Pickett/Big South Fork TR

“Friday afternoon after several last minute details such as shopping at Brandon Binkley's house for some gear and going to Cumberland Transit for an adjustment on my new Gregory Acadia backpack, Debbie Browning and I got on the road. Dixie Taylor was almost to my house when she received an emergency phone call from her husband and had to turn around and head for home. Later in the evening, we found out that Dixie's son had been stabbed to death around noon on Friday. That information put a definite damper on our festivities during the weekend.

Debbie and I arrived at Pickett State Park about 9:30 p.m. Father Goose, Bitpusher, Nancy Juodenas, Nancy Fleming, and Cheifwagee were already set up and had a roaring fire going. After Debbie and I set up our hammocks we joined in the merriment around the fire. Nancy J. had a watermelon laced with liquor that everyone seemed to enjoy! Debbie and I roasted hot dogs that were really good. The party began to unwind around 11 p.m. Nancy J. and I sat around the campfire until a quarter past midnight and then called it a night. It was a chilly night and it felt good to get into a warm sleeping bag.

Saturday morning everyone was up by 7:30 a.m. After breakfast and breaking down camp, Father Goose, Bitpusher, Debbie B., Nancy F., and I were off to Big South Fork while Nancy J. and Cheifwagee remained at Pickett awaiting the arival of some other folks from Nashville to go on various dayhikes in and around Pickett. Debbie and I went to Bandy Creek to get a permit while Father Goose, Bitpusher,and Nancy F. went to Twin Arches Trailhead to wait for Julia Tate. We all were assembled and ready to hit the Twin Arches trail at 10:45 a.m. It was a beautiful partly cloudy day. We took the path going over the arches and then proceeded on the 1.1 mile downhill trail to Charit Creek Lodge. We checked out the campsite across the creek from Charit Creek Lodge but found that there were no trees adequate to support 3 hammocks, so we proceeded down the road about a half mile to a secluded campsite next to Station Creek. After we set up camp and had lunch, we decided to take a dayhike. Debbie decided to remain at the campsite and relax and play in the creek. The rest of us hiked the trail to Jake's Place and then decided to continue around the Twin Arches trail ending up at the campsite, covering 5.5 miles. We saw numerous rock overhangs. The scenery was awesome. There were many photo opportunities! It is definitely a place to go back when the leaves are off the trees to get a better look at the rock overhangs. When we got back to the campsite we rested, ate supper, and enjoyed a fine campfire that Bitpusher got going.
Everyone was in bed by 11 p.m. under clear skies with a full moon and the sound of the creek running by the campsite. A fine night for sleeping.

Sunday morning, Father Goose and Bitpusher hit the trail about 6 a.m. with the rest of the crew leaving camp at 9:00 a.m. After stopping at Charit Creek Lodge to deposit some trash, the rest of the crew hiked back to the Twin Arches trailhead via the 1.8 mile trek up hill. (The way we hiked in.) We stopped at the South Arch and took pictures on our way out. We said our goodbyes at the parking lot and everyone went their separate ways back home.

It was a great trip! Good to see Father Goose and Bitpusher again. The conversation was good and everyone seemed to have a nice time. Looking forward to future trips together.”

“This was a great trip. My legs are still aching from the hike out; it's 1.8 miles of UP UP UP.”

“sorry, I missed you guys this weekend. I did think of you all as I drove past Friday evening. I was headed to the Smokies for a relaxing get away.

Katibug, sorry to hear about Dixie's son. I have only met her once and my prayers will be with her and her family.”

“Cool trip report Katibug.Pickett's a beautiful place.I'm looking forward to the Smokies again to do my favorite hike on Leconte. :~ )
My prayers also to Dixie and her family.What a horrible thing to happen.”

“Keith and I went to the funeral home last night in Dickson. Debbie Browning and Pancake Daddy had been there too. I felt so sorry for Dixie and her family. Words are inadequate at a time like this. I am so sorry for them.”

“It was terrible to learn about Dixie's misfortune. I feel for her and her family, and hope that the perpetrators of this crime will be brought to justice.”

“sorry didn't make it... hope to see you guys in couple weeks - mm... man... sorry to here about your friends son... that's very sad.”

“Are you planning to go on the Mt. LeConte trip?”

“I was a great hike in a beautiful area. I would have liked to hike a few more miles but any day in the woods is better than a day at work.







I promise I won't rant about the #&%!$ing horses...”

“Bounce. There are some cool pics in this bunch.”

“Yes there are. I still haven't downloaded mine. You up for another hike in say, Sept.?”

“Sure. I've talked to Hummingbird about getting together for a weekend trip on the AT. You up for that sort of thing?”

“THE AT?????

SH_IT HOWDY!!!”

“This would be a Fri-Sun thing, but I'm thinking of Unicoi Gap to Dick's Creek Gap. It's only 16 miles, we should be able to do that in three days no problem.”

“Should be able to do it in one, but if you want to stretch it to three...”

“Hey dude, it's extra bag nights!

It starts with the 1000' climb out of Unicoi Gap to the top of Rocky Mtn., then goes down into Tray Gap and up Tray Mtn. And that's the first 6 miles, lol...”

“Before or after breakfast???”

“Nice pics, Bit! I like the imagery of the mines of Moria. Great rock formations too. And that arch looked awesome...”

“Better be after, FG, otherwise I'll never make it...

Yah TB, I even said "The Walls of Moria" in my best Gimli voice, but Father Goose and katibug just looked at me strange.

I'm used to it.”

“lol Bit. I might've done the same thing...

...and gotten the same reaction!”

“Great photos! I honestly don't remember you saying "the walls of moria!" I must have been overwhelmed by the beauty of the scenery or spaced out or something!”

“i won't be able to make the leconte trip you were talking about but i will be joining you guys on the old settlers 8-29
be nice to meet you and some others good to see again”

“The LeConte trip was 2 weeks ago! Look forward to meeting you on the Old Settler's trip. Will you be joining us Friday or Sat.?”

“Probably you just couldn't understand what I was saying, katibug. I was trying out my Gimli accent after all.

Glad you liked the pics!”

“yes... i know but i hadn't been on here in while... yes... friday evening”