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TRANSCRIPT
Louisiana Hiking Club
Si Louisiana Trail Blazer
2014 First Quarter
page 1 - 2
President’s
Message
page 3
Photo Correction
page 4
BAMA
page 5 - 7
Big Bend
page 8
February Weekend
page 9
CampFest
The President’s Message Happy New Year, All! I hope that you all
enjoyed happy and peaceful holidays.
During the last quarter of the year, I was able
to enjoy some great hikes with club members as well
as a brief road trip to Tennessee with my family.
The club hikes included Palmetto Island State Park,
Potkopinu (Old Natchez Trace) Trail, and John
Thornhill’s tree farm in Mississippi. At Palmetto
Island, in addition to hiking the trails, we were
all treated to a wonderful meal courtesy of the
Abbeville area Dutch oven cooking club and Le Chien
and D’Arbonne Dutch oven cooking clubs. There was
more than enough food for everyone with several
variations of Louisiana favorites such as rice
dressing, cabbage casserole, cornbread, and sweet
potato casserole. There was no shortage of desserts
either! What a treat! Some of us also paddled the
ponds there. The Potkopinu Trail was beautiful with
some fall colors still hanging on the trees and
undulating terrain. The hike at John’s farm in
Mississippi was very interesting, as he and his
forester discussed the management of the farm, and
as he has in previous years, John treated us all to
a lovely meal at his home. As is the case with all
of the club hikes, the pleasure of being outdoors
and hiking in the forest was enhanced by the company
and conversations with fellow club members.
For our family trip to Tennessee, we elected to
travel the Natchez Trace Parkway. We enjoyed the
scenery, but did not have time to take any hikes
along the way. However, we did stop to view a
waterfall along the Trace in Tennessee, as well as
Meriwether Lewis’ burial site. We also made an
unanticipated stop when a deer unfortunately darted
right in the path of our SUV! The injured deer ran
off into the woods, and we were able to continue on
our way with minimal damage to our SUV. While we
only had 3 days to spend in Tennessee, most of that
being family time, we did get out to hike at the
2
Longhunter State Park along Percy Priest Lake. The trail
we chose followed the lakeshore offering nice views of
this large lake from high points. As the sun was
setting, and the forest was darkening, we also caught
sight of some browsing deer along the trail. In spite of
the collision with the deer, this trip to Tennessee was
a pleasant conclusion to the year 2013.
Now, I am looking forward to more hiking this year.
The club already has four out–of-state trips planned for
this year, one of which – Big Bend National Park – is
underway as I write this, in addition to the Saturday
hikes. The others include: end of February trip to Big
Thicket in East Texas, April trip to North
Carolina/South Carolina, and June trip to the Cascades
in Washington. I hope to make at least one of these
trips and most of the 2nd Saturday hikes. I hope that
many of you will also be able to enjoy these trips.
Happy Trails,
Emelise
Palmetto Island State Park, November 2013
3
Correction!
This group photo of hikers at the October 2013 Second Saturday Hike, which
was published in the last newsletter, has been corrected for clarity. You may have
noticed that the photo was a bit fuzzy. Sorry about that!
Photo credit: Cecil Bankston
4
BAMA
by John Engelsman
He was a rangy marine pilot in his mid-thirties. Last spring, Cathi and I had joined a niece
and her family for a week in the beautiful Smoky Mountains. Bama was an old college
buddy of our nephew. He and his wife had come along and were ready to hike. I
suggested we hike the Porter’s Creek Trail. Nancy Hall introduced that trail to me on a
club trip a few years back. It’s a lovely trail along a mountain stream with a nice waterfall,
plenty of wildflowers and a number of giant trees along the way. Near the start is a well
preserved old barn, spring house and camphouse. It’s a little over 7 miles round trip and
has a 1,400 foot elevation gain. As we were preparing to leave our cabin, I couldn’t help
but notice the humongous backpack he was readying. I walked over and hefted it: at least
40 lbs maybe more. When I reminded him this was a day hike, he grinned and said he
carried that pack on all his hikes. Then he offered to carry all my stuff. Of course, pride
wouldn’t let me accept that offer. I led the way for the first half. The trail was quite wet
and many of the rocks were slick. Bama never asked for a break and didn’t even seem to
be breathing hard. It’s an out and back trail and Bama led on the way back which is pretty
much all downhill. I knew we were going too fast for comfort but pride would not let me
suggest a slower pace. All of a sudden my hiking poles went flying and I came down hard
on a knee. Thereafter, to my chagrin, the pace visibly slowed to enable the old man to
safely keep up. My bruised pride hurt worse than my knee. Of all the 7 deadly sins,
pride is the one that keeps on teaching me harsh lessons of life. When will I ever learn?
