Introduction
“I had an itch. I had to scratch it.” That's what I told Mrs. Appalachian Irishman when I called her at 4:32 PM yesterday. Last evening, we would need to have baked taters, not mashed taters, with our supper. At the time of my call, my truck and I were fixin' to head home from Big Ridge State Park. Normally, at about 4:30 PM, I start peeling taters for my wife to mash once she is back home.
Tuesday's article—with the embedded Appalachian Irishman - Podcast (YouTube) episode—was about my walk down memory lane last Sunday afternoon at Big Ridge State Park. I had picked up a paper copy of the Park Map Brochure, which shows the trails and the distance of each trail. That started the itch. I wanted to explore those trails! Yesterday, I scratched the itch by exploring trails!
This article, the 64th in the Hiking topic section, encapsulates yesterday's real hike at Big Ridge State Park! My 2006 Frontier and I took the longer route (Highway 441 north to Norris and then east on Highway 61). The last five miles on Highway 61, in Union County, are curvy. It is, however, far less curvy than the shorter route, mentioned in Tuesday's article. Leaving the house at 12:30 PM, we arrived at the park at 1:13 PM.
The hike in and up, including four photographs, is followed by the hike out and down, with four photographs. The total time hiking was three hours and eight minutes, from 1:20 to 4:28 PM. I hiked at least 7.8 total miles. The weather was mostly sunny with a light breeze. The temperature rose from the mid 50s Fahrenheit to the mid 60s. I was glad that my upper layers were only a T-shirt and a short-sleeve shirt.
The Hike In & Up with Four Photographs
After parking my truck, I started hiking in at 1:20 PM on the Lake Trail. (It begins beside a paved road, behind the visitor center, and heads northwest.) I hiked the first six-tenths of a mile, which came to a footbridge spanning a lake inlet. The segment was easy, with gentle ups, downs, and curves. Much of the trail offers views of Big Ridge Lake and Norris Lake.
Crossing the footbridge, I turned left (or west) onto the Dark Hollow Trail West for a two-mile hike. (From that trail intersection, the Lake Trail continues east for about 1.2 miles and comes out near the Group Camp on Group Camp Road.) The first part of the Dark Hollow Trail West winds northwest and offers views of Norris Lake. I met one couple, about my age, as they were hiking out. We conversed briefly and pleasantly. Later, the main part of the trail turns northeast and continues below several ridge lines. The trail is fairly level. I stepped across a few narrow mountain streams.
On October 4, 2008, my wife, our niece (20 at the time), our niece's female friend, and I camped overnight at a backwoods campsite along the Dark Hollow Trail West. The next two photographs show the campsite. I found it. A footbridge crosses a creek just before the campsite.
I took the above photograph, looking northwest, at 2:11 PM. Two minutes later, the next photograph shows the campsite from the opposite direction.
Back in 2008, we pitched two tents behind the fire pit. I had fixed camp stew, as I call it. We ate well and enjoyed a wonderful camping experience! I wouldn't mind camping there again.
Shortly after taking the two previous photographs, I met a younger man who was hiking out. We conversed briefly. I didn't meet any other hikers during the rest of the hike.
Along the trail, I saw where a few homesteads once stood a century or so ago. Rock foundations of houses were still visible. This trail is long but relatively easy. I enjoyed a few instances where the uphill climb increased my heart rate a little bit! I saw human and canine tracks in a few muddy locations.
The last section of the trail is steeper. It leads north and up the ridge. At 2:45 PM, I took the following photograph:
The two-mile Dark Hollow Trail West was behind and below me. I turned left, or northwest, to continue onto the Big Valley Trail, which is 0.45 miles long at this segment. The trail is steeper as it heads up to the ridgeline. I enjoyed the workout!
After reaching the intersection, I turned left, continuing northwest, and onto the Indian Rock Trail. It is a 2.4-mile loop trail. I hiked up the 1.3-mile west section, which turns northeast to reach the ridge top. At 3:03 PM, I took the following photograph from the ridge top:
I enjoyed the view of Norris Lake, below and in the background. Due to the time of day, I decided to hike down and out.
The Hike Out & Down, with Four Photographs
I hiked back down (southwest and south) on the same 1.3-mile section of the Indian Rock Trail and then the 0.45 segment of the Big Valley Trail. Afterward, I stayed on the Big Valley Trail and passed where it intersects with the Dark Hollow Trail West (up which I had hiked).
I took the following photograph at 3:45 PM. I had already hiked down the first 0.75-mile segment of the Big Valley Trail.
At that juncture, the trail intersects with the 1.25-mile Ghost House Loop Trail. I didn't see or hear any ghosts in the area! I only saw and stepped around a few muddy spots along the trail. The smell of the nearby pine trees was pleasant.
After hiking down the final 0.70 miles of the Big Valley Trail, I took the following photograph at 4:04 PM:
A paved park road, not visible in the image, was behind me. I had returned to modern civilization. During my hike, I speculated how folks, who lived in the area a century or so ago, must have lived. I wondered why they had chosen such remote locations. Old cemeteries mark the passing of some of those people.
After a brief visit to an outdoor urinal (behind a large pine tree that had fallen), I took the next photograph as proof of civilization at 4:09 PM. The view looks southwest.
The mailbox is for the park ranger's house, which is up the paved driveway. The Norton Gristmill is visible at a distance to the left in the image.
Wanting a closer shot of that mill, I trekked the distance. Four minutes after the previous image, I took the following close-up photograph of the mill:
It is a replica of the Norton Gristmill. As the 2/20/2024 article states, “The original mill was built in 1825 and operated until 1930, three years before TVA started construction, on the nearby Norris Dam.” Before taking the photograph, I asked a man, who had been standing at the entrance, if anyone was inside selling corn meal. He laughed and said no.
I decided to hike back to my truck on the Old Mill Trail, which starts beside the mill. It is a 0.25-mile trail that winds below the paved road. Leaving that trail, I still had to walk past the cabins and the beach area to reach my truck.
Conclusion
Returning home, just after my truck and I crossed the line from Anderson County into Knox County, the odometer reached exactly 190,000 miles! Once back home at 5:27 PM, supper was almost ready. The smell of baked taters welcomed me into the kitchen.
Early into the hike, I felt my “bionic” (surgically repaired) right foot as it “talked to me.” I think that the left side of that foot, around the ankle, must be undergoing further recovery. Early this morning, once out of bed and standing with that foot on the floor, was a “wonderful” experience. As the day continued, a step with my repaired right foot started to return to its “normal” feeling.
I am thankful to the Lord that I am still able to hike. Hiking at least 7.8 miles on five trails was a real hike at Big Ridge State Park!
Today, the clouds and strong wind should bring rain sometime this evening. Yesterday, I noticed light clouds forming and felt a light to moderate wind. I figured that rain was coming in a day or two.
My feet still need to discover a few other trails or trail sections. Who wants to hike Big Ridge State Park with me next time? I am awaiting at least one reply.
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