Prentice Cooper Pics and Report

“I had planned on doing both the Mullins Cove and Pot Point loops at Prentice Cooper, but i got a late start Saturday. Hit Mullins Cove loop around 12 and headed down the opposite end than i wanted (stupid me didn't take a compass reading...just saw a sign and started hiking) About halfway to Halley Road I miss a poorly blazed switchback and end up really disoriented...i hit short creek..get a few great falls pics, and find the trail again. The trail is really hard to follow, and the blazes on some parts almost no existant. Lot of 4-wheelers on the forest roads also. Made it to Hemlock Branch Camp around 5 and found 5 tents already set up. Friendly bunch invited me to set up among them, and when they found out i had a hennessey they all gathered around. Ya know how hard it is setting up something new with 7 strangers watching you? The campsite was so rocky it was a godsend to have the hammock. Went to Mullins Cove overlook after dinner and got some great pics.
Broke camp around 10 and headed to snoopers rock overlook. Great Views and wonderful pics. Went up the trail about 1/4 a mile and saw a dirt road..the trail was getting hard to follow, and was sick of all the ups and downs..so i hit the road (it parelled the trail without the ups and downs) until school house rd..lost the mullins cove loop trail(saw the blue foot path only sign..but no white blazes) Hit Tower Drive..and speed marched back to my truck..the temp was now 90 degrees...no shade..and a 27 pound pack.

The late start, getting off trail, and not realizing that this was no walk in the park made me cut doing Pot Point loop out of the trip.

This would be a great hike for very early spring, fall, and winter.

Was very happy with my esbit stove, the hennessey hammock, and my new komperdell poles. One did bend a little (got lodged between to rocks)..but it was straightened with no harm done.”

“sorry about the typos...tired and didn't proof read before i posted...you guys should be able to read "Typonese" by now”

“looks like a nice area - what was the problem with the trail other than poor blazing? Were there a lot of blowdowns or was it just overgrown and needing a brushup?

Looks like the trees you picked for the hammock were slightly too close together - normally the rain fly would have had a fairly straight ridge line with little sag unless it was pulled down for possible rain.”

“Yea...the choice of trees was kinda limited. The area around the campsite had alot of undergrowth (ie poison ivy and such) No real blowdowns to speak of, and nothing big growing over the trail. It just looks like it doesn't get much travel, and the warm weather gave alot of the green stuff a spurt.”

“Nice pics and great trip report OPIE. Pardon my ignorance, but whereabouts is this?”

“its about 25 minutes from Chattanooga near Tennessee River Gorge”

“Nice and close to me. Looks like a good destination for a future ECT.”

“Nice photos. Sounds like you had a great trip.”

“bitpusher..yea it could be...when it's cooler!...90 degree=bad”

“So how long did you hang out at Snoopers Overlook? Awesome place to kick back and watch the boats go by ain't it?
I've never had any problem with the trail on the Mullins Cove loop. I have lost it before briefly near Raccoon Mtn Overlook on Pot Point Loop. (back section)”

“I'm planning to go back there this Fall and do a 3 day trip. I'll start on Hwy 27 and take the Cumberland Trail in and do the long loop and back out the Cumberland Trail. I gotta see what dates PC is closed for hunting and plan around that.”

“yep - this sounds like a good possibility for an ECT to me too”

“I just sent you an email about the area and the Cumberland Trail.”

“You remember, there was an ECT trip there last year by three of us TTs on part of the Cumberland Trail (PC closed then for turkey hunting) before we went to meet you at Savage Gulf, and I hope the smell is gone by now. LOL!!

Be a great place for another ECT hike. We thoroughly enjoyed that area.”

“Ewker - got it... Thanks!”

“That's the pain about Prentice Cooper, Ya gotta check the dates to see when it's open. It truely sucks. They post the dates on the Cumberland Trails Website when the hunts are. So far, nothing is posted for this Fall yet.”

“Sounds like a cool trip, Opie. Never seen one of those hammocks before until I checked out your website, looks like a great way to spend the night!”

“like HOI said it was a lil slack..but even so i was able to lay flat, and had tons of room. Woke up in the morning curled up like a baby!!. The campsite area was rocky as a stream bed. Glad i was above it all!!”

“I really like those waterfalls. Those Tennessee hills are so green.”

“Yeah WingdingO, They are a pain in the @ss this time of the year cause you cant see very far into the woods.”

“Yeah, I did see the turkey hunting closure dates posted on the website; I just wasn't the one of us three who planned the trip...he he. It all worked out & let us join up with you sooner than ya expected us! It's all good.”

“Yeah CP, That was a fun surprise, yall showing up in camp like that!”

“I will be in Chattanooga on business next week and have an opportunity to grab a bag night. I'll be able to hit the trail at about 3:00 and need to be off by the next day at around 1 or 2 pm.

I'm looking for a loop and was considering the Mullin's Cove loop. Are there any other recommendations for loop hikes around Chattanooga?”