Two days later I rose at dawn to hike to the Jumpoff, a side trail, off the Boulevard Trail.
Jaime, our nephew, informed me that Bama had already left on a bike trip from Sugarlands
Visitor Center to Clingman’s Dome. One way, that is a 20 mile ride with an elevation gain
of about a mile. When I asked Jaime if he was driving to the Dome to pick Bama up, he
said oh, no that Bama was making a round trip. My hike featured a drenching rain and I
got back to the cabin wanting a hot shower and a nap. Bama had returned and looked just
fine. I knew fatigue had to catch up with him soon so I was surprised when he joined us
that evening to go to a tourist trap in Pigeon Forge to experience the “Lumberjack
Challenge.” I expected Bama to eat and then doze off in his seat. Little did I know that
Marine. The challenge puts half the guests in one “family” and half in another and the
families compete against one another. From time to time, volunteers are selected from the
audience. Finally, the contest featured a 30 foot pole climb involving 2 volunteers
wearing spurs and heavy belts. To my amazement Bama represented our “family.” How
could this guy possibly climb that pole after such an arduous bike ride. Well, he climbed
just fine. He didn’t win but he finished the climb and came close.
At the end of that trip, I decided that if Bama was a typical Marine, the defense of this
country was in good hands. Pickle
ps. I plan to start calling Rick Fonte, Sir
5
Big Bend
photos by Allison Saltzman
6
7
Big Bend
photos by Ann Ingram
8
A February Weekend of Hiking
by Cecil Bankston
We did two more La. Hikes this weekend. Friday afternoon, we went to Indian Creek
Recreation Area, near Woodworth, to hike the 2.5 mile Indian Creek Nature Trail. The
trail is broad and well-maintained, with easy-to-follow blazes. It passes through a
mixed forest dominated by pines with portions along the shore of Indian Creek Lake.
Many limbs were on the trail, apparently broken off by a recent ice storm, but they
didn’t produce any actual obstruction. Parts of the trail were very wet from rain earlier
in the week, but the abundant pine needles and leaves allowed us to avoid getting
muddy. We saw some flocks of ducks on the lake and groups of cormorants in dead
trees in one section of the lake. The trail is worth trying if you are in the area and don’t
have time for a longer hike. It probably would be even more attractive when the Spring
flowers begin to appear.
Our Saturday destination was Sicily Island Hills WMA, NE of Alexandria. The area
resembles Tunica Hills, but is even more rugged. The gravel road from the southern
entrance is supposed to provide access to the trailhead for rock Falls Nature Trail. We
had to drag about six large branches, or small trees, off the road to get near the
trailhead, but our progress was halted by a very large fallen tree that would have
required chainsaws to clear. As we were driving back out, we met two men hiking on
the road. They were from the area and frequently hiked in the WMA to train for a major
hiking trip to Colorado this Summer. They rode with us back to the big tree where we
left the car and hiked on up the road to the trail, which we then hiked with them. The
adequately blazed trail had some steep sections that provided ample exercise. I would
not suggest trying it without a hiking pole. The men said Winter was the best time to
hike the area, as poisonous snakes and mosquitoes are big problems when the
undergrowth begins to leaf out. The waterfall is interesting though it didn’t have a large
flow volume.
After seeing Rock Falls, we drove to the northern entrance to access the 7 mile Big
Creek Nature Trail, which we started hiking about 12:25 pm. Most of the “trail” is a
trail only in the sense that there are blazes on the trees to show where to go. The route
includes many steep, slippery bluffs, numerous fallen trees and limbs, and many
crossings of small tributaries of Big Creek. At least we were able to cross the creeks
without wading in more than one inch of water if we didn’t try to take the most direct
route to the next blaze. The scenery was nice, but the hike probably was one of the
toughest we have ever done, much more exhausting than the 9 mile Kincaid Lake Loop.
We got back to the car about 6:40. I would recommend the hike only to those who
enjoy a real challenge and who can begin the hike no later than mid-morning. The
snake warnings also would apply as the weather warms.
9
CAMPFEST 2014 -- March 15 - 16
* CHICOT STATE PARK *
Conference Center - East Landing
* CAMPING *
Tent Camping ONLY at East Landing
(RVs must camp in regular campground)
* SEMINARS *
* DOOR PRIZES! *
* SATURDAY NIGHT POT LUCK *
The club provides the entrée.
Bring a side dish or dessert to share with everyone!
* SUNDAY MORNING PANCAKE BREAKFAST *
followed by
hiking at the Louisiana State Arboretum