfreesboro, Nashville) hike at Virgin Falls. It was a beautiful day, and we started our hike at 9:00 am CT.  We had lunch below the falls, and some hikers enjoyed the loop trail over the falls. Linda, our group told us about the new trail, and we took that route on the way back. It starts after the Caney Fork River sign and ends about a mile before the trailhead parking lot. Kiosks at the beginning and end of the trail are up but there's no signage yet. We met workers attaching blazes on the trees and were told the trail would be open in about a week. The trail was built to have an alternate route if the cable crossing was unsafe to cross. It doesn't travel along the creek and it's mostly uphill all the way. It's not as rocky or scenic as the original route. 

Hikers were Jean Breuer, Doug Burroughs, Joe Campbell, Michelle Franklin, Nancy Juodenas, Linda Klingerman, Sara Pollard, Jane Reyling, Dianna Richter, Lynn Rosser and Gloria Dale Williams.

Saturday, February 3, 2024

Standing Stone State Park



Jeanne Conatser led 8 hikers on the Lake Trail at Standing Stone State Park hike today. We met at the Visitor Center and started our hike behind the rustic cabins. We hiked almost 6 miles around Kelly Lake with several ups and downs and the views of the lake and rock formations were beautiful. There were nice bridges to cross and the temperature was perfect for hiking. 

We were joined by a hiker from Livingston and hikers from the Plateau chapter. Hikers were Judi Boyle, Jay Brain, Joe Campbell, Jeanne Conatser, Misty Feh, Sheila Miller, Sara Pollard, Sue Smith, and Wayne Yancey.

Pictures:

Saturday, January 27, 2024

Chilly Chili Hike

 

Even though this was the 22nd annual "chili hike", the hike was cancelled due to the heavy rain. The plan was to hike Shakerag Hollow to Beckwith's Point in Sewanee, but the rain was not letting up. The chili lunch wasn't cancelled though, and we met for lunch at Jim and Marietta's house in Monteagle. We had 25 folks enjoying lunch from three different chapters. Murfreesboro chapter members attending were Jay Brain, Joe Campbell, Katy Ginanni, Sara Pollard, Georganne Ross and Lynn Rosser.

Pictures:

Monday, January 1, 2024

New Years Day Hike Long Hunter - Sara


There were 23 hikers from 5 different chapters (Highland Rim, Columbia/Franklin, Sumner Trails, Murfreesboro and Nashville) represented at the annual New Year's Day hike at Long Hunter State Park. It was a bit chilly, but everyone dressed warmly, and we kept moving along. We had lunch under the picnic shelter after our 4-mile hike to the Bryant Grove Recreation Area. Nancy Juodenas brought black eyed peas to share with the group. On our way back we saw several deer and a herring by the lake. Even though the lake water level was down, we still had nice views of the lake. A great way to start a new year! 

Hikers were Jay Brain, Jean Breuer, Anna Lina Buckley, Doug Burroughs, Amanda Carkhuff, Frank Clark, Kim Gibbons, Michael Glennon, Joan Hartvigsen, Nancy Juodenas, Lacee Lanier, Susan Logue, Bonnie O'Berry, Joan Phillips, Sara Pollard, Marietta Poteet, Jane Reyling, Sharon Rhoades, Dianna Richter, John Ruth, Amy Sutton, Vinny, and Gloria Dale Williams.