Cumberland Mountain State Park, Crossville, Tennessee
We conquered a mountain today!
Black Mountain is about a ten minute drive to the trailhead and it has a 1,600’ elevation change within 4 miles! Add an additional mile or so for a spur trail and around the top and we hiked approximately 9 – 9.5 moderately strenuous miles today! It was quite a climb, but relatively easy as the trail itself was flat, packed dirt. And often, it was lined with beautiful wildflowers!
Whew! Our bodies were tired! But we held up nicely, and we’re very happy about that. Since Blaine retired, his eyes aren’t as dry, his shoulders don’t ache, his knees don’t need braced when we hike. We are so wonderfully blessed!
This trail was better marked than any we’ve been on in a long time.
Except when we began. This is not a State or National Park trail, it’s maintained by The Friends of Cumberland Trail. Blaine’s information told us where to park, and then cross the road and walk alongside the road for about ¼ mile to the trailhead.
Apparently, they don’t think literally down here like we do. We did just as they said – we parked, crossed the road and then walked alongside the road, until we came to the trailhead.
Walking the road.
Cars came around that corner awfully fast!
No close calls, though, Praise God!
From the road, we saw what looked like it might be a trail.
The pink flag?
That’s the trail marker. : )
You can see more in the distance.
Don’t know what this is.
It was upon our return that we discovered there’s an actual trail that runs parallel with the road that starts across the road from the parking area. We didn’t have to walk alongside it risking life and limb, we could have walked on a trail that’s alongside the road.
Now we’re starting up the actual trail.
There was a spur trail to a cave! And I’m going to tell you about my blonde moment there. I don’t have to, since I write the blog, but I’m going to anyway. Mostly because I made Blaine laugh out loud.
There’s the cave!
A fossilized snake!
Not really. But it sure looks like one!
It was on the ceiling – the beginnings of stalactites maybe?
Large fissure in the ceiling!
This is the inside of the fissure.
Something really tiny has been running around in here!
There was a posted sign outside the cave:
: )
I said, “I don’t understand. Why are they warning about white noise syndrome? Does the running water echoing in the cave cause people to get disoriented?”
Blaine turned and looked at me, very confused. I pointed to the sign. Then he laughed.
“It’s white nose! The bat illness! Not noise!” 😊
Onward we go! Back to the CT!
What is this?
(see next picture to find out!)
They’re a species of Fiddlehead fern, but there are nine of them, so I don’t know which one it is.
Apparently, if you know what you’re doing, you can eat them.
Aren’t they cool?
They come up all curled up and then unfurl!
“The Periodic Table”
I named it.
The rocks were showing up periodically and this one looks like a table. Haha!
I know. Don’t quit my day job . . . .
Over there’s our final destination! Somewhere on that ridge.
We’re getting there . . . .
This is part of the trail.
Come on up, babe!
We made several surprise discoveries upon reaching the summit.
One was the campsite. What a cool place to tent camp! On the way back down, we saw it was a group of middle school-aged boys and their male ‘chaperones’. Boy Scouts? Not sure.
Number two were the large random boulders.
Terrible picture of me!
Thanks, Blaine!
Three was the group of 25-30 people climbing those rocks. Some seemed like beginners, some experienced. Maybe a class? Not sure.
You might need to use some climbing gear, dear . . .
But good try!
Back to looking for the South View . . . .
The views were magnificent!
Before you say it, yes I was.
I didn’t realize how close to the edge I really was!
Sorry, Mom (and Melanie)!
I was sitting in a depression, and I scooted back before I got up. Does that help?
Lunch View!
He was trying to see how tall the tree was.
You could choose to continue around the summit, which of course we did. And we made more discoveries!
An FAA radar tower.
And the remnants of several homes – chimneys only.
And an old spring house.
Spring water seeping into the building.
And continuing on it’s way.
There was no information about any of these old buildings.
Modern technology allows us to stay in touch with our family.
And continue walking.
Halfway around, we came to the North view. Not so spectacular, which explains why we saw very few people on this side of the trail.
The North View
If it was summer, we wouldn’t see anything!
Back down the hill and home for dinner.
Here’s one of those yellow flowers from the beginning of our hike.
This one’s open a little more.
Might be as far as it goes.
We enjoyed another buffet dinner at the Park restaurant. This time was BBQ. It was pretty good, but not the best we’ve ever had. Lawler’s still holds that title. 😊
Tonight’s menu:
Smoked Ribs
Smoked Pulled Pork
Baked Chicken
Baked Beans
Mashed Potatoes, gravy
Turnip Greens
Corn on the Cob
Chicken Noodle Soup
And of course, the salad and dessert bar
And lastly, there’s the matter of acknowledging an anniversary. It was two years ago today that we brought our new coach home! It’s so hard to believe